I blame the big pet supply stores in the US for normalizing bringing your dog into a store. It was there first, then people started bringing them into the big box home improvements stores - sure the floor is unfinished concrete and everything is hardy so it doesn't seem like much, but it's creeping change. Now I see them in almost any sort of store. I don't care for it.

Also - why isn't there a proper certification/accreditation for proper service animals? Like the ones with extensive training? Someone's untrained anxiety comfort animal or whatever gets treated the same as a trained-from-puppy seeing eye dog?

…Chandler?

We keep our dogs at home mostly. Other than necessary things like vet trips, we walk them in the neighborhood sometimes and keep them on a short leash when someone comes near. We have a dog door, but we don't let them use it at night so they won't bark and wake up the neighbors. We always warn visitors that we have dogs and we have ways of making parts of the house dog free if necessary when visitors come. We love our dogs, but we try to be courteous with them.

Live in a quiet neighborhood and some bellend decides to get a huge German shepherd. Has to build a high fence to ensure the thing doesn't jump their 6' garden wall, plus it barks at everything, all day. The kids in the house nextdoor are scared of it, it pulls and barks constantly when out for walks and if it ever got loose, it would cause chaos.

But apparently they're all soft loving creatures on the inside, and more importantly, said bellend feels like a big man when out for a walk.

More breeds should be muzzled and restricted from residential areas.

You're gonna be in the dog house over this hot take...

Amen. I can't stand dogs. They're ugly. They slobber and lick on everything. Half of owners don't train them at all and then when the dog misbehaves, if you say anything about it you're the asshole somehow.

You haven't even covered roaming street dogs. Unowned dogs just roaming streets, back alleyways, being a nuisance.

I'm a dog person, but I agree, for the most part. Nobody should have to put up with wild, untrained animals in public places. That's kind of the point of civilization- taming and controlling nature. Untamed dogs do not belong.

That said, I think properly trained dogs are less offensive than most people. I do my best to train my dog, and I actually think she still has a long way to go. (She is very obedient, but being young, has a very short attention span and requires repeat commands to stay focused.)

The average training level of dogs these days is simply atrocious. I went out for a walk on a trail that allowed off leash dogs, and several people told me how shocked they were that my dog always came and stayed by my side when I commanded her to "heel" -frankly, this is disturbing. I consider a reliable recall the BARE MINIMUM for a dog.

"Good" dogs are usually the most predictable, reliable things in their environment

I love my dog more than anything on this planet, but she's mine and I don't expect anyone else to like her just because I do, she can be annoying as fuck, but I have more than enough love for her that it makes up for everyone else who doesn't like her.

I also agree tho, you don't have to take your dog everywhere you go unless you have a legitimate reason and that's what service dogs are for.

I literally cannot find a girlfriend because for some reason EVERY girl that I come across on dating sites has "MUST LOVE DOGS" or "I'll steal your dog" or "I want to own all the dogs." as one of the first things on their profile... Before even talking about themselves it's dogs dogs dogs... It's actually infuriating how obsessed so many of them are with dogs, not because I hate dogs or anything, but just because it's everyone around me. I'm perpetually a fish out of water.

I’ve never been into dogs, that is until I met my wife and her dogs. They’re two chihuahuas which have a bad reputation but I never knew enough about dogs generally speaking to really know.

Now that I work from home, I’m with the dogs 24/7. I am incredibly attached to them. I walk them, I feed them, I spend a lot of time with them.

I also understand not everyone loves dogs so I don’t take them out shopping, let them grab food out of others’ hands, etc. I’m spoiled though because they were already pretty well-trained so I’m really just reaping the benefits of her work.

I guess what I’m saying is, give them a chance. I know dogs that jump all over you are annoying as fuck but usually once they know you they calm down and leave you alone.

Am I supposed to downvote because I whole heartedly agree? I've considered just telling people I'm allergic. I just do not get the fulfilment other people do from being near a dog.