Several years ago, before we had kids, my wife and I made a terrible mistake and decided to adopt a dog.
It was a Labrador retriever, big and yellow, over 100 pounds. We adopted the dog sight-unseen from some friends of friends who were looking to find him a new home. His name was “Bo.” We drove 2 hours to Southwest Iowa to meet Bo’s soon-to-be-former owners, picked up Bo and drove him back to our house.
We don't have any pictures of Bo. This is not the actual dog.
I really don’t know what we were thinking. This was back in the days before we had kids and we had no other responsibilities or worries in life. We thought we wanted a Lab. They were the most popular breed in America – known for intelligence, loyalty and athleticism. We had visions of jogging with our dog, walking with our dog, playing fetch off a dock while the dog happily plunged into the frigid lake, again and again.
Unfortunately, we quickly realized that Bo was going to present a bit of a change to our otherwise orderly, happy lifestyle, starting on the first night at our house when he compulsively chewed through all of his toys.
“That’s strange,” I said as Bo chowed down on another stuffed animal. “He sure seems to like chewing!” Little did we realize, until it was too late, that Bo was expressing stress and anxiety by gnawing everything he could get his paws around. Pillows, ropes, frisbees, and stuffed animals all got shredded into an indistinguishable mass.
Bo was a very anxious dog. He was constantly chewing and licking and smacking. I don’t blame him, really. After all, the only owners he’d ever known had just given him away to a couple of strangers. This is one of the things that annoys me about dogs – their neuroses.
Seriously, what’s the point of having a neurotic dog? I thought dogs were supposed to provide emotional comfort to their owners? I thought dogs were supposed to help you feel more peaceful and centered, since they have no awareness of mortality and all that. But most dogs I’ve known have just introduced me to new levels of anxiety.
Bo needed a lot of attention. He needed daily walks. He needed lots of things that we couldn’t give him because we were too busy and self-absorbed. We worked long hours and left him in the house alone all day. We’d let him out to go pee and poop in our tiny urban backyard, but then he’d chase squirrels across the street and get lost and run onto the neighbors’ front porches. We were constantly chasing him around the neighborhood and cursing the fact that our small lot didn’t have a fully-fenced backyard.
We would have given him more attention, but our personalities just weren’t the right fit. He was a friendly dog, but he was overbearing and off-putting, like a guy at a party that you can’t wait to stop talking with. Even though his constantly wagging tail was as powerful and painful as a baseball bat, he was kind of a wuss, really. Whenever we gave a command to “come inside” or “stop destroying the neighbor kid’s toys,” he would slump his shoulders and skulk around and defy us, quietly, in a passive aggressive fashion.
I was so disappointed. I figure, as long as you’re going to have a dog that’s destructive, messy and painful, he might as well be a stronger personality, more of an Alpha Dog, you know? Take my parents’ dog, Milo, for example. He’s a total jerk, but we love him for it. He’s the dog you love to hate.
And he shed EVERYWHERE. All of our clothes, furniture and rugs were soon coated with dog hair. Dog hair blew threw our house like tumbleweeds. We were idiots. We never should have gotten a dog that shed so much. My wife quickly noticed that she was sniffling, sneezing and having sore throats all the time, and we realized that she was allergic to the dog.
Bo was too neurotic to eat dinner in the basement, so we had to move his (HUGE) food and water dish up to our tiny 1920s-era kitchen, where it took up precious floor space. He was too neurotic to eat by himself, so we had to be near him while he ate, or else he wouldn’t eat at all and would later vomit all over the floor. He vomited all over our living room rug and ruined it. We ended up donating it to the animal shelter.
As you might imagine, a 100 pound dog creates a lot of poop. Our yard was soon covered with little piles, scattered about like monuments. I scooped poop as often as the winter weather would permit, but I still couldn’t keep up with the supply. We couldn’t walk him as often as he needed because we were too lazy and couldn’t wake up early enough to walk him before we left for work. (Again – we were idiots. I don’t know what we were thinking. We never should have gotten this dog. Or any dog.)
And whenever we did take him for a walk, it was no fun because he was constantly straining on the leash, wouldn’t listen to instructions, and wouldn’t do what we needed him to do. (My mom has to have rotator cuff surgery because her dog Milo pulled her to the ground during a walk. That’s right – she has a “dog-related injury.” Why do people put themselves through all this dog crap? How desperate are we for companionship?)
