Hahaha!! :thumbup:

I misread this also, so my vote isn't valid. I understand when someone has had a fearful experience with a dog, but I wonder about a person who dislikes dogs. I do have friends who are loving people who aren't crazy about dogs. They do, however, understand and respect my love of animals, but they don't share the intense love that I feel for dogs.

No no...not a baby hater. Just a children avoider. :D

Seriously, I love kids..as long as they behave and go home at the end of the day. hehe

Usually it wouldn't change the way I think of someone. I have close friends that have fery different opinions of animals than me. Blatant abuse and neglect is different.

I think it definitely depends on the person feels and why. As long as someone has compassion for an animal. I am good. If someone says cats are disgusting for no reason, then I do not think I can be friends with them. There are dog people and cat people and some are just crazy animal people ;).

I have several friends who are not "dog" people. Some are truly scared of dogs (due to a bad experience or two especially when young), some just don't get the idea of dogs or cats as companions.

How-ever I would never knowingly have for a friend anyone who mistreats animals of any kind. If we were friends that would break our friendship.

This is very interesting!
'yes' and 'depends on how the person feels and why' are neck 'n neck ;)

We should make one of these regarding children :D
In almost every post, children are mentioned :D

For me it would depend on the reason they hate or dislike dogs.

If they were viciously attacked by a dog as a child and never sought some sort of post-trauma therapy, and therefore hate all dogs - that would not change my perception of them at all. It would make me want to help them overcome their fear and hate of dogs, but it wouldn't make me dislike them.

If they hate dogs because a dog of theirs that they were extremely close to died, and there's no way they would ever like another dog or open their heart to another dog - that is because it's the way that person's heart is wired. It's their sensitivity level and a heart matter - wouldn't make me dislike them or change my perception of them.

If they hate dogs because they say they're dirty, smelly or just hate them for no valid reason...I'd definitely steer clear of them. A person who hates a living, breathing, warm blooded mammal just to hate them for no reason? Something more sinister there on the underneath if you ask me and I would want zero acquaintances in my life like that.

I think it would change the way I view the person depending on how they treat not just dogs, but animals in general. I think I would have to see how they are around the animal, and wouldn't judge just based on their opinion. I think the way someone behaves around animals can tell you a great deal about the person.

I'd just assumed the question would not include people who had a history of a fearful or painful experience with a dog or dogs or living with fears or phobias they developed for whatever reason. I thought the question would be just about a person's preferences unrelated to traumatic experience or fears/phobias. Aside from those people who don't like dogs due to those issues, a person who just dislikes or feels disgusted by the amazing dog, I'll never be able to fully appreciate that person's good qualities to the fullest for wondering why they can't appreciate an animal who has helped further and better our existence on this earth so very much. By simply just helping us hunt more easily with less wear and tear and expense of energy, injury and time - and find, kill more meat and have the skins to wear, dogs did man a HUGE favor that helped us grow stronger, healthier and larger and explore farther, expand our boundaries, meet other tribes, co-mingle and go on from there and prosper intellectually due to more challenges. And that's aside from the companionship/protection of an early, lonely hunter cut off from his people except for his dog or the woman and kids back at camp with a dog for protection and entertainment for the children. That's just a tiny part of what dogs have done for us in growing and branching out as a species. How someone can look down or discount that lovely and noble creature as dumb and dirty, gross, unworthy - I'll never understand.

Different cultures have different beliefs about dogs, think INdia, China for example. Certain religions also teach that dogs are un-clean.

If you think America has problems with strays, try travelling through INdia for several months.

India gets to almost everyone who visits there. For me, it was the dogs, the strays, the starving animals slinking away from humans, rummaging in the garbage.

Aside from learning of how some cultures treat dogs in school, literature, etc., as kids, as an adult just talking to many a soldier and missionary tell you how some cultures view dogs very negatively and how they therefore treat them.

I misread the question too... I thought it meant does it change the way I think about my dogs. Yes, if I knew someone disliked animals, I would not want to be more than aquantances with them like capt_noonie said.

This thing I don't get about India, is they fear dogs and think they are dirty, yet there is a temple over run with rats, and they kiss and drink the milk that the rats have drank. What is up with that?

I can be friends with people who maybe just don't 'get' dogs, or want one, etc. So long as they are not mean to them, or abusive, or saying things like what your co-worker said.

I did have my feelings hurt one time by people who I consider pretty close friends, and I became friends with them a few years before I had Jackson, but one kind of laughed about my dog wearing a life jacket (saw on FB)... I just ... really didn't think that was that weird? I mean, that is one of the less weird things I do, LOL, just imagine if they knew I brushed his teeth and belonged to a page called yorkietalk! ahaha. But there was other things, they just don't really 'like' dogs, this particular group of friends. And to be honest, I find I am hanging out with them less and less.

But it's not that I expect anyone I hang out to be as crazy about dogs as I am, but dogs and particularly my dog are a big part of my life, and if you can't at least understand that, well that sucks for you. Any future significant other will at least have to understand the bond & love I share with an animal. It would be very hard for me to date a guy who despised dogs. In fact it wouldn't happen.

