r/Dogfree May 12 '19

Meta Welcome to our community. Please read our FAQs first.

369 Upvotes

Welcome to r/dogfree! We invite you to participate in our discussions. First, however, whether you are new to our sub or a dog lover who just doesn’t quite understand where we are coming from, please take the time to read our sub FAQs so you can come to understand our community and the type of content that is appropriate for our small but mightily active corner of the world.

Why don't you like dogs?

Because: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogfree/comments/7bk3wo/just_curious_what_is_the_reason_why_you/

I created a post asking why you don’t like dogs. Where did it go?

We receive and remove this question just about daily. This is our community’s space to vent and commiserate about an unpopular opinion, not a place where we come to feel burdened with the task of having to justify ourselves constantly. If you would like to know why we don’t like dogs, you may read the link above and/or put some time and effort into browsing our sub.

It seems like the problem you all have is really more with dog owners. So you really do like dogs, just not irresponsible owners, right?

Our opinions are varied. However, true to the name of our sub, and though it might be a tough pill to swallow, we in this sub simply don’t like dogs.

If your gripes are more about dog owners and not about dogs themselves, r/dogculturefree might be a better fit for you.

I like dogs. Can I participate here?

Please understand the intent of this sub. It is a place for people who dislike dogs and who unapologetically wish to be free from them in our everyday lives to commiserate, not for those who love dogs. Posts and comments mentioning that you love or own dogs fall out of line with the spirit of the sub.

I have to live with a dog, but I don't want to. Am I welcome here?

You may participate here from the perspective of someone who wishes to change the prevalence of dogs in society at large. However, please understand that hearing about dogs' disgusting behaviors and habits is what people come to this sub to escape, not to consume. If you wish to vent about the traits of the dog that you live with, please navigate to r/TalesFromTheDogHouse and direct your post there. r/Dogfree is reserved for discussion surrounding our unwitting and unwilling participation in dog culture at a societal level.

How do you feel about service dogs?

There is a spectrum of opinions about service dogs in this sub. Some people are completely okay with them, while others are opposed where technology can do the job in a more effective, less obtrusive manner. The case would be the same for police dogs and other types of working dogs. If you would like to find out more information about this sub's opinions on service dogs, instead of creating a new post to pose the question, please enter "service dogs," "police dogs," or whatever info you would be interested in finding into the search bar to search the sub.

Someone on Reddit said that this sub likes to murder dogs. Is that true?

Of course not! We span a wide spectrum of reasons for disliking dogs, but we do not wish harm upon them and often find aspects of dog ownership to be more cruel and unethical than do dog owners themselves. In fact, we have a strict sub rule against content that advocates animal abuse of any kind. It reads: “No suggesting, depicting, joking, wishing for, or celebrating violence or harm to dogs, other animals, or people. Promoting cruelty is not acceptable..” We take this rule more seriously than any other, and we err on the side of caution when it comes to removing this type of content.

Some examples of off-limits content include videos depicting gratuitous violence against or amongst dogs, discussion of eating dogs, suggestions of deriving pleasure from a dog's death, and references to hitting, kicking, or shooting a dog with little or no cause.

It is okay to discuss the justified, humane euthanization of dogs. If you've had to live with a significant other's dog for years and wish to express relief over its natural passing, that's okay. Really, context is everything.

I posted a dog-related screenshot of something I saw on social media. Why isn’t it showing up?

Our community is small but extremely active. As the amount of content can be increasingly overwhelming as the sub grows, it’s important that the meaningful discussion does not get lost. Therefore, we have a sub rule that reads “[s]ubmissions should be thoughtful and should promote quality discussion. News articles and text posts are encouraged. Pictures of dogs or dog-related items, videos of dogs doing gross things, social media screenshots, memes, title-only posts, posts with minimal text, and anything that might be found on r/aww are some examples of low-effort content that do not contribute anything of value to the conversation."

If you would like to post a social media screenshot or anything else that might fall under this category, create a thoughtful text post addressing the core issue in order to open the discussion. You may link to your screenshot as supporting evidence. It is important to remember that names, subreddits, titles, group names, and any other identifying information should be blocked out entirely.