It all would have been worth it if we really loved this dog and wanted him in our lives. But the truth was, we just weren’t that into Bo. Eventually we realized that the personal chemistry wasn’t there. So 4 months after we brought Bo home, we decided to take him to the pound and had him euthanized.
No, just kidding – ha ha! We were lousy dog owners, but we’re not monsters.
No seriously – I know that dogs getting put to sleep due to lack of shelter space is a big tragedy, and I don’t mean to make light of it. I was just trying to see if you were still paying attention.
We didn’t have him euthanized. Seriously, I swear. Instead, we found him a new home. With a family in the country that had a pond in the backyard. The father of the family loved to go fishing and hunting, and wanted a dog to go fishing and hunting with. They had 2 young kids who wanted a pet. The whole thing worked out perfectly in the end. Bo happily climbed into the car with his new owner and rode out of our lives, and we were all better off as a result.
My four months of abortive dog ownership taught me several valuable lessons:
- I’m not very patient.
- I’m too self-absorbed.
- I’m not really that interested in or fascinated by dogs. They’re not people, they’re not children, and they don’t deserve the lofty status that American culture has assigned to them. In some ways I’d feel more at home in Muslim countries where dogs are seen as filthy rat-like creatures. I know people love their dogs, and I sometimes enjoy visiting other people’s dogs, and I don’t wish any harm to come to dogs, and I hate cruelty to animals just like any other form of cruelty, but the bottom line is, I don’t love dogs and I don’t want to own a dog ever again.
Unfortunately, now we have kids, and both of our kids love dogs. So it’s probably just a matter of time before we have to get one. It won’t be another Lab, or any other dog that sheds. It would have to be something hypoallergenic, housebroken and easy to live with, that requires no outdoor exercise and minimal involvement on my part.
Ideally, my next dog will be a really smart, hairless cat.
Awesome article! I absolutely HATE dogs!
You are the last person that should ever own a dog.
Please do everything possible to steer your children from wanting a dog. They don’t need to be crushed when you selfishly rip the dog from their lives after being bothered to have to care for the poor thing.
Will, the whole point of this article is that I am the last person who should ever own a dog. So, uh, thanks for reading, I guess? And thanks for judging the parenting skills of someone you don’t know and have never met, based on one light-hearted blog article. “Judge not lest ye be judged,” or something? I’ve never actually read the Bible.
LOL dogs are stupid, I agree. People that get big high-maintenance dogs need to have their brains checked. They do nothing but waste your time and money.
Thank you SO much for writing this article! I was raised by American parents overseas but when I moved back to the States I felt awful that I didn’t like dogs and have a lot of your sentiment! I’ve been called un-american and mean because I won’t adopt a dog. Dogs feel intrusive, needy, unnecessary, annoying to my personality. I also feel a lot if people in this country get dogs out of sheer cultural hypnosis. The things people put up with from dogs that they would disown their own children for!
I truly enjoyed reading your post and I commend you for bravely publishing it! I’m so glad there are others like me out there!
My favorite parts of your article:
“Why do people put themselves through all this dog crap? How desperate are we for companionship?”
” They don’t deserve the lofty status that American culture has assigned to them. In some ways I’d feel more at home in Muslim countries where dogs are seen as filthy rat-like creatures.”
My advice to you and your spouse is Don’t get a dog! Those feelings will NOT go away. My husband and I got a dog awhile back because of the children and I was VERY unhappy. They got a dog but lost a mother for a while there. Long story short we got the dog a new family and this family has its mother back!
There are people who love dogs, and there are people who own dogs. You can only be one. Great article Ben, I totally agree.
Careful, a cat might be just as bad. We have two cats. One is the stereotypical cat that sleeps, eats, and sits in your lap. The other one is worse than a dog. Jumps on counter tops and knocks dishes onto the floor. Scratches up the carpet near closed doors. Chases images on the TV so we can’t watch movies. If we lock it up in a room, like a said before, it will scratch the carpet up near the door. Destroys furniture and attacks your face when you’re sleeping.
