The case against pet ownership (article)

[HAH]

Hi all - read this article in Vox this morning, there’s some fascinating and familiar stuff in here: The case against pet ownership

 

[HAH]

Kudos to the writer for making some difficult points

 

[HAH]

And highlighting the less obvious welfare concerns like unmet needs

 

[HAH]

And the most important bit!:

 

[Lab_adore]

Thank you Harriet, this is so interesting and important

 

[Emily]

A really interesting read. I must say that the point about boredom really hit a nerve. One of my biggest fears is that Ella is bored and I worry that I can't tell the difference between contentment and boredom.

 

[Jelinga]

Very well written @HAH and all so true unfortunately. We expect far too much from our dogs. I am always worried that Rourke is bored at times when I am busy, despite he has two walks a day and can go in the garden anytime he wants through the dog door, but he rarely does! Though I believe that dogs in the wild spend a lot of time sleeping.

 

[HAH]

I know what you mean about boredom, @Emily and @Jelinga - it made me have a good old think about Kipper. I guess the key point of the article is to prompt a focus on the animal's needs rather than the human's, which is probably uncomfortable for all of us who care about our dogs and live in a human environment. But nothing is perfect, we operate in a messy world with lots of responsibilities and roles and needs to meet beyond our dog's. This forum is based on positive reinforcement and cooperative care, and we're probably further along the spectrum of meeting our dog's needs than many others. @Emily, I think you'd definitely know the difference if Ella was bored to the point of it being a consistently negative experience for her.

I think the main thing this article has reminded me is - for us - how much value we place on giving Kipper choice where possible such as choosing which way to head on a walk, taking longer to sniff where possible, and letting him know when things outside his control are going to happen with clear cues as far as possible (for example, we always tell him just before we start the car moving with an 'off we go!'). These things aren't always possible or under our control, but it's an interesting one to ponder on.

 

[Selina27]

It's interesting to ponder!

I must admit that I've long thought that some pet dogs have boring lives. I do worry a bit about Cassie now that is just me and her in the house as I think dogs and probably especially Labs get a lot out of being part of a family. @Emily I would highly doubt that Ella is bored!

Cass loves going to scent club, but she also loves a walk through town or going out for lunch, just as much as going for her walk.

I think that bit about them having to make sense of the human world is really relevant, something I think more dog owners should be aware of.

 

[kateincornwall]

Just like @Selina27 , I also worry about Reuben getting bored and fed up . I cannot walk as far as I used to but all of our walks take in much sniffing and retrieving , he seems to be happy with this , I hope he is x

 

[Atemas]

One of my biggest fears is that Ella is bored

Yes I always worry about Red being bored - not when we are away as she is active most of the day (unless it’s a driving day, then not so much but she still gets her walks) but at home. She gets two long walks daily, both different but always plenty of opportunities to sniff, interact with other dogs if we meet any and choices. I do play games with her in the house but I have to confess less these days (covid, arthritis and back problems have depleted my energy levels). She does sleep a lot and seems content.

I do see a lot of people dog walking with ear pieces/headphones on - there must be minimal interaction going on there - wonder how content/bored their dogs are - or maybe if they’ve never known any different, they are equally content - who knows?

 

[Candy]

Thanks for sharing an interesting article Harriet. I was pleased to see Alexandra Horowitz mentioned as I read her book 'Our Dogs, Ourselves ' earlier this year and it certainly gave me pause for thought.
Joy is such a sweet natured little dog and so eager to please, that on the rare occasion when she does something out of character ( like walking into the canal on our walk yesterday) I find I'm actually really pleased with her, thinking 'Yes, go for it GGJ!'

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Thank you, Harriet. I often think of Carbón and my other dogs and the choice they had (none) in getting stuck with me or with anyone for that matter. Of course I know that the alternative could have been better, but also much, much worse. It's really kind of an odd contract between humans and dogs when you think about it, even though it has been going on for millennia. I always wonder what our lives would look like if Carbón had opposable thumbs and a credit card instead of me. I suspect we'd have a lot more fun in our lives! And food - a LOT more food.

Reading things like this reminds me to let him have a sniff and more patience. For the most part we go where I want to go and he has inordinate patience with ME, so those times when he takes himself off or is a bit of what I (with affection) call "a jerk" are completely understandable.

 

[Selina27]

It's really kind of an odd contract between humans and dogs

Yes, I agree.

The thing is we do have to protect them from some of the choices they would make don't we? Things like chasing livestock, running in front of a car or eating stuff that could make them ill.

With food, I often think there are times when Cass is genuinely hungry after an energetic walk - so if I have a snack so does she!

I know in my heart I give her a good life, it's important to me that she gets plenty of off lead time to make her own choices where it is safe to do so, she certainly has a choice of comfortable places to sleep and a good diet. And thanks to +R training I have plenty of games to play with her for the times when she is clearly looking for something to do, and that does happen.

I do think that so much of the "learning to live with humans" comes with maturity -- these days if I'm going out in the car I will ask her if she's coming and she will either go and sit by the door or not get out of bed. Choice made. But there is no way as a puppy or adolescent that would have been the case, it's just something she's learnt over time.

 

[HAH]

I always wonder what our lives would look like if Carbón had opposable thumbs and a credit card instead of me. I suspect we'd have a lot more fun in our lives! And food - a LOT more food.

Every single day Kipper and I have a conversation about opposable thumbs, and why he doesn’t get to control the food budget/allocation. It would be so much more fun, but also probably beyond our means…

 

[kateincornwall]

Talking of having conversations , I chat away to our two all the time , especially on walks , shall we take that path or this path ? I know Nelly cant hear me but I`m sure she knows I am talking to her

 

[MrChew]

Every single day Kipper and I have a conversation about opposable thumbs, and why he doesn’t get to control the food budget/allocation. It would be so much more fun, but also probably beyond our means…

Rowan and I have this discussion all the time. No mum and dad can't go out and leave you with Chewie.
"No, because he doesn't have thumbs mummy."
"That's right."

I really do hope they get a lot out of being included in mundane family activities because otherwise Chewie probably is bored. I worry about that a lot. I also regret not working more on cooperative care when he was younger. Definitely something I will put more work into with the next dog.

 

[MrChew]

Talking of having conversations , I chat away to our two all the time , especially on walks , shall we take that path or this path ? I know Nelly cant hear me but I`m sure she knows I am talking to her

I'm sure she can get a lot of information from your body language and movements when you talk to her.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

know Nelly cant hear me but I`m sure she knows I am talking to her

I know I've told this story a billion times, but when I realised that Brogan had gone deaf, I stopped talking to him because I thought it was silly. But the thing is that I'd talked to him pretty much constantly before, and everything seemed so quiet and sad. Even HE seemed a bit sadder, though for him it wouldn't have made an ounce of difference. I held out for 10 days of silence and then just decided the hell with it, who cares if he's deaf? And started talking to him again nonstop. We were both much happier.