What to you say to people that don't like dogs inside?

[ranant12]

Hello,

It's been a while since I posted due to work issues, but just wanted to ask a quick question.

What do you say to people that inform you that they don't like dogs because they are dirty (dumb I know!) and act disgusted that you actually keep more than one in your home and treat them like family?

I live in South Mississippi, and granted some of the folks down here are down right ignorant. Some have only been around the dogs that people get as puppies and then banish to the back yard to be ignored and neglected until they die or run away. We have no local animal control and seriously many people around here are scared of dogs and think that they are dirty little disease carriers.

I am very vocal and have been known more than once to inform a person that my dogs are cleaner and more well behaved than most kids I know. I then try my best to 'educate' them on the difference between a neglected mutt in someone's back yard, and my very clean, very healthy little yorkies. I don't always change their minds, but I, at the very, least give them a little something to think about. As for the people that want to come over to visit and then inform me to "please get your dog, I'm scared of them", I quickly inform them that my less than 5 lb yorkies have never harmed a flea and that this is their home. They are welcome to stay in their car and I will talk to them out there, but I will not lock my dog up in it's own home just because they want to squeal and act like an idiot when confronted with 2 precious little yorkies.

Anyway, just wondered if I'm really on the extreme side or normal when dealing with this issue.

[ARCHIE]

I'd have to put them over the edge and tell them:
Guess what? HE SLEEPS IN MY BED TOO.



Bless you for trying your best to educate people on animal
care. It's hard to get threw to people who view them as
just an animal I know. You have to feel so sorry for those
poor dogs who are tied up all day with no one to love them

[yorkiepuppie]

well, some people are ignorant and they think that all dogs are dirty? maybe from their experiences, they've only met dirty dogs (due to having irresponsible owners)

i think that it is true some pet owners are not very clean, and they don't keep their house very clean. i have been to people's house, where as soon as you walk in the house, you can smell dirty dog smell in the entire house. it's not very pleasant, and it makes you want to find any excuse possible to get out of there ASAP.

i know a lot of yorkie owners bath their dogs very frequently but i also know other people (usually larger dog owners...) who hardly EVER bath their dogs, and i think it really is gross and extremely lazy on their part.

if someone comes to my house and has a problem with my dog, i would first find out why. (i would definitely want to make sure it's not because my house smells or anything) but usually people that have a problem with diff. things is due to their ignorance or bad past experiences. so you just have to show them that they are wrong. (in a nice way of course)

[chachi]

Its my dogs house too and the only time I put them up is when a repairman or someone like that is over. If somebody doesnt like it they are out then they dont have to come over. Luckily only My Mother in law isnt a dog person in my family but she doesnt mind Chachi and Jewels

[bchgirl]

What to I say to people that don't like dogs inside?

Good thing they don't live at your house then.

[LilMissy]

Originally Posted by ranant12

Hello,

It's been a while since I posted due to work issues, but just wanted to ask a quick question.

What do you say to people that inform you that they don't like dogs because they are dirty (dumb I know!) and act disgusted that you actually keep more than one in your home and treat them like family?

I live in South Mississippi, and granted some of the folks down here are down right ignorant. Some have only been around the dogs that people get as puppies and then banish to the back yard to be ignored and neglected until they die or run away. We have no local animal control and seriously many people around here are scared of dogs and think that they are dirty little disease carriers.

I am very vocal and have been known more than once to inform a person that my dogs are cleaner and more well behaved than most kids I know. I then try my best to 'educate' them on the difference between a neglected mutt in someone's back yard, and my very clean, very healthy little yorkies. I don't always change their minds, but I, at the very, least give them a little something to think about. As for the people that want to come over to visit and then inform me to "please get your dog, I'm scared of them", I quickly inform them that my less than 5 lb yorkies have never harmed a flea and that this is their home. They are welcome to stay in their car and I will talk to them out there, but I will not lock my dog up in it's own home just because they want to squeal and act like an idiot when confronted with 2 precious little yorkies.

Anyway, just wondered if I'm really on the extreme side or normal when dealing with this issue.

You seem normal to me!

As far as people coming over and then expecting you to get your dog away from them, it wouldn't happen here either. The only time that I will put my dogs into a seperate room is if I have a repairman come over, and it's mostly so that my dogs don't get in their way or end up injured accidentally. As far as family and friends, they must tolerate my pets and treat them nicely if they want to be welcome in my home.

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

What to I say to people that don't like dogs inside?

Good thing they don't live at your house then.

HAHA. you should be a stand up comedian. (or did they kick you out for being a smart ass?)

[carolekv]

I'd say that it's a good thing that I wasn't planning on inviting them inside then. My dogs are precious in my eyes and are welcome anywhere in my house, like beloved family members. Doesn't change based on what anyone else might say - don't trust what others think is/is not important very often anyway. Wrong priorities.

