# Do you see dogs as mindless pets like Jon Arbuckle does or as friends like Garfield does? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2018, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028 "2018-01-20T06:47:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trisha\_Gaurav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Trisha\_Gaurav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trisha_Gaurav)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/1 "2018-01-20T06:47:28Z")
Do you see dogs as mindless pets like Jon Arbuckle does or as friends like Garfield does? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/2 "2018-01-20T06:57:25Z")
I would never think my dogs are mindless. My estimation of their worth does not depend on their humaness, but on their dogness. I like their minds. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/3 "2018-01-20T07:25:25Z")
I don’t think they’re “mindless” but they’re still pets. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/4 "2018-01-20T12:17:05Z")
Given your choices and how you define them, friends. It’s not the same as a human friend, but there’s a companionship there and a sense that they have a mind and needs of their own that don’t involve me. But I would argue with your premise that Jon sees his pets as mindless. He treats Garfield like so much of a person that you wonder if he can actually read those thought bubbles sometimes. He fully knows that Garfield has a mind of his own, and is quite intelligent. On the other hand, Garfield often treats Odie as if he is mindless, since, unlike other animals, he can’t hear him talk. He has tripped Odie so many times and not cared. He talks about him as a very simple creature. Sure, there are some touching moments that show up here and there, but then Garfield shifts back to treating Odie like more of a mindless animal. So I could very well argue that you have it backwards. Jon treats animals like “friends”, while Garfield treats the only non-talking animal as a mindless pet. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/5 "2018-01-20T12:26:33Z")
About as mindless as a 3 year-old. I’ve had both. About as friendly too. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/6 "2018-01-20T13:04:35Z")
Dogs are toddlers with fur, paws, and tails 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/7 "2018-01-20T15:06:42Z")
[Realistic Garfield.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOPXRq-HgPw) Dogs are my friends. Obviously! Rabbits, too. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/8 "2018-01-20T15:38:11Z")
Dogs are smaller people who crap outside, and eat questionable things. More friendlike than petlike. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/9 "2018-01-20T16:28:11Z")
Mindless depends on the dog and the situation. I see dogs as pets and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/10 "2018-01-20T16:34:49Z")
They’re members of my pack, which I (and Mrs. J.) rule as benevolent overlords. A pain in the ass like Garfield would not last long. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/11 "2018-01-20T16:44:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > They’re members of my pack, which I (and Mrs. J.) rule as benevolent overlords. \ Oh, that’s adorable you believe that! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/12 "2018-01-20T18:36:42Z")
My dog was smarter than most of the people I know and one of the best friends I ever had. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/13 "2018-01-20T19:42:34Z")
Cats are smart animals. Dogs are toddlers. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/14 "2018-01-20T20:20:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Cats are smart animals. Dogs are toddlers. If dogs are toddlers, then cats are teenagers. I hate teenagers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chaika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chaika/32/405_2.png) [@chaika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaika)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/15 "2018-01-20T20:26:55Z")
I consider dogs to be pets (though not mindless) and also friends. My lovely dog who is lying at my feet as I type is bonded to our family with ties of genuine affection. I don’t think it is anthropomorphizing dogs to say that they are capable of pure love and affection. I would say it is the opposite: a recognition that some of our best qualities as humans are what we have in common with other animals, not what divides us from them. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/16 "2018-01-20T23:29:12Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > Dogs are toddlers with fur, paws, and tails 🙂 +1 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/17 "2018-01-21T02:06:09Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > If dogs are toddlers, then cats are teenagers. > > I hate teenagers. 🙂 I don’t hate my cats, but Yes they are the angst-iest of teens. They might hate me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/18 "2018-01-21T03:50:20Z")
I think of my dog as a retarded child that will never grow up. And will always love me. I don’t know how to translate that into the OP’s choices. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-dogs-as-mindless-pets-like-jon-arbuckle-does-or-as-friends-like-garfield-does/807028/19 "2018-01-21T16:46:30Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Oh, that’s adorable you believe that! 😉 I think you may have wandered over from the cat owner thread by mistake. 🙂