[JSR22]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Dogs’ body language is easy to read if you are an interested observer. Loud sounds do hurt dog’s ears without question.

I just did an experiment with my cat; played Handel’s Messiah to him. When the instruments and singers hit a really high note, the cat lowered its ears. When the instruments played mid-range, the cat’s face relaxed. The cat showed me which pieces he liked to listen to.

Do not compare dogs to cats!

[Sportsguy1]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Dog owners' choice. Not your business!

Yes, it IS the dogs owners choice but you are missing my point totally. I am asking WHY ….WHY do dog owners bring their dog to an event that thousands of people are going to be jammed into a small roped off area? Give me the reasons you do it…..seriously….WHY do you?

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Do not compare dogs to cats!

Dogs are even more sensitive. My Welsh terrier can’t even stand listening to singing “Happy Birthday” without howling. And, I used to breed dogs too, American Staffs.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy1

Yes, it IS the dogs owners choice but you are missing my point totally. I am asking WHY ….WHY do dog owners bring their dog to an event that thousands of people are going to be jammed into a small roped off area? Give me the reasons you do it…..seriously….WHY do you?

My choice. I do not care about your opinion.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by JSR22

My choice. I do not care about your opinion.

Nor I about yours!

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Dogs are even more sensitive. My Welsh terrier can’t even stand listening to singing “Happy Birthday” without howling. And, I used to breed dogs too, American Staffs.

Yes!

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Nor I about yours!

Back at you! NVA

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Do not compare dogs to cats!

Why not?

[Sportsguy1]

Originally Posted by JSR22

My choice. I do not care about your opinion.

That is the difference between you and me then….I do care about your opinion and why you do it. I’m not trying to be argumentative here….I’m truly interested in why people bring their dog or dogs to events where there are a lot of people. If your only reason is because ‘it’s my choice and I choose to do it’ then so be it but it seems like there are other reasons people do and I’m interested in knowing why. Educate me on this. I have a dog and I would never take him to an event like Saturday night at brownwood and truly want to know the reasoning why people do. Carry on.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Back at you! NVA

Actually I have no dog in this fight as I own no pets. I do realize dogs are not people and may not enjoy what people do, loud music, crowds other things. After all, they are canines, not primates.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

and to lowes, walmart,restaunts and any place they can get away with.

