# I Don't Understand People That Take Their Dogs With Them EVERYWHERE They Go. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265 "2011-05-09T12:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![faroutnapping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e0b2c6/32.png) [@faroutnapping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/faroutnapping)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/123 "2012-09-15T05:25:23Z")
Its no longer faithful companion, but our little baby. It is fascinating to me that some people believe that their dogs share the same thoughts, emotions, ideologies, fears, wants and needs as they do. It certainly makes for good business considering the USA spent over 40 billion on their pets. Commercials referring to us as pet parents, not pet owners any longer. God forbid your dog eats corn gluten after he licks his arse. So much crap for us to buy up and into. I would have loved to be there that day my uncle’s dog decided, and communicated to his owner that he wanted to be a vegetarian. Corn gluten up!!! Rather than shove pills into your anxious dog’s food, never letting him be aprt from you as you rush home to be with him, how about you understand that he is of a different species. Learn about how for thousands of years he’s roamed the earth in a pact with an Alfa male. That his anxiety isn’t about missing your affections, but that his genetic makeup is telling him that he should be in a pact. And that you, as have I, taken this creature out of its natural setting and now we must modify our behavior for the benefit of the animal. It is not a status symbol, a plush toy, and especially not a human child. But some co-dog owners refuse to believe otherwise. And in my observations, as with a gathering I held at my home, such owners are easily offended and sensitive. My brother in law and his wife have conditioned themselves to believe that everybody loves their dog, just as much as they do. When my brother inlaw overheard a me saying to my brother, “the dog is up in the spare bedroom now”, he rudely interjected, “the DOG has a name”. I at that moment I used the forbidden term ‘dog’ when referencing his k9. Of course I called the dog by his given name that evening & always, and for me this reaction verified this man’s lunacy. The real problem was that he brought on this resentment himself, he showed up with his ill mannered, unrestricted, uninvited dog. They very well knew that we had put our own dog in a kennel, and asked our uncle not to bring his pet. There were going to be children, and a couple of adults afraid of dogs. But his furry baby was certainly the exception, right? I figure that he finally started to realize that the majority of the attendees were either annoyed, afraid or indifferent to his dog ( of the 26 guests only 4 adults and a 2 year old went over pet the dog). My 6 year old frightened nephew cried and screamed for the early part of the evening, and my husband’s friend’s wife was visibly upset that dog kept jumping up onto her legs, and actually left early. The dog licked the feet of some, and they didn’t know what to do. My husband, asked if they could be more attentive to their dog. It seemed my brother inlaw didn’t get the attention HE wanted of others fawning over his precious dog, so he vented on me. Of course this bothered my husband and I. We worked hard to prepare for this special evening, tried to make it enjoyable for all…and these two inconsiderate, egotistical numbskulls can’t understand why everyone wasn’t excited to be with their ‘baby’. It made me wonder if they do this all the time with other people’s human parties. Apparently it does. When we are invited to an event like a wedding, we know it’s going to be a long day, we find a sitter for the kid, and a kennel/friend for the dog. No biggy. Dogs can’t tell time, they’ll give you the same affection after 1 hour as they would after 5 hours. They may actually enjoy a nice kennel & the time away from you! I’ve had animals all my life. Never have I carted them around with me eternally. I’ve always respected, disciplined, and been affectionate with all our pets (goldfish, cats, chickens, rabbits, ducks included–& no we didn’t live on a farm). We even had a pitbull that we caught nursing some orphaned ferrel kittens! She once tried to rescue my mom from a fall by attempting to drag her to the house. She was the best dog ever. Such a gentle, quiet, well mannered dog. But not everybody wanted to be near her because of her breed. I wasn’t offended, nor did I force my dog on people. We waited for people to be comfortable with her, ready when they were to pet/play/hang out with her. Sometimes I can’t wait to get home to our dog, to pet, play, go for a hike, cuddle with our buddy. I love him, and respect him as a dog so I give appropriate boundaries, affection. It saddens me when I see my inlaws dog, he’s anxious, not happy, but my sister inlaw never fails to give us his Christmas/birthday gift list ( 4 the dog!!). My uncle’s veggetarian dog is obese. Yeah it was funny at first “your baby” , “our son”, “your grandson”,“your nephew”… We all aren’t laughing anymore. Your dog isn’t better than ours, as ours isn’t better than yours. You love your dog, but not everyone else does, and it’s probably because of you. Hey yeah bring your dog over…translation, bring the dog. Sorry, just us family…translation, your pet is not welcome. Not hard to understand. Pick up one of the thousands of books out their and get some basic dog rearing skills. And don’t drive with a dog on your lap for obvious reasons. And if you can’t figure the obvious, then your the brother in law in this post. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/124 "2012-09-15T07:41:06Z")
My dog is most certainly a person! I named him Kyle Deakins, and I take him to the movies. We went to see The Avengers, but you know Kyle, he has a 3D Glasses Complex. I’ve put him on Stereoscopitrol. It does tend to make him slobber more, but that just makes me feel more compassionate about how he suffers. However, roaming around the theater, eating other people’s popcorn seems to ease his anxiety. But it’s not like he’s just taking without asking. Kyle, as a non-human person, has a language disability (as everyone clearly understands), so he keeps his manners and begs for the treats. Still, the IMAX sound system is far too loud for his superior hearing range, and the management just seems to ignore my complaints to turn it down. See if they’ll get any of my (and Kyle’s) business anymore! But really, I do like dogs. I Used to have a bassett hound. They’re animals, and they can feel and suffer just like any other higher animal. But to anthropomorphize them to such a degree, and then expect others to play along with this illusion because your companion gives you comfort is silly. I’ll treat it with respect and even play or be friendly, if it’s likewise playful and friendly. But I expect owners to understand they need to think of their pet as a dog (and its nature) as it actually is, rather than to see it as a surrogate human family member and get huffy when others treat it like, well, a dog. Let’s be honest. Those pet owners that get all uppity about this (which, IME, is few but they are there), aren’t defending any offence or feelings on the dog’s behalf. They’re defending the way they see their dog: as a human. The dog just wants to smell my crotch. S’all I know. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/125 "2012-09-15T12:24:44Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Agreed, if they are going to allow people to bring their babies who spew disgusting fluids and make noise, there is no excuse for turning away a well-behaved animal. People don’t tend to be allergic to baby dander. [Do babies have dander? They don’t tend to lick their own asses to clean them, nor do most babies roll in rotting road kill if given the chance. Poke it with a stick maybe, but humans tend to avoid strong smelling stuff like dead animals and animal shit. And yes, I have seen dogs rolling in shit.] Why must you subject the employees and other shoppers to allergens? If someone who is allergic can look in and see a dog, and avoid the shopping, fine - but the allergens _don’t_ go away when the mutt leaves the store and so the poor unsuspecting shopper walks in and gets hit with a store full of allergens. Nice of you. Remind me to avoid Colorado. And I would point out that I have a fairly high confirmed kill count of “pets” that came onto my farm and harassed my animals. I am not the one that the animal control officer issues the tickets to. You know how frequently I heard the ‘but my little foofy would never hurt another animal’ when I would contact the owners to ask them to keep their damned mutts on leash or fenced in? It got worlds easier when I took to shooting them after several packed up, killed [and didn’t eat] several ewes and did enough damage to a show ram to require 250 external stitches and uncountable internal stitching and ruining him for show purposes. _MY_ animals were fenced into their pasture, the dogs jumped the fence to harass my animals. They all wore collars and were obviously pets and not feral nor coyotes. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/126 "2012-09-15T13:10:02Z")
I don’t have a dog, but I’m planning for a Boston next year. And I plan to bring that little dirt bag with me out as much as possible. Not because I’m trying to get in peoples faces, but I realize dogs are pack animals and are happier when with the owners. I’ll be doing it because I want a happy dog. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/127 "2012-09-15T14:01:35Z")
