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maskdmirag  ·  4135 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Experiment: What's YOUR most controversial opinion, Hubski?

No, I'm really just annoyed at them barking at me when I walk down the street.

I probably don't really feel that way about them, I'm sure there are positives to dogs and dog ownership, I know historically there have been great uses for dogs as human companions. But I'm not convinced those uses are fully realized nowadays.

I had an inherent fear of dogs from when I was very young, a friend of my parents thought it was funny to have his dogs chase me down the street. Over the years I mostly got over it. There was even a period where I really wanted a Shiba Inu because they're such beautiful dogs. But intermixed with that I started walking a lot, partially for work, partially just because I love walking. I cannot tell you one experience I've had in a suburban neighborhood where a Dog just charges the gate and barks at you. when you're not prepared for it it's a huge shock to the system and even when you notice the dog and brace for it it's no fun.

However, that's just the dog's nature, what can we seriously do about it? they're territorial, even a well raised dog is still going to bark at you when you're on the sidewalk (and often across the street).

So it's kind of become a thought experiment for me, what if we ended the domestication of the dog? Is it inherently selfish for me to think, would any breed of dog survive? etc etc.

Also it's a great answer for "most controversial opinion"