Like many replies, NOT a dog "hater", had many, treated them all very VERY well but.... I don't know if there has just been a huge "shift" in a very subtle area, but the lines have seemed to become more and more blurred (between human and pets, particularly dogs) in the last decade or so. I can't think of a better home than my parents provided for my dog(s)(had several growing up), mindful of their health, need to play, exercise, attention and touch (petting, ear rubbing), but (and this is difficult to adequately portray) never have I met so many people who seem to not even recognize a line between a human and an animal. I (sadly) will use an example of a dear relative. I want to make clear, no, this person absolutely is not in dementia or pre-dementia, but many reading this will think my family and I are just in denial, so be it. This relative just retired and is still actively teaching on a major campus, he retired about two years ago. The dog absolutely must go everywhere with them, everywhere. In our phone conversations and emails, she tell me " we want to go to ___ but ___ (the dog !) was just maddening, he pouted, he whined, he made us feel so guilty we just stayed home !" So if you are reading this, at this point you are saying, "she's demented of course". But it gets worse, since she is still teaching some classes, her husband is now in charge of the "play dates" for ___ (dog), driving him to and from the play dates with his friends. They are not in need of finances, but said they did "reschedule" a planned canal cruise in '23, until '24 because ___ (dog) dental bills were absolutely astronomical. It has just become a way of talking for here, "I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, such a relief, except for a few more things for ____(dog). He has way too many coats and sweaters now, but, he was shopping with me at ___ just to get his dog food and he kept going to this one "toy" and a sweatshirt that he just loved, and when I said, no, no treats today, he just got so stubborn I had to pick him up, NO easy task as you know, and literally carry him out."
This goes on all the time, taking about having to get his present to take to his friend's (other dog) birthday party ! These people don't even go out to dinner with friends and leave the dog home ! Amazing, they will eat at their local country club (not in Florida) on the patio because they don't want to deal with the dog's anger, upset, pouting, or punishing if they leave him. People in their social and professional circles would never dream they had such a "mental" problem (a dog who rules their life... they THINK !) And yes, they have three, grown, well adjusted, very successful children so they once KNEW the difference. The money they spend because (dog) must fly in coach or they can't go anywhere.... is it something in the water, they are not the only people like this. When we went from companion dogs for the disabled, to "emotional" support dogs, something happened in this world ! ? Saw one eating at a table from same dishes human customers eat at in a village restaurant... never went back... I know the dishes are sterilized, I know in my rational mind, but it's just too much to sit and have animals sitting like humans consuming from the same table. Oh will I get hate for that... oh well, won't change that I DO love animals and always have, but I know they differ from humans, that's all.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Like many replies, NOT a dog "hater", had many, treated them all very VERY well but.... I don't know if there has just been a huge "shift" in a very subtle area, but the lines have seemed to become more and more blurred (between human and pets, particularly dogs) in the last decade or so. I can't think of a better home than my parents provided for my dog(s)(had several growing up), mindful of their health, need to play, exercise, attention and touch (petting, ear rubbing), but (and this is difficult to adequately portray) never have I met so many people who seem to not even recognize a line between a human and an animal. I (sadly) will use an example of a dear relative. I want to make clear, no, this person absolutely is not in dementia or pre-dementia, but many reading this will think my family and I are just in denial, so be it. This relative just retired and is still actively teaching on a major campus, he retired about two years ago. The dog absolutely must go everywhere with them, everywhere. In our phone conversations and emails, she tell me " we want to go to ___ but ___ (the dog !) was just maddening, he pouted, he whined, he made us feel so guilty we just stayed home !" So if you are reading this, at this point you are saying, "she's demented of course". But it gets worse, since she is still teaching some classes, her husband is now in charge of the "play dates" for ___ (dog), driving him to and from the play dates with his friends. They are not in need of finances, but said they did "reschedule" a planned canal cruise in '23, until '24 because ___ (dog) dental bills were absolutely astronomical. It has just become a way of talking for here, "I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, such a relief, except for a few more things for ____(dog). He has way too many coats and sweaters now, but, he was shopping with me at ___ just to get his dog food and he kept going to this one "toy" and a sweatshirt that he just loved, and when I said, no, no treats today, he just got so stubborn I had to pick him up, NO easy task as you know, and literally carry him out."
This goes on all the time, taking about having to get his present to take to his friend's (other dog) birthday party ! These people don't even go out to dinner with friends and leave the dog home ! Amazing, they will eat at their local country club (not in Florida) on the patio because they don't want to deal with the dog's anger, upset, pouting, or punishing if they leave him. People in their social and professional circles would never dream they had such a "mental" problem (a dog who rules their life... they THINK !) And yes, they have three, grown, well adjusted, very successful children so they once KNEW the difference. The money they spend because (dog) must fly in coach or they can't go anywhere.... is it something in the water, they are not the only people like this. When we went from companion dogs for the disabled, to "emotional" support dogs, something happened in this world ! ? Saw one eating at a table from same dishes human customers eat at in a village restaurant... never went back... I know the dishes are sterilized, I know in my rational mind, but it's just too much to sit and have animals sitting like humans consuming from the same table. Oh will I get hate for that... oh well, won't change that I DO love animals and always have, but I know they differ from humans, that's all.

Yes! Many people anthropomorphize their dogs and cats, treating them like children. Very sad, even sick. Let's hope it does not extend to their goldfish next.

I have experienced dogs as pets since I was born. They are dogs, wonderful, delightful and lovable but they are not humans.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Some people think dogs are their children and most always be with them

That IS the case with relatives I wrote about on this thread. The are lovely, educated, people who are not "slipping" mentally so to speak, but kids are raised, doing very well, and the dog now rules (actually rules !) their lives because they are able to cast HUMAN emotions onto the dog, and rationalize (I suppose) what they can and can't do, again projecting it on the dog.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Yes! Many people anthropomorphize their dogs and cats, treating them like children. Very sad, even sick. Let's hope it does not extend to their goldfish next.

I have experienced dogs as pets since I was born. They are dogs, wonderful, delightful and lovable but they are not humans.

So true, so true, double thumbs up.... Have relatives in which this condition (anthropomorphic, projecting) is getting worse month by month. Like you, had many, wonderful, loving, pets, treated them well, fed them well, took care of their basic health... but constant new clothes, throwing "fits" in stores when they don't get a new coat, buying them boots (rain and snow), new clothes for their Christmas picture ON Santa's lap, obsessing over find the perfect birthday gift for the dog's best friends.... it's like they are actually living IN "The secret life of Pets" movie. What ever makes people happy I guess... these relatives don't play golf, so underneath it all, I am sure they marvel that we could spend so much time and money trying to hit a little ball all over many acres and into a tiny hole. LOL !

[LAFwUs]

I was in Home depot one day and a rather large discussion was taking place on the corner of a main isle. Customers & Employees.

It seems that down at the end of the Isle was a teenage girl who had brought her "support kangaroo" into the store.
I peeked and yep, there it was, bounding around on a yellow leash...

So, dogs or no dogs, at least we don't have "service/support" Kangaroos, Zebras, Camels, Aligators or Yeti's arriving in the squares....well not yet anyway!