A little rant
It's 3 of my best friends that live together. 2 out of the 3 think that dogs should sit and stay in one spot in the house and stay there til it is time to go outside. Lily goes over there and follows the rules like a good girl but it drives me crazy! I believe in structure and training but dogs should allowed to be dogs. (with in reason) They especially don't understand the sheepie breed and their need to be with their people at all times. That includes being underfoot. It does drive them crazy at my house. Lily is allowed to be a velcro, underfoot sheepie at my house. They are people that consider dogs as possessions and not as family members. I guess the braking point was a snide comment that lily didn't do what she was told but she sat and stayed the entire time she was there. While we walked around, while we ate, while we prepared dinner, etc. I do enjoy being able to bring Lil over with me but I do not see her as a possession and I don't see the point in being so demanding in making a dog stay in one spot. |
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| My brother is kind of like that. He honestly believes that it's important for the dog's spirit to be broken so that the dog becomes totally obdient to the owner; like a robot. Thankfully he does not own a dog or even want one. |
| That is how we got this wonderful dog called Archie the original owners returned him to the breeders because as a puppy he nipped and would not stay on his bed! Oh good grief how thick are some people. Their loss - he is a marvellous creature! |
When I was a vet tech, we had a woman come in asking us to put her cat down because she had gotten a new sofa and the cat didn't match any more. Needless to say, we were all a bit shocked. And  And NO! We did NOT put the cat down. We found her a new and loving home with people whose only concern was that she enjoyed the love and care they gave her. It's frustrating to deal with owners who aren't actually neglectful or cruel per se - they do take reasonable physical care of their pets. But they don't interact on any other level with their pets. Unfortunately, there's usually little or nothing we can do about it. |
| I believe if your cat doesn't match your sofa, than it's a good time to buy a new sofa. |
| I would not bring my dog over to those friends anymore, and that would likely mean going over to their house less (I do have friends I visit dogless, I realize I can't impose my pack on everyone, but this does mean I see them less often). |
| That's a tough one. Unfortunately some people don't bond with animals yet think its a good idea to get an animal, to some they are a status symbol (think purse dogs, but how a dog can be considered a status symbol is beyond me) and to others they seem like a good idea at the time. It's like the students who hang out in a big group in the petstore for hours and publicly smack and yell at their little mini dogs but otherwise ignore them... Why have a dog? I have one set of friends who don't have dogs and have a tough time when they come over to visit as my dogs are always around, sometimes on the couch and usually Leonard is under foot. I used to worry about the little comments but have since decided that if they want to come over then they get to hang out with my dogs in the dog's domain. If not we can go visit them (we leave the dogs at home). Funny thing is they still come over a lot, so I don't take the comments too seriously anymore. Let Lily be Lily! Sheepies need foot pillows and some legs to lean on! Ps My friends who have dogs bring them over all the time, it may be chaos to have four large dogs bouncing around but it is also good for the dogs to socialize too  |
| The 3rd friend has a toddler and the 3rd friend might as well be my sister. Her son ADORES lily. Telling her she is a princess, he loves her, hugging and kissing her. Of course she gives sheepie kisses back. When she isn't there he asks where she is and why she isn't there. She helped him get over his fear of dogs. He was bit when he was younger. I'm so used to people adoring Lil. My sister's 6'5" fiance has a soft spot for her. He doesn't allow dogs on the couch (they have a st. bernard) but brakes his own rules for Lily and cuddles with her on the couch. I will just have to bring her over when the other two aren't around and leave her at home when they are there. It still is beyond me why anyone would have a dog, just to make it stay in one place. |
| I feel REALLY sorry for those dogs. How can you expect a dog to stay in one place with the only exception of going out side. What a miserable life. Why keep a dog? A dog is a living, feeling, breathing being. My dogs have free rein with the only exception of when we are gone or when we have guests who are eating...yeah they beg. Big bouncing love bugs. I wouldn't have it any other way. Dh made the comment the other day "A smile with four paws"...that about sums it up. |
My dogs have never been welcome at my sister's house. I have always told friends (and sister if they come to town) dogs are welcome. I don't mind bedlam and chaos. Like I have told anyone who objects to the dogs, especially when I had the 3, but down to Oliver,only now, "They live here, you don't!"  I really like "A smile with paws"  |
| Isn't it something how some people think about their pets? My daughter's sister in law had a couple of mini dauschunds and had to put one down because it was mean to their kids. They put the other one down at the same time because they thought the litter mate would be lonely. Duh!!! If you are going to have a dog, it is going to be a part of the family, not something you keep in the backyard kennel fenced up...all day...every day...and not allowed in the house. Seriously why do some people have dogs if they can't be "family members"? Isn't this what having a "pet" is all about? Our dogs have been part of our family and they know it. |
| I've been thinking about this, if these people are really close friends, can't you say something like "If I bring Lily over she will not stay in one spot inside, I don't believe that is healthy for her, mentally or physically. If that is an issue, I will not bring her over then." Stating it in a matter-of-fact, non confrontational way. It also hints that you don't think it's good for their dog, without jumping down their throats about it. I strive to make my girl's lives be the most joyful and satisfying as possible. It will already be too brief it breaks my heart  , I want it to be the best possible. I just can't understand any other approach. |
| We are close and I could but it will start a fight. They think since their dog sits and stays like that, they know all when it comes to dogs. |
| I don't remember you mentioning what dog your friends have. (sorry read most of this thread a while ago). If it's a breed more known for independence, laidbackness maybe you could play the different breeds/different personalities card. Mention that sheepies are velcro dogs, working dogs etc and that as a consequence they need to be near their owners and involved in their humans activities for mental stimulation and health etc. The obedience instructor that Tiggy and I trained with was a firm believer in dogs being quiet and lying on their beds when in the house. She adores dogs but doesn't like them being underfoot. Mind you she home stays up to ten dogs at a time. She never could get her head around Tiggy's energy levels and need to be busy and involved. |
| They have a chihuahua, dachshund mix right now. When I first met her she had a elderly border collie. |
AnInnocentEvil wrote: They have a chihuahua, dachshund mix right now. When I first met her she had a elderly border collie. Mmmm I'm not too familiar with chihuahuas or dachshunds but you could look up their personalities online and try it.  |
| Lol I've tried the breed approach. Explaining that's just the way all sheepies are, that they absolutely love and need to be with their people constantly. They just say that they would never own one because of that. (which is good in my opinion) |
AnInnocentEvil wrote: Lol I've tried the breed approach. Explaining that's just the way all sheepies are, that they absolutely love and need to be with their people constantly. They just say that they would never own one because of that. (which is good in my opinion) It's good in my opinion too!! |
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