I will say, I do find kind of bad for people who never will feel that amazing bond and connection with a dog the ways that I have. It's such an awesome thing.

My mom got to kind of experience it, but she has never been a 'dog person'. We had a cockapoo that we got when my brother turned 4, he passed away at almost 6, so always felt like it was his dog, and the last part of him we had left. After he died, she became very attached to my mom. A true member of the family. When my mom got pregnant again, that dog was by her side all the time. She got hit by a car, Jackson was not even a year old yet, and it was incredibly sad. My mom called me bawling saying Carmen died, I just couldn't believe it. I rushed over there and we all cried and buried her body by her favorite tree. My mom was very upset, and had never been that close to a dog before.

But she just doesn't have the patience or the time to have a dog. She doesn't care about training, she is one of those people that would love a dog that is just a cuddle & couch warmer, lol. She would probably do well with an older dog actually.

But anyway, it's so funny, like night and day visiting my moms house then my dads house. Moms house, we get home and my mom and step-dad act like Jackson is not even really there. Sometimes they will say a hi or a pat on the head, but that's about it. And he shockingly loves them to death. I have to tell my mom 'please say hi to Jackson' as he's sitting there staring at her wagging his tail. I go to my dads house, and he goes running in, my stepmom greets him with high pitched voices, my dad is baby talking him, and gives him a treat. He talks to the dogs LOL... it's just so funny experiencing both, a dog house and a non dog house.

dog
 

Dog-lovers are special compassionate people. They have a kind heart and know how to take care of animals. I definitely think animal lovers are wonderful people and I have yet to meet a dog loving person that is mean to animals.

I said it depends. I have a friend who is afraid of dogs do to a bad experience she had as a child, when she was bitten. But if a person is mean to a dog then they would not be in my circle of friends.

I understand
 

:dogprints

In the past, I would have just thought it, well, unusual. Hating dogs is uncommon.

However, new neighbors and I were chatting when I had Rudy out for a walk. When my 6 lbs Yorkie leaned her tiny head forward and touched the woman's ankle, she jumped back and made a noise that expressed disgust and revulsion. Then, without another word - not even a "see you later" - she turned around and walked away...quickly.

Her poor husband was left high and dry. Red-faced, he shrugged and said, "My wife doesn't like dogs much". Ya think? Her rudeness was appalling, but her reaction to my little dog was beyond the pale. We will never be acquaintances let alone friends.:mad:

It's people like THAT that I have the problem with. Did she not see the dog when you were walking her? She was just waiting for a moment to show her disgust towards dogs. A nicer way would have to just never engage in a conversation when she sees someone with a dog!

We had a very odd experience this week. We are on vacation in Florida and my DIL's mom came the first few days to spend time with her daughter. She is not a dog person. Barney loves all people. He was constantly jumping up on her or trying to lick her. He was dying for her attention. It felt awkward. I was reluctant to discipline him because he was only trying to be friendly. We ended up staying in our bedroom with the dogs to try to keep the peace. It was offensive though to see her back away and push him off. He is cleaner than most people.

Oh oh
 

Wow...that's harsh.

I hope you still manage to have a lovely FL vacation - I live in FL on the SW coast, though I'm in NJ at the moment (my son is getting married, but NJ doesn't have palm trees - LOL).

Your situation is much worse than mine; my experience with a dog-hater did not include having to share space with her. Talk about having to stuff your emotions!

We are having a wonderful time. I am learning that some things are not worth the fight. Besides, Barney got revenge when possible. Congratulations on your son's wedding. Florida is beautiful. I always cry when we have to leave.

Animal lover
 

i think it depends of how strongly feel they ddont like dogs if they just dislike them but would never harm then i think so be it but if the dislkie for dogs is so so that they could harm them and would neglect or abuse them then i can safely say i wont be friends with them and i will see them very diffently

A couple of friends and I were discussing this just the other day.Our conclusion was that we really didn't have any friends that weren't dog people. Of course we were at The Lazy Dog at the time. It was our monthly girls night out with the dogs. They really like the brown rice and broiled chicken.

I can handle people not wanting to own a pet, it's a lot of responsibility after all. But I can not abide anyone who is cruel or thinks its ok/funny to be cruel to any animal.

Thanks everyone for the votes. So far "yes" has the lead.
The poll was more for people that don't like animals just because and not because of a bad experience. But I appreciate the responses anyway :)
Not all of our friends and/or acquaintances like animals but they do respect them and they understand that my dogs will be loose in the house when they visit.

Great post.

Completely agree! I'll never understand placing comparative value on living things...it's just so...colossally species-centric and seems rooted in some sort of arrogance.

I can understand, on some intellectual level, why people may not want an animal in their life (though I don't comprehend it on a heart/gut/spirit level). But when someone mistreats or disrespects an animal? Oh wow, that person will never, ever be the same in my eyes; the loss of respect that occurs isn't really recoverable :(, sadly.