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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think owning a dog is selfish?

222 replies

hannadashery · 13/09/2019 16:04

...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 Smile

OP posts:
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18
carly2803 · 13/09/2019 20:40

my dogs are old and lazy. they sleep a lot.they get walked. they are loved.

they are happy!

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 13/09/2019 20:59

Be honest OP... you just wanted to see some pics of happy dogs, didn't you Grin

BTW I work full time from home and DDog spends her day happily alternating between study bed, sofa and garden. If she feels a particularly offensive fart brewing, she usually makes sure it happens in the (small, stuffy) study.

Mrskeats · 13/09/2019 21:01

I work full time from home; often with my dog on my knee.

happinessischocolate · 13/09/2019 21:13

My dog comes to work with me, lays next to my desk all day, greets everyone who comes in the office, gets to spend time with the other dogs at work when I have to go onto the other offices and has a lovely hour walk round the woods with me at lunchtime.

It's great but unfortunately means I can't leave my job 😂 unless I can find another one that'll let me bring her to work everyday.

Dollymixture22 · 13/09/2019 21:21

I want a dang when I retire, but worry that my life expectancy might be shorter than the dog🙄

Maneandfeathers · 13/09/2019 21:21

My dogs sleep most of the day Blush
They are supposed to be a high energy breed but they missed the memo.

I don’t leave them home alone much though and wouldn’t bother having them if I worked all week. I would say they are left maybe 2 hours per day except one day where they are alone more like 6. They get an extra walk on that day though!
I have them for a number of reasons, mainly company, they make me feel safe home alone (to an extent, they are soft as muck but look scary) and also they keep me fit.

I do think that people who work full time and leave in the house for 8 hours on a regular basis are selfish.

Ginger1982 · 13/09/2019 21:25

God you're miserable!

ButterPie1 · 13/09/2019 21:52

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on people having kids Hmm

ILearnedItFromABook · 13/09/2019 21:53
Hmm

Plenty of people's decisions and behaviors are "selfish", by that standard. Why focus on just dog-ownership?

My dogs probably have better lives than a lot of human beings do, honestly. They're well-fed, get medicines and vaccines to prevent disease, live in a clean, climate-controlled home, get daily exercise, enjoy toys and comfortable places to sleep, and are loved.

I do agree that it's sad when a dog doesn't get enough attention or exercise, but I suspect that many require far less attention than some would believe. My own dogs sometimes make it clear they've had enough human interaction for the moment and would rather just nap undisturbed.

DieCryHate · 13/09/2019 22:11

We work. Dog goes to my parents where he has cuddles and a long walk. He went to puppy training, meets my friends dogs and plays with us all. He has his own sofa to snooze on as well as his bed. He is cuddled every night, played with, given treats, groomed daily and is so loved. Every weekend we take him on romps at the beach or in the hills. I have a tendency to feel guilty over the slightest thing but our dogs qualify of life is certainly not one of them.

to think owning a dog is selfish?
PrincessFiorimonde · 13/09/2019 22:49

Wolves attached themselves to humans not the other way round.

How can anyone possibly claim to know that is true? Confused

Bunnybigears · 13/09/2019 22:55

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

My dog would absolutely hate to be constantly hugged or petted.

MidniteScribbler · 13/09/2019 22:56

What a stupid post. The very fact that dogs have lived happy and healthy lives with responsible owners for generations is proof that there is not some great psychological damage being done. I have five dogs, so they keep each other company, and they get a run on the beach in the morning, a couple come to work on different days, back to the beach after work, and sleeping on the bed. The seven or eight hours a day they have to spend in each other's company is hardly going to mean they have a bad life, seeing as they have a couple of acres to run on, more toys than my son does, and comfy beds.

Dumb thread.

flyingspaghettimonster · 13/09/2019 22:57

I don't work so my dogs are only ever home alone if I go to the store or we take the kids swimming. We have 2, to keep each other company. Guess what ky dogs like to do all day? Sleep. They chill out on the bed with me or lie by my feet if I am downstairs. They go outsude if they choose to, play fight, gnaw bones and get walked. Weekends we take them to the dog park or a walk by the river so they can splash.

Hardly slavery.

siratcha · 13/09/2019 23:09

Missing the point but are there shows specifically for dogs on Netflix? Or do you mean second hand viewing of shows intended for humans?