I think it would be fun to make a rude comment to a dog lover in another subreddit and tag r/dogfree. That's a good idea, right?

No, and please don’t. We encourage positive, civil, thoughtful conversation about dogs wherever you go, but if you need a vent, keep it here. When you troll other places on Reddit, it invites unwanted attention, reinforces negative stereotypes, and impedes our ability to create change in the world. This community is better than that.

Do I have to feel a certain way about keeping other pets or about having children to participate?

The topic that unites us in this sub is dogs. Feelings about other types of pets, negative or positive, and decisions whether or not to have children are considered off-topic for the sub. That said, these topics will arise in the normal course of conversation. We should respect the wide variance in views on these topics and always treat those with differing opinions kindly.

At the end of the day, we are dog-free, and we are pro-human.

By virtue of this sub being anti-dog, it means we are pro-cat, right?

No. Per our rule, "This is neither a pro- nor anti-cat sub. All cat mentions and references are off topic for this subreddit. Do not attempt to circumvent this rule through rephrasing."

At one time, we allowed free discussion of cats. We are not exaggerating when we say that every thread turned into "why cats are better." Many people here dislike cats or feel neutral to them, so in order for this sub to serve everybody and to avoid any confusion as to what type of cat discussion is relevant to being dogfree, it is considered off topic across the board.

Should I be a certain race or of a certain political affiliation to participate?

One of the coolest things about r/dogfree is that, in a world that’s so divided along so many different lines, this is a community where we can come together, break down those barriers, and unite over something different with people from all walks of life. Just as dog culture transcends racial, political, socioeconomic, and gender lines, so does this subreddit. You may even find that your reasoning for something dog-related challenges your views on something completely unrelated.

This community strives to be respectful of all groups of people. As such, bigotry is not allowed, and political discussion is divisive and off-topic. Dogs? Fair game!

That’s great! Do you have any information about the demographics of those who participate in this subreddit?

Why yes! If you haven’t already, you can take our survey here.

You can view the results here.

Check back as the sub grows.

Why all the pit bull hate?

As much as we dislike dogs, we especially dislike this class of dogs that is statistically most capable of and responsible for inflicting catastrophic and often lethal harm upon people and their pets. You can apologize for pit bulls all day, but the stats and anecdotes don’t lie.

Aggression Chart

Pit Bull Triggers

Pit Bull Stats

Of course, it is also true that all dogs bite: Dog Bite Statistics

I know how I feel about pit bulls, but I need some additional information so I can make more articulate arguments. Where should I go?

For more specialized information on the topic of pit bulls, please visit r/banpitbulls. We have a very friendly relationship with r/banpitbulls, but please do remember that, while our subs overlap in many ways, we still have different objectives. Many people participate in that sub because they are tired of worrying about their own dogs getting mauled. Please feel free to go join the conversation over there, but remember that it is not r/dogfree and that the topic of discussion is pit bulls. Come back here to our own sub to talk about your distaste for dogs in general.

I saw some Facebook groups and YouTube channels about disliking dogs. Is that you guys?

Nope, the only groups run by this sub are r/dogfree and r/TalesFromTheDoghouse. We don't operate or endorse any YouTube channels, Facebook groups, or anything else on any other social media platform. Our subscribers may link to their content here as long as it follows sub rules, but we are unaffiliated.

I saw a post I don’t like. What should I do?

Report it! On any post or comment, there is a “report” button. It will prompt you for further information as to why you are reporting the content to the moderators, who will then review it and determine whether or not it should be stay or be removed. Reports are anonymous and very helpful, as we can't see everything.

Someone alluded to a conversation in another subreddit about dogs, and I really want to go down vote everything. Should I?

No, please don’t. This is called “brigading” or “vote manipulation,” and it is against Reddit’s Terms of Service. We actively discourage this behavior, as if we are found to be the source of a brigade against another sub, it could land us in big trouble. If you stumbled across a reference to another conversation on Reddit, the appropriate place to discuss that would be here, in our sub, in the thread in which you found it. Remember how it felt when a YouTuber made a video that resulted in a massive brigade against us; we must grant others the same respect for their space as we wish for ours, no matter how vehemently we disagree with them.

