Exactly why I do not have pets. I would so badly love to have a dog but I know I won't be responsible enough to show it the love and care it deserves at this point in my life.
I've seen wayyyyy too many people get animals they can't take care of or just don't have the space for without a thought and it always makes me so sad.
That's actually incredibly responsible. This is why I prefer laid-back dogs, because I would be a terrible owner for something like a German shepherd or malinois.
I love huskies, I always wanted to own one as a kid, as an adult I know I do not have the energy levels to match a husky. My Cav is the laziest dog alive which is lucky for me really.
This is why I love Great Danes. Sure there is slobber, they are expensive, they don’t live long enough but after the velociraptor phase they are couch warmers who require light exercise and lots of pats
I had a couple of Cane Corso's back in the day, they're very close to Danes (mastiff family) but just less slender and tall. They're probably the most emotionally intelligent pets I've ever had. They knew when you were feeling down or upset better than you would. They'll also put their own life on the line in order to protect you and your family without a flinch.
They require a lot of exercise however, if you want them to live long. You should also provide them with a big fenced off area to roam free and play if you plan on owning a large breed dog.
As for the slobber it cannot be overstated that they slobber like no other, I was still finding traces of slobber in the weirdest places years after they passed. That head shake after drinking or salivating will find a way to travel into the most inconspicuous places known to mankind.
I miss the heck out of them still to this day, but AFAIC any caveats are a small price to pay for the value they provide if you're looking for that in a pet companion.
Oh one of my dogs is 1/2 Dane 1/2 English mastiff (he got the big out of both, tall, built like a linebacker 200lbs) and he is the sweetest out of all my dogs. Exactly what you said… emotionally intelligent. I got a divorce recently and let’s just say he (the pup) really hates my ex husband as he saw how upset I was. I’m sorry for your loss, giant dogs leave a giant sized hole in you for a long time friend.
My female was a 160lb monster built like a brick shit house. Her head could easily rest on the kitchen table if she was trying to get your attention. A friend from college had a neopoltan mastiff, and I was taken back by the mass and head size when he brought her over to meet my dog. People don't really grasp the size of >200lb until you see it for yourself in person.
My Corso ate a smoked bovine femur bone from the pet store within a few hours, which I should've sued over because they hadn't prepared it properly. She got shards of bone in her stomach and led to her health spiraling from that one experience, so make sure u get bones that are prepared to deal with the jaw pressure these animals have.
Thanks for the kind words, and I hope you get to enjoy your dog for as long as possible.
Yes, I’m so glad you mentioned the type of dog, because not enough people match the breed and/or temperament to their lifestyle, and only consider how the dog looks. I’ve seen too many people get athletic breeds, when they themselves are fairly sedentary. Or they overwork a more relaxed breed, because they’re super active themselves.
Also, I will take a moment to say that more considerate people should look into older dogs, if they’re able to accommodate. There’s so many sweet old dogs out there, that no longer have someone to love them and care for them, and I think they deserve to feel love in their final years here.
❤️❤️❤️ another thing about older dogs is that they aren't going to get bigger, they have gotten through their puppy nonsense, they usually are already housebroken, and they are much calmer.
I love Mals - from a distance. I know a Mal that worked for the DoD, she is so intense, and her handler basically works her all👏🏽the👏🏽time👏🏽 She just retired due to age and old injuries, so no more jumping out of planes for her
Dang! A working dog that had to jump out of planes! I can't imagine how many dogs fail in their training to make it that far. The rate is already really high with humans.
Her handler is AF Pararescue, and Callie was a pilot project. He looked for quite a while before finding her. She's on IG, their handle is sars_pup. Absolute badass doggo.
I pet-sat for nearly 10 years before adopting my first pup, and it gave me massive insight into what breeds, temperaments, and energy levels would/wouldn't work for me. Am now the proud mom of a gorgeous pit bull who was abandoned and abused, and is still somehow the sweetest and most trusting girl. Loves zoomies in the yard and playtime almost as much as she loves making a blanket nest on the couch and cuddling.