> [@faroutnapping](#): > > .. For the love of dog please learn what the enter key is and use it. Huge blocks of text are essentially unreadable. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/128 "2012-09-15T14:58:40Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > \..Huge blocks of text are essentially unreadable. Yeah, no offense, faroutnapping. I wouldn’t usually speak up about something like this except that your writing is fairly decent. Just consider sprinkling in a few spaces, makes what you write much easier to read and therefore more people will likely read what you wrote instead of skimming and scrolling on by. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/129 "2012-09-17T23:58:32Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I don’t understand what you’re saying. Certainly a dog knows his or her name and a new baby does not. If I don’t name the baby in conversation, it has nothing to do with how _the baby_ is treated. But it would offend _the adult I’m talking to_. > > My point is that her refusal to name the dog has nothing to do with how to treat dogs properly, it was merely an attempt to provoke the people she wanted to “go ape\*\*\*\* on.” > > Your response, coming so quickly and glibly without really understanding my point, is mostly reflex, but might indicate you feel demeaned in some way by the practice of naming companion animals. His response is pretty clear. Your analogy required a human baby and a dog to be equal. He says they aren’t, and he’s made it clear that he hates it when people try to equate them. So what is rude to do about a baby is not necessarily rude to do about a dog. My answer would have been that neither one is a problem, unless they were said with disdain. And, I just want to add, for once, I have no problem with people ganging up on a poster. ---
**Author:** ![MelMWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MelMWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelMWolf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/130 "2016-02-23T01:52:10Z")
:o i do agree with you i have always wanted to know why it was so hard for people that they couldn’t leave their dogs at home i mean for real i leave mine at home and mine is so well behaved and has no behavior problems cause i don’t baby mine like everyone else does people need to leave them at home plus WA has a new law now that you can’t leave your dog in a car anyways! the law passed on it yes!!!:rolleyes: > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I just don’t get it. I understand taking your dog(s) for a ride in the car on occasion, and not just to the vet, but to the park, the lake, etc. > > But some people have to take their dog(s) with them on every single flipping errand they run. > > I have a friend named Tim and Tim brings his dog with him literally _everywhere_. Tim has a bad habit of bringing his dog over to people’s houses when they are throwing a party. I mean, seriously? These people were gracious enough not to say anything, but how rude is that? > > I must be getting curmudgeonly in my old age but I fail to understand people that do this. What’s wrong with leaving them at home? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/131 "2016-02-23T17:11:08Z")
My dog ate my punctuation. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/132 "2016-02-23T17:11:16Z")
I spent a lot of time and money making my dogs socially acceptable precisely so they COULD be included in my everyday activities. No, I would never take a dog to someone’s home without asking first, but most folks who know my dogs are fine with them visiting. I can’t take all 3 of my large dogs with me at one time unless I go to the dog park. That’s not fair to anyone or any business to have to deal with them en masse, but Denver has quite a few restaurants, for example, that are dog friendly, and since any of my dogs will sit or lay down nicely and not disturb others, I enjoy taking them with me. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/133 "2016-02-23T17:31:29Z")
Not picking on you specifically: > [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Denver has quite a few restaurants, for example, that are dog friendly Denver is only friendly to _some_ dogs. Denver is infamous for its breed ban on American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and any dogs a city employee claims might _look like_ pit bulls. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/134 "2016-02-23T17:31:29Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > You have to nderstand the human-dog relationship. > For us dog lovers, our dogs are close friends-and we like to be around them.😃 Yeah, but you can ask your friend if he wants to go with you and generally speaking your friend’s going to go into the store with you and not sit out in the car for an hour waiting for you. Not only that but how much time are actually spending with your dog on a trip like this? The one minute it takes for you to bring the dog to the car and bring him him back into the house again? What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/135 "2016-02-23T18:01:21Z")