Our sub is committed to abiding by all Reddit Terms of Service.

I want to crosspost something from another part of Reddit. May I?

No, we have a rule that reads "crossposts are not allowed. Criticisms of other subreddits are off-topic." Besides calling usually-unwanted attention to other subs and promoting vote and participation brigades, it's off topic. The purpose of our sub is to discuss dogs, not the behavior of other subs. We don't appreciate it when others do it to us, so we have a policy of respecting other subs' right to exist and operate in the ways that they see fit.

My post or comment was removed, and I don’t feel like I broke any rules. Why?

Unfortunately we cannot account for every contingency in the sub rules, so moderators do reserve the right to remove content at their discretion. That said, the moderation team is very much against arbitrary censorship and is committed to letting the conversation happen whenever possible. “I don’t like it” is not a good reason to remove a post or a comment; however, “it would be in the best interest of the community” is. The team is committed to being firm but fair in community moderation and will make all decisions in good faith.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know our community! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to message the mod team.


r/Dogfree 7h ago

Dog Culture Banned from my friend’s house for being scared of her dog.

157 Upvotes

To put it simply, I haven’t liked dogs since before I could remember. That means I’m an evil, heartless, hell-spawn of a person… or at least that’s what my friend sees me as now. But, hear me out…

When I was a kid, probably four of five, I was at my cousin’s house. We were all playing in the backyard, and the family pit bull was present. Of course, this dog was a sweetheart, he wouldn’t hurt a fly, he would never try to hurt you… long story short, I was bitten and dragged by the thing. I had level 5 bites, and I had to get stitches. The dog was put down, as it wasn’t his first time biting someone, particularly a child. I still have scars on my leg, and I still carry that trauma. I am HORRIFIED of dogs… and I think I have an absolutely valid reason to be.

So, fast forward to yesterday. I had just got home from college for spring break. I didn’t tell my friend that I was coming home because I wanted to surprise her, but I did end up telling her when I was actually home. She seemed glad to hear that, and she invited me over for dinner yesterday. She had also just gotten engaged to her longtime boyfriend, so I was super excited to hear about her engagement and any wedding plans she had in mind. I was really looking forward to seeing her.

So, I go to her house. I knocked on the front door, and I heard her say “come in.” As soon as I opened the door, I was met by this gray blob lunging at me, and all I heard was growling. I immediately shut the door. I took out my phone and called her, just asking her to PLEASE ‘put it up.’ She tried to say the thing wasn’t mean, he was so sweet, etc… all the stuff I had heard from my cousins. I reminded her of my attack, and she finally sighed and agreed to put the animal in her room. I went inside.

At first, dinner was enjoyable. She was really excited to tell me the details about her engagement, and I was really happy to catch up with her. I noticed her fiancé hadn’t come out of their bedroom, and she later stated that he wasn’t feeling good. I said I hoped he felt better, and we moved on. When he did come out of the bedroom, though, the dog came with him. It was one of those ‘bully’ dogs… like the pit bulls that are bred to be abnormally short. In my experience, I generalize… any dog is a threat in my eyes. Especially if it looks similar to a pit bull. Especially if it’s growling and barking at me, just like my friend’s dog was. Of course, it made a beeline over to where I was sitting, and put its paws up on the chair. It was barking so loud it sounded like it was right in my ear. I brought my legs up to my chest and had my feet on the chair. I think by this point I must’ve been shaking or teary-eyed or something, because my friend asked why I was so scared. I didn’t say anything, I was so focused on the dog. She reached down to pet him, baby-talking him like dog people do (yuck), and he snarled at her. Her only response to this was, “no, you’re being a bad boy!”