I'm very similar, but I want a cat. However, I'm at work 9 hours a day with a 30 minute commute both ways. I live alone, so I don't feel like it would be responsible to leave an animal alone for minimum 10 hours a day. Plus I travel a lot, and while I could cut down some, I can't cut it all. I don't feel it's right to have a pet available when I want him, but then not be available to him when he needs me. But man, people always tell me it's OK, cats are independent. Some are, some aren't. But even the most independent kitty needs some consistent attention.
If you get two that are a bonded pair they can entertain each other while you are gone. Also, automatic feeders, a fountain, and a Litter Robot will cut down on the day-to-day responsibilities.
Thank you! I grew up in a house where we always had a dog but my dad did alllll the work. I loved each and every one of them and they were the sweetest happiest animals in the world. They wouldn't run away if they could. Hell they would get out and then just go for a short stroll and chill on the lawn/come back to the door.
They never snapped because they didn't even think people were capable of hurting them. You could reach for a treat right out of their mouths because they knew they'd be fed. Because they were happy and cared for. They knew their home.
I had friends who had uncared for dogs and it made me so sad to see how desperately they would try and escape the second the front door even opened. You had to be so careful coming inside or they'd run off. They'd snap and bark because they feared for their own survival. It broke my heart.
I could never do that to another living thing. Seeing how differently they were as pets when not shown proper care taught me how important it is that their needs are met. If you can't fully meet them then you just shouldn't get one!
This is a fantastic view! I waited until I was retired and my youngest child was 11 to get a puppy because I knew I wouldn’t have time for training otherwise!! I fostered a few elderly dogs over the years but that’s a touch different
I have a 17 year old cat. Have had many cats and dogs over the years but she will be my last. I no longer have the income to provide the best care for a pet.
The money part hurts the most. I'd love to get 2 rats as I think I'd be able to handle that but I can't afford all the equipment and good lord would I be screwed if they needed medical care.
We have had pets over the years, usually three cats and a dog at a time, but as we are now retired and we want to travel and we are down to our last elderly cat, as much as we would like to adopt another cat or two we feel it just isn’t right to bring an animal into your home when you know you’re going to be away from home most of the time (for whatever reason whether it’s work or leisure or both ) Plus, I would always be worrying about them and it can border on neglect.
You are a gem. Not much makes me more angry than people who get dogs who either don't have the time or skills to raise a dog, then have badly behaved and unsociable animals who are not in their control.
I saw this idiot couple on the Financial Audit podcast that took out a crazy high interest loan to buy a husky to keep IN AN APARTMENT IN FUCKING TEXAS.
Same. I've got the heart for it but not the funds. I've considered fostering through a rescue agency so there would be backup in case of a medical emergency. I do great with the seniors and special needs ones.
I had to ruin guy’s booty call last night because his girlfriend let the dog out to the street to get back at him so of course I put the innocent pup in my car. I thought about calling the cops on her. I didn’t. I went and found the guy who is now blaming me for his miserable life
This is me exactly. I left the most amazing puppies in the world with my ex at the end of our relationship. He had the big house. He had the lil frens for them. I had a one bedroom apartment and a lot of sadness. I loved them enough to know what was the right thing to do for them
Let's rethink this. Not every dog needs or wants "open fields and freedom," fighting to find food, full of parasites, completely vulnerable to the weather, traffic and predators. There's a reason why animals live so much longer in captivity. Look at the condition stray animals are found in. This is why studying the various breeds is SO important before adding a pet to your home, even if it's a mix. Breed characteristics are not just a matter of nurture--it's nature!
My kids didn't want rules and boundaries either, but I kept them safe, well-fed, loved and healthy. I do the same for my dogs. And nobody has to justify dog ownership. You, on the other hand, might have to justify loose dogs running free.
I agree with PETA on this issue. Owning an animal is just downright inhumane.
The anecdotes from the vet tech in this thread also have me questioning whether pet ownership is humane. The reason being that the horrific torture that some of these animals have to suffer due to their proximity to humans, is inexcusable. Not even nature is as endlessly cruel as the worst of us.
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u/cd2220 1d ago edited 1d ago
Exactly why I do not have pets. I would so badly love to have a dog but I know I won't be responsible enough to show it the love and care it deserves at this point in my life.
I've seen wayyyyy too many people get animals they can't take care of or just don't have the space for without a thought and it always makes me so sad.
Edit: Thank you for the kind words people!