[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

I think you are right in every way. People with dogs frequently have to leave early or schedule themselves around taking care of their dogs. If they don’t, they are abusing their dogs. You are also right that you shouldn’t have a dog at this time.

No question—owning a dog takes a lot of time, and it can cost a lot of money. I had a cute little dog for several years, but it fell in love with my ex-girlfriend’s dog, and when I moved to Florida, I gave the dog to her. It is still with her. The dog it fell in love with died, but it has now fallen for her new dog. I was very fond of my dog, but I don’t really feel temperamentally inclined to get another one.

My ex-girlfriend’s dogs have among the best of dog lives. She rides and competes on her horses and spends summers in the mountains of New Jersey and winters in Ocala. She has big fenced yards, but the dogs go almost everywhere with her. Most days they go to the barn with her and hang out off-leash, loved by everyone. When she rides her horse for several miles, they run alongside. If she’s not riding, at least she takes them on a walk through the hills for a couple miles, off-leash. If she’s out doing errands, usually the dogs go along in the car or truck. They love it. They sleep on her bed with her.

Lots of dogs here aren’t able to do that, and lots of dog owners can’t, either. I think the real dog people are happy to deal with the restrictions their dogs necessitate.

That is a good post. I am interested in the, "Sleep on the bed with her". I have allergies to dog fur. I had dogs up north where I had more acreage, so I could keep them outside in a kennel. Here in The Villages I would have to get a French poodle or other breed that did not shed. A person thinking about owning a dog or cat should make sure that they don't have allergies to the particular breed that they decide on. And most dogs shed. I just Googled that Siamese cats shed some, but are better than other breeds for people with allergies.