I’ll get flamed for this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dogs are like kids in that you shouldn’t get a dog unless you really, really want one. It’s not you, which is great!

They are more work than kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that much work, especially if you have a fenced in yard. And especially if you have little dogs that don't really need walks. And you can get non shedders too.

But I do have a fenced in yard! (OP here.)

Even the non shedders will get dirt on them outside and track it in inside and then get it on your upholstery and rugs and floors and bed.

Like, what’s the point of washing your throw blankets and sheets if a dirty dog is going to get on them? And don’t tell me you get your dog washed or groomed several times a week. I know no one who does that.

Also, anuses. There, I said it.

They definitely track dirty into the house and are not no work. I just don't think they're a ton of work.

I personally have no carpet and washable throw rugs. We have robot vacuums with mops that run daily.

And no, I don't bathe my dogs constantly, and they're in my wooded yard in the leaves and sticks. It doesn't really bother me, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone that they don't want that in their house.

But every time people call my dogs gross, I just think about my sweet upper east side nephew who literally licks the subway windows and poles, plays on the sidewalks, pushes elevator buttons and then sticks his fingers in his mouth, and urinated behind a bolted to the wall dresser.

I'm also devastated to inform you that humans also have anuses.

I'm mostly joking here. If you don't like dogs, it doesn't bother me. You shouldn't get them. But I laugh at my pet-hating sister who has an absolutely filthy and adorable NYC toddler.

OP here. Thank you for your humorous and gracious post. Super helpful perspective. Appreciate everyone being so open and kind.

And yeah, humans have anuses but they are usually covered (I hope), not rubbing/grazing on upholstery, and humans wash their bodies throughly (again, I hope) and quite often.

Thank you kind posters. And to the cat person—no way. Cats are 🤮 to me. Many people have allergies + cat litter smell is gross. And don’t tell me your cat is “just like a dog!!!” Because the. you should see my OP 🙃.

OK, so you don't like dogs OR cats. You sound uptight and miserable.

[Anonymous]

I entirely agree with you, and I love my dog.

He's a massive shedder. He has bowel issues that require extra vigilance and care unless I want mess spread all over my house. I have taught him not to lick people, because that's very unhygienic. My husband complains every day about him (while petting him). We all love the dog, and he loves us unconditionally. Every time the dog makes another mess, I proclaim I will never get another dog. Every time I say this, my husband says: "I'll remind you when he's passed and you start hankering for another dog."

He's our first dog and perhaps our last dog. I've realized that herbivores are far less noxious when it comes to mess. We also have rabbits, and they're much cleaner - they're litter-trained and their poo is essentially hay, which contains far fewer disease-causing bacteria than carnivores (cats) or omnivores (dogs). They don't stink at all.

Anyway. I wish my dog didn't have these bowel issues. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that much work, especially if you have a fenced in yard. And especially if you have little dogs that don't really need walks. And you can get non shedders too.

But I do have a fenced in yard! (OP here.)

Even the non shedders will get dirt on them outside and track it in inside and then get it on your upholstery and rugs and floors and bed.

Like, what’s the point of washing your throw blankets and sheets if a dirty dog is going to get on them? And don’t tell me you get your dog washed or groomed several times a week. I know no one who does that.

Also, anuses. There, I said it.

They definitely track dirty into the house and are not no work. I just don't think they're a ton of work.

I personally have no carpet and washable throw rugs. We have robot vacuums with mops that run daily.

And no, I don't bathe my dogs constantly, and they're in my wooded yard in the leaves and sticks. It doesn't really bother me, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone that they don't want that in their house.

But every time people call my dogs gross, I just think about my sweet upper east side nephew who literally licks the subway windows and poles, plays on the sidewalks, pushes elevator buttons and then sticks his fingers in his mouth, and urinated behind a bolted to the wall dresser.

I'm also devastated to inform you that humans also have anuses.

I'm mostly joking here. If you don't like dogs, it doesn't bother me. You shouldn't get them. But I laugh at my pet-hating sister who has an absolutely filthy and adorable NYC toddler.

OP here. Thank you for your humorous and gracious post. Super helpful perspective. Appreciate everyone being so open and kind.

And yeah, humans have anuses but they are usually covered (I hope), not rubbing/grazing on upholstery, and humans wash their bodies throughly (again, I hope) and quite often.

Thank you kind posters. And to the cat person—no way. Cats are 🤮 to me. Many people have allergies + cat litter smell is gross. And don’t tell me your cat is “just like a dog!!!” Because the. you should see my OP 🙃.

OK, so you don't like dogs OR cats. You sound uptight and miserable.

Thanks for breaking the streak of nice people on the thread.

I’m actually quite happy.

You’re the one who is giving misanthrope vibes. Happy New Year!

[Anonymous]

Lots of people on here are not animal people in general and that’s ok.

We lost our dog this year and I would give anything to have her back. I miss every single thing about her including the walks on freezing days, swiffering every day, all of the extra cleaning. I’m not getting another one because I’m still grieving her. But I am and always have been a dog person. So the daily grind doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

[Anonymous]

You're either a pet person or you're not. They're work; having a pet is taking responsibility for the care and maintenance of a living creature. Like all living things, they have needs. Sometimes, they make messes. Some breeds need more care and attention than others. If that's not for you, that's fine. Nobody sane is going to flame you for knowing your limits and boundaries and likes/dislikes.

Personally, I hope I'll never be without a big dog. Someone tried to break into my house and my gigantic cane corso mix shut that down with three deep barks. As far as I'm concerned, she can put her puppystar anywhere she wants to.

[Anonymous]

Dogs totally control the household of everyone I know who owns them. It’s chaos.

And it’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dogs totally control the household of everyone I know who owns them. It’s chaos.

And it’s ridiculous.

You seem to be missing the point that there is something that must make them so happy that they will put up with the chaos. Your lack of understanding is your own personal shortcoming.

[Anonymous]

Dogs are not for everyone. I would not like having a gerbil or fish and can list many reasons why, but others enjoy them.

For my family, us getting a dog was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. The kids shower love onto the dog, he goes right to them to comfort them when he sees they are in need, and he is a great guard dog. There are chores related to having a dog but the positives far outweigh the negatives for us.

[Anonymous]

Why are most of you even in this forum? Totally trolls .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like dogs but have no desire to have my own. It's ok to not want to be a dog owner.

This.

Also I don't like all dogs. Some are very annoying. But you're not allowed to say that. It is more acceptable to say you don't like a human child than to say you don't like a dog, for some people.

[Anonymous]

You deal with it because of the massive payoff having a dog gives you.

I’m cuddling with one dog on the couch while or other dog is sleeping with our son who is home from college. Having something warm and soft cuddle with you, coming home after work being all stressed out and having a dog greet you enthusiastically and give you a big lick on your face, and hearing your dog bark if a stranger approaches your door is all priceless.

Home is so much better when the whole pack is here- kids and dogs!

[Anonymous]

They’re like kids—no one likes them until they’re your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs totally control the household of everyone I know who owns them. It’s chaos.

And it’s ridiculous.

You seem to be missing the point that there is something that must make them so happy that they will put up with the chaos. Your lack of understanding is your own personal shortcoming.

No. They’re just looney tunes, and I’m not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are most of you even in this forum? Totally trolls .

It’s the pet forum, not the dog forum.