I don't have a problem with #1. It's not saying "don't separate" it's saying "it will be painful" which it will be. Couple come into the pub I walk our dogs to regularly, they don't have dogs themselves because both work weird shifts and he's a long distance lorry driver. They know it would be cruel for that sort of thing, so instead like to fuss over other dogs, especially mine.
But ours can handle routine separation like work, they know pretty much when miss_s_b is due home and wait for her. But they really don't like it when one of us is away for a few days.
Someone that has a weird routine and is away regularly needs to be aware this will likely create an unhappy dog, especially if said dog is sole dog in house. That's not controversial, surely?
I think it's more of a caution against people who should know better, and should recognize that their lifestyle does not leave room for a dog. My cousin was in that boat; she worked long shifts on an irregular schedule, had a very busy social life, was only home for a few hours out of the day, and lived alone. She had no set schedule and couldn't even reliably being around to let the dog out to poop, let alone take it for walks or anything else (like training or maintenance of training, or even just SPENDING TIME with the dog). But, like many people, she just figured she could buy a dog and it would be easy and require no work and she'd have a happy, well-behaved puppy waiting for her whenever she did decide to come home. I had to disabuse her of that notion real fast.
I've also got a friend who dislikes affection from her dog, and feels it is "getting in the way" all the time, when all the dog really wants to do is SPEND TIME with its alpha/owner, since it's been tied up outside all day while everyone was at work/school. I know that my friend is tired, when she gets home, because she's been at work, but that's still part of the responsibility she took on when she got a dog. If you're going to get a dog and have it be a happy house dog, you do actually have to be willing to love it, not just feed it and stick it in a box out back.
So I don't think item #1 is meant to imply that one should spend 24/7 glued to one's dog, because that would drive anybody nuts. But be aware, and make appropriate provisions.
I think that, paired with their lifespan, #1 is also meant to imply: "Don't get me if you are not prepared to commit to being my best friend for my whole life. If you get bored of me after 2 years and give me up, it will make me very sad."
Sadly, this happens all the time. I spoke with a woman from a rescue organization the other day that said that their group sees a lot of dogs abandoned right before the holidays. People want to travel, don't want to cover the expenses of boarding a dog, and just get rid of it instead.
I have such a hard time even comprehending what these people's hearts must be like. I lost my 17 year old dog to a brain tumor 6 months ago and it still chokes me up every time I think of her. They're not just animals that share a building with you - they are family.
It would probably drive the dog nuts, too. They like a little quiet time now and again.
Yes, I think you're right, and good on you for correcting your cousin's idea of what dog ownership entails. That right there is another reason to shut down puppy mills and pet shops that sell puppies (and kittens): good breeders and good rescues will make sure that people understand into what they are getting. I was given the third degree, for one puppy (he's the one in my avatar there) and for our current rescue boy, and expected nothing less.
I don't really understand why anyone would get a dog if they didn't want to spend time with them. Sure, there's the whole 'dog as status symbol' and 'dog as tough guy accessory' thing, where the dogs are pretty much perceived as objects, but that just weirds me out. I wonder what is amiss in the minds of people who can be around a dog and not grok that they are smart and emotional and have real honest personalities. It certainly produces some pretty messed up dogs.
For me, when I come in tired and stressed out, the dogs are major sources of comfort and relief. Five minutes of playing with them undoes hours of crappy day, and many have been the days when I've felt tired and headachey and bummed out but felt much better after a nice walk in a pretty place with the dogs. Even if I do have to shower them after.
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 03:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 03:55 am (UTC)for kitties, too.
Edited to add: that wasn't all that coherent.
we had to put our elder kitty to sleep this past summer - kidney failure. I have not had many harder moments in my life.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 04:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 12:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 06:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 07:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 07:21 am (UTC)But you forgot the one that sez "GIVE ME MOAR BACN!"
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 03:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 04:53 pm (UTC)Once they figure out you're coming back, it's usually all good. Jack is kind of annoyed by being left alone with the cats, but so it goes.
My favorite is #5. I talk to Jack all day long, and he gets very excited about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 05:34 pm (UTC)But ours can handle routine separation like work, they know pretty much when
Someone that has a weird routine and is away regularly needs to be aware this will likely create an unhappy dog, especially if said dog is sole dog in house. That's not controversial, surely?
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 05:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 05:55 pm (UTC)I've also got a friend who dislikes affection from her dog, and feels it is "getting in the way" all the time, when all the dog really wants to do is SPEND TIME with its alpha/owner, since it's been tied up outside all day while everyone was at work/school. I know that my friend is tired, when she gets home, because she's been at work, but that's still part of the responsibility she took on when she got a dog. If you're going to get a dog and have it be a happy house dog, you do actually have to be willing to love it, not just feed it and stick it in a box out back.
So I don't think item #1 is meant to imply that one should spend 24/7 glued to one's dog, because that would drive anybody nuts. But be aware, and make appropriate provisions.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-15 11:17 pm (UTC)"Don't get me if you are not prepared to commit to being my best friend for my whole life. If you get bored of me after 2 years and give me up, it will make me very sad."
Sadly, this happens all the time. I spoke with a woman from a rescue organization the other day that said that their group sees a lot of dogs abandoned right before the holidays. People want to travel, don't want to cover the expenses of boarding a dog, and just get rid of it instead.
I have such a hard time even comprehending what these people's hearts must be like. I lost my 17 year old dog to a brain tumor 6 months ago and it still chokes me up every time I think of her. They're not just animals that share a building with you - they are family.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-16 02:02 am (UTC)Yes, I think you're right, and good on you for correcting your cousin's idea of what dog ownership entails. That right there is another reason to shut down puppy mills and pet shops that sell puppies (and kittens): good breeders and good rescues will make sure that people understand into what they are getting. I was given the third degree, for one puppy (he's the one in my avatar there) and for our current rescue boy, and expected nothing less.
I don't really understand why anyone would get a dog if they didn't want to spend time with them. Sure, there's the whole 'dog as status symbol' and 'dog as tough guy accessory' thing, where the dogs are pretty much perceived as objects, but that just weirds me out. I wonder what is amiss in the minds of people who can be around a dog and not grok that they are smart and emotional and have real honest personalities. It certainly produces some pretty messed up dogs.
For me, when I come in tired and stressed out, the dogs are major sources of comfort and relief. Five minutes of playing with them undoes hours of crappy day, and many have been the days when I've felt tired and headachey and bummed out but felt much better after a nice walk in a pretty place with the dogs. Even if I do have to shower them after.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-16 02:04 am (UTC)