Why do Americans love dogs so much?

[Anonymous]

I like dogs perfectly fine, but I don’t get why it seems to be such a thing for Americans to be so enamored of dogs.
It seems like it’s more acceptable to say that you don’t like children than admit that you don’t care for dogs. This doesn’t seem to be as prevalent in other countries. Why is this?

[Anonymous]

I flew first class on Air France from Paris to JFK. A dog literally sat in the seat across the aisle from me--its own seat. In a cafe, a dog sat on a bench seat next to me that we essentially shared, inside. I'd say they are way more tolerant in France to dogs than the US.

[Anonymous]

What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

[Anonymous]

In this age of such stress on so many levels, a dog/pet provides such a sense of pure affection. I literally bury my face in my dog's chest to destress at times. Studies show that it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like dogs perfectly fine, but I don’t get why it seems to be such a thing for Americans to be so enamored of dogs.
It seems like it’s more acceptable to say that you don’t like children than admit that you don’t care for dogs. This doesn’t seem to be as prevalent in other countries. Why is this?

How much have you traveled abroad and where? This hasn't been my observation at all in many(but not all) countries.

In fact, it's not even the same across the US. I'd say the most dog friendly/centric state I've observed is Colorado.

[Anonymous]

France was the first place I saw people really crazy for dogs. This was in the 1970s. It was way beyond anything I'd seen here. Dogs in stores and restaurants. This is a newer trend in the U.S.

When Odysseus comes home to Ithaca, his dog remembers him and they have a sweet reunion.

It's not a pathology and it's not only in the U.S. and it's not new to love dogs.

Dogs and other pets give us a connection to nature, the earth, animal husbandry, and satisfy our need to care for another and give love. They are there for us and love us in a very special way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

Fur, smells, barking, jumping up on people, sniffing crotches, eating poop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

Fur, smells, barking, jumping up on people, sniffing crotches, eating poop.

There are a lot of similarities between raising children and raising dogs - even when poorly "trained", people still live them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like dogs perfectly fine, but I don’t get why it seems to be such a thing for Americans to be so enamored of dogs.
It seems like it’s more acceptable to say that you don’t like children than admit that you don’t care for dogs. This doesn’t seem to be as prevalent in other countries. Why is this?

I 100% disagree with this statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

Fur, smells, barking, jumping up on people, sniffing crotches, eating poop.

There are a lot of similarities between raising children and raising dogs - even when poorly "trained", people still live them.

NP. Yes young kids and dogs are quite similar in their behavior. I guess I have more tolerance for my children since I birthed them. I didn’t give birth to the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

So do babies? And also, a baby has never mauled its family

[Anonymous]

Also children grow out of the mess and bad behavior into independent adults while dogs always need care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

Fur, smells, barking, jumping up on people, sniffing crotches, eating poop.

Aside from the fur, not all dogs smell or do any of these things.

I love mine but not in a 'fake that it's a service animal and make others miserable' or 'dress them in clothing and talk baby talk while letting them piss all over like that is not disgusting' kind of way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

You have to pick up their poop, find someone to care for them when you go out of town ($$), their food smells gross, they smell gross, they slobber and leave fur everywhere, they bark, they have to go to the vet ($$$), they don’t live that long so you grow to love them and then they’re gone.

No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s not to love? They love their families unconditionally.

Fur, smells, barking, jumping up on people, sniffing crotches, eating poop.

Aside from the fur, not all dogs smell or do any of these things.

I love mine but not in a 'fake that it's a service animal and make others miserable' or 'dress them in clothing and talk baby talk while letting them piss all over like that is not disgusting' kind of way.

Not all dogs do all of those things but all dogs do smell. I have a sensitive nose. I don’t like dog smell.