To think most people shouldn't own dogs

[JamSandle]

I love dogs but I think a lot of owners:

• infantalise their dogs and treat them like babies, not animals who have instincts and needs.

• don't train them. Let their dogs bark, howl and growl all day long.

• don't look them properly. Walk them, trim nails, clean them, look after teeth.

Good dog owners are amazing people. But so many people have dogs and don't put the effort into training them or understanding the animals needs.

I dont really think most people should be dog owners.

I agree to an extent @Noorandapples but I think that poor breeding practices have led to 'bad' dogs being bred. Certainly dogs are being bred that the average dog owner would not be capable of training to the required standard.
Not the fault of these poor dogs, all down to greedy, irresponsible, inadequate human beings.

I don't think people should have pets full stop as it's exploitative and for the benefit of the human.

But I've said it on here before, in the past most people who had dogs were doggy people so they knew what dogs needed and how to look after them properly.

Nowadays and particularly since covid. you've got too many people who don't have a clue and can't be bothered. And there is far too much anthropising.

@lieselotte
It's not only for the benefit of the human. My dog would have died if someone hadn't have offered her a home. So I did. It's clearly for my benefit too. She restricts my life somewhat but I love her dearly and wouldn't be without her. I think she is happy too and I do the very best I can for her.
Having said all that, I wish she didn't exist! She has suffered terribly in her life.
I'd like pet ownership to end, all breeding of pets to end, I'd like us to stop using animals full stop - police dogs etc. There are likely a few exceptions.
I'd also like people to stop breeding as the rate they do so land is freed up for the domestic dog's ancestor the majestic wolf.
I read that wild cats have just been introduced in the Cairngorms. Haven't read more than the headline but that seems a wonderful thing to me.

I too think most owners shouldn't own dogs.

Another way of looking at it is most dogs shouldn't have owners. It's only because we've taken over this world and we've bred dogs to be dependent on us that they need owners.

There's an interesting argument that dogs, as the first domesticate, are the foundation on which rests all other domestication.

No dogs, no farming sort of thing.

And I'd hate to live in a world where humans kept no animals. Dealing with other species gives you insights you get no other way.

I agree. I think most dog owners are like the ever-so-hated SUV owners, in that they think they/their pets/cars can do no wrong and have more rights than anyone or anything else. Even if they don't think it, they sure act like it.

Dealing with other species gives you insights you get no other way.

But isn't that again for the benefit of humans? It might make us better people but at what costs to animals.
Don't get me wrong, I'd hate to be without my dog.

As for farming, I think that could only be to the farm animal's benefit.

But isn't that again for the benefit of humans? It might make us better people but at what costs to animals.
In the case of many dogs, they benefit. Well-kept domestic pets, and also animals like horses, tend to have much longer and healthier lives than do wild animals (though obviously if we breed animals like eg brachycephalic dogs we cause a host of issues; on welfare ground I have real reservations about extremes like that).

As for farming, I think that could only be to the farm animal's benefit.
Not sure what you mean by that.

As a dog owner, I completely agree. I think about 10% of dog owners actually comprehend what is expected and what their dogs are capable of.

I own a powerful dog and take no chances. Most other dog owners around me do and he has been attacked by 4 labradors - 2 in one attack and 1 each time for the others.