Why do Americans love dogs so much?

[Anonymous]

To me the key factor in OP's question is not why people who love dogs do so (I think this is self evident), but why it can be so unacceptable for a person not to love dogs.

Yes, people adore dogs in France and many other places around the world, for the same reasons as in the US-- companionship, loyalty, their generally uncomplicated nature, affection. But I agree with OP that increasingly it is simply unacceptable in the US to not like dogs, whereas even in France a person could not care for dogs and no one really cares-- to each their own.

I like dogs fine (I don't want one because they are high maintenance pets, but I enjoy interacting with other people's dogs in small doses) but one of my children doesn't like them, I think because she finds them a little gross, and this *horrifies* people. DD is a very loving, kind person, but when people find out she doesn't like dogs, many view her as cold and cruel (she is not, and would never harm a dog, simply doesn't to pet one or have one in her home).

[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.

It's weird that OP singles out dogs but evidently gives cats (smellier and less compliant) a pass.

I understand preferring one set of disadvantages to another, but if your objection is smell, cats and their litter boxes are so much worse.

[Anonymous]

Last week, we had a speaker at church who was raised in Kenya, and he mentioned that he still finds it 'so weird!' that in the US, we let dogs in the house. That was not the norm where he grew up.

[Anonymous]

I had neighbors who freely let their dogs pee and poop on my front and backyard. The day I said enough and put out two “Private Property, No Tresspassing” signs, they got offended and talked trash about me with other neighbors even after having brief conversations about respecting boundaries.
I totally understand OP’s point.

[Anonymous]

Almost every person, mostly female, who insists on bringing their 'service dog' to restaurant has been defiant about it. I don't think they are well at all. This not well made them get a dog.
Maybe there's a connection between being put on medicine and wanting a dog. Many get those very small dogs so it's easier to have the dog on them as a accessory. Then it's all about buying clothes and toys for them.
I have a friend who has a cat and guinea pigs in the apartment. She built a tunnel for them along the wall. Her favorite thing is buying more cute stuff for them. She is autistic.

[Anonymous]

They’re for the feeble minded or anxious who are unable to meaningfully connect with other humans. The dumb animal is more “on their level” and simpler to interact with. That’s a lot of people nowadays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Children kill their parents all the time.

I think you are kidding but this is actually incredibly rare.

Dog bites are super common, though. I like dogs but most dogs could be provoked into biting a human without that much effort (even well behaved dogs-- they are animals with an attack instinct if they are sufficiently threatened), whereas most children simply don't have the means to murder someone even if given a good reason to do so.

Have you ever breastfed a teething infant? Child bites happen all the time, and without provocation. One of the most relevant situations is the common one of a toddler who bites other toddlers in daycare.

Compare bites to bites.

[Anonymous]

People love dogs all over the world but I feel like in this country, they expect strangers to love their dog as well.
Many times I've been on a walk and a strange dog runs up to me and the owners gives me an expectant look with eyebrows raised, like they are waiting for me to pet the dog and compliment the dog. I usually just say excuse me and keep walking and they inevitably look disappointed.
Next door neighbor brought home a brand new, 100 pound dog from the shelter and expected me and my toddler to come over and frolic with the dog. I said I didn't feel at all comfortable and she got insulted! "If you're afraid of dogs or the kid is, this is the perfect dog to get you over that fear."

[Anonymous]

Because American dogs > all other dogs.

Just kidding! All dogs are awesome and from what I see are beloved around the world. And in my opinion there are many other countries where they are even more accepted into daily life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People love dogs all over the world but I feel like in this country, they expect strangers to love their dog as well.
Many times I've been on a walk and a strange dog runs up to me and the owners gives me an expectant look with eyebrows raised, like they are waiting for me to pet the dog and compliment the dog. I usually just say excuse me and keep walking and they inevitably look disappointed.
Next door neighbor brought home a brand new, 100 pound dog from the shelter and expected me and my toddler to come over and frolic with the dog. I said I didn't feel at all comfortable and she got insulted! "If you're afraid of dogs or the kid is, this is the perfect dog to get you over that fear."

Right. This is the question OP should have asked, but it is indeed a different question.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they do? Americans are much more hostile towards dogs than most of Western Europe where they're allowed in restaurants, trains, busses, hotels, etc.

[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.

Humand do to this plus murder, rape, wars, kill off species etc etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

There have definitely been children that have harmed and destroyed families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think they do? Americans are much more hostile towards dogs than most of Western Europe where they're allowed in restaurants, trains, busses, hotels, etc.

Dogs are beloved everywhere, it's why they were domesticated some 30,000 years ago. But certainly in Western Europe they are welcome in places they are not welcome in US. I wonder if OP has ever traveled outside the US.

I have cats but understand the love for dogs even though I also understand how some people don't love their negatives, especially in a dog with problems (anxiety, aggressiveness, hyper-activity, owners who don't train or restrain). Dogs can bring so much happiness, love, wagging tails, cute eyes, affection, silliness, company. They can be so trusting of their humans. In a way my cats are not, lol. I think cats are hilarious especially mine, but I do miss that unqualified affection that dogs are so good at.

[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?

There are lots of people who hate them.

Why?