to think owning a dog is selfish?

[hannadashery]

...with the exception of working dogs or as companions for retired people.

The majority of dog owners work, so in a 24 hour period in which their owner spends the majority of time sleeping or at work, a dog will be very lucky to get 3hrs walking a day and will probably spend the rest of the time bored/sleeping.

I don't believe dogs enjoy Netflix programs and highly doubt their owners are constantly hugging/petting them every evening. It feels that dogs sole purpose is to pad out that free time the owners have in between all their other activities. And sure dogs love their owners because who's going to hate the person that feeds them and provides temporary reprieve from absolute boredom.

Expecting an absolute flaming as so many people own dogs but from a non pet owners perspective it seems majority of dogs are basically slaves and are blissfully ignorant of their predicament.

Just thought I'd throw that as a light-hearted discussion on a Friday afternoon

I work very part time most weeks and my dogs are never far from my side. If I’m sat down, they’re sat on me, if I’m out they’re out.

Well most things are basically selfish when you really think about it...

“The majority of dog owners work, so in a 24 hour period in which their owner spends the majority of time sleeping or at work, a dog will be very lucky to get 3hrs walking a day and will probably spend the rest of the time bored/sleeping.”

Dogs naturally sleep for 18+ hours a day anyway, people who are half decent dog owners aren’t leaving dogs alone for long periods while they work...

So?

I mean yes dog ownership is mostly selfish, but your reasoning is kind of flawed.

My dog sleeps with me every night and is always been petted and cuddled by me, dh or the kids. We both work but he is walked a few times a day and has access to a cat flap which he can use to go in and out of the house.

I don't believe dogs enjoy Netflix programs

False, our cockapoo loves Turner and Hooch as well as a variety of Radio stations including Radio 2 of an afternoon.

highly doubt their owners are constantly hugging/petting them every evening

Even more false. I'm currently typing with the spaniel at my side with her head on my lap and the cockapoo on my feet. Both have at least 90 minutes exercise daily, a dog walker who visits if we're gone for more than 4 hours at a time and seem happy, pampered dogs.

I like them more than I like DH some days and that's that.

Well obviously it is in that it only benefits the person who owns it while simultaneously having a negative environmental and societal effect.

Presumably you think having children is selfish too?

I do get what your saying. I work part time, partner full time but when we got ours my partner worked shifts so was usually about. The dog sleeps through choice. If we are at home (unless we are cooking) he chooses to sleep and we actually disturb him. Given the choice he will sleep cuddled up with us, rather than alone. But he’s a lazy bugger.

The whole concept of pets is very strange when you think about it.

And there's an argument for everything being selfish; working, not working, having DC, not having DC, having pets, not having pets. You name it, there's a reason someone will think it selfish.

Temper that with the fact that dogs give so much more than they take, make an incredible difference bringing joy to the lives of their owners, are proven to reduce stress and blood pressure, teach children responsibility and kindness and you've got a hearty reason to go out and rescue a lovely hairy companion.

Well you’re very brave

Yabu. Dogs being humans joy and humans bring dogs joy. I don’t agree dogs should be left alone but lots of owners take theirs to work, come home, work from home or their dogs go to daycare. You are within your right to not like dogs but to just say it’s selfish isn’t a light hearted debate as people feel very passionate about dogs.

Ensuring continuation of one's own species is not the same as introducing a member of another species into said group environment for the sole purpose of one person having a mute, biddable and lifelong dependent companion.

Well where else are dogs going to be kept? Sure they would have a super cool life living free on a field with no restrictions but thats not the reality. Dogs are not miserable and living an unhappy life just by being left at home whilst we work, sure it would be awesome if we could always be with them, but it would also be awesome if i could quit my job job and quit sending my kids to baby sitters. Theyre far happier with an owner in a home than in some pet shop in a cage.

And YippeeKayakOtherBuckets .. theyre sooo cute!!!!

tabulah

Dogs naturally sleep for 18+ hours
Actually they need 12hrs which is way off 18+

owners get dogs to meet own needs? Really?

