Just a dog or part of the family?
Anyone have family members who feel dogs are supposed to just be in the backyard, fed and occasionally or rarely shown affection when someone happens to be outside? I don't believe in a dog being an equal but I feel they are a part of the family. My wife and I get into discussions over it because our dog is treated like part of the family and she was raised with dogs in more of a zoo style setup where they were strictly outdoors but no one got too closely attached. Her family when she was a child went through a lot of pets that came and went/ ran away. I find it interesting get entire family was very close to one particular dog and I don't think after losing that one they have allowed another dog to get close to them. Anyone else have a similar situation with s family member?
Comments
She doesn't really consider them "family" since she has mentioned several times how she would prefer they be out in the back... I am basically the only thing preventing that right now.
She has also mentioned "finding them a good family" when she plans on moving to Michigan this summer. Yeah, not happening either. I'll gladly take them even though it would throw a wrench in my own personal future dog plans.
My brother doesn't care if he emotionally scars Conker by scaring the crap out of him repeatedly because "It's just a dog." He really pisses me off, I don't like it when he comes to visit. My older sister does this too. The difference is that she is completely oblivious to what behavior frightens a dog, but the brother does it intentionally.
My two youngest siblings do seem to think they are family, though.
I'm also an only chid, so I guess this speech is more effective than with most families...
And also, I ran into that mentalilty a lot when I was dating, some guys wanted me to kennel the dogs when they came over. Not gonna happen! This is their house and if someone decides they want the dogs kenneled, they are free to either leave or sit in a kennel themselves.
He's been alive for six years I believe or maybe five?
They used to own a golden retriever, but over time he got old arthritic and he either died or owner took him in to be put to sleep.. The golden was a good dog he'd sometimes roam in my field or yard and greet us and he also was good mole hunter.
Now the golden is gone Bandit no longer roams in my field or yard. Poor guy misses his buddy he used to get pets and act playful and if I was too busy or needed them gone they left when I told them to go.
My other neighbor to the left have a lab/mastiff they proudly state she is a mastador.. I tell them no she is a mastiff mastiff mix.
I think there is something wrong in her head She isn't smart like lab my friend owns in town. She is extremely skittish and very well dumb. mean to say that, but she doesn't act like any normal dog I've met plenty of labs and couple mastiffs and they didn't act like her.
She runs like a torpedo you tell her to go she just keeps running in my yard tearing up the yard then barks. I feel sorry as the neighbors just let her roam and lay in the yard never train or walk the dog.
The dog doesn't act normal like I said she doesn't come to Saya or Bella to greet like normal dog and she has disgusting behavior of licking Bella's wee wee.. gross.
She just acts uncontrolled. I wouldn't mind if the dogs played with her, but she barrals right into Bella at times knocking her to ground and stepping on poor Bella.
She jumped over Saya once omg thankfully she didn't step on Saya she has enough spinal issues I don't need her to be paralyzed.. gah.
I told owners and they said they'll improve and exercise the dog, but yet I have yet to see the dog walked. They just yell at her.
She chases cars..
Sorry go bit off topic.
I'm lucky my family doesn't feel that way though my brother's fiancee's brother is pretty cruel even if he said he was joking when I questioned him.
The joke he said I'll kick you if you growl at me little dog.. My brother is bit clueless as he didn't get why I got so pissed off.
He knows Saya growls playfully to people she likes I even told the guy before he made the comment.
Plus my brother knows she has health issues and I take offense when people make rude comments out of it.
His fiance's family is bit more like that it's just a dog the dogs are loose in the place and only allowed in the garage if it's storming.
Don't get me wrong Saya loves the outdoors, but I'd never leave her outside 24/7.
She hangs outside when I relax outside or do yard work plus walks and stuff.
I guess to non dog owners it's hard for them to understand it.
They aren't the same as children, even though the relationship is in many ways analogous to a parent-child relationship. They're part of the family, for sure. We love them and their needs and feelings matter to us. There's no getting around the fact that they're still dogs, though.
I use the "they're just dogs" phrase a lot tho... but I mean it more in the way we say "I'm only human"... Like, we cannot expect our dogs to behave like people, because, they're dogs. When one of my dogs does something really stupid that I can't explain I typically think to myself "he's just a dog" and move on. It's not that I think being a dog makes him of lesser value, I just mean - he's a dog - he's not perfect.
Loa rolled off our bed while sleeping and is now scared to death to even come in our room.
Over the weekend Haru went running to greet Jen and ran right into the glass window - I guess she forgot there was glass there?
The list goes on...
Since most of my dogs are hunting dogs and they do get injuries and get sick once in a while. As much as I love all of them as if they were my kids, I'm not going into financial debt over them. That may sound cruel but my human children and family comes first so if I can't afford to pay for a treatment I have to think of alternate decisions for my dogs (I have a credit card reserved for major vet bills).
I do get that a lot from my family though, they are just dogs. However, to me they are not just dogs, they love me unconditionally.
Let me put this into perspective. Koda hurt his legs again. He is back on a NSAID. No biggie. We live with this. But my neighbor asked me if Mika could sense his pain and if she was extra sensitive with him and I said "she's just a dog" I mean come on what do you expect from her? She doesn't bother him when he doesn't feel like playing but really is she supposed to know to coddle him? He really took offense.
Koda and Mika are my family. I will take care of them until the end. I always say I wasn't there when they were born but ill be with them when they pass. We are in this thing called life together. I love them both very much. I'm blessed that everyone in my family loves them as much as I do. My mom even takes care of them when I work.
With all that said I don't expect them to feel and act like humans. They love me because I do things that they like: feed them, play, take them for walks, pet them, etc.
They're my companions and are dogs and I do treat them as such.
I guess some people have their own views on things. I enjoy having the dogs inside with me plus no fence makes leaving them outdoors alone hard..
Neighbor who owns Marley doesn't have any ID tags on her which I don't get. She chases their car to end where who knows she might wander and get lost? At least have some form of ID..
I always have boomerang or jingling type ID tags on their collar or harness..
If Saya could fit under the shed she would there is ground hog she wants to hunt that is under the shed.
I love having 16acres of land so Bella and Saya can be dogs and chase leaves, dig in the woods or explore things. Even chase rabbits off my garden..
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