I used to love dogs but now I really hate them. I grew up with dogs on a farm and now I live in the city. Our dogs were outdoor ones and were never allowed in the house. Here in the city it’s a whole different world. Dogs are treated like people and babies and not the animal that they are supposed to be. Theyare wild and run in packs and they get into fights all the time. Television paints a picture that dogs are loving, easy to care for and will just love you. They edit all the other stuff that is frustrating, picking up the poop, the dog hair all over the place, the food and mess a the water bowl. They destroy furniture, backyard (digging big holes, etc). Plus you have to spend a fortune at the vet which is another rip off.
‘I hate boxers, pitbulls and big mixed breed. Please stop overbreeding dogs.
On of my friend had 2 dogs and once they had children they gave up on the dogs. The dogs took so much of their time that they could not care for their children and the dogs. They finally gave the dogs away. Dogs belong on farms where they can work and stay busy…not in houses or apartments or pocketbooks. A bored dog becomes an angry dog.
I can’t figure out why so many people get labs. They’re high energy and great if you’re a jogger or marathon runner or biker; otherwise they’ll get bored and destructive like dogs do. Most people don’t seem to do any research on breed anymore and get the wrong dog-too high energy, small yard, allergies, a lab is a poor fit for all these reasons.
Yes, dogs can be overdependent, messy, noisy and etc. etc. But I still love them. I had beautiful dogs when I was a child, but at some point I began to favour cats. They are silent, cleaner, smaller, furry and so on. I am a very independent person and it would be impossible to me to live with such a needy creature, like a dog. But as I still like dogs, what I do is to love my friends dogs, admire strangers dogs and touch them and play with them just for a while. That is how I satisfy with “dog need”, because If I had one, I probably would feel the same as you did. Or I felt when I was a child, asking myself why one of my dogs was such a “selfish” creature (it really was, dogs are not saints as many people like to think) or the another was so agressive. So it is better, at least for me, to look and appreciate other people´s dogs.
You sound like you need a lot of therapy. You have no soul. Pick up the dog poop as it happens like many of us do. You’re right, you shouldn’t own a dog, you DEFINITELY shouldn’t have children! What an awful parent you’d be.
I like this article, although my idea of dogs and cats is this … DOWN WITH DOGS AND UP WITH CATS!! I love cats and I hate dogs. Is it possible for a human to act like a cat, because I do that all the time? But this article isn’t about cats, so I’ll just say DOWN WITH DOGS!!
I own a lab, big mistake. I’m looking to give her away because I don’t like her. I do have kids and I’m an awsome parent so one has nothing to do with the other. The problem with dog lovers is that they humanize them. They definitely do NOT belong in a house. They are definitely not human nor deserve to be treated as such. Can’t wait to have my clean house back. Bye bye pooch!
As someone currently fostering large breed dogs out of the goodness of my heart, I must say…THANK YOU! I expected that unconditional love that everyone talks about. Dogs are selfish, needy, and messy. I love my fosters, but I feel like a prisoner in a smelly, fur-covered chattel. Cannot wait until they are adopted.
I really needed this article- thank you so much! People can be so judgmental about others not caring for dogs. I totally understand Benjamin’s feelings as I too have a dog that I have a love/hate relationship with. I dispise going for walks and having to pick up poop, but feel guilty if I decide to go without her. Whether I brush her or not, she sheds incessantly! We have hair in places in the house – despite my having worn out 4 vacuums- that she hasn’t even stepped foot in. I would get rid of her if it wasn’t for our daughters and my husband. Now my kids are angry at me for not allowing her to lay on the very expensive rug in our family room after I caught her scooting on it several times- yuck! She is really a sweet dog and we’ve had her since she was a puppy, but the vet bills and upkeep are starting to wear on me. Needless to say, I’m not getting rid of her, so I guess I’m just venting. People need to stop humanizing animals period. The news is quick to report someone who mistreats a dog while ignoring the plights of humans. Not saying that I condone mistreatment of any animal, these people have lost perspective . My advice is to do what’s best for you and your family.