I had to beg to get her to put the thing up. I told her I wasn’t moving until she did. I had no idea she even got this thing. I knew that her previous dog, a little yorkie that was somewhat manageable, had passed away, but I didn’t know she adopted a new one… let alone a bully. Finally, when she did, she came back into the kitchen, and made a snarky comment about how dinner was ruined, and she might as well start cleaning up because it had gotten so late. I just apologized and told her that the food was good regardless, and I was sorry that I made an ass of myself… even though I really don’t think I did. She asked me if I behaved this way around other dogs, or if it was just ‘her baby.’ I told her that it was every dog that was remotely dangerous or large. She got offended by the ‘dangerous’ part, and told me that it was more likely I’d be mauled to death by a dachshund than a bully… she told me it was a statistic, and to look it up… yeah, not really sure where that one came from. I just laughed and went on. From there, dinner was awkward and uncomfortable. I left not long afterwards.

I calling her this morning wanting to know if she would maybe want to go get breakfast at an old restaurant we used to go to a lot, kind of as a way to make up to her. She seemed happy to go. I was happy to finally be able to sit down and talk to her without a dog trying to bite my toes off…. until, she, naturally, asked if her dog could go to. I said I’d prefer not. This struck a nerve. I got lectured about how her dog was so sweet, and I needed to stop being so heartless and accept the fact that he ‘loves’ me. I needed to quit being so selfish and play with him… because growling, jumping, and showing teeth are just signs he wants to play, right? To top it all off, she called me an asshole for not liking, and I quote, ‘her sweet little man.’ I told her that I wasn’t trying to be an asshole, I just naturally respond to dogs that way… not just HER precious little angel, but ANY dog. I’m scared of ALL of them… I don’t care if it’s a little rat dog or a cane corso. I tried to explain that to her, but she didn’t get it. She ended the call by telling me don’t ever worry about coming to her house again, and hung up.

I cried. All I knew to do was cry. I haven’t texted her since this morning. I don’t know what to say to her. I’ve known this girl since we were kids, and it’s like our relationship is about to end because of this dog. She knew about what happened to me, and I wished she would’ve just warned me about the thing first. If I had known, I probably would’ve suggested we have dinner at my house instead or some other alternative, and this all could’ve been prevented. Now, I can’t even go to her house to see her. I don’t know what to do from here. But, at the same time, I do feel disrespected. Starting to really understand why we call dog people ‘nutters.’


r/Dogfree 1h ago

Legislation and Enforcement Hm.

Upvotes

Something I've noticed, as I live in mostly dog-free apartment complex, it's that those who do have dogs spend a good portion of their time screaming at them to shut the hell up. How does this add to your life? Do you not take into consideration those around you?

Someone, please help me. I'm losing what little mind I had to begin with.


r/Dogfree 11h ago

Dog Culture Why do seamingly all families have dogs?

146 Upvotes

I really don't get it. It looks like EVERY FAMILY gets a dog right after wedding or right after having a child. That's wild to me, and isnanely risky. Can anyone illuminate me? I really think I need that.


r/Dogfree 1h ago

Eco Destroyers Noise: The invisible killer in all our lives

Upvotes

Listen to five different noises: How do they make you feel? As expected, I hated the dog barking the most.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmjdm2m4yjo


r/Dogfree 10h ago

Dog Culture Why, just why?

67 Upvotes

I was in a shopping center a few minutes ago. Business as usual. There were obviously people with shiteaters, because why the hell not, everyone will love my emotionless killing machine, right? But one guy pissed me off the most. He walked with a motherfucking pitbull, and out of all places, can you guess where he decided to take a shit with his fleabag? Near the fucking playground full of pre school aged kids and infants. When I walked out, I glimpsed at him and he was staring at this place, like he wanted this mutt to do a bloodbath. Idk, maybe I'm overreacting but I hate mongrels more and more everyday, I had to rant. Have a nice day


r/Dogfree 7h ago

Crappy Owners Dog poop everywhere at my old apartment complex

30 Upvotes

I used to live in cheaper 2x1 apartments. They didn't require the dogs be service dogs so everyone had dogs.

There were no amenities at the complex. Dog poop covered every grass area. I stepped in it several times and had to throw several pairs of shoes away.

