Pet Dogs - Man's Best Friend?

The average dog causes three family rows a week - as owners argue over where it can sleep and who should take it for walks, a survey has found.

Arguments over who should walk the dog are among the dilemmas that cause friction Photo: AP

10:01AM GMT 10 Jan 2012

A study shows 'man's best friend' can also be his worst enemy, triggering nearly 2,000 family arguments during its lifetime

Spats range from disagreeing about who should take the dog for a walk, feeding them too many treats and what to do with them when holidays loom.

Nikki Sellers, Head of Pet Insurance at esure, said: ''Owning a dog is not dissimilar to having a baby.

''Round the clock care and responsibility throughout a dog's life can become tiresome for any pet owner but should never be overlooked.

''Maintaining a dog's physical health through exercise plus regular stimulation to avoid them running riot around the house should at least help avoid some arguments.

''A healthier dog may also lead to fewer costly trips to the vet too but for advice on how to look after a dog properly, owners should seek professional help.''

The study also revealed one quarter of owners regularly argue about where the dog should be allowed to go in the house with beds, upstairs or sofas causing most rows.

One fifth of families frequently argue whose turn it is to clean up the mess in the garden, while one in ten disagree who should clear up the carpets should they be soiled.

Disciplining the dog is one of the biggest causes of arguments - as 18 per cent of couples often fall out because one is accused of being too harsh on the dog.

A further 15 per cent of families often row about who should be training the dog, while one in ten people get annoyed if the dog is 'humanised'.

Other arguments about the dog include who chose to buy it in the first place and how much has been spent on the dog.

They're also likely to cause unrest if they damage the children's toys or chew the family's shoe collection.

The study also revealed while the majority of family arguments are more likely to be about the children than the family pet, 14 per cent of owners reckon they row about the dog more than their children.

Incredibly, in 17 per cent of households the dog disputes have got so bad one member of the family has slept in the spare room, while a quarter of those polled have been known to storm off after things got too heated.

In fact, 26 per cent of dog owners have at some point considered getting rid of their beloved dog after a bust-up.

via www.telegraph.co.uk

Comments

[Alexia M]

After reading this article, I had a good laugh! I found it really hilarious. But on second thoughts it should make everyone think seriously before getting a pet. It's true, a pet - any pet - is like a baby in the family. Just imagine how bad it sounds if you hear that couples have rows over who would feed the baby or who would play with the baby!! I think people sometimes get overexcited about adopting a pet dog and then,once they realize what it takes to take good care of it, they get bored and abandon the poor animal or just "throw it away" without even caring to find a good, loving family for it.

[Lakis Ioannou]

What's next? Filing for divorce because the dog hasn't eaten all its food? :-)

[Danaioq]

Everything will be good or bad, how to judge, that's really difficult.

[Anastasia]

I hope not, Lakis!
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[Anastasia]

True. People need to realise that dog pets are great company and should be treated as members of the family.
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[Haruko N]

Unfortunately, this also happens in Tokyo as well. People get pets, especially dog pets which need more care , and then they argue about who is going to feed them, take them to the vet or walk them! To avoid arguments, many people here get rid of the pets and this is such a pity!

[Anastasia]

This happens all the time, Haruko, everywhere in the world and it's such a pity, indeed.i
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[Stefania]

A pet dog may be a great friend but is usually expensive to take care of. Also it takes time to train for discipline. That's why I prefer cats!! :-)

[Constantinos T.]

Adopting a pet dog involves love, affection and a huge responsibility. I love my two dogs very much and treat them as members of my family. Certainly, they have to follow rules and stick to them like meal times or play time or walking time, but they've never been a cause of an argument.

[Anastasia]

And this is so sad, Alexia. When I lived in Geneva I had a German pointer - Blanche. When I left Switzerland, I couldn't take her with me because in those days imported dogs in Greece and Cyprus were put in quarantine for 6 months. Alkis and I decided that we couldn't do that to Blanche, it was too cruel. So, before leaving Switzerland we gave her to a friend whose parents were blind. It took me ages to get over the separation but I was glad to learn that Blanche had eventually become a guide dog.

[Anastasia]

I sometimes wish I had a pet dog, Stefania. But both Alkis and I work long hours and it would be a crime to adopt one.

[Anastasia]

You've got a point, Constantinos. Pet dogs should never be the cause of family rows. When I had Blanche in Geneva, Alkis and I lived in a room - not even a flat! But I walked her in the morning and Alkis walked her in the evening. We both enjoyed those walks so much!!!

[Walid]

Habebti.
Hello reading this made me remember when I never lived without a dog .Specially the ones for hunting.
After reading this I will try to get one dog as far as I live now at a ground floor which got a small garden.Thank you for sharing this .God Bless.

