Rant - My dogs are not spoiled!

[dogs4life]

Every time my family comes to visit, they always have to comment on how we treat our dogs, aka spoil our dogs. They just don't understand why the dogs are inside the house, eating "real" food, are allowed in the car, gosh the list goes on and on and on. The one that got me this year is that my mother refuses to ride in a car with dogs We all drove 3 hrs to Jeff's parent's for Christmas, we took the dogs with us, so of course my mom had to drive separately, there was plenty of room, just there were dogs in the car

When does taking great care of your dogs become spoiling? Darn it, it's not spoiling, it's responsible dog ownership! Don't get me wrong my family likes dogs, but they had farm dogs and hunting dogs but they never had close bonds with dogs. I guess I should have more compassion but gosh it's so frustrating.

How do you deal with such criticism? Are you able to just shrug it off without bitterness? I just want to scream "What's with the judgment?"

[Rivsky]

I do accept that non-dog people (and even some dog people sometimes) think the way I treat River can be a little excessive at times but I honestly couldn't care less what people think in regards to the way I treat River. At the end of the day my dog is happy and that's all that matters!

[Jamila]

I second that Rivsky!!! I teat my dogs great and people think Im crazy for it but I think they are crazy for not seeing what I see in my dogs....Unconditional Love! Yes at the end of the day they are what I am home with and who I love with all my heart. I could give a hoot about what others think.

Although, Dogs4life, I can understand how frustrating it is being how your family has issues with it, but hey what can ya do, right?

[PawNclaws]

" I don't give a darn what other people think, so what do you think about that"

to quote Montgomery Gentry. Most of our family feels the same about our dogs/cats. When someone comments, we just say "Oh Well ". They have their opinions and we have ours.

[Swiftwind]

Sometimes it's just hard for some people to realise that dogs (and other pets) can be regarded as family members. We've had comments before such as "You spoil them, don't you?", and I take it as a compliment. It's nice to know that other people can see you are treating your dogs in such a way. It's better than them telling you that you don't treat your dogs well enough!

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

I tend to look at it as the person [who is criticizing] is missing out on so much by not understanding the relationship I have with my dogs. Like they could have that too, but they're not even willing to try, so that's their loss.

Helps me be compassionate while ignoring them rather than getting mad.

[Beryl]

I usually don't refute those statements. My response to "You really spoil your dogs." is along the lines of, "And?"

It is clear that they just don't get it. My adult niece came to stay with me and doesn't care for my dogs due to her allergies. I love her but the dogs were here before she got here and will be here when she leaves. She can either adapt or find somewhere else to be.

[Ritz459]

During some holiday chat with relatives and friends, I had so many people make side comments to me about how pets aren't really important and why in the WORLD do I have so many and spend so much money on them? To quote my Uncle, "If I ever had a pet that cost me over a couple of hundred, it would be gone."
I shaked my head and laughed and said, "What I don't understand is how people can think spending a couple of hundred on an electronic that isn't alive, has no emotions, and won't be able to comfort you isn't a waste of money but they think an animal is."
Then I had a friend and a cousin come to my defence and say that having an animal is like a hobby. People spend money on what makes them feel better. They don't understand the half of it, and it really makes me feel sorry for them. My animals are like my children and some people take offense at that. I just shrug it off and say, "I don't care, I have my dogs' devotion, why do I care what you think about it?"

It does frustrate me at times, but I try to just ignore people's comments.

[greekblue]

Don't get me wrong my family likes dogs, but they had farm dogs and hunting dogs but they never had close bonds with dogs. I guess I should have more compassion but gosh it's so frustrating.

They sound like my family. It is frustrating, but I think they are the ones missing out BIG TIME. I feel really blessed to be able to know the joy an animal -- especially a dog -- can bring to ones life.

[Radar_Love]

Well, my family LOVES my babies. When they come to visit, they let all 4 pile up on them despite the dog hair and slobbery kisses they recieve. My Father in Law, and my Brother in Law and his wife, LOVE dogs. Complete and proud dog people. But, my Mother in Law, she hates dogs! When I was finally able to bring Sandy home to spend her "final years" with me, my Mother in Law had the nerve to call me and tell me that Sandy is ugly and I need to put her outside. Keeping in mind that my Mother in Law has yet to even see Sandy! I have heard several times over the phone that my house must stink since I have so many dogs and other animals in my home. Because of the way she is, we havent even mentioned having Honey. I just hate to hear how my house either stinks or is messing because of my animals. I've also been made fun of to my face for buying sweaters and clothing for my Chihuahua. Why don't people take notice of the caring things we're doing for these animals. It's not the we're "spoiling" them, we're just giving them the care that we'd want if someone was having to care for us.

[dogs4life]

I used to not care what other people thought about my dogs or how I parent, but sometimes you just get hit the wrong way and you get your feathers ruffled. You are all right, at the end of the day, they are MY dogs and it's the relationship with our dogs that really counts.

Thanks for listening, you guys are great!

Beryl
My response to "You really spoil your dogs." is along the lines of, "And?"

And? I love it!