Dog People, what am I missing?

In My Humble Opinion
41

Well, perhaps you may be thinking that the dog is too one-dimensional. And I agree, if all a dog could do is adore you all the time, that’s not very interesting, especially if that’s all he ever does to anybody.

But I think that, if you pay close attention to your dog’s behavior, expressions, etc., you will find he is not as one-dimensional as you think. Dogs are very expressive and their body language conveys lots of things, but if you have no experience with dogs you may have no idea what you’re looking at. They love you, yes, but they have their own personalities and wants beyond that, and it’s those things that make them fun.

42

I love both cats and dogs.
I grew up with cats, and when I moved into my first house, I had a cat as a pet.

Later, I got dogs. Some of them were the “universally friendly” kind, and I could tell that they wouldn’t miss me if they found another person to feed them (but I still loved them). Others were very much “my” dog - they were friendly to others, but they would only wag for me, and they were very protective of me.
Next time, don’t get a Lab. Get a Chow. My Black Chow “Worf” was the most cat-like dog I’ve ever met. He was very protective, and aloof in a very cat-like way. Almost serious. He would say hello to any guests I brought over to the house, but would always stay by me afterwards.

43

As mentioned in another thread, this is a common characteristic of breeds that were bred for guard duty. They were meant to be suspicious of strangers and not welcome them into the pack.

44

That’s the thing - dogs are such individuals, and have such individual tastes, that this isn’t always true. Our dog is a Golden, and pretty much loves everyone, but she loves our neighbor even more than us. When she sees her out, she’ll almost pull me off my feet going to her, and squeak in joy. Our neighbor loves her back, and she can use the affection because of health problems, but you never can tell.

45

you are. dogs are ZEN - so, try to be in the moment, too. :slight_smile: (cats are also zen, of course)

46

Isn’t that partly the novelty of someone less familiar, though? Like a toddler might be really fond of their favourite uncle and enjoy spending time with him, but they don’t replace you in their affections.

47

Dogs are great because it is easy to make them happy. And the thing that makes them happiest of all is to make you happy.

48

You are a marshmallow.

49

I have to admit that I get a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that my German Sheppard (mix) will rip your throat out should you decide to start shit with me. (Physically)

Not that he’s ever had to or will. It’s just nice to know that it’s there.

It’s even more amazing that he can do that yet he’s got the patience of a patron saint when it comes to kids. He’ll tolerate ear pulling and tail pulling for as long as the kid can dish it out. And love the attention.

50

I like cats. I grew up with a cat and had cats as soon as I was on my own. I never had a dog until I got, as a puppy, the 8-year-old Boston Terrier I have now. My husband is a serious cat person. Had a dog or two growing up, but many more cats all of his life. He has a way with cats that I don’t. I like to cuddle, most cats do not. The nicer ones will tolerate it briefly, but I never get the impression that they couldn’t just take it or leave it. Meh.

Dogs, on the other hand, relish the attention. It’s not just the breeding, it’s their legacy. They are pack animals and, as such, operate within a social construct even outside of their species. I am a part of my dog’s pack. I’m it’s alpha and that means that I make all the rules. I am the determining factor in not just my dog’s survival, but his thriving and his happiness. He knows it and I know it. It’s an awesome relationship.

So, here’s the daily scoop on why I’m a dog person. Every morning when he urgently needs to pee, he wakes up my husband by licking him in the face. He doesn’t wake me. Ever. Because I’m the alpha and you don’t pester the alpha unnecessarily. He knows the drill. A treat comes after the pee break and then there’s fresh water and food. The cat has begun to pick up on the dog’s cues, now waiting eagerly at her bowl, too.

The dog sees me off at the door every morning I leave for work and rests while I’m away. The cat, OTOH, tears the shit out of fucking everything while we’re away. I’m going to start using her for toilet paper when she’s finished shredding the last of it.

When I come home from work, he’s ready to go play or do whatever I, the alpha, decide we should do.

Let’s go for a hike.
Sure!

Let’s go run errands in the car.
Sure! I love to ride even though I get a little carsick. I won’t puke, though; I’ll just look a little pitiful, but don’t let it stop you from taking me along. I really like your company.

Wanna go chill in bed while I surf the internet?
Sure! I’ll just cuddle up next to you so you can stroke my head…or scratch my belly. Whatever floats your boat.

HEY! THERE’S SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE DOOR! HEY! HEY!!!
knock, knock

Good dog. Thanks for the heads up. If anyone so much as lifts a finger to me, he will bark and growl viciously. If I show any signs of distress, he’ll actually bite. I believe he would do his very best to protect me, if necessary. He’s little, but he’s tough. He’d protect the rest of the pack as well. When I went through a very serious depression, he never left my side. You could tell it really affected him. He’s really the best friend I’ve ever had. There’s nothing wrong with unconditional loyalty and affection.

I’m a pretty social person. I don’t enjoy alone time as much as I enjoy being around others. I think this is a very big reason why I consider myself a dog person. I am never really alone since I’ve had a dog.

51

A guard dog that loves you and your family is a beautiful thing to have around. I grew up with tons of German Shepherds and mixes and they are as smart as they come, emotionally attuned to their owners, and will literally be willing to die for you or your kids.