Relationships are selfish. So are children

What a pile of tosh!!! Was this just intended to annoy people? Sweeping generalizations rarely make anyone any friends....

As it goes, more and more people work from home and are with their dogs all the time. Ours is like a third child, loved, spoilt, petted through the day either by us or the kids. One of my girls was really afraid of dogs/animals & she now has a true love for them after growing up with & loving our dog.

The majority of parents work, so in a 24 hour period in which their children spend the majority of time sleeping or at nursery,, a child will be very lucky to get 3hrs...

It's unashamedly selfish. I have dogs because I love them and love being with them.

I'm only out of the house working for 6 hours max, 3 days a week. The dogs always got 2 good walks a day (now only have one, and she's old, and is happy just to potter to the paper shop and have a sniff about).

When we're home, she's always in the same room as me and if I'm sitting on the sofa she will be snuggled up beside me. She loves being with me as much as I love being with her. She gets lots of fuss and attention and is even happier when DP gets home and we're all together.

Dogs are social animals. Most of them love being with people, as long as those people are nice to them.

It’s quite normal for a dog to need 16-20 hours of sleep, they don’t spend all day wide awake feeling bored

I walk my dog for 20 mins before I leave for work between 7:30-8am, a walker comes in to walk him for one hour during the day, he gets walked when I return from work at 6pm for roughly 20 minutes.

My dog has a dog flap so access to the large garden all day. He has his own sofa and even an Alexa (although strangely he doesn't change the radio station during the day).

He has various dog treat toys to play with during the day.

I work from home once a week and when I'm at home, my dog is often asleep in another room. He's nearly 12 so he loves his sleep.

I think my dog has got a brilliant quality of life.

I'm self employed and in and out all the time and quite often the dogs can come with me! In my industry (equine) most people have dogs and they have amazing lives!

There are far more excellent doggy homes than working dogs and retired people companions!

I actually think YANBU

Dogs sleep 18+ hours a day is NOT TRUE.
Adult dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day, a few select large breeds can sleep UP TO 18 hours a day, but it's rare.

Considering that the dogs are obviously expected to sleep 8-9 hour when their owners do, that leaves only 3-5 hours or so of daytime sleeping.

Dogs do not like being on their own, they are pack animals.
TV/Radio is not a substitute for company.

At most a dog can be left 3-4 hours, a couple of times a week. Anything more is just mean.

We have a dog, she is with us 24/7 as we work from home. She gets left no longer than 4 hours in a week, if we decide to go out for a meal or something.

The majority of dog owners leave their dogs for far far too long. You shouldn't have a dog if you work FT, or if you're going to leave them alone regularly.

Actually they need 12hrs Have you asked them

You've qualified your AIBU here for starters:

the majority of dog owners work, so in a 24 hour period in which their owner spends the majority of time sleeping or at work, a dog will be very lucky to get 3hrs walking a day and will probably spend the rest of the time bored/sleeping

Working doesn't necessarily mean there isn't someone at home with the dog all or most of the day. For example, there is no overlap between the hours I work and the hours my husband works - I am at home before he leaves and vice versa.

Dogs don't want to be constantly hugged and petted - the older they get, the more time they are happy to spend snoozing.

But, in a sense, the whole concept of pet ownership is selfish, so you are correct. Just as 99% if not 100% of other things humans do, it's something people do for their own enjoyment and fulfilment. In the same way, going on holiday is selfish, buying new furniture is selfish, going out for a meal is selfish, having children is selfish, throwing a party is selfish ...

Human beings are selfish and their existence serves no purpose other than to damage the planet and the millions of other species we share it with. If you believe anything else, you are deluded. But there is no reason to single out pet ownership as more selfish than any other aspect of our existence.

Presumably you think having children is selfish too?

No. Children grow up to become largely tax paying citizens who fund public services which benefit me and the rest of society.

Dogs don't