LogFAQs > #961634876

dilateDChemist posted...

I mean, I have no kids and my dog is the closest thing I have to a child. Doesnt everyone feel like this with a pet? Youre feeding and caring for this animal. If all you do is feed it and leave it outside to guard your house then you dont deserve a dog, imo.

Saying it's the closest thing you have to a child is probably a fact? I don't have a problem with that. There's a wide variety of parenting styles. You do what you wanna do.

I grew up with my dog from 1996-2012. I didn't feel like she was a sibling [only child here], she was 'part of the family' but also very much expected to behave in a certain way. We were a no-dog-on-furniture household and received positive comments from people who were uncomfortable with dogs. I firmly believe that you can enjoy your dog best if other people can enjoy them, too - and that involves training and limits.

There's quite a gulf between 'let the dog do whatever it wants and insist other people find it endearing' and 'feed it and leave it outside to guard your house' [which can be abusive and expose your dog to many dangers].