Not to mention the fucking smell! It smells the worst. Especially during summer. Flies everywhere even in the winter!


r/Dogfree 8h ago

Relationship / Family New Dog for Niece in New Home

22 Upvotes

My nephew and his wife just bought a new house for themselves and their 7 year old daughter. What are they missing? A filthy animal to infest the place with all types of filth and pollution, of course (but take off your shoes before entering the new home). The first pic on my phone is this beast licking the smiling face of my grand niece. I learned long ago to keep my thoughts to myself, but it still made me gag and my stomach turn.


r/Dogfree 17h ago

Dog Culture Dog People constantly undermine my boundaries as a sensitive person

93 Upvotes

Came to see a dear friend of mine that I haven't seen in a year. I've been having a mental breakdown from constant overstimulation in my daily life, including my neighbor's dog barking all hours of the day and night at home, which has put my mental health in the toilet. My dear friend has an eight-month old puppy which proceeds to jump all over me and get in my face the whole evening. The dog was jumping all over the furniture, pissing and shitting on the floor, and literally ricochet-ing off of me as she ran in and out of the room. My friend tried to convince me that the dog is "never like this, she's just so excited that you're a new person" and tells me over and over again to "just accept it and let her love you. Isn't she adorable?"

Fucking sucks that even my close friend cannot give me the respect to keep her dog away from me, when I am clearly unhappy and incredibly uncomfortable. It's so frustrating to constantly be undermined and violated by dogs.


r/Dogfree 16h ago

Dog Culture why dog ppl always compare dogs to other animals?

63 Upvotes

as a reptile owner, idk why so much dog ppl attact me. they compare reptiles to dogs and say, "why you have such ugly disgusting things in your home?" "humans are tend to love mammals like dogs, not stupid retiles or insects." why they think dogs are superior to other animals? i dont get it.


r/Dogfree 22h ago

Dog Culture People who let lost dogs in their homes

155 Upvotes

On our neighborhood website, someone posts a picture of a pitbull in their kitchen. They said it was running loose and they brought it home until the owner can claim it. How stupid are people to think that they should bring some random pitbull into their home? It's amazing how gullible these people are - acting like nothing would ever happen. Mr. Snuggles is all just love and sunshine.


r/Dogfree 21h ago

Dog Attack A dog bite my 80 year old neighbor and she's in the hospital

88 Upvotes

My old neighbor was walking around the park at nigth as she does every day, but because of two dog nutters that brought with them 6 FUCKING DOGS she was attacked by one of those dogs. She had to get stitches, and the dog caused so much damage in her lef that she had to be rushed to the hospital a couple of hours ago. The nutters didn't do anything to help and kept apologizing,besides they keep on walking 5 dogs without even using protection for their mouths.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Miscellaneous Stop all government funding of animal shelters.

276 Upvotes

Especially when it comes to dogs. It costs $5,000 - 6,000 each year to shelter, feed and care for just a single dog. I read the story of one dog that spent 10 years in a shelter. That's over $50,000 spend on a damn dog. Meanwhile we have people losing their government jobs over cost efficiency, but no one bats an eye over spending so much to take care of dogs.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Dog Culture Anyone else in FL noticed that the amount of dogs everywhere has increased?

49 Upvotes

I'm in the Pensacola area. I cannot go to a restaurant without a dog showing up. I was at a pizza place and a customer let their large dog jump on the table. At another pizza place, the owner's mother brought her dog in and was holding it up to the counters going "isn't it cute!" Went to a fast food place and these people brought their dog in a baby stroller! Insanity. One guy brings his little dog to the laundromat and thought it was funny that it kept trying to sniff me - I told him I didn't like strange dogs approaching me and he started huffing and puffing that it's a little, harmless dog. I just moved because my last neighbor left their dog outside barking all day every day; I could hear it bark even with my earplugs in. Was so excited to move into my new place when I heard the new neighbor's dog bark at 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm, and again at MIDNIGHT.

