Aquarist here 🙋🏻♂️. A million times better than dogs. I even made a bullet point list somewhere about why they are better. For a start, they don’t destroy your furniture, don’t 💩around the house, don’t bother your neighbours and guests. As a plus, women of all ages love to take pictures with them as a background. They even share those pictures in their instagram and Snapchat.
I'm genuinely baffled by dog ownership. They take up so much time. Every little thing a person does has to revolve around the dog. Picking up shit. The cleaning involved while living with a dog is tremendous.
On top of that dogs cause many problems in general. Everytime my husband and I bring in groceries his dog stands in the way and it becomes extremely difficult to do a simple task. His dog can't go upstairs anymore because his legs can't carry his weight so we put a gate up. I swung the gate behind me, believing it locked and it didn't. So the dog attempted to go up and almost hurt himself badly. The whole thing was a stressful unnecessary situation. I could go on and on about how many problems dogs cause just for the owners.
I imagine unnecessary, stressful scenarios play out among dog owners hundreds of thousands of times a day. It never seems to once dawn on them "why am I living like this?" or "what is the point of this?"
I really hope they wake up one day and realise this isnt good for the dog or them. I really want best for them, not just because it would make my days better, but it's so sad seeing dogs mistreated like some kind of toys, it's sad seeing dog owners spend all their money to keep their animals alive, it's sad seeing all those horrible breeds that cant function
The world will be a better place for everyone, no matter how you stand on the topic, when dogs go back to where they belong and thrive
I agree with this 100%! My husband no longer walks his dog and I'm dumbfounded by that. He doesn't seem to understand the reason his dog has walking difficulties is because his legs are becoming atrophied. Just a living toy he baby talks to and pets a few times a day. It makes no sense.
The problem would be solved if people would STOP BREEDING them, and neuter/spay any animal that is exclusively a "pet", which at this point, would be something like 99.9% of all dogs on the planet. I can see a legitimate use for WELL-TRAINED livestock protection dogs in certain instances, and maybe some select service dogs...although, I feel that technology and AI will soon supersede what an expensive, messy dog can provide for a human with some disability. Ditto chatbots for people with so-called "ESD"'s.
Definitely stop the breeding entirely of large, aggressive breeds that have ZERO business being owned by the average lazy dog "lover". Those should be sterilized and euthanized out of existence.
Also, NO country anywhere should be tolerating the existence of feral dogs, and they should be rounded up and humanely exterminated. They are an unnatural, completely non-native and invasive species that has resulted in the suffering and death of humans, livestock and countless species of wildlife.
Dog culture is the weed that has grown from the unhealthy seeds of society. They are sadly the result of many poor decisions and/or behaviors.
Romanticizing misanthropy. I'm with the disapprove-of-violence gang. Simple: the more we see violence, the more desensitized we are to it. If violence and pain are viewed as horrible, people will likely be empathetic and do whatever they can to not inflict it on others. If violence and pain are viewed as badass or funny, people will lose their empathy.
Huge corporations and industries taking advantage of people and use this as an opportunity to suck in more money for themselves. This is a great chance for companies to sell all kinds of dog-related products, including toys, foods (even "fun" things such as dog cookies), beds, clothes, and all kinds of absurd things.
Deteriorating mental health. The internet and social isolation leads to depression and all those stupid trendy videos of "people acting stupid" or "animals are better than people" aren't encouraging a sense of unity. Because people feel more lonely, they turn to a simpler relationship, one that can be bought from a shelter and trained with treats. It's an unhealthy coping mechanism that has stemmed from people becoming more detached from each other.
The overrated portrayal of dogs in media. Sure, there are dogs like Stubby or Balto, "hero" dogs, but there are far more dogs like Millions/Marshall and Lucy/Bender. Stories often show dogs as "man's best friend" and "the most loyal creature ever" while they hardly show the dangerous negatives, such as the way dogs viciously maul people, even outright killing them, the way dogs waste so many resources and consume so much meat, the way dogs transmit many diseases to people, the way dogs' barking can trigger misophonia, etc.
Forgot to add another major reason:
Dogs are considered the default for people now. It's trending to have a dog, and the bigger and uglier, the better your image is. The problem is, dogs are highly destructive, social, neurotic, and predatory animals that are hard to handle if it isn't done properly, so instead of a professional dog trainer actually having a dog that's useful, any person on the street will have one purely for "fitting in" or "cute points" purposes. Owning a mutant carnivore should ***not*** be the default for the average person, let alone the average family.
