My humble changing views on human-dog relationships

[MarlinCatch3]

This is a bit self-indulgent. Its just my own personal experiences and changing views of dogs.

I grew up in a rural community and l lived on a farm as a kid. We had dogs. The dogs were outdoor dogs, slept outside or in kennels. The dogs were hunting dogs, sheep dogs, protection dogs. The hunting dogs and sheep dogs were kept in dark kennels so that when they were released they were energetic and active. As a child I had a problem with this but I had to abide by what my father and uncles decided was right. The hunting dogs were sometimes used to retrieve fowl we shot. Sometimes they were used to hunt pigs. The sheep dogs were used to move sheep around of course. The “family dog” was for protection. He would confront strangers and other animals who wandered onto our property. He never attacked any animal or person but he did make other creatures nervous. We never developed close relationships with the animals.

Fast forward to when I left the farm and joined an athletic club in college. My sport was long distance, cross country running. I guess I never lost the desire to feel mud under my feet. I took my sport seriously and trained in the evenings and after sunset. I was attacked by dogs in parks and on running trails frequently. Owners would unleash their dogs after sunset when there weren’t many people around and the unleashed dogs couldn’t see me well as I ran through local parks after sunset. Over my college years I was bitten at least twice a year before the owners could w control their dogs. I was jumped more often but without teeth engaging flesh. Tetanus shots were required to keep training safely. I was never bitten seriously enough to discourage me from running. I never blamed the dogs. The owners should not unleash a dog they do not have full command.

Fast forward to when my friends all got married and had kids. Their dogs became close family members. I started to like dogs a lot. In fact I’d sometimes just visit friends to see their dog and take the dog out for a run. During one of my runs I found an abandoned female Pitbull which I named Molly. The dog was lost and had anxiety. I don’t know how long she was abandoned for but my guess is less than two day. She wasn’t starved and she had the where with all to find the running trail. I gave her time to approach me and I gave her my water and eventually she followed me back along the trail to my car. I grew attached to Molly but I was single and traveled for work often and decided it would be better to find another home for Molly and a close friend took her in for his own family dog. Mollly lived with me for less than a month. In any case my experience with dogs changed significantly, They became family members, friends, companions. I always said when I retire I’ll find another pit-bull as a friend and companion. (I’m not zoo).

Fast forward to the inception of designer dogs. Honestly I don’t like designer dogs. They are three steps away from a natural wild pack andthat’s too much domestication for me. The first step being the farm dog/hunting dog and the 2nd step being family dog. By designer dogs I mean the little cute furry Chihuahua, poodle-Pomeranian blends, etc. These dogs seem to be liked by Asian women who dont want kids or who use them as trainer babies. It’s insane to me. But hey I dont judge … if it makes one happy and the dog is happy it’s your choice. There is an Asian lady near me who pushes her designer dog around in a stroller. The dog has a bonnet and a ribbon in its hair. My thought I that I should fuck her and giver her a real baby but something tells me she wont be a good mom.

Fast forward to this forum where I have learned that a dog can become a mate, companion, lover and best friend. When I think of our relationship to other animals as caretakers of our planet and caretakers of all that lives I find this to be a very satisfying and natural evolution. Its not a lifestyle choice for me but I do see how it can be mutually beneficial.

Well as I said self-indulgent and not very meaningful.

 

[milabue]

... changing views of dogs.

I grew up in a rural community and l lived on a farm as a kid. We had dogs. The dogs were outdoor dogs, slept outside or in kennels. The dogs were hunting dogs, sheep dogs, protection dogs. The hunting dogs and sheep dogs were kept in dark kennels so that when they were released they were energetic and active. As a child I had a problem with this but I had to abide by what my father and uncles decided was right.

I once had a neighbor who kept hounds. They were not pets: they were hunting slaves. Their kennels were not insulated. On really cold winter nights they cried, and I heard it in my house. How could that shithead not care? I tried giving old clothes and blankets to the owner for warm dog bedding. He didn't appreciate it. He didn't arrange it to be nicest for the dogs.

I'm not a dog person, generally, but seeing them abused makes me sad and angry. I regret that I didn't do more.

 

[MarlinCatch3]

I wanted to go back and add an edit with another dog experience but ran out of time.

I my college years I found myself training in the Northern Territories. I met some friends and returned to work a short stint in the winter. There is an active tourist trade there in the winter for people wanting to see the northern lights. One of my stints was with a mushing outfit that kept huskies for dog sledding. They were all outside in kennels in very low temps. I’m talking -20C. Now I’m not sure if anyone here knows what Canadian huskies look like. They aren’t furry like Alaskan Huskies. The dogs loved to be out running as they would warm up. But they would become exhausted after about 15 km of running. I was reassured the dogs were warm but they weren’t warm. They also had to live in the mess they made, all kennels were in an enclosed pen. I fell in love with dogs then and this helped form my opinion that people generally mistreat animals.