Weimaraner I was the first to get it to Lebanon 1989 Please check about this bread.I will try to get one of thous although I am not hunting any more but my favorite bread is the Labrador.

http://www.weim.net/hist.htm

[Anastasia]

Walid, I also love Labradors. Such a great breed! My mum had one for 17 years and she still can't get over her death. Thanks for the link.
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[Jean-Paul Bouvier.]

Promener le chien devrait être un plaisir, pas une corvée et encore moins une raison des disputes.

[FaithB]

Oh my! It is true but I never thought someone would do a study on owning pets. I know in my home, my roommate and I had 2 dogs (Lhasa Apso and a Maltese-Poodle) I loved them dearly but the biggest fights we had was on the training of the dogs. I was more strict with them. I kennel trained them; them were kenneled while we were at work or out of the house for long periods of time. My roommate thought this was like imprisoning them and it was sheer torture for them. While I was away, she would let them run free (piddling wherever they chose... especially if it was a rainy day). I go so angry because what they were getting were mixed messages. When we were home with them... their favorite place to be was side by side IN THE KENNEL. We had the dogs for 15 yrs. The Maltese died 2 yrs ago on thanksgiving day. Her counterpart passed 6 months later at the age of 15. I miss them terribly (and since then we have lost 2 of the 4 cats we had...and soon will be down to one). My roommate speaks of wanting 2 more dogs.....but I am not in favor of it. I am too old to raise an animal and go through the "Pet Wars" that we have had in the past....I love animals but not fights.

[Katie White]

Sadly, some people adopt pets and after a while give up on them. But I never thought pet dogs would cause family rows! I can't live without my labrador golden retriever!

[Jeff]

Here's what I recently read online:

The average dog will cause nearly 2,000 family arguments during its lifetime, a study has revealed.

A new study shows ‘man’s best friend’ can also be his worst enemy as it triggers up to three rows every single day.

That’s the equivalent of 156 quarrels every year – or 1,997 over the average pooch’s life expectancy of 12.8 years.

And the spats range from disagreeing about who should take the dog for a walk, feeding them too many treats and what to do with them when going away.

The poll also suggests that a quarter of owners regularly argue about where the dog should be allowed to go in the house.

Nikki Sellers, Head of Pet Insurance at esure, said: "Owning a dog is not that dissimilar to having a baby.

"Round the clock care and responsibility throughout a dog’s life can become tiresome for any pet owner but should never be overlooked.

"Maintaining a dog’s physical health through exercise plus regular stimulation to avoid them running riot around the house should at least help avoid some arguments."

TOP 20 DOG DISPUTES
1. What to do with the dog when going away on holiday / for the weekend
2. The fact the dog hasn’t been walked / who should walk it
3. Whether the dog should be allowed on the beds
4. Whether the dog should be allowed upstairs
5. Who should clean up the mess in the back garden
6. One of you is being too harsh on the dog
7. One of you lets the dog onto the sofa
8. How much you have spent on the dog
9. Training the dog
10. Someone feeds the dog from the table
11. Who should babysit / look after the dog for you
12. Grooming the dog
13. Damage has been caused to the house by the dog
14. Who chose to buy the dog in the first place
15. Who should clear up the mess when the dog goes to the toilet on the carpet
16. Who should clear up the mess when the dog is sick on the carpet
17. One of you insists on treating them like a human
18. One of you lets them into a room of the house they are not normally allowed into
19. The kid’s toys have been eaten
20. Shoes have been chewed

http://newslite.tv/2012/01/11/top-20-arguments-having-a-dog.html

[Anastasia]

Hey Faith, I know how much you love dogs! How about having one dog? :-) I agree that dogs need to follow a consistent pattern of training and behaviour in order to avoid pet wars!

[Anastasia]

I also think rowing over pets is so sad. Our pets deserve a better, happier life!

[Anastasia]

Ah well... I used to feed Blanche from the table but she was a very good dog and an extremely intelligent labrador! Thanks for sharing this article and the top 20 dog disputes!

[Agnes]

My goodness. So glad I have a cat :-)

[Anastasia]

Je suis tout à fait d'accord, Jean-Paul. En plus, c'est un bon exercice physique.

[Anastasia]

I love cats too, Agnes and used to have one a few years ago. I had to give it away when it badly scratched Alkis!

[Andreas]

Taylor and I have five dogs. I jog with them early in the morning and enjoy it before going to work. Taylor walks them in late afternoon after she gets back from work. We've never had the slightest argument over the dogs! Big hugs and kisses!

[Anastasia]

Wow!! Five dogs!! I thought you only had three.
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[Andreas]

That's right, Anastasia. I only had three: a dalmatian, a German shepherd and a labrador retriever. Taylor added her boxer and bulldog!