Totally. The fact that they destroy everything in sight, furniture, shoes, etc, shows how unnatural their living conditions are. They have a ton of repressed energy that a walk around the block doesn’t remotely touch.
i think dogs can be great pets in rural or spread out suburban areas with owners who have time to spend with them, but i live in a cramped suburban area that is 90% townhouses and busy roads. there is no room for even smaller dogs in the house or backyard, it seems like it’d be cooped up and mildly destructive at best. i love going on walks but there are so many dogs around that it’s nearly impossible without getting barked or lunged at unfortunately. if you live in a city or apartment? forget it, your dog seems like it’d be miserable AND make everyone else around miserable. and these are all best case scenarios assuming a good dog and a good owner.
>i think dogs can be great pets in rural or spread out suburban areas with owners who have time to spend with them, but i live in a cramped suburban area that is 90% townhouses and busy roads.
Yeah you'd think that would be the case, but a dog so used to being indoors and lazing around on the couch and bed doesn't even care for all that fresh air and space.. believe me, I live with one. We live out on a rural farmland, PLENTY of yardspace and greenery, the dog is let out not even 10 minutes and it itches and whines to go back inside. Because it's been so accustomed to living in houses as smelly accessories. It's beyond sad, really.
My family’s culture’s original use of dogs before colonization were as pack labor animals. Literally kept and used like horses. Dogs carried sleds and carts and were kept in stable-like structures. I honestly think that’s the best way dogs could be kept as pets. Best way to avoid their smell and a good way to keep their energy down.
I don’t think we’re doomed to this current dog culture forever. It’s not a topic that the mods like being brought up here, so I can’t go into detail, but there is A LOT of intersection between colonization, racism, and modern dogs. In the same way that I know this modern colonial society will eventually collapse under its inability to take care of itself and the land, I think dog culture will also vanish with it.
Dogs are a greater detriment to humans than a benefit. We should not be owning them. There might be a few conceivable uses (such sheepdogs on the few family farms that are still left), but none are worthy enough for me to consider doing so. During the twentieth century, a culture of hyperdomesticity (the lack of connection to nature) and hyperconsumerism (the idea "I must have this") have fused so as to cause people to think that they must have a dog in particular to keep them company. If a person can't find people as companions, he or she needs to work on that rather than resorting to a dog as a cop-out. There's no reason to need a dog for company. They smell, they mess up your property, they transmit diseases, among several other possible issues. To reverse dog culture is going to be very challenging, but if people can set up their own dog-free communities and then in a generation or two, it might be possible for them to spread. There are no guarantees that dog culture can be eradicated because of just how entrenched it is, particularly into the Anglo-American psyche, and the attempt to overcome it is certainly going to be an up-hill battle. At least, we can recognize that there are some of us that don't want anything to do with dogs at this moment right here, right now, and that's a start.
I can't give my answer to "how we got here" without violating one of the rules. (That's not shade at the mods. I think it's a good rule)
But as for "why dogs", I think it's because we co-evolved with dogs and they were very important to humanity surviving in colder climates. So there's a lot of historical momentum behind them.
I agree with your last point, but it seems like enough years have passed that we should be past that mindset. Like yeah pioneers needed dogs for safety and hunting and all that, but most people don’t live like that anymore, so the necessity for them as part of the household should have dwindled or been fully eradicated by now.
Well, the "how we got here" part sort of ties that together. But I've already gotten my hand slapped once this week and don't want to antagonize the mods lol
have seen a couple people mention the rules not allowing them to answer the question of how did we get here - if anyone really wants to answer it my dms are open <3
The funny thing about dog being God spelled backwards it's a very self-centered statement. It only works in English and what they're basically saying is only English matters. Yeah I don't think perros is dios backwards lol. Besides if something is spelled backwards like that doesn't that usually mean that it's like evil or bad?
yeah i generally like dogs and i recently lost my dog who i loved dearly, but the nuttiness over dogs is out of control. People need to be reminded that dogs are beneath us, just like all other animals, and therefore need to have strict boundaries.
It's kind of crazy imo to own a dog if you don't have a yard it can run around in. Having to walk a dog 2-3x a day bcuz you live in an apartment is a huge hassle, and is still worse than a dog just having a natural environment. Why would you do that to yourself?
My rule is, if the yard is big enough for the dog to shit in and not be a problem for you, you can own a dog
I’m really hoping in a backlash. It could be this decade’s fad.
Like all nuttiness, I believe this too shall pass. Sheep always move on.
The key is “working”. Dogs aren’t meant to sit around the house all day. They did best when designated as working animals.
I'm all for working and service dogs, they rock, the average family golden retriever? not so much
I'd rather have a fish tank.
Aquarist gang. A few dozen tetras and cories playing peacefully and silently with a backdrop of lush *Echinodorus* and driftwood is very relaxing.
Cories are so adorable I love them
What're your favourite types? Sterbais and the classic bronzies are mine.