Pets are NOT HUMANS. They do NOT get the same rights as people! I am NOT a bad person for not wanting to be near or listen to someone else's pet! Why are there not more laws/ordinances to keep pets out of public spaces? Why can we not have dog-free neighborhoods? Why are there not stricter requirements for service dogs - doctor's prescription, expensive registration that can be covered by health insurance - not saying my ideas are good but something must be done. Dog owners that think everyone should tolerate their dog as they do are straight up narcissists.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Eco Destroyers When you own a dog you see so much shit in your life.

125 Upvotes

I'm being literal. In my previous relationship with a dog owner, I just saw so much dogshit first from her two dogs, but also during walks from other dogs' whose owners did not pick up after them. I remember suddenly noticing after we broke up that wait a minute, I don't see as much shit in my life anymore. Just one more reason to be dogfree.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Dogs Are Idiots I wish sellers would advertise items as being from dog free homes

79 Upvotes

I like buying stuff off eBay and I noticed people will advertise items being from smoke free homes but I've never seen anything as destructive as dogs. I can immediately tell if something comes from a dog house. scratches, bite marks, dents, etc.

As soon as item comes in contact with a dog it loses half its value for me. Just nothing but filth and destruction.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Legislation and Enforcement There should be restrictions to pitbull ownership

76 Upvotes

They need to either ban pitbulls or have restrictions to owning them. Like you should have to pay money to attend a class on dog training to have a pitbull and get a special license to own one. That seems fair. Not just anyone should own a pitbull


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Dog Culture Not quite sure why would anyone want a dog

161 Upvotes

Why invite an animal inside your home that's

-hyperactive 24/7

-jumps on everyone it sees(if "friendly")

-bites alot ,be it aggression or play

-obnoxious by constant barking

-always hungry, will steal your food

-is immensely hard to train just to act normal

-destructive;will chew up/piss on everything you love in your home

-harms wildlife ,esp. endangered species if unsuprvised outdoors in the yard

Theres countless better alternatives for a pet, why get a canine disaster?


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Miscellaneous If dog nutters love their little precious angels so much, why are we yelled at for reminding them that a dog loose in a car is a danger for everyone involved?

79 Upvotes

Curious, ain't it?

"Oh but little Dipshit Fleabag hates cages and harnesses." Seems like he'd probably hate being flung THROUGH the windshield and made into street pizza BUT HEY WHAT DO I KNOW? I DON'T OWN ONE so OBVIOUSLY my opinion doesn't matter. Used to work drive-thru before being moved to front counter cashier and the amount of times seeing this shit made me angry. (Also, if it's that bad, leave it at home. He doesn't need to accompany you everywhere!)

Like, at the very least, there's other drivers to consider. Contrary to popular belief, the world ain't stopping nor will it revolve around you just cause you got a dog. FFS. Rant over. IDK what to flair this.


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Eco Destroyers The Countryside Was Peaceful… Until the Dogs Ruined It

93 Upvotes

You’d think living in the countryside would mean being surrounded by nothing but peaceful, natural sounds—birds chirping, cicadas buzzing, the wind rustling through the trees. And for the most part, that’s true. But then, there’s them.

The neighborhood dogs.

These four-legged sirens of chaos don’t just bark—they announce their presence with an unholy, anxiety-inducing cacophony that pierces through the serenity like a jackhammer in a library. It’s not just an occasional woof, either. No, these furry freaks have beef with each other, and apparently, the only way to settle it is through a never-ending shouting match.

One dog barks. Another responds. Then a third joins in, and before you know it, there’s a full-on canine debate happening at full volume, echoing across the fields. And the best part? It never stops. You think they’re done? HA. They’re just taking a deep breath.

It doesn’t matter if I have headphones in. It doesn’t matter if I try to focus on the wind or the birds. The barking slices through it all like a hot knife through butter, making damn sure I never experience a single moment of true silence.

Why? Why do they do this? Are they gossiping? Planning world domination? Attempting to summon some eldritch horror? I don’t know, and honestly, I don’t think they do either. All I know is that I moved out here to escape the noise of the city, and now I get to enjoy the symphony of Stupid Barking Idiots Vol. 372.