I cannot believe that old line “you have no soul” because you don’t love or like dogs. “You shouldn’t be a parent?! That just PISSES me off! I never really liked dogs
.. then I got one and my suspicions were confirmed. Dogs stick their noses in EVERY single disgusting thing they find on the street, walk through the places where Every other dog has pooped and gone pee, then they walk all over your house and get in your bed?!! Yuck!! Its really unsanitary. They do not clean themselves. They are dirty. I gave my dog a bath and washed him three times beforeni sold him (poodle) I was cuddling with him onnmy lap and he was Kinda wet still.. my pants were stained brown! Not kidding. A pampered not rolling in Shit poodle. Dogs are dirty. You are not a bad person for not liking them. Maybe a better parent for not having a gross stinky dog in your house. “When you grow up” tell them and leave it at that. Great article. Funny. -Sold my dog to an excellent home today
Maybe you shouldn’t have started with a big breed of dog, and remember, don’t get a dog just for your children, they will care about it and it seems likely you might take it away when you’re tired of it.
@Andrew Johnson
I love cats and hate dogs as well! DOWN WITH DOGS! UP WITH CATS!!! 😀
I’m late to reading this, but I can completely relate! My fiance and I wanted a dog – really – so we went to a dog rescue in NH that a friend had adopted from. We had been thinking about it for a while and really wanted to adopt. We were interested in a 1-year-old “beagle” that was available because she was cute and the description on her petfinder page seemed to match our lifestyle: moderately active, great with other dogs, housetrained etc. Turns out she was a larger hound (a 35+lb beagle?!) 2 years old, barked non-stop to go out, pulled the leash like a draft horse, was leash-aggressive, peed in the house. Repeatedly. The adoption was a nightmare from start to finish, and we returned the dog to the rescue after 4 days. We only got 1/2 of our $500 adoption fee back, I was treated like an irresponsible fool, and I have been put on “do not adopt” lists. Oh yeah, and when I brought the dog back, I donated $200 in food, flea and tick control and toys… guess I’m a monster.
Anyway, after this horrible experience, I find that I am super critical of all dog behavior: barking, pooping everywhere, shedding, licking, jumping. UGH! I’m all set with all of it- dogs, puppies, and the crazy dog nuts who think dogs are more valuable than people.
Thank you so much for writing this, and sharing THE TRUTH. I despite dogs….they are roaches…parasites….they are the worst pet imaginable. I also have zero need for a dog to kiss my ass, and I do not desire to be a slave to a dog’s neurotic needs nor enslave a dog in my house/backyard to fill my ego or replace human interaction…I also cannot stand how doglovers have to shove their dogs down your throat and pretty much stigmatize you if you express your personal boundaries and do not love their monsters or allow them to slober/shed all over you and piss/shit all over your neighborhood….additionally, there are many dogs that attack/maul people and I fear the fact that they are extremely unpredictable…’oh its the sweetest dog in the world it never harmed a fly’….yeah tell that bullshit to all the dog attack victims out there (the ones that have died can’t hear the lies). The US is batshit crazy in their cultist love for these vile creatures….Doglovers are misanthropes and they anthropomorphize these pathetic creatures…..dogs are are public health and safety hazard and they will be the downfall of the US….can you say Planet of the Dogs?
This is hilarious, glad I stumbled across it today. Just to add another perspective, I think owning a dog is similar to having a kid. Today, as I sat next to a squirmy, loud child in church tugging on his moms dress the entire service, I secretly wondered to myself why anyone in their right mind would want a child. A few weeks ago I was babysitting two toddler girls. As they screamed, cried and threw a long tantrum for a good 30 minutes before bedtime, I was counting down the minutes in my head until their parents would come home and I could escape. So I think it’s the same with dogs. When I walk by a fenced yard and some dog starts snarling and barking at me out of nowhere, I wonder where on earth its owner is. Etc… I think it’s just whether or not you develop that sense of attachment to something to put up with negative aspects. If you have not bonded with the dog in any sort of way, it’s going to be a living hell, and everything – the dog always wanting you to throw its slobbery ball, always wanting walks, barking – are going to bother you. The same with a kid. To me, other people’s kids are annoying most of the time unless they’re sleeping or behaving perfectly. I’m sure when it’s my own, it’ll be a different story and I’ll come to see everything they do as cute. Who knows.