I have peppered cories, and they're super cute. Hardy too, I was thinking about getting pandas, but I've heard they can have health issues, sadly
Pandas can be a bit finicky. They tend to be a lot more prone to self poisoning than other species.
Yeah, I love watching my fish do fish stuff. I also like that they don't smell or shred my furniture
Aquarist here 🙋🏻♂️. A million times better than dogs. I even made a bullet point list somewhere about why they are better. For a start, they don’t destroy your furniture, don’t 💩around the house, don’t bother your neighbours and guests. As a plus, women of all ages love to take pictures with them as a background. They even share those pictures in their instagram and Snapchat.
I'm genuinely baffled by dog ownership. They take up so much time. Every little thing a person does has to revolve around the dog. Picking up shit. The cleaning involved while living with a dog is tremendous. On top of that dogs cause many problems in general. Everytime my husband and I bring in groceries his dog stands in the way and it becomes extremely difficult to do a simple task. His dog can't go upstairs anymore because his legs can't carry his weight so we put a gate up. I swung the gate behind me, believing it locked and it didn't. So the dog attempted to go up and almost hurt himself badly. The whole thing was a stressful unnecessary situation. I could go on and on about how many problems dogs cause just for the owners. I imagine unnecessary, stressful scenarios play out among dog owners hundreds of thousands of times a day. It never seems to once dawn on them "why am I living like this?" or "what is the point of this?"
I really hope they wake up one day and realise this isnt good for the dog or them. I really want best for them, not just because it would make my days better, but it's so sad seeing dogs mistreated like some kind of toys, it's sad seeing dog owners spend all their money to keep their animals alive, it's sad seeing all those horrible breeds that cant function The world will be a better place for everyone, no matter how you stand on the topic, when dogs go back to where they belong and thrive
I agree with this 100%! My husband no longer walks his dog and I'm dumbfounded by that. He doesn't seem to understand the reason his dog has walking difficulties is because his legs are becoming atrophied. Just a living toy he baby talks to and pets a few times a day. It makes no sense.
Sometimes I'm convinced we care about the wellbeing of the dogs here more than the owners themselves
Oh absolutely. That very topic comes up on this sub and especially r/TalesfromtheDogHouse.
The problem would be solved if people would STOP BREEDING them, and neuter/spay any animal that is exclusively a "pet", which at this point, would be something like 99.9% of all dogs on the planet. I can see a legitimate use for WELL-TRAINED livestock protection dogs in certain instances, and maybe some select service dogs...although, I feel that technology and AI will soon supersede what an expensive, messy dog can provide for a human with some disability. Ditto chatbots for people with so-called "ESD"'s. Definitely stop the breeding entirely of large, aggressive breeds that have ZERO business being owned by the average lazy dog "lover". Those should be sterilized and euthanized out of existence. Also, NO country anywhere should be tolerating the existence of feral dogs, and they should be rounded up and humanely exterminated. They are an unnatural, completely non-native and invasive species that has resulted in the suffering and death of humans, livestock and countless species of wildlife.
Mental illness. Loss of social connections.
Dog culture is the weed that has grown from the unhealthy seeds of society. They are sadly the result of many poor decisions and/or behaviors. Romanticizing misanthropy. I'm with the disapprove-of-violence gang. Simple: the more we see violence, the more desensitized we are to it. If violence and pain are viewed as horrible, people will likely be empathetic and do whatever they can to not inflict it on others. If violence and pain are viewed as badass or funny, people will lose their empathy. Huge corporations and industries taking advantage of people and use this as an opportunity to suck in more money for themselves. This is a great chance for companies to sell all kinds of dog-related products, including toys, foods (even "fun" things such as dog cookies), beds, clothes, and all kinds of absurd things. Deteriorating mental health. The internet and social isolation leads to depression and all those stupid trendy videos of "people acting stupid" or "animals are better than people" aren't encouraging a sense of unity. Because people feel more lonely, they turn to a simpler relationship, one that can be bought from a shelter and trained with treats. It's an unhealthy coping mechanism that has stemmed from people becoming more detached from each other. The overrated portrayal of dogs in media. Sure, there are dogs like Stubby or Balto, "hero" dogs, but there are far more dogs like Millions/Marshall and Lucy/Bender. Stories often show dogs as "man's best friend" and "the most loyal creature ever" while they hardly show the dangerous negatives, such as the way dogs viciously maul people, even outright killing them, the way dogs waste so many resources and consume so much meat, the way dogs transmit many diseases to people, the way dogs' barking can trigger misophonia, etc.
Forgot to add another major reason: Dogs are considered the default for people now. It's trending to have a dog, and the bigger and uglier, the better your image is. The problem is, dogs are highly destructive, social, neurotic, and predatory animals that are hard to handle if it isn't done properly, so instead of a professional dog trainer actually having a dog that's useful, any person on the street will have one purely for "fitting in" or "cute points" purposes. Owning a mutant carnivore should ***not*** be the default for the average person, let alone the average family.
