Not wanting a dog

suki1964

Spirit wrote: »

We lost our lovely old boy in February. We miss him terribly. i even miss the tumbleweed of dog hair and the smell of wet dog. Our lawn is looking good and newly planted plants are exactly where we planted them. The kitchen floor has never been so clean.

We are getting a puppy on 21st May. The companionship, exercise and unconditional love give us all so much more than a spotless house. We have a home.

I am not a big fan of puppies and young dogs (our last boy was 5 when rehomed to us). We have had puppies before, they are hard work, but this time my husband has set his heart on a pup. The breed is biddable and puppy will be trained to be socially acceptable alongside working.

I am both looking forward to it and a tinge of dread at the same time. I will undoubtedly love it from day 1, I will be home with it all day and it will live in so it will be my new best friend ,I know they have to go through adolescence to get to the maturity where I enjoy them most.

My lad is 12 and is coming to the end of his life

He stinks constantly. Repeated, ear and skin infections

Lumps of his hair are falling out

We keep him as comfortable as we can as he's not ready to throw the towel in yet ( even though I was thinking I was keeping him going too long, vet is disagreeing )

I miss the dog we once had but I've decided no more after he goes


My daughter just rang this morning looking advice on toilet training a pup, the family have decided on one, a boxer they pick up next week

The first thing I asked was is sil happy with getting a pup as I know he's totally house proud and very protective of our grand daughter. I've been assured he's on board but I reiterated that he really does need to be as I won't be picking up the pieces this time around ( I rehomed a pup her mother had got 8 years ago without thinking it through)

I know I'm going to struggle with this one as SIL and his family are from the camp that dogs live outside and our family are they live in the house. But as I said before I will keep my thoughts to myself and just assist with training, general care etc

Oh and get lots of puppy playtime without the wee wee trips

Mrs_pbradley936

Person_one wrote: »

So they are only ever inside if they are in the crates?

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like they're part of the family at all. Don't you want to bring them in and spend proper time with them?

Not everyone has dogs to be pets/companions. Lots of people have gundogs and collies just for working. People keep them for obedience and Working Trials. Far too many keep them for breeding.

I know because I have made it my business to find out that all you need do a provide "adequate" shelter and food and you are supposed to take them to a vet when necessary. My idea of adequate or necessary may not be the same as someone else's' but provided that shelter and food are seen to be available nobody is committing an offence by how they treat their dog(s).

Peter333

Huskyrunner wrote: »

i totally have too totally agree here. You cant just bin dogs into rescue its not right, the breed we own there are 1000's in rescue and its sickening

I have 5 siberian huskies that live in my home, they are part of our family, Siberian Huskies can be very destructive as a result our five live in 3 huge crates in our dining room. I think the op needs too look at things, if your dog is destroying furniture why is it destroying furniture, if the dog skinks the house out why??..

Wash the dog, cleans its bed, if there destructive crate it, if there destructive its usually boredom lack of exercise etc

Person_one wrote: »

. These dogs apparently spend most of their lives in cages.

Feral_Moon wrote: »

No they don't! What on earth gives you that idea? They're out running every day! Have you got the slightest idea about the amount of training involved for these sort of trials? Do you honestly think they're locked up 24/7 then expected to run for miles & miles having done no training? :rotfl:

They're only in cages overnight or occasionally when left home alone, as the OP stated. He also stated they have access to a huge run in the garden when not working.

Is anyone else a bit confused? :huh:

fairy_lights

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

They let them sit on the sofa and the beds. They credit the dog with the same sort of feelings and emotions as they have. They take to the Drs (vet) when they are ill. Some people even dress them up in clothes.

And I have heard several dog owners refer to them as 'my baby', 'my boy' or 'my children'.

Yes, some dog owners treat them like humans.

I don't see how taking a sick dog to the vets equates to treating them like humans? It's just basic care and something any responsible pet owner should do.

missbiggles1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Of course they should be treated as sentient beings....but as canine beings, not human beings. They have different needs and language to humans.