Now I know I am not the only one. I did not know how much I hate dogs until our family adopted one. I am so depressed. Everyone loves the dog but me, and I am the only one who cleans up the hair and the mops up the muddy paw prints. This dog is the sheddiest dog on earth. My husband refuses to get rid of the dog. It’s only one year old so it will live many more years. I am afraid it will eventually come down to me saying to him, “Either me or the dog”. When I tell my husband how having this dog is affecting me, he just ignores me, gets upset, or says, “Well, this is just part of having a dog. You need to get used to it. Getting rid of it is not an option.” I am afraid I might end up hating my husband for doing this to me. I am so depressed. I don’t feel the same way about my home anymore, with the dog seemingly taking over the entire first floor and shedding everywhere, leaving paw prints everywhere. My house is no longer as clean as I like it anymore. I clean all day and the dog just messes it up all over again. I hate it.
Okay, you got me: I actually DID sit up with a sharp WT*?! when I read the part about you giving up and having her euthanized. All ready to work up a righteous pile of indignation, and there you go letting the wind right out of my sails with the next sentence. Darn…I almost had reason for a good Rant there!
My husband and I had dogs for almost 23 years. They were always big ones – Bouvier, Labrador, Newfoundland – and I loved them while they were in my life. He described himself as a dog-lover and cat-hater, having grown up with large dogs all his life. I had enjoyed my medium-sized pup as a kid and teen. What could go wrong?
Plenty.
As others mentioned, people anthropomorphize dogs. He did the opposite. The dogs he grew up were DAWGS, with miles of rural Ontario to roam around. Even when he lived in Alberta (as I still do now), he was in acreages with lots of surrounding land. The act of putting a leash on our household dog(s) and taking them out for a run was far too much work. When they came running to him for a hello and a walk, his mantra was “NOT NOW! GO AND LIE DOWN”. So guess who got to do the responsible thing and take them out….in -40 Alberta winters, and heat-wave summers?
We had the option of taking to a great big field with a wide stream/river passing through it, and they loved it … but it was a whole five minute drive, and they’d get into the car WET (well, duh!), and it meant walking fast to keep up behind them, and that was haaaaard …. (read the last sentence in a whine for accurate effect.) I took them there myself as often as I could, but it was hard to control both on my own, and impossible to help one if he was injured, attacked or stung. They were bigger than I am.
When cancer finally took my husband last year, he left me with 2 1-yr-old Labradors and 5 cats: MY “fur vice.” It took six months to find an excellent home for the dogs, but I did the work and it was well worth it. I got tons of sympathy for the loss of my “sweet furbabies,” but – while there are aspects of dog ownership I do miss – I almost immediately felt a huge weight of guilt and responsibility drop from me.
Will I get another dog? Yes, but only when s/he can be a DOG. Not left in a yard or crate, but out where they can run and explore. I want to go on walks with her where we’re both WALKING, not trying to work off energy from being locked up all day. When the time comes that I can have a companion that shares my life – rather than trying to be the “perfect dog person” for the pup’s sake – then that’ll happen. Until then, I have cats who come when called, hog the bed, and like car rides. I have Cogs (or Dats). There’s no rush.
Thanks for a great article. – Cheers from Canada!
The problem wasn’t the dog, it’s that you didn’t do your research and find a dog that fit into your lifestyle. Why would anyone judge all dogs based on an experience with one particular dog!? There are plenty of wonderful, calm, low-shedding dogs. Training is a simple task of spending 10 minutes, twice a day on different things.
Dogs take FAR more than they GIVE. Extremely restrictive to lifestyle. Filthy, selfish, loud, demanding, disgusting.
I loved this article. Recently got a lab pup. We had a dog for 13 yrs. he was great but died few months ago. Got pup cos husband and child both adore dogs. She is a total nightmare. Jumps and nips all the time. Has drawn blood from me my son and his friends. I really really hate her and feel like im getting depressed. My heart rate is racing every day and my throat hurts from shouting at her to get off me or my son. She hasnt even started shedding yet so i know things will get worse. Think i will go and stay wirh a friend so i can walk around without being attacked.
I am in the same situation, which is odd to some people because I have a life long fascination with animals. What people don’t get is that this means I would rather watch a Nat Geo special about lions than look at LOLcats. I have no desire to own a pet of any kind!
You can hate dogs. Dogs hate you. You should be ashamed. It’s okay to not like dogs. I don’t get it, but you have your rights. However, it is immature and irresponsible to get a dog without research and complete understanding that you are making a commitment. I’m glad Bo has a good life now.
