Your dog is perfect, right? It’s all the other dogs that are annoying.
I love dogs, but I can see why some people don’t. Most dog owners just don’t control their dogs, and that makes it really easy for others to continue disliking, fearing and misunderstanding dogs. Everyone who reads this blog loves or at least tolerates dogs. But that’s just it, we tolerate dogs owned by our friends, family members and neighbors because we love dogs. Imagine what it’s like for the people in our lives who don’t love dogs.
Last week I asked you what you tolerate from your own dog. But now I want to know what you tolerate or don’t tolerate from other people’s dogs. Even as a dog lover, I get annoyed with dogs all the time. For example:
Big dogs that jump up at my face. In most cases the owners have done nothing to teach the dog not to jump. Instead they act annoyed, like it’s the dogs fault. And although little dogs are more likely to jump on me, it’s the big dogs that test my patience. It’s probably because I assume a small dog will jump. We all know it’s highly unlikely that the owner of a small dog will teach the dog any manners at all.
Dogs that lack any self control. When friends or family members visit with their dogs big or small, the dogs typically run all over like they own the place, including the furniture. When I visit them, the same happens in their own homes. It’s chaotic and stressful for everyone.
Dogs that chase my cats. I understand why dogs want to chase cats! But it’s a big pain in the ass to feel obligated to lock my cats up when someone’s dog is visiting.
How about you? What is most annoying about the dogs you know?
Friends and family of mine who read this are strongly encouraged to rip apart Ace and I. Believe me, I know my mutt is far from perfect. The same is true of his owner.
Email your dog-related question to me at Lindsay@thatmutt.com.
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November 18th, 2008 at 7:10 am
One thing that annoys me is the unstoppable, high soprano bark of small dogs. Or when they jump and put their paws on my clothes.
mayra calvanis last blog post..Review of THE MAGIC VIOLIN
November 18th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I agree. That is about the worst!
November 18th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I get annoyed more at how others treat their companion animals more than the animal. For example, when someone has a big dog that they just leave outside “for protection” that isn’t socialized. We also have a neighbor that left their small Yorkie outside all day and night during our recent bad air quality days. Since they had a child, the poor thing is no longer groomed and is just left outside all the time to bark. I wish they would either re-home it or take care of it the way they did before the child was born. The baby loves dogs too – he thought my giant 120lb guy was a blast!
I’ll get off the soapbox now.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I am a dog lover, but I don’t have any of my own. I am not horribly tolerant of others’ dogs misbehavior! We have a lot of dogs in our neighborhood, and the thing that really gets to me is the incessant barking.
In this case, I think I am more annoyed with the owners though – than the dogs. They get left alone outside all day, with no human contact. Therefore, they bark! They irritate us, but I feel bad for them too! I want to go around with notes for their pet parents – PAY ATTENTION to your dog!!
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November 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yeah, it’s sad when owners just leave their dogs outside all day and all night.
I also know a lot of dogs that are left loose in the house all day. Every time I walk by one of these homes the dogs are lunging and scratching at the doors and windows. Not to mention the barking and growling.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Wow, just in time for Thanksgiving! You don’t pull any punches. I have to think about this one…
Biggie-Zs last blog post..Canine Tolerable Citizen (oh, the things we put up with!)
November 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
on the flip side of under attentive owners- there’s the over attentive owners who treat their dogs like human babies. Theres a big difference between dog psychology and people psychology and I think its very damaging to a dog that is being treated like an actual baby- Don’t get me wrong I love my dogs and they are my world- BUT THEY ARE STILL DOGS!
Although this post was about annoy things dogs do- not there owners- I will say CONSTANT BARKING AT THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Some neighbors once brought in a small puppy and put him in their yard where he cried and cried. As he grew older he was constantly barking. I felt so sorry for him. When they moved out they left him there. I felt so terrible to have to call animal control to take him away, but I had no choice. What I would like to do to those people you don’t want to know.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I hate it when dogs poo in my yard and the owners refuse to clean it up. Just because I clean up after my pooch doesn’t mean I enjoy cleaning up after your too.
Condo Bluess last blog post..Three Easy, Natural, and Free Fall Centerpieces
November 18th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
OMG! That dog looks so much like my Sydney. How adorable!
Here’s a recent photo of her: http://nytrogirl.com/2008/10/17/predator/
I’m a proud pooper scooper myself, so I also hate it when owners don’t clean up after their dogs. I wouldn’t want that done to me, so I don’t do that to others.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I go to my g/f’s for a coffee and its 10min of being yapped at by her two toy poodles and half an hour of being climbed on…can you imagine if i let Chels do that…lol
November 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Jumping is close to the top of my list. We’re currently fighting the battle with our dogs, but like you say many owners seem to not even care.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I always joke that I can’t understand why anyone would ever own a dog. As a dog trainer I see so many problems in dogs I just don’t get why people own them. Then I think of my own dogs and the transformations dogs make through training and I realize that they truly are man’s best friend
November 20th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Lets see, where do I begin… I like most dogs. The ones I dont like are the yappy growly pushy dogs.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
1. Other dogs jumping on me. Sometimes it’s almost a reflex to stick my knee out. People, please teach your dogs some self control! I don’t care how happy your dog is to see me, s/he doesn’t need to jump on me to show it!
2. Yappy dogs – most often happens when people treat their dogs like little people instead of DOGS.
3. Dogs that drag their owners all over the sidewalk – especially the little ones on flexis. (See #2, above) Just because they’re little doesn’t mean I would want them running up to me.
4. This is more about the owners than the dogs – but owners who don’t pick up after their dogs or at least move the poop to a place where people and other dogs won’t step in it accidentally!
November 21st, 2008 at 7:57 pm
5. Dogs that beg for my food (whether I’m sitting at dinner or standing) and treats in my bag. They learned how to beg somewhere.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
The most annoyed I have ever been with a dog was when we looked after a friends British Bull Dog. He snored so loudly that I even had to give up my Spanish siesta time which was for me a very serious issue!