[ranant12]

Just to reply,

My home is clean, as well as my dogs. My home has never smelled like anything other than cleaners, candles and whatever I'm cooking that day. These are people that want to act like they are too "high class" to stoop low enough to have an 'animal' live in their home. You know, people that barely finished high school and maybe won a "lawsuit" for a bogus back injury and now think because they have a little money that they are all of a sudden "high class". I am a married, mother of 3 that has worked as a high school special ed. teacher for the last 15 years. I am educated enough to know how to keep my pets clean and healthy and have enough sense to know that I am not risking my health by keeping an animal inside.

I guess you would have to live in an area that has the kind of backwards, ignorant people that we have around here to fully understand where I'm coming from.

As far as finding out why they feel that way, I really don't give a crap. Show me someone that runs and squeals when my little Diva walks towards them and I'll show you a totally ignorant human.

Lol, guess I am a little extreme. Thank goodness it's my choice.

[Miao]

When people like my godmother visits, I know she's afraid of dogs. She helped me find our first family dog and then later, my next dog. She's not a dog person. With the first dog, she even brought him over to our house. With the second dog, we met and picked it up at her house. Whenever she'd visit, she'd still stiffen and try to contain her squeal of fright and nerves. I understand that not everyone's a dog lover whether it be a fear of dogs or a fear of dirt. LOL.

So with my yorkie, whenever she's around and I see my girl running up to climb on her leg, I'd try to grab her before then and either keep carrying her in my arms or take her with me to another part of the house. Or just keep passing her along into arms that would accept her. My godmother doesn't complain about it, but I know she appreciates the gesture. Same idea as in public, I wouldn't want my girl climbing/pawing at a strangers' legs and I don't want that happening when she meets my friends and relatives too. I know my girl has put runs in my pantyhose before and paw prints on my white pant legs when we're out. I wouldn't expect others to have to accept having that happen to them.

But I've never personally known anyone who didn't expect little dogs to be living indoors. That is why some either prefer no dogs or big dogs like rotties. A lot of rotties get kept outside around here.

[QuickSilver]

I saw a show on Animal Planet where this little girl really wanted a dog, but she was terrified of them. They put her in a room with the calmest little Shih Tzu you've ever seen, and she was freaking out. So I think fear is different, and I would try to be considerate of that.

If people want to think my place is dirty because of my adorable little dog... well, that's their problem, not mine.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

HAHA. you should be a stand up comedian. (or did they kick you out for being a smart ass?)

I have literally told someone that...I didn't mean it in jest either.

I don't have much patience on opinions which aren't anyone else's concern. They don't have to have animals inside THEIR house. I don't feel the need to explain why they are allowed in mine. Simple as that.

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by ranant12

Just to reply,

My home is clean, as well as my dogs. My home has never smelled like anything other than cleaners, candles and whatever I'm cooking that day. These are people that want to act like they are too "high class" to stoop low enough to have an 'animal' live in their home. You know, people that barely finished high school and maybe won a "lawsuit" for a bogus back injury and now think because they have a little money that they are all of a sudden "high class". I am a married, mother of 3 that has worked as a high school special ed. teacher for the last 15 years. I am educated enough to know how to keep my pets clean and healthy and have enough sense to know that I am not risking my health by keeping an animal inside.

I guess you would have to live in an area that has the kind of backwards, ignorant people that we have around here to fully understand where I'm coming from.

As far as finding out why they feel that way, I really don't give a crap. Show me someone that runs and squeals when my little Diva walks towards them and I'll show you a totally ignorant human.

Lol, guess I am a little extreme. Thank goodness it's my choice.

i didn't mean to say that your house was smelly or anything.
what i was trying to say was that i try to understand why people have strange views on things, like not keeping dogs inside the house.
and it is true, i have been to people's house where they have dogs or lots of cats and it was hard to breath.

i just usually try to think from other people's perspective, so i don't get into needless arguments with them (because i am VERY argumentative)

like i usually ask people if it is ok for my dog to say hello to them or their dog, before letting milu say hi to them. because i am worried that if they don't like dogs and acted annoyed or kick my dog or something, then i would have to kill them, and i don't want to kill anyone, because i don't want to go to jail.

anyways, in your situation, i would definitely say something to those ignorant people. and i dont want them to come to my house anyways. they don't deserve the presence of my dog!

[Tess1113]

Pets should be treated with respect, love and patience...after all you have chosen to take on responsibility for this animal and it deserves to be cared for properly.

How can you NOT want them around you, they have their very own personality, quirks and can sometimes make me laugh harder than any joke anyone can tell me!! Their love and thanks in return makes having them soooo worth it, and petting them lowers blood pressure and heart rate, so they're good for you too!!

I had to put my dogs away for my youngest brother who was petrified of dogs, and it depends on the repair guy if I put them away or not, I dont want them bugging the guy or getting hurt as someone mentioned earlier. But overall if their not getting into trouble my dogs are out and about!

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I have literally told someone that...I didn't mean it in jest either.

I don't have much patience on opinions which aren't anyone else's concern. They don't have to have animals inside THEIR house. I don't feel the need to explain why they are allowed in mine. Simple as that.

not all of us are as cool/lucky as you. some of us say things like that and then gets eaten alive afterwards.

just joking. you are right, it's best to not let what others say bother you, but it's too hard. i need more practice.