I don't agree with any sort of cruelty, working dog or lap dog.

I know you don't, I didn't mean to imply that.:)

Disagree about language though, particularly as most dogs respond to the tone of voice rather than anything else. I'm going to carry on calling mine Sweetie or Precious and telling them that they're a good boy/girl - they don't seem to mind it.

missbiggles1

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

Not everyone has dogs to be pets/companions. Lots of people have gundogs and collies just for working. People keep them for obedience and Working Trials. Far too many keep them for breeding.

But lots of gundogs and sheepdogs live in the house with the family and police dog handlers have the dogs living with them at home as well.

"All of our dogs are kept at their handler's homes to ensure they remain bonded.

All of our police dogs receive holidays alongside their handler. This will usually be spent at home with the handler or in our police kennels.

General purpose dogs are usually retired around seven to eight years old. Specialist dogs are retired at around ten years old. The handler is allowed to keep their dog and many choose to do this. However if this is not possible, the dog will be re-homed with a suitable family for the rest of its life."

Peter333

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

They let them sit on the sofa and the beds. They credit the dog with the same sort of feelings and emotions as they have. They take to the Drs (vet) when they are ill. Some people even dress them up in clothes.

And I have heard several dog owners refer to them as 'my baby', 'my boy' or 'my children'.

Yes, some dog owners treat them like humans.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Apart from the dressing up, I do all of those - I can't see that it harms anybody.

When people stop treating pets like sentient beings and start treating them as possessions and only needed when they're useful that's when a lot of ill treatment and cruelty come in.

fairy_lights wrote: »

I don't see how taking a sick dog to the vets equates to treating them like humans? It's just basic care and something any responsible pet owner should do.

I have to admit I am also a bit confused and taken aback by SDW's post.

How can it be wrong to treat animals in the way you say SDW? As Miss B said, apart from dressing them up, I can't see what's wrong with all the rest of the things you said. Why would you NOT take them to the vet when they're poorly? !!!!!!? :huh:

And they credit the dog with having feelings and emotions? Well, maybe that's because they DO!

What on earth do you think a dog (or cat) is? Just a piece of meat for the convenience of humans? What a bizarre attitude.

And so what if they sit on the sofas and beds? :huh:

Dogs (And cats) are part of the family, so why should they not be treated as such?

Being a decent human being, and loving and caring for your pets is not 'treating them like humans..' And so what if it is?

I just find what you say unfathomable SDW. Truly. :huh:

I am actually a bit shocked at your attitude towards pets to be honest.

Person_one

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

Not everyone has dogs to be pets/companions. Lots of people have gundogs and collies just for working. People keep them for obedience and Working Trials. Far too many keep them for breeding.

I know because I have made it my business to find out that all you need do a provide "adequate" shelter and food and you are supposed to take them to a vet when necessary. My idea of adequate or necessary may not be the same as someone else's' but provided that shelter and food are seen to be available nobody is committing an offence by how they treat their dog(s).

The legal minimum standards for keeping a dog are just that, a minimum. If you do that and no more you are categorically not doing a good job of dog ownership!

Georgiegirl256

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

They let them sit on the sofa and the beds..

What's wrong with that? By letting them do that, it doesn't mean people are treating them like humans.

By crediting them with having feelings and emotions, well that's because they do.

Some of those tiny dogs benefit from having a jumper or a coat on them, so why not make it a nice one?

Again, doesn't mean you are treating them one and same as a human being though.

Peter333

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

What's wrong with that? By letting them do that, it doesn't mean people are treating them like humans.

By crediting them with having feelings and emotions, well that's because they do.

Some of those tiny dogs benefit from having a jumper or a coat on them, so why not make it a nice one?

Again, doesn't mean you are treating them one and same as a human being though.

We are agreeing again Georgie! This HAS to stop! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: