Irresponsible Owners

[Morwenna]

I was the irresponsible owner the other day. My velcro puppy decided to let me know she is now a terrible teenager by tearing across the field to say hello to a (thankfully friendly) spaniel. She also, apparently, has forgotten her name and the recall whistle. I felt terrible but the owner was very nice about it. She really did shock me as she’s never gone more than about 20m away from me, even when chasing pigeons, before she pinged back. Madam has now lost off-lead walking privileges until she earns them back.

 

[Annette4]

Madam has now lost off-lead walking privileges until she earns them back.

Ahhhh but that's the bit that proves you are in fact the responsible owner after all. You tried to recall your dog and you are going to do the work to rectify the issue. No one can ask more than that.

 

[Millionwords]

I feel the same way. I also despise pet parent. I'm a pet owner thank you.

I prefer the term pet guardian, I don't own him, I am here to fulfil his needs and care for him in the best possibly way to enable him to be a real dog, not enforce my will or wants upon him.

(not suggesting you are, but sometimes "owner" can feel a bit of a loaded phrase to me when it comes to a sentient creature)

 

[Clodagh]

I prefer the term pet guardian, I don't own him, I am here to fulfil his needs and care for him in the best possibly way to enable him to be a real dog, not enforce my will or wants upon him.

(not suggesting you are, but sometimes "owner" can feel a bit of a loaded phrase to me when it comes to a sentient creature)

I own mine, I paid plenty of money so they could come and live with me, and I’m in charge. . Well I try to be but it’s an uphill battle

 

[GSD Woman]

I prefer the term pet guardian, I don't own him, I am here to fulfil his needs and care for him in the best possibly way to enable him to be a real dog, not enforce my will or wants upon him.

For me guardian in respects to my pets worries me. Once I am their "guardian" someone else can start making decisions about their care that doesn't line up with my care and I could lose guardianship. As far as people not feeding, watering or providing proper shelter, that is covered by anti-cruelty laws.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

My OH is ‘daddy’. I am ‘mummy’. Don’t really care what anyone else thinks, they’re my babies, the two youngsters are cuddled up on my knee, they get far more kisses than my OH. They are well fed, exercised, disciplined and have manners. Yes, I own them, I’m not their guardian, I am their owner, but I’m very soppy with animals. My OH says Beau (horse) was my ‘big dog’. He wasn’t wrong.

 

[Titchy Pony]

I could cry.
Tonight, monster and I went round to my parents for dinner. They live in the same village, just down the road, so we walk there. As we came out of the gate, the "doorbell dog" was crouched in the road, obviously escaped from her tether. Really annoying, but monster and I took the long way round to avoid her, all the while both of us looking over our shoulders as she followed for a way. Two hours later, on the way back, "doorbell dog" is still loose and crouched in my way (she is very obviously part border collie, with the low, creeping, fast approach). So we take another detour, I almost twist my ankle in a badly paved alley way and trek home through my orchard. By this time, I'm feeling rather (read very) annoyed, so I drop monster off and trek round to my neighbour who owns "doorbell dog". She was rather short with me (I think I interrupted her TV show) and asked me what I wanted her to do about it. Er, get the dog of the public road?... Well the dog won't listen, she can't catch her, she'll do what she can when she get her hands on her, buy her a proper chain... Anyway, in 30 seconds of talking nicely to her, I had hold of "doorbell dog". I left her with her owner, who was ranting at her as if that would help.
The only thing wrong with "doorbell dog" is her owner. She never runs free, is either inside or tied to the front door and gets perhaps two very short walks a day if she's lucky. I don't think I've ever seen her owner show her any affection and she often tells the dog that if only she could be nice like monster (if only she knew how much work had gone into getting monster "nice" and he still has his moments). All that poor dog wants is exercise, love and attention, and she's not going to get it. There's nothing I can do about it because she is not being mistreated in the legal sense of the term (and even if she was, it would have to be pretty dire for anyone official to raise a finger around here).
There are so many emotionally neglected dogs in the village because their owners don't know and/or don't care. It's really sad but I've mostly learned to ignore it as there really is nothing I can do about it, but sometimes it just gets to me like tonight and I wish I could invite all the dogs in to share my sofa (not that monster would be impressed with the idea).

 

[AmyMay]

@Titchy Pony, next time just call the dog warden. Problem solved.

 

[Titchy Pony]

@Titchy Pony, next time just call the dog warden. Problem solved.

