Stop treating them like animals!!

[maryannebarker]

Hi all,

I must share my heart. My love for my dogs and for life is deep and wide. Anyway, I really feel that many people (YES, EVEN DOG OWNERS), NEVER really get it. They treat their dogs like some kind of "toy" animal, instead of the beautiful gift from God that they are. