No, I Do Not Want to Pet Your Dog

Quote :

" [...] But here’s my problem: There’s now a cultural assumption that everyone must love dogs. Dog owners are rarely forced to reckon with the idea that there are people who aren’t enthralled by their furry friends, and that taking their dogs everywhere might not be completely pleasant for these folks. Example: If you’re in the office and someone has brought her dog in for the day—because, fun!—the dog is sure to come around you, get between your legs, rub against your thigh, take a nap on your feet, or do some other annoying thing. If the dog’s owner notices these antics, I can promise you she won’t apologize for the imposition. Nor will she ask you if you mind her dog doing what he’s doing. Nor will she pull on its leash, because there won’t be a leash, this being an office, where dogs are as welcome as Wi-Fi and free coffee. Instead, if the owner says anything, it will be on the order of, “Don’t worry, he loves people!” Oh, OK then! I guess I’ll just take your word for it, and forget for the moment that 1,000 Americans a day go to emergency rooms because of dog bites. More Americans seek medical attention for dog bites than for choking or falls. You’re more likely to have to go to a doctor for a bite than to call the fire department for a home fire. Like it or not, American dog owner, your pet is a hazard. But let’s leave aside the possibility that I’m scared (maybe legitimately!) of your dog, since you’ve assured me your dog loves people, and there’s no chance you could be wrong. What if I’m allergic? Or what if I just plain hate your dog? What if I think he’s dirty, since after all he did just put his nose in another dog’s butt? And what if I just want to go through my workday without being slobbered on by an animal? I know this sounds curmudgeonly. You want to shake me and tell me to snap out of it, to get over myself and just love dogs already. But that’s because you like dogs and don’t see anything but good in them. For you, a dog is like ice cream. What churl doesn’t like ice cream? Well, I’m that churl—I’m canine intolerant. To give you a sense of how I feel when I’m accosted by your dog, let’s replace that animal with my 2½-year-old son. Now, I love my son, but on any objective scale of socially acceptable behavior, he is the worst. He’s loud. He’s inconsiderate of people’s personal space—if he’s left free he won’t watch where he’s walking and will run into you, either on purpose or accidentally. He’s jumpy and fidgety in confined spaces; in an airplane it is physically impossible to restrain him from kicking the seat in front of him. He scratches himself often, sometimes picks his nose, sometimes offers to pick yours. He will constantly say inappropriate things. The other day at Target, he noticed a little person and commented, for pretty much everyone to hear, “That lady is short!” On top of all this, he may be packing a diaper full of urine and feces. Weirdly, irrationally, despite all this, I feel the same way about my son as your do about your dog: I love him unconditionally and just don’t understand why even strangers wouldn’t want him around all the time. Indeed, I think almost everything he does, even the inappropriate things, is the cutest behavior ever exhibited in human history. And yet, still, I rein him in. I realize that, although he’s impossibly cute, it’s possible he might aggravate some people. For this reason, whenever I go into public spaces with my toddler, I treat him as if I were handling nuclear waste or a dangerous animal. I keep him confined. I shush him. If he does anything out of turn—screams, touches people—I make a show of telling him to quit it and I apologize profusely. And, finally, there are some places that are completely off-limits to my son: nice restaurants, contemplative adult spaces like grown-up museums and coffee shops, the gym, and the office. Especially the office. Yes, there are parents who don’t act this way, awful parents who let their terrible kids run free. The rest of us hate those people because they give all parents a bad name. But I’ll submit there are many more such dog owners than there are overindulgent parents. Most parents I know are mortified by the thought that their children might be causing anguish for others. This is evident in the world around you: It’s why your co-workers rarely bring their toddlers to work. It’s why 2-year-olds don’t approach you in the park and lick your leg or ask you whether you need to visit the potty. It’s why, when a child is being unruly in a supermarket or restaurant, you’ll usually see his parents strive to get him to knock it off. But dog owners? They seem to suffer few qualms about their animals’ behavior. That’s why there are so many dogs running around at the park, jumping up on the bench beside you while you’re trying to read a book, the owner never asking if it’s OK with you. That’s why, when you’re at a café, the dog at the neighboring table feels free to curl up under your seat. That’s why there’s a dog at your office right at this moment and you’re having to pretend that he’s just the cutest. Well, no more, my fellow doggie skeptics. Let’s take back the peace we’re owed. The next time your young, happy co-worker brings in his dog for the day, tell him the office is not a canine playpen. It’s time to take that dog home."

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/a_fine_whine/2013/05/i_hate_dogs_they_re_lounging_in_our_offices_and_licking_us_at_our_cafes.single.html
too many dog owners have the consideration for others that smokers did a decade ago

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 12:13 PM. Reason : link]

5/9/2013 12:12:19 PM

5/9/2013 12:14:17 PM

TLDR

5/9/2013 12:14:55 PM

i don't own a dog, but i wish my co-workers brought their dogs to the office. it'd make the day more enjoyable.

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 12:15 PM. Reason : ]

5/9/2013 12:15:10 PM

Quote :

"i don't own a dog, but i wish my co-workers brought their dogs to the office. it'd make the day more enjoyable."

True, but not everyone will, and while it may be nice to be around a dog for a little while and people's moods would be better, productivity would probably be shit. If you were trying to get something done or had something due the next day, the last thing that you would want is to be surrounded by a dozen people all cooing and calling and laughing about this sweet puppy that you don't have time for or don't want to be around

5/9/2013 12:17:44 PM

if anyone brings a dog into my office, i'm bringing my nephew

5/9/2013 12:18:46 PM

Quote :

"shitty great read for dog owners anybody"

5/9/2013 12:20:54 PM

I don't trust people who don't like dogs.

5/9/2013 12:23:07 PM

We'll see who has the last laugh

5/9/2013 12:24:50 PM

me neither. people who aren't "animal people" are usually shady people.

5/9/2013 12:25:34 PM

i bring my dog to work...


but only when i'm here by myself or it's just me and the other girl here...


because...well...my dog is an asshole

5/9/2013 12:26:10 PM

It's not that I don't like dogs. I don't like your dog.

5/9/2013 12:26:35 PM

Quote :

"True, but not everyone will, and while it may be nice to be around a dog for a little while and people's moods would be better, productivity would probably be shit."

Indeed, I would not at all mind spending the day playing with dogs and eating ice cream... but I came here to code

5/9/2013 12:27:54 PM

i like most dogs, i don't like all dogs

and the people who assume their dog is well behaved are usually wrong

5/9/2013 12:27:58 PM

I don't want random people to pet my dogs because my dogs don't like random people.

5/9/2013 12:28:17 PM

Quote :

"and the people who assume their dog is well behaved are usually wrong"

Didn't you know that Pitt Bulls are the most loving and sweetest creatures on Earth?

note: people really talk this way

5/9/2013 12:30:35 PM

other places to not bring your dog include: off leash in (non-dog) parks, outdoor seating areas at restaurants, and anywhere you don't pickup their shit

5/9/2013 12:30:46 PM

Quote :

"outdoor seating areas at restaurants"

If dogs are allowed, they have every right to be there as you.

5/9/2013 12:40:32 PM

IOP1

5/9/2013 12:45:12 PM

5/9/2013 12:49:50 PM

Quote :

"If dogs are allowed, they have every right to be there as you."

we're talking about the issue of being considerate, not what is legal

a lot of restaurants allow smoking in outdoor seating areas, but that's as annoying as your dog

5/9/2013 12:54:07 PM

I rarely see dogs cause disturbances at outdoor restaurants (honestly, I can't remember the last time I did see an issue). Most often, they garner a ton of attention (good attention).

Sounds like you just being a bitch.

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 12:57 PM. Reason : .]

5/9/2013 12:56:59 PM

what's not that annoying to you may be really annoying to someone who doesn't like dogs

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 1:03 PM. Reason : for example, one time i saw a dog pull over a table and get into a fight at boylan]

5/9/2013 1:02:46 PM

What, like when my dog lays under my chair and does nothing while I eat my sandwich on the patio seating area?

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 1:04 PM. Reason : sgsdf]

5/9/2013 1:03:54 PM

your stinky dog is sniffing people and bothering them

5/9/2013 1:06:10 PM

Quote :

" for example, one time i saw a dog pull over a table and get into a fight at boylan"

one time i saw two people get into a fight at a bar... therefore ban people from bars.

5/9/2013 1:06:12 PM

the difference is that no one doesn't understand that loud fighting drunks are annoying when you are trying to sit outside and have a nice dinner

5/9/2013 1:08:54 PM

wait...a dog got into a fight with someone? like uppercuts and shit?

5/9/2013 1:21:18 PM

no

5/9/2013 1:23:06 PM

iop1

5/9/2013 1:38:11 PM

5/9/2013 1:39:08 PM

sounds like you're just being a whiny cunt.

Quote :

"I don't want random people to pet my dogs because my dogs don't like random people."

The ratio of times people ask to pet my dog to my dog wanting to check out people is like 4 to 1. My dog is not very curious of other people. I've seen mothers use their bodies as shields to protect their stroller riding toddlers from my dog as I walk down the street, all the while he doesn't even look in their direction (and weighs 24 lbs). I realize some people don't like dogs, but people always come to him, not the other way around.

Quote :

"outdoor seating areas at restaurants"

If a misbehaving (lunging, barking, shitting) dog is there then the owners are dicks for bringing it there in the first place. But if the dog truly is well behaved then the dog is bothering nobody. In fact the dog is usually making most people around it smile. That's my experience at least.

5/9/2013 1:56:04 PM

tl;dr

5/9/2013 2:06:38 PM

Quote :

"But if the dog truly is well behaved then the dog is bothering nobody. In fact the dog is usually making most people around it smile. That's my experience at least."

5/9/2013 2:07:55 PM

I hate children at restaurants more than dogs.

5/9/2013 2:21:22 PM

i bring my 1 year old to restaurants.

5/9/2013 2:22:36 PM

you are a bad parent for breaking your child in to society!

5/9/2013 2:27:06 PM

Our city is extremely dog-friendly. People have their dogs out all over downtown. In the park, at outside seating at restaurants, and walking down the street. We rarely have our dog downtown just because if we go out, we like not being tied-down or limited because she is with us.

However, I can EASILY say that the ratio of # number of people that approach dogs without warning to pet them : dogs that approach/lick/bother/sniff strangers is 5:1.

Now, bringing your dog into work is one thing. I love dogs, and wouldn't mind a well-behaved one at all, but I completely agree that isn't very reasonable.

As far as dogs out in public, it's no different than kids to me: some are good, some are annoying. Heck, half the dogs in our city are probably more well-behaved and less annoying downtown than kids.

This kind of article really only applies to inconsiderate people, not dog owners, even though some of them may own dogs.

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 2:36 PM. Reason : ]

5/9/2013 2:35:08 PM

The ratio you people are talking about is kinda part of the point of the column.

5/9/2013 2:46:23 PM

Quote :

"BREAKING YOUR CHILD"

5/9/2013 2:49:57 PM

I've clicked on this thread several times and not read a single post in it.

I just presume it's classic TWW goin' on up in here.

5/9/2013 2:53:14 PM

Quote :

"The ratio you people are talking about is kinda part of the point of the column."

I guess I'm missing it. The column seems to be talking about dogs accosting humans, which doesn't seem to be extremely common to me. At least not as common as humans randomly accosting dogs.

5/9/2013 2:59:37 PM

I don't dislike dogs, but if my choice is to hang around a dog or not, I'm choosing not.

With that said, I'm choosing not to hang around any animal if there's an option.

5/9/2013 3:02:11 PM

Oh I love painting people with a broad brush.

5/9/2013 5:50:19 PM

Better than bitches who breastfeed in fucking public. nasty cunts

at least I get to pet the dog

5/9/2013 5:54:19 PM

Quote :

"I don't dislike dogs, but if my choice is to hang around a dog or not, I'm choosing not. With that said, I'm choosing not to hang around any animal if there's an option."

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

5/9/2013 5:55:35 PM

Quote :

"It’s time to take America back."

5/9/2013 6:05:29 PM

Quote :

"contemplative adult spaces like grown-up museums and coffee shops"

and no surprise the dog-hating author is an awful parent

5/9/2013 6:54:08 PM

I don't like when people assume they can just reach out to your dog and pet them, that is a sure way to get bit!

[Edited on May 9, 2013 at 7:19 PM. Reason : .]

5/9/2013 7:18:43 PM

Sorry, but there's a wall of text in the OP.

5/9/2013 8:15:47 PM