Thank you, unfortunately I live in France. Dog wardens aren't a thing over here. The Maire would normally be responsible for stray animals but our maire doesn't like conflict and is unlikely to take any sort of useful action (plus I'd rather not call him out of hours if not necessary, I've done that before for escaped horses that I didn't know who they belonged to, he was very good and sorted it out, but he is a farmer by profession and I'd rather not add to his work if I can help it). I might call the mairie on Monday and see what they say, but I would also really like to avoid conflict with my neighbours.

 

[Goldenstar]

I prefer the term pet guardian, I don't own him, I am here to fulfil his needs and care for him in the best possibly way to enable him to be a real dog, not enforce my will or wants upon him.

(not suggesting you are, but sometimes "owner" can feel a bit of a loaded phrase to me when it comes to a sentient creature)

But you do own him that’s a dog’s situation in life they are owned .
Its a reality that we all face no matter how we dress it up we enforce our will on them the world would be chaos if we did not .

I don’t really care what people call themselves in this respect it’s how they care for the dog that matters .

 

[Pearlsasinger]

But you do own him that’s a dog’s situation in life they are owned .
Its a reality that we all face no matter how we dress it up we enforce our will on them the world would be chaos if we did not .

I don’t really care what people call themselves in this respect it’s how they care for the dog that matters .

Quite! Training, which every responsible owner does, is imposing your will. Unless of course you allow your dog to toilet in the house, you have trained it to some degree. The whole thread is about irresponsible owners, someone who doesn't train their dog is the epitome of an irresponsible owner, imho

 

[Millionwords]

But you do own him that’s a dog’s situation in life they are owned .
Its a reality that we all face no matter how we dress it up we enforce our will on them the world would be chaos if we did not .

No I know do own him, but if it were children, you wouldn't say you owned them, you don't call yourself Marys owner. Maybe that's because Mary is sentient with wants, needs, opinions (like dogs)...
I don't know why this is the case, I merely don't like to call myself the dogs owner.

No I know do own him, but if were children, you wouldn't say you owned them, you don't call yourself Marys owner. Maybe that's because Mary is sentient with wants, needs, opinions (like dogs)...
I don't know why this is the case, I merely don't like to call myself the dogs owner.
I don’t really care what people call themselves in this respect it’s how they care for the dog that matters .

Yes of course, but we train them, like we teach children, and it benefits them. We train dogs so that they can be dogs, but safely and without causing chaos.

I don't mind what people call themselves/the pet in relation to their pets really...although "furbabies" makes me feel a bit sick. I just prefer guardian for myself.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

No I know do own him, but if it were children, you wouldn't say you owned them, you don't call yourself Marys owner. Maybe that's because Mary is sentient with wants, needs, opinions (like dogs)...
I don't know why this is the case, I merely don't like to call myself the dogs owner.




Yes of course, but we train them, like we teach children, and it benefits them. We train dogs so that they can be dogs, but safely and without causing chaos.

I don't mind what people call themselves/the pet in relation to their pets really...although "f" makes me feel a bit sick. I just prefer guardian for myself.

No, you don't own children but you didn't buy them as babies, which most people did with their dogs, whether that is a fee to a breeder or a 'donation' to a rescue.

 

[Arzada]

I keep a eye on Trustedhousesitters and somehow the person/people in need of a trusted house sitter, maybe even me one day , are now called pet parent/s. Some of the descriptions of the fur babies are pretty amazing off putting.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I keep a eye on Trustedhousesitters and somehow the person/people in need of a trusted house sitter, maybe even me one day , are now called pet parent/s. Some of the descriptions of the fur babies are pretty amazing off putting.

A friend of mine looks after people!s cats using similar, cheap holiday! (She’s French)

 

[Smitty]

Well, my little chap was attacked by a toothless Yorkie today. I'm embarrassed to say the rat killing 'he man' ran, not very far, and the Yorkie had another go!! The lady with it was so apologetic.

On reflection though, I'm not sure she had any leads. She had 3 dogs, one very small Yorkie she tucked under her arm when she saw us on the path, a very fat short legged JR and the offending attacker. She yelled, called and shouted at it but it made a bee line for me and Jones, with the JR ambling along behind it. It could have gone very badly for the Yorkie with a different dog though and she was clearly anticipating the problem so why she didn't stick it on a lead when she saw us I don't know.

 

[Smitty]

Well, my little chap was attacked by a toothless Yorkie today. I'm embarrassed to say the rat killing 'he man' ran, not very far, and the Yorkie had another go!! The lady with it was so apologetic.

On reflection though, I'm not sure she had any leads. She had 3 dogs, one very small Yorkie she tucked under her arm when she saw us on the path, a very fat short legged JR and the offending attacker. She yelled, called and shouted at it but it made a bee line for me and Jones, with the JR ambling along behind it. It could have gone very badly for the Yorkie with a different dog though and she was clearly anticipating the problem so why she didn't stick it on a lead when she saw us I don't know.

 

[Goldenstar]

Once our ancestors and the dogs did a deal they looked at each other and embarked on a mutually beneficial alliance .
Thats how you should really look at your dog a species that looked at another and began to cooperate they walked with us through history changed and blended to our will as time passed .
There is no word that fully expresses what dogs are to humans and humans to dogs our alliance is unique.
Like the horse we became what we are because of their help .

Theres a magic in dogs they are very very special .

 

[Caol Ila]

You know what isn't fun? Cleaning dog sh1te off a Renegade Viper. Usually I have one eye on the ground so I can swerve around stray poo (because people are twats, there's often some) but I was chatting to my friend, admiring the light on the Campsies, and she stepped right in it because it was in the middle of the path.

Why is it so hard to pick it up, people??

 

[cauda equina]

It's gross isn't it
No experience with Renegades but I've spent a fair while digging out of Cavallo treads

 

[Caol Ila]

Yeah. I took off the boot (gingerly!) before putting the horse in her stable and then spent a while with it under the outside tap. The yard staff let me borrow some heavy duty cleaning products.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Driving out to the field today I was on a very busy main road and saw a dog walker with what looked like a Mali. He was doing training work with it, getting it to walk to heel, all good, except that he had it on a very long line and only had hold of the end of it, the rest trailing on the floor. If that dog had seen something the other side of the road there was nothing he could have done about it. Sometimes wonder if people have any brains at all.

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Shout out to the fandan walking his aggressive little jack russell type dog along the river path today. I was out walking our old dog who wouldn't say boo to a ghost and this yappy little s**t came running up the path and started jumping on her trying to bite.

Clearly it had previous for this because it was actually wearing a bloody muzzle.

Wonder how long it'll be before another dog finishes the fight it starts. Did say as much to the brainless owner but was ignored.

 

[Morwenna]

Today I saw someone driving slowly along a quiet road with the hazard lights on. Thought something was wrong then saw a dog running along beside it. After about 20 minutes it came back past me, stopped in a lay-by and the driver got out and let the dog back in and drove off.

 

[SilverLinings]

Today I saw someone driving slowly along a quiet road with the hazard lights on. Thought something was wrong then saw a dog running along beside it. After about 20 minutes it came back past me, stopped in a lay-by and the driver got out and let the dog back in and drove off.

Several of the farmers around here do that with their collies, it drives me mad as they are like a moving road block. I don't know if it's because they think the dogs need the exercise or if they just don't like them in the truck? I have no idea why anyone would choose to do that though, it's bl00dy dangerous for the dog

 

[GSD Woman]

Several of the farmers around here do that with their collies, it drives me mad as they are like a moving road block. I don't know if it's because they think the dogs need the exercise or if they just don't like them in the truck? I have no idea why anyone would choose to do that though, it's bl00dy dangerous for the dog

Some show dog handlers do that. But it is almost always on private property and the handler is on an ATV. Very different from roadwork on the actual road.

 

[skinnydipper]

The woman driving a blue Honda Jazz with a cockapoo on her knee.

 

[rabatsa]

Today I saw someone driving slowly along a quiet road with the hazard lights on. Thought something was wrong then saw a dog running along beside it. After about 20 minutes it came back past me, stopped in a lay-by and the driver got out and let the dog back in and drove off.

Someone has done this down our lane, turn at the end and return, with a boxer every day for the last 5/6 years. He now drives down lets the dog out and drives back and waits for the dog.

It is a lovely dog and lives at the road end of the lane. Poor dog is old before his time and suffers from lots of allergies and has to have a carefully controlled diet.

They have never dared exercise their jack russel this way.

 

[Moobli]

Several of the farmers around here do that with their collies, it drives me mad as they are like a moving road block. I don't know if it's because they think the dogs need the exercise or if they just don't like them in the truck? I have no idea why anyone would choose to do that though, it's bl00dy dangerous for the dog

One of the assistant shepherds here used to do this to exercise his dogs.

 

[Clodagh]

Oh my… I had to take Smallest to the airport today so OH took our lot out for me. We live in a hamlet and are just surrounded by sheep, and lambing is in full spate.
OH heard barking and shouting, called ours to heel and then watched our elderly neighbour and his family try to catch a dog that was chasing deer. (Thank goodness only deer). Apparently it had been hunting them for an hour, and so, so luckily it hadn’t worked out how to get over the stock netting into the sheep and lambs next door.
It’s a rescue from Moldova (OH thinks he said). They have had it 3 days. He’s sending it back as he didn’t know it would need to be on a lead. Formerly he has had ex guide dog Labradors.