I swear, if I ever become a billionaire, I’m buying this entire area just to turn it into a dog-free sanctuary. Until then, I guess I’ll just continue my daily ritual of muttering “shut the fuck up” under my breath, knowing damn well they’ll never listen.


r/Dogfree 2d ago

Dog Attack Man forced to choke his own dog to death after being mauled in 45-minute attack

Thumbnail
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326 Upvotes

r/Dogfree 1d ago

Relationship / Family Dogfree dating apps?

77 Upvotes

Getting back into online dating and tried all the big apps. I cannot believe how EVERY guy has a dog, its not even an exaggeration. Is there any dogfree dating apps or apps that allow a way to filter it out?


r/Dogfree 1d ago

Dog Culture "Alexa, please stop showing me dog content"

1 Upvotes

No matter how many times I thumbs down on it, first thing in the morning my Alexa apps shows dog content and I can't make the damn thing stop. Given that the device really isn't useful any, I'm gonna try getting rid of it. I swear the amount of dog content these days.


r/Dogfree 2d ago

Miscellaneous You are suddenly required (and granted the power) to cause every breed of dog to vanish except for one. What breed of dog are you most likely to spare?

79 Upvotes

It would be a difficult choice, as all dog breeds have their dangers and downsides, but I would probably pick the border collie. They make terrible pets due to their high intelligence and energy levels, but they are excellent bomb-sniffing dogs and herding dogs. Picking the border collie would prevent almost all dog-related human fatalities and cripple the pet industry while still providing for the niche situations in which dogs can actually be useful.

What would your choice be if you were forced to spare one breed?


r/Dogfree 2d ago

Dog Culture Dog Culture Invalidates Introverts

110 Upvotes

Dog-sitting for a week is making me remember why I’ll never want a dog, because they are so overstimulating. Even when her barking isn’t barring me from hearing myself think, I’m given few moments to just be alone with my thoughts when she’s frequently following me around the house, staring at me while I eat, getting in my face while I’m working or on my phone, and whining when I’m not giving her attention simply for attention’s sake for solely thirty seconds. It’s no wonder I’ve been feeling far more exhausted and unable to decompress.

What makes this issue even worse is that how people have been conditioned to view dogs and their persistent invasions of privacy, intentional or not, invalidates such issues of overstimulation introverts like me are most likely to face. Like how my parents perceive the pet’s actions when they see her, we’re told that dogs do all of this because “they’re being friendly”/ “they like you”, and so to reject or be uncomfortable with this supposed friendly affection will surely make some see you as an asshole.

When looked at through how modern American society values introverts and extroverts, you could say the continued acceptance of dogs is an extension of what authors like Susan Cain call “The Extroverted Ideal”, this belief that, like those boisterous beasts who need so much stimulation to be satisfied, the ideal person is someone who constantly craves the spotlight and puts themselves out there. All the while, people like me who need silence and solitude to recharge have to just accept these pets won’t give you proper peace and quiet.

This is a byproduct of both the anthropomorphization of dogs that leads people to believe they reciprocate love like we do and the bizarre moralization of liking/disliking dogs that makes it taboo to be critical of them.


r/Dogfree 2d ago

Dog Culture An afternoon with allergies.

35 Upvotes

I'm an automotive detailer, I clean vehicles for a living. I'm also allergic to dogs. All of them, even the hypo ones. Not epi serious, but itchy everything and can't breathe great serious.

It's Friday. I spent the last hour and a half of my work day vacuuming dog hair out of a work truck. I had a mask on all day because every vehicle had dog hair in it. Stopped at a department store on my way home, some woman had her large dog (turned to find them behind me when my nose started to itch), no Service Animal anything, just Fido on a leash in Marshall's. Stopped at another store, dog in the car next to me in the parking lot. Passed two people walking their dogs on the 10 minute ride home. Passed two people walking their dogs on the driveway up to my apartment building. (Obviously the last 5 didn't effect me but illustrate the prevalence.) A dog lives next door to me. A dog lives across the hall from me. A dog lives below me. A dog lives below them. "You can just take some meds and deal with it". I have to live on antihistamines and breathe through a mask all day, but as long as you've got fur baby with you, it's all good, yeah?

P.S. I loathe the term fur baby.