I like cats just fine but that is a whole other category of animal and can’t really be compared to dogs in any meaningful way. They are just barely domesticated and generally as dumb as dirt. The only reason people think they are deep and smart is just because they are moody and aloof. It is the same strategy that the degenerate dyslexic kid pulls in 7th grade math class to hide the fact that he is functionally illiterate but claims he could solve any problem if he wants to. It just isn’t there for cats because they stupid animals fundamentally. They can do just a few things well including look pretty but that is about it and they aren’t very trainable at all.

They can range from the sweet and cuddly to the psychotic but none of that approaches the range of skills any well-trained dog can have. The only pet I have now is a young Chinchilla and he is a smart little guy, really affectionate, and absolute Einstein when it come to problem solving or emotional maturity compared to any cat that I have ever met.

52

bolding mine.

There’s your problem. No offense to lab lovers, but they are kinda “doofy” as you describe…“derrr, I WUV you, I wuv everyone…throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball, throw it again”… (and they’re slobbery). Not all dogs are like that. Not all cats are standoffish and take it or leave it. My dog and cat are sort of switched on the old cat vs. dog behaviour mode. The cat can’t WAIT until I sit down, or go to bed so she can jump up and cuddle and get petted. She’s “standoffish” to strangers for a grand total of about 10 minutes (maybe, less if she thinks she can sense they’re cat people). It doesn’t take long before she’s purring in their lap and doing the old head butt “pet me, PET me”!!!

The dog is all “come ON, we got a job to do, get with the fun stuff already, okay, okay you petted me, awesome… now bring out the frisbee” She won’t sleep on the bed, she used to, but I’m too fidgety at night so she’d heave this long suffering disgusted sigh and jump down, and now she refuses to come up and cuddle except on rare occasions.

There are dogs in my life that I’ve had that happen with.

Don’t feel bad, he doesn’t know, as long as you’re nice to him. FWIW, some dogs are very much “one person dogs”. They’ll be friendly to other people, but they are absolutely bonded with that one person. IME labs tend to be the very epitome of the “I love EVERYONE” dog. Who knows maybe he’ll grow on you a bit. :smiley:

53

Won’t somebody think of the dolphins? Dolphins are friendly and lovable too.

When I need some social input, I go hang out at the local dog park. I don’t think we have a dolphin park around here, though, where people can bring their dolphins out to play.

54

Shepherd. As in herding dog. Not “sheppard,” which isn’t even a word.
Sorry for the nitpick but this always gets on my last nerve.

OP, try some clicker training, obedience training or just some nice walkies. :slight_smile:

55

I’m a dog person. I can tolerate cats in someone elses house but would never let one live in mine.

Dogs provide unconditional affection. They don’t love everyone, they like everyone, they only love selected people.

My dogs are outside dogs. I don’t have animals in the house (possible exception was the sons last girlfriend).

I love getting to know the dogs personality and how they think. My German Shepherd loves water, but as soon as I turn on the hose he runs to his kennel. Yet as soon as I put a sprinkler on the back lawn, he comes running up with a ball (he favours the remains of an old basket ball that he punctured) which I kick into the path of the sprinkler and he chases and brings back til he’s soaking wet and exhausted. If I don’t have time when he runs up with the ball in the mouth, and I say “No” to him, the ears drop, the head drops and he walks dejectedly back to the kennel. Half the time when he does that, I cave in and make time for a quick couple of kicks.

56

No I appreciate it. I wonder why my spell check didn’t catch it though? Weird.

57

Spell check is evil. :slight_smile:

58

Yeah, but one whiff of galactic trouble and it is without a by-your-leave “So long, and thanks for all the fish”. No loyalty there, just let the humans go up in a cloud of dust.

59

maybe a little. I use to like dogs but now they’re just a high maintenance item that annoy the crap out of me. First off, if it were up to me I’d have every dog on the planet de-barked. I hate barking. Second, I don’t like to be licked by anything that cleans it’s ass with the same tongue. Third, I hate greasy dogs. They need to be bathed about every 3 days for my liking. Fourth, I really don’t want to go for a walk… ever. It’s not that I don’t need the exercise but I’m tired when I get home. Bike riding maybe but I truly hate walking.

But I dutifully pet every one of my friend’s dogs like I love them dearly in the hopes there is some kind of Karmic reward for faking it. If only they wouldn’t lick me in return.

60

I am not a dog person. Period. They drool, they’re slobbery, they’re needy, they’ll die waiting for you to take care of them rather than go get their own lunch…they’re attention whores who will interrupt your sleep for the rest of your life.

So it really surprised me when I found myself mumbling ‘Well, I must really love this little mutt’ one day, because I was literally helping him poop. I mean…yeah. He needed help pooping. I know now it’s because he’s such a furry little critter than the fur will literally matte up over his asshole, and it was my own fault for not realizing that he needs to be trimmed very regularly to prevent this, but…at the time, I didn’t know this. For all I knew, and suspected, it was because he was eating rocks and wood and plastic and was trying to pass a fricking milk jug lid or something. But there I was, helping him poop.

So, yeah. I have no idea what it is about dogs. But MY dog, now…well, that’s different. :wink: