Comments on: Idiot dog-owners: Ow ow ow … my head hurts http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:12:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Diane http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-190642 Diane Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:29:35 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-190642 The guy needs a "high-priced dog trainer" to tell him dogs need to be fed and walked regularly? Does he need an appointment with a proctoogist to help him find his rear end with both hands? The guy needs a “high-priced dog trainer” to tell him dogs need to be fed and walked regularly? Does he need an appointment with a proctoogist to help him find his rear end with both hands?

]]> By: Lynn http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-187242 Lynn Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:15:48 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-187242 Actually, I found the article entertaining, a satire of real life as it exists today. [However, this business about a 10 year old in bed with the parents is disturbing.] There's a lot of truth to dogs and less accidents in the "Cleaver Era." I think Harry Hurt brings home a good point - we've become over-scheduled Type A neurotics. Only the animals have remained mentally healthy. Let me ask: Does every human "hold it" until some superior human says he can go to the bathroom? Doesn't it make sense that if we humans react to "the call of nature" that animals might also want to do so as well? OK, I recognize that nowadays, with everyone out of the house so much, we simply can't have accidents all over the floor. So, yes, potty training is an absolute. I just think we all need to be reminded from time to time that it's pretty damned uncomfortable having to "hold it." Actually, I found the article entertaining, a satire of real life as it exists today. [However, this business about a 10 year old in bed with the parents is disturbing.]

There’s a lot of truth to dogs and less accidents in the “Cleaver Era.” I think Harry Hurt brings home a good point - we’ve become over-scheduled Type A neurotics. Only the animals have remained mentally healthy.

Let me ask: Does every human “hold it” until some superior human says he can go to the bathroom?

Doesn’t it make sense that if we humans react to “the call of nature” that animals might also want to do so as well?

OK, I recognize that nowadays, with everyone out of the house so much, we simply can’t have accidents all over the floor. So, yes, potty training is an absolute.

I just think we all need to be reminded from time to time that it’s pretty damned uncomfortable having to “hold it.”

]]> By: Megan Cahill http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-186113 Megan Cahill Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:07:54 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-186113 It sounds like this writer was trying to do the same type of thing that the author of Marley and Me did, make bad behavior from his family and his dog into some form of entertainment. I guess he didn't pull it off quite as well. It seems to me, that once you have a potty trained dog, there doesn't have to be an absolute time that one must be home to let little Steffi out, you have some wiggle room. Sometimes my dog is expected to only hold it for a few hours, sometimes longer. But because he is trained, he knows and I know that with in reason, he should hold it until I get home! It sounds like this writer was trying to do the same type of thing that the author of Marley and Me did, make bad behavior from his family and his dog into some form of entertainment. I guess he didn’t pull it off quite as well.
It seems to me, that once you have a potty trained dog, there doesn’t have to be an absolute time that one must be home to let little Steffi out, you have some wiggle room. Sometimes my dog is expected to only hold it for a few hours, sometimes longer. But because he is trained, he knows and I know that with in reason, he should hold it until I get home!

]]> By: Lost for Words http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-184228 Lost for Words Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:57:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-184228 I burst out laughing when I opened the second link to follow up on the NY Times piece. Made my head feel better after the initial explosion. Thanks, Gina! I burst out laughing when I opened the second link to follow up on the NY Times piece. Made my head feel better after the initial explosion. Thanks, Gina!

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-184187 2CatMom Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:09:37 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-184187 Do they really think that they don't have the time to train the dog? How much time are they spending cleaning up little 'presents?' Is their kid toilet trained? Assuming yes, don't they realize how much easier working with a dog will be? And finally - you can't convince me that these people aren't heavily scheduled. If you can get your kid to soccer practice on time and go every week to your pilates class then you can schedule in dog eating and potty time. People make time for the things that are important to them. Obviously this poor dog is way down on the list. Do they really think that they don’t have the time to train the dog? How much time are they spending cleaning up little ‘presents?’

Is their kid toilet trained? Assuming yes, don’t they realize how much easier working with a dog will be?

And finally - you can’t convince me that these people aren’t heavily scheduled. If you can get your kid to soccer practice on time and go every week to your pilates class then you can schedule in dog eating and potty time.

People make time for the things that are important to them. Obviously this poor dog is way down on the list.

]]> By: Carol http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-184132 Carol Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:02:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-184132 Do people believe dogs are somehow trained miraculously? Dogs are work. They need more than cute toys and beds. These fools are completely devoid of common sense. Naturally the dog will pay the price. Do people believe dogs are somehow trained miraculously? Dogs are work. They need more than cute toys and beds. These fools are completely devoid of common sense. Naturally the dog will pay the price.

]]> By: emily http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-184082 emily Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:58:36 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-184082 I can't help but say: why would training take extra time if you are spending any time at all with the dog already? There are three family members there and the dog learned three commands in thirty minutes from a stranger. Bloody hell. I can’t help but say: why would training take extra time if you are spending any time at all with the dog already? There are three family members there and the dog learned three commands in thirty minutes from a stranger. Bloody hell.

]]> By: emily http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-184080 emily Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:57:03 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-184080 Thank you for the head explosion. I could say more but it would probably involve curse words. Thank you for the head explosion. I could say more but it would probably involve curse words.

]]> By: nancy freedman-smith http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-183898 nancy freedman-smith Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:43:19 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-183898 I have seen that before on another list and no one questioned it...at all. "Oh yes" they all exclaimed, "poor dogs of today, they are over scheduled". I had a call last night from someone who was shocked to learn that Puppy Boot Training Camp for potty training cost more than his pet store pup did. I gave up trying to help him keep the pup cause I think in the end the puppy is better off else where.-Nancy I have seen that before on another list and no one questioned it…at all. “Oh yes” they all exclaimed, “poor dogs of today, they are over scheduled”.
I had a call last night from someone who was shocked to learn that Puppy Boot Training Camp for potty training cost more than his pet store pup did.
I gave up trying to help him keep the pup cause I think in the end the puppy is better off else where.-Nancy

]]> By: Heather Houlahan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/comment-page-1/#comment-183755 Heather Houlahan Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:11:58 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/12/04/idiot-dog-owners-ow-ow-ow-my-head-hurts/#comment-183755 I am shocked, shocked to find that a couple whose TEN YEAR OLD SON is still crawling into their bed at night are incapable of housetraining a pet dog. A ten-year-old boy who doesn't keep to his own bed is well beyond insecure toddler, past spoiled, neurotic child, and well into the realm of "getting to be creepy." A four year-old dog with no concept of "don't crap in the house" -- also beyond arrested development and well into "icky." This poor animal had maybe an hour in her life during which someone (the trainer who was "auditioning") actually understood her and expected something of her. But it turns out her owners had no intention of allowing her to become educated. What a tease. Now she's back to being fodder for badly written articles on the theme of "look at what an incompetent person I am, but aren't I clever and witty?" I am shocked, shocked to find that a couple whose TEN YEAR OLD SON is still crawling into their bed at night are incapable of housetraining a pet dog.

A ten-year-old boy who doesn’t keep to his own bed is well beyond insecure toddler, past spoiled, neurotic child, and well into the realm of “getting to be creepy.”

A four year-old dog with no concept of “don’t crap in the house” — also beyond arrested development and well into “icky.”

This poor animal had maybe an hour in her life during which someone (the trainer who was “auditioning”) actually understood her and expected something of her. But it turns out her owners had no intention of allowing her to become educated. What a tease.

Now she’s back to being fodder for badly written articles on the theme of “look at what an incompetent person I am, but aren’t I clever and witty?”

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