I take my zombie dog with me whenever I can. Keeps the wife and kid safer that way, you see… ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/136 "2016-02-23T18:04:58Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Not picking on you specifically: > > Denver is only friendly to _some_ dogs. Denver is infamous for its breed ban on American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and any dogs a city employee claims might _look like_ pit bulls. No, you’re absolutely right. I don’t have any bully breeds myself, so I don’t think about it much, but the Denver area is definitely NOT friendly to bully breeds, or any dog who officialdom decides even looks like one. That’s the part the upsets me. Some low-paid public servant gets to make the call. Not a veterinarian who would actually know which dogs are bully breeds. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/137 "2016-02-23T18:05:07Z")
However, I take my _real_ dog (a Scottish Terrier) with me whenever I can to get her out of the house and to spend time with her. My wife and I do mother-daughter trips ranging from 1 day to a week or so. When they do, I always load Mackie up in the truck and go on a brisket run to Lockhart or Luling or wherever, sit in the back of the truck and munch on briskets and sausages. She’s always excited when I say “Wanna go in the truck” but she’s **doubly** excited when I say “Wanna go get some brisket?” ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/138 "2016-02-23T20:06:34Z")
A brisket run to Lockhart! Can I go too? I’ll ride in the back with Mackie. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/139 "2016-02-24T05:41:37Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > This I can understand, in your situation with the rural setting and a dog with a condition such as yours. > > FTR, I don’t hate dogs or anything, I have two of them. I just don’t particularly like their hair all over my car (and subsequently myself), their **nose-prints all over the windows** , etc. One of my dogs is a destructive chewer so he gets crated while we are gone or when we go to bed. Bolding mine. There were nose prints on the passenger side car window and both sets of sliding doors in the house long after my dog died. Lonnnnng after. She went everywhere with me. Current mutt hates the car. Bummer.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/140 "2016-02-24T11:14:11Z")
At my sons elementary school we always had the problem with 1 or 2 parents always bringing their dog with them when they walked their kid either to or from school. Hey, lets everyone go for a walk together! The problem is when they get to the school the dog and the long leash block the sidewalks. I swear this one Mom I dont know what was in her head but she thought it was so cute to have her dog on a leash right at the entrance to the parking area so everyone had to go around her and the dog. The dog of course was cute but not everyone wants their face licked or the dog jumping up on them. The principal finally had to go tell her and some others to leave and they put up several signs and sent out emails and letters telling people that dogs were NOT allowed on school property and they should leave them at home. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/141 "2016-02-24T20:31:02Z")
My wife was mauled by one of your cute little fur-babies as a child and as a result has a, quite rational, fear of them. If your “so cute you can’t stand it” little woggums come leaping at her, yapping and bearing its teeth, she will either cower and burst into tears or tear the beasts throat out. I can tell that most people in this thread are the ones that you see on the news saying, “I can’t understand it, he’s never done anything like that before” when their sweet little baby puts a little kid or an old lady in the hospital. Don’t say it can’t happen, it happened to my wife. And guess what the owner said. Keep your mutt on a leash at all times. Don’t take it in any building where it has not been expressly invited. And for all you, “he come with me on all my errands in the car”, types. Please remember that in as little as 30 minutes you can cook your pet’s brain by leaving it in the car when it is sunny. Yes even when it is cool out and even if you crack the windows. Personally, I like dogs, it’s the jerks that own them that I can’t stand. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265/142 "2016-02-24T20:51:17Z")
[quote=“Candyman74, post:52, topic:581265”] > [@DHMO](#): > > People will declare they can’t abide children, women, fat people, cars, cigarettes, alcohol, republicans, guns, muslims . . . When I see anyone on the TV saying, “Honestly, I don’t know why my (child, wife, fat person, car, cigarette, alcohol, republican, gun, muslim) bit that child, it’s never done anything like that before.” then I will be on board with you. Dog bites in the US 2001-2003 - 4.5 million victims per year (1.5% of the entire population) But I’m sure YOUR dog has never dome anything like that before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-people-that-take-their-dogs-with-them-everywhere-they-go/581265.md?page=8)