"Just a dog"
My rebuttal to this claim is that it applies equally well to humans. Humans are animals too. Throughout history, and sadly, likely still in some parts of the world today, humans can live and reproduce with a minimum of food, water, shelter. For much of humanity life has been (and still is) 'nasty, brutish, and short'. Think of the lowliest social castes, poorest serfs and slaves. But regardless of how short and poor their quality of life may have been, they often still survived, reproduced, and persisted. Humans can subsist for generations on the barest of means. But is that desirable? It is clear that with any human infant, as it grows, it is given good nutrition, love, attention, education, participation and opportunities in a rich social and cultural sphere, that child can grow and live a long, healthy, satisfying life with a richly developed personality and emotional life. Inarguably a far better life than the generations of untouchable castes, serfs, slaves and other unfortunate humanity. Humans don't actually need a lot to merely survive. But merely surviving is not considered a worthwhile goal for humans. The same is true of dogs as well. A dog can simply survive with the absolute minimum of needs met, but what of the quality of that life? A dog is an intelligent enough animal that its life can be so much more than mere survival. A dog given good nutrition, love, attention, training, participation and opportunities in a rich social and stimulating sphere can grow to live a long, healthy, satisfying life with a richly developed personality and emotional life. Their lives can be incomparably better than one of just mere survival. I don't believe this is equally true of all animals. My red-eared turtle has a good life in a purpose built aquarium and outdoor pond, sunning himself 10 hours a day and eating enough food. I don't believe that trying to give him more in life would really be noticed by him. His basic requirements are met and that's enough. But of all animals, dogs are among the most intelligent with a very long history of evolving alongside humans. The difference between a dog which has had the barest minimum and a dog with a rich life is obvious and striking. Dogs are no more "just a dog" than humans are "just a human". And for that reason, I want my dogs to live the fullest, richest, happiest lives they can, they deserve it and will appreciate it, and it will only be a small measure of the love and happiness they bring to me. |
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 Here, here. Well said, my friend. While my dog is not my child, he is my family member. I will do everything possible to make sure that he is as healthy as possible, for as long as he has good quality of life. Doing that well requires time, energy, love, and a little cash.  I do not look my relationship with him as transactional (what does he give me in return?), any more than I look at my relationship with my sister that way, or my brothers, or my mom. I treat him the way he deserves to be treated as a non-human member of my family.  I am so grateful he landed with us. Laurie and Oscar |
| In my opinion, anyone who thinks of their dog as "just a dog" shouldn't have one. Period. |
| I agree, well said. I often have talks like this with people on our dog walks. I think it extends to all living beings, to make their quality of life the best we can for them to keep them happy and healthy. When they are happy and healthy they have less personality/emotional issues. Seeing them as just a dog or just an animal is neglecting to see that their life is important, as is any life. My rabbit had a much more for-filling live being allowed to live free in the house without the barriers of a confining cage. He used to do dashes and bunny hops around the house. He had a whole maze of cardboard boxes and tubes to run around in, I am glad we did this for him. |
| Kudos David--well said! |
| VERY well said, David... And I will add my own thoughts on this. When we adopt a dog, whether it be from the pound, rescue or breeder, we are both clean slates, with no experiences of how each of us ARE. It takes months, years for the dog to figure out what we are saying, and the same with us. But, when this relationship begins, both are willing to communicate in any way possible. We begin with gentle talking, cooing, sterness for what we want, expect and need. Our dogs use their body and voice to relay hunger, thirst, potty breaks, happines, joyfulness and yes, even depression and pain. Both parties have to work hard being attentive to each other, thus building the bond that will last forever. We begin to sense what each other is feeling, what each other needs. I really believe a dog is much better at this than us, and they tolerate our eneptness and try to teach us to become more conscience of what they want. They are very patient, I guess because they know we are trying and we, need, want that communication as much as they do. Finally, there is a breakthrough and the dog and person are in sinc with each other. Once that happens, it never leaves. It is a wonderous thing and a precious crystal that must be cherished and protected. THEY teach us so many things....UNconditional love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, sense of self, of accomplishments, worthiness, this list is endless. We are their students and, with our willingness to be taught, to learn what their messages are, they are the best teachers God has ever created. |
| Bravo! Well said |
| Agreed! Cindy |
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