VamPyroX

I came across this and thought this would be a great read for everyone.

Most common mistakes pet owners make - TODAY: Pets - MSNBC.com

• Impulsive adoptions/purchases
• Buying from a pet store
• Killing with kindness
• Focusing on punishments rather than rewards
• Assuming your pet is a person in fur clothing
• Not spaying or neutering pets
• Lack of supervision between pets and children

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Deafness

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VamPyroX

Related to dogs...

- Impulsive adoptions/purchases
I remember this being a problem when 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians. When the movie came out, everyone got excited and couldn't withstand the cuteness of those adorable puppies that they had to go out and buy one. What they didn't know was the amount of care and attention that dalmatians require and how they are not excellent pets for kids. Because of that, a lot of people ended up returning those dogs a few months later when they started to be not-so-cute.

- Buying from a pet store
I agree with this. Pet stores charge a lot of money for their dogs. Pure breed is something that should be left to royalty since they're inbreeds as well. A lot of pet stores have their own breeding farms. Also, they often charge a lot of money for shots and other things things. Animal shelters spay/neuter their pets and include all shots... and is still cheap.

- Killing with kindness
I've seen this done by some people (even those who have hearing assistive dogs). They spoil their dogs so much that their dogs become too damn lazy and mean to others.

I knew one woman who had a small dog that she would spoil with leftovers from fast food restaurants that we went to every day. She would buy clothes for it. She would give it a lot of attention. If someone was talking and her dog demanded attention, she would immediately shift her attention from those people (including her friends) and focus on her dog. Her dog would bite people and she didn't care because as long as her dog loved her, she would be happy.

I knew one woman who had a hearing assistive dog and took advantage of it by taking her dog everywhere... I mean... EVERYWHERE. She would feed her dog table scraps (even when they go to the food court at the mall). She would bring her dog to the grocery store. She would bring her dog to the mall (especially department stores where the dog is walked through the clothing aisles). This is a HUGE health hazard, especially for those who are allergic to dogs. What if a customer bought a dress and went home only to end up in the hospital?

- Focusing on punishments rather than rewards
I think this is very important. Dogs are like our kids. We reward our kids when they do something good (complete chores, good grades, help, etc)... and punish our kids when they do something bad (break something, talk back, bad grades, etc). Dogs should be treated the same. Of course, positive reinforcement should be done more than punishments.

- Assuming your pet is a person in fur clothing
While we may think of our dogs as kids, there are some things that nature intended. If they do something that's unusual, don't suddenly get mad. After all, they're probably doing what all dogs do. Do your research and talk with others to find out what's normal and what's not normal.

- Not spaying or neutering pets
This is a serious issue... especially when people buy pure breeds.

Remember what I said earlier about animal shelters? They spay and neuter animals they get because they don't want to give away a dog that will come back with 5 more dogs. If they did, they wouldn't be doing a good job in the first place.

If you're going to breed your dog, get a license. But think again about whether it's really worth it or not.

- Lack of supervision between pets and children
This is very important... especially since kids don't know if what they're doing is right or wrong and dogs don't always know their own strengths.

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Brian

I must say this is a very good article that current and future pet owners should read.

I am guilty I treat my dog as if he is a human-being.

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-Brian

VamPyroX

I'm sure that some people do that. They shouldn't over-do it though.

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PuyoPiyo

Totally agree with that "Don't punish more than reward", I only punish my dog if she pee, that's it. All others, she's cool with me Love ya, Ruby!

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Liebling:-)))

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*sniffing you*

Ozzie

I'd rather see pets being loved with discipline thrown in, than maltreated.

pek1

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Pete

freckles

..I have to speak this. it's not wrong to take a service/assist/guide dog 'everywhere'. they can go anywhere except ZOOs, churchs and private businesses. if allergy is a big deal, there would be no or some restrictions for guide dogs but there aren't.

people unable to understand the difference between danders and saliva of a domestic pet is another problem.

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for now ..

what did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus?
"can I hold your hands, hands, hands and these hands too?"

Pinky678

I do make mistake for my own dog. I am very spoil rotten to my dog. I am treating her a princess it make her snob at anyone. She really love me so much! I put her a dress like a princess, cute sweater. The most time she don't wear a sweater or shirt that much. If she is cold. I have to put her on sweater during winter. My mom think it's my fault and my husband's faulted for spoiling on my dog to be a spoil brat as princess. LoL

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"Your lips are moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah!"

"You can talk but I probably won't listen"

Buffalo

My sister had a Min Pin (I think) and a baby. She had to keep an eye on the toys as the dog would take the baby's toys and the baby would take the dog's toys. In the end, my sister gave the dog away as it was too much for her.

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Pinky678

LoL LoL my dog's pound is 4.5. I treated her like a baby. I held her as baby all the times. She is my BABY!!!! LoL

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"Your lips are moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah!"

"You can talk but I probably won't listen"

VamPyroX

I know... they have a right to do so. However, there's a matter of rights and privileges.

If you're going to have an assistive dog, then treat it like an assistive dog. When people treat assistive dogs as spoiled kids, then those dogs will begin to lose their purpose and they no longer become assistive dogs. Then... when they take these non-purposeful assistive dogs to the store, are they really at the store as assistive dogs or just as a companion of the owner who is abusing the right to bring the dog everywhere with her?

I have a couple friends who have assistive dogs and they treat these dogs properly. If they're going somewhere like a nice restaurant, they leave their dogs at home. They have enough respect for others who might not want pets around their food or might be allergic to dogs.

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freckles

okay, you said she was a hearing/service dog.

so, are you saying people who bring their service dogs to a restaurant are at least disrespectful?

VamPyroX

If they don't really need to, then why bring them?

Deaf people say that they have rights to bring assistive dogs because they are deaf. What about the rights of people who have health problems? They have rights too.

Tell me, is an assistive hearing dog really NEEDED in a restaurant?

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freckles

yes. yes, some. depends on atomsphere, the enivronment, people, etc. that's why they're allowed to come.

again, dog's fur is not the problem. but if you're worried, don't touch the dog (one of their rules anyway) or crawl on the floor! then all will be good.