ControversialFerret · 13/09/2019 23:33

I'm curious about where the requirement for three hours of daily walking has come from.

You do know that dog breeds are different? The exercise requirements for a collie (high as they are working dogs and need a lot of physical and mental stimulation) are not the same as those of a greyhound (very little as they are spectacularly lazy).

PrincessHoneysuckle · 13/09/2019 23:52

A message from my dog and me to you OP

to think owning a dog is selfish?
Urskeks · 14/09/2019 00:16

I love my rescue but I often think he's the one at the better end of a bargain, so to speak.

We are rarely apart, I spend a lot of time in bed, resting, and having experimented a bit it would seem that is where he prefers to be, too. He's very old though. My bedroom is super calm and comfy.

I wouldn't have one if I worked. I love animals but pretty much I saw him then up at our local rescue and felt so sorry for him. Only an idiot like me would take home such an old dog with an urgent need for surgery and with several health problems.

We are the perfect grouchy duo. I think he may be my last dog too, I've lucked out with such a placid one who has to be dragged outside for an actual walk. If he had written his own adoption advert, I think it would have read:

elderly doggo who is actual hooman inside doggo body, require definite actual hooman companion with comfy bed, no life, no outdoor hobby, please just feed doggo and don't leave doggo home ever, in return doggo only fart on hooman a few time, 'K fren?

Or something.

Lots of things are selfish. Having kids when so many need fostering or adopting, flying in planes when our environment is suffering, and loads of things I'd get flamed for putting probably. Is having dogs selfish? I'd say it depends how much you're home and how well you include them, and I'm not fond of people buying from breeders when so many need rescuing. But thins are as they are.

Nononoandno · 14/09/2019 00:20

If you have a dog and leave it alone for more than 4 hours without the option of going to the toilet (so not left outdoors) then yes you are being selfish and IMO cruel.

Nononoandno · 14/09/2019 00:33

A neighbor of mine got a border collie (cos they thought they were intelligent) but kept it on a lead all it’s life cos once when it was a puppy it ran off whilst on a walk so never again would they it off the lead. It ended up being really snappy and nervous. Another neighbor has two very small kids (baby and two year old) and they both work full time, and have just bought a cocker spaniel puppy.... wrong it’s a springer spaniel!!! I told them three times “it’s a springer” they believed me when I showed them pictures online!! 🙄 needless to say it’s driving them nuts and destroying their house. Again selfish as they don’t have the time for it.

Gingersstuff · 14/09/2019 00:38

There are asshat dog owners just as there as asshat non-dog owners. But in general you’re being ridiculous. Humans and dogs have had a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship for thousands of years. I have 4 dogs and have worked from home for 23 years in order to meet their every need and desire. If you’re going to tell me that I’m selfish for having a dog who was rescued from a horrific life on the streets of Romania, kicked and beaten and left to starve in a tiny cell, who was a third of his proper body weight when he arrived in the UK, who would have been a rotting carcass in a landfill somewhere....and is at this moment wedged up beside me on the sofa snoring like a pig...yeah, you can get to fuck, to be honest.

Jammydogger · 14/09/2019 01:02

Hmmmm, judging by your follow up comments I’m pretty sure you are trying to pass off your hatred of dogs as concern 🙄 at least be honest!

Blue7 · 14/09/2019 02:10

I pet my dogs, they are so petted they are so happy

I also put Netflix on and they love Marley & Me, until Marley dies. We also love Hitachi Its A Dos Tail but that is sad.

We watch happy films too

xxx

MoonageDaydreamz · 14/09/2019 02:15

Do you have any evidence for saying the majority of dogs are left on their own for most of the day?

I probably know about 10 people with a dog, they're either retired or if working age either have one sahp or one who works from home or works flexibly where in and out a lot.

I would love a dog but know arm I don't have the time to devote to it during the week or can justify the budget of doggy daycare / a walker. Until I can do one or the other I won't get a dog.

I would agree if evidence suggests most dogs are left alone a lot but from my experience yabu, I don't think it's selfish if you've got the bandwidth or funds to look after them properly.

Abouttimemum · 14/09/2019 02:26

I don’t really understand pet ownership in general to be honest, find it all a bit odd, but each to their own.
I had a baby which is basically selfish so can’t really criticise from that perspective.