Thanks for reading. I agree with you re: dog attacks and maulings. I’ve been out walking with my kids in our neighborhood and have repeatedly been intimidated by large pit bulls that some people have – and of course the owners say, “Oh, they’re harmless,” but come on! They’re strong, unpredictable animals and a little kid wouldn’t stand a chance. It ticks me off that these dog owners have the “right” to annoy the rest of us with their pets – leaving their pets out to bark all day, pooping in our yard, pooping on the sidewalk, etc. Most dog owners have no business owning a dog.
We did do our research – we thought the dog would fit into our lifestyle. We were idiots. Thanks for the judgment, the world really needs more of that.
And no, I don’t want a dog of any kind, even a calm, low-shedding, hypoallergenic one. I don’t want to have to train it our housebreak it or buy food and deal with its poop and spend time on it at all. I have kids now and we do not remotely have time for any pets, even a damn fish tank.
You are a cat person. They are very low maintenance and for the most part independent and quiet (unless you get a Siamese).
A dog is like having kid, except they are unruly toddlers that never grow up.
I can’t stand dogs!!!! I hate cats too. Tell me I have no soul. Hell, my sis bought me a goldfish for my bday one year. That fucker lived 3 yrs. I felt such relief when I flushed it. Who wants to clean a fish bowl once a week? Not me. Call me soulless, greedy, self centered, whatever. Not a pet person. Just like some people don’t like Doritoes (freaks!), lol, just let them be!
And I hate when they lick my legs. Gross. What would a pet owner do if *I* licked *THEIR* legs? I’m not saying I would do that, b/c I know their dog has been licking their legs, and I have no desire to French kiss a dog. I am single by the way. Any single guys who never want to own a dog on here? 🙂
I just had my regular twice daily nightmare walk with my large, stubborn, mixed breed almost one year old female crazy dog. If we make it through a walk without her gagging herself into a coma or dislocating my arm while she lunges at people (oh no worries, she’s a VERY friendly thing, just wants to stand up and lick you in the face to greet you and jump all over you) then it usually concludes with her trying to box me, or dance with me, no idea. Either way it ends up with me having to pin her down while she thrashes madly , tongue dangling, panting and that Puppy Craze look in her eyes that i have a feeling will still be there for many years to come. Yes she has been trained, yes she gets attention. She is not allowed to be Human. No furniture. I ensure i enter/exit doors first. She sits and waits for her food, i allow no one to pet her unless she is sitting (which means no one but her immediate family ever gets to pet her). She has swallowed whole plastic bags, wood chips, hair elastics, gyproc, she assumes every single thing is food… but is on a high quality food and according to the vet is perfectly healthy just ‘curious and food motivated’….. eats walls, baseboards, socks, cat crap, anything off the counter. I am at the point where as soon as shes out of the crate in the morning she has to be kept on a leash and in my hand the whole time in the house, or secured to our railing post in the living room wtih a 14 foot length to keep her out of trouble if i need to do somethign selfish like…. go to the bathroom.
I have owned other another dog until she passed from cancer at 13 yrs old, and although she wasnt like this one as far as insanity goes she was an immense challenge…but FAR less work. I still have decided that i am not a dog person. I just lucked out with our last one.
I feel as though I have PostPuppy depression or something. I can’t figure out why I have her.. except once in awhile she sits and looks at me with this dopey stupid ‘WHAT?’ look.. and I sigh… and pet her and think MAYBE…. maybe it will get better.
This post was exactly what I needed to read today. Thank yo.
I would much rather have dogs than kids any day. 🙂 I would rather pick up poop in my yard than deal with a sticky 2 year old throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store because they can’t have everything they can put their hands on.
i can totally understand how you didn’t like being a dog owner. But I don’t think you should make assumptions about the whole dog species. They can be amazing companions — if you get the right one, know how to train a dog, and are willing to put effort, time, money, and patience into it.
I’m 15, and I spend hours with my dog per day. They take work. But I think it is worth it. Even picking up poop, walking in -25 C weather, dealing with aggression, and all of the rest.
What I hate about dogs is the loud bark. It’s not OKAY AT ALL, to make any sudden LOUD NOISES that scare your neighbors. Is it ok for me to bang a GONG randomly throughout the day? Would you be enjoying YOUR HOUSE if you had to wait for the next GONG sound?
Dog owners that let the dog bark outside are like self righteous religious hypocrits.
YOU should’nt own a dog, dog owners
You should be ashamed of yourself writing this article boasting about your attempt at being a dog owner. Please don’t have kids….you can’t give them away. You are just a self centered wanna be but couldn’t handle the responsibility of giving time and love to a living creature. You are selfish. cold hearted and stupid. Please use birth control.
I DETEST my dog. Every morning I hope she died in the night. She has been 15 years of hair, vomit, tripping me, poop, compulsive barking, getting out and chasing the neighbors, teeth bared. They don’t tell you when you adopt a stray that it may be be brain-damaged, or have a low IQ. I am sure this dog is both. She has made the last 15 years in our home suck! Everything about her bugs me to death! I fantasize about finishing her off with a baseball bat. Never, ever get a random dog from the pound.
You hit the nail on the head when you said you are too self-absorbed. Self-absorbed people should never have pets. That’ll never work out. You might change after children, I know a few self-absorbed people who’ve actually turned out to be really nice after having kids. Most of them have continued to be awful, though. If you know you’re like that, it’s probably best to not have kids. Self absorbed people suck at being parents. Even more so than self-absorbed dog owners. What you should really do, rather than making light of the situation, and being even more self-absorbed by writing about yourself, is spend some time trying to get the hell over yourself. That would be the kindest thing for everyone.
It is sad and unfortunate that you and your wife have children. You should not reproduce. There is obviously an important part of your soul missing. Clearly, you have some mental defect and pathos. You are disturbed. Your disdain for dogs is creepy and repellant, fit for headshrinker. More than your repellant phobias is that way you casually discarded a dog’s life. I am sure this poor animal did not want to be with you any more than you wanted to be with him. But he did not have a choice. Than you committed him to death? Because you are a creep. Certainly not anyone I would want living in my neighbor or near children.
You see if all the time, people who massively underestimate the commitment involved owning a dog.
They especially fail to understand how much exercise they need.
Please don’t make the mistake of thinking a small dog is the answer.
Last year, after my beloved Scrappy died, I adopted a little Sydney Silky, he was 14 at the time, he loves his walks.
My dogs are both 15 now and we still have two walks a day.
When I was a kid I always wanted a dog, my mother was a nasty, selfish old bag so it was never allowed.
Your children will have to wait until they are adults in their own homes before they have a dog. Better for them to accept their parents don’t have the time or patience to have dog than traumatise them, and the dog, by having a dog that is not loved and cared for.
Tell them the truth, you are not the type of people who can make the commitment required to have a happy, well-adjusted dog.
As an adult my dogs have brought me great joy, and, of course, sadness. I am 60 now so I know the two dogs I have now will be my last.
I hate dogs too, i think they are for people with low self esteem. think about it. You feel worthless as a person so you get this super needy animal that always want your attention so you feel better about yourself, like you now have a purpose in life.
With that said, my daughter wanted a dog, so we got a havanese. They do require a lot of attention, but for the most part it is very tolerable compared to the majority of dogs. If you are forced into dog ownership this is a good breed i would recommend.
Down go the stupid and dumb cats
I couldn’t agree more! I have had my dog for a year and he has done nothing but give me chronic anxiety! And I have put endless amounts of effort into him! Dogs are meant to bring you pleasure and joy not constant worry and anger! He is disobedient to say the least, he chews everything, pisses on our coffee table and brings dead animals into the house where he enjoys ripping them apart on our couch! I threw up while having to clean it up! Dogs are overrated and Im sick off hippy dicks and their pathetic opinions about how dogs have feelings blah blah blah! I have feelings too and I don’t like having my house destroyed everyday! However I take my responsibilities seriously so I will look after it till it dies but I am not in the least happy about it!
Good for you, some people just dont and cant make time for a dog, dogs are a huge commitment and can turn into terrible house mates without proper rules and training. I am glad to hear that you gave Bo up instead of keeping him. I hope Bo did go to the wonderful place you described .
I am also going to add that i do not agree with the silly anti dog comments..that immature and frankly judging the man who wrote the article is uncalled for too.
This article hit the nail, Ben. Unlike you, I like most dogs, but you have got it completely right about how needy dogs are and how they have been put on a much higher pedestal than they deserve. Props to admitting that you’re too disinterested and self-absorbed to properly own a dog–I’m that way too. Though if I shape up I might get -one- dog. I’d need a yard and a good amount of money first though………….