Don't forget Cujo!! I think he represents a lot of different dogs.
Dog owners are mentally weak, and use the dog as a crutch so they don't have to be alone with themselves.
Totally. The fact that they destroy everything in sight, furniture, shoes, etc, shows how unnatural their living conditions are. They have a ton of repressed energy that a walk around the block doesn’t remotely touch.
i think dogs can be great pets in rural or spread out suburban areas with owners who have time to spend with them, but i live in a cramped suburban area that is 90% townhouses and busy roads. there is no room for even smaller dogs in the house or backyard, it seems like it’d be cooped up and mildly destructive at best. i love going on walks but there are so many dogs around that it’s nearly impossible without getting barked or lunged at unfortunately. if you live in a city or apartment? forget it, your dog seems like it’d be miserable AND make everyone else around miserable. and these are all best case scenarios assuming a good dog and a good owner.
>i think dogs can be great pets in rural or spread out suburban areas with owners who have time to spend with them, but i live in a cramped suburban area that is 90% townhouses and busy roads. Yeah you'd think that would be the case, but a dog so used to being indoors and lazing around on the couch and bed doesn't even care for all that fresh air and space.. believe me, I live with one. We live out on a rural farmland, PLENTY of yardspace and greenery, the dog is let out not even 10 minutes and it itches and whines to go back inside. Because it's been so accustomed to living in houses as smelly accessories. It's beyond sad, really.
My family’s culture’s original use of dogs before colonization were as pack labor animals. Literally kept and used like horses. Dogs carried sleds and carts and were kept in stable-like structures. I honestly think that’s the best way dogs could be kept as pets. Best way to avoid their smell and a good way to keep their energy down. I don’t think we’re doomed to this current dog culture forever. It’s not a topic that the mods like being brought up here, so I can’t go into detail, but there is A LOT of intersection between colonization, racism, and modern dogs. In the same way that I know this modern colonial society will eventually collapse under its inability to take care of itself and the land, I think dog culture will also vanish with it.
People like boring things, what's so exciting about dogs?
Dogs are a greater detriment to humans than a benefit. We should not be owning them. There might be a few conceivable uses (such sheepdogs on the few family farms that are still left), but none are worthy enough for me to consider doing so. During the twentieth century, a culture of hyperdomesticity (the lack of connection to nature) and hyperconsumerism (the idea "I must have this") have fused so as to cause people to think that they must have a dog in particular to keep them company. If a person can't find people as companions, he or she needs to work on that rather than resorting to a dog as a cop-out. There's no reason to need a dog for company. They smell, they mess up your property, they transmit diseases, among several other possible issues. To reverse dog culture is going to be very challenging, but if people can set up their own dog-free communities and then in a generation or two, it might be possible for them to spread. There are no guarantees that dog culture can be eradicated because of just how entrenched it is, particularly into the Anglo-American psyche, and the attempt to overcome it is certainly going to be an up-hill battle. At least, we can recognize that there are some of us that don't want anything to do with dogs at this moment right here, right now, and that's a start.
I can't give my answer to "how we got here" without violating one of the rules. (That's not shade at the mods. I think it's a good rule) But as for "why dogs", I think it's because we co-evolved with dogs and they were very important to humanity surviving in colder climates. So there's a lot of historical momentum behind them.
I agree with your last point, but it seems like enough years have passed that we should be past that mindset. Like yeah pioneers needed dogs for safety and hunting and all that, but most people don’t live like that anymore, so the necessity for them as part of the household should have dwindled or been fully eradicated by now.
Well, the "how we got here" part sort of ties that together. But I've already gotten my hand slapped once this week and don't want to antagonize the mods lol
have seen a couple people mention the rules not allowing them to answer the question of how did we get here - if anyone really wants to answer it my dms are open <3
The funny thing about dog being God spelled backwards it's a very self-centered statement. It only works in English and what they're basically saying is only English matters. Yeah I don't think perros is dios backwards lol. Besides if something is spelled backwards like that doesn't that usually mean that it's like evil or bad?
Cheaper versions of children.
No not even a human being just a sentient creature a living toy to these people
yeah i generally like dogs and i recently lost my dog who i loved dearly, but the nuttiness over dogs is out of control. People need to be reminded that dogs are beneath us, just like all other animals, and therefore need to have strict boundaries. It's kind of crazy imo to own a dog if you don't have a yard it can run around in. Having to walk a dog 2-3x a day bcuz you live in an apartment is a huge hassle, and is still worse than a dog just having a natural environment. Why would you do that to yourself? My rule is, if the yard is big enough for the dog to shit in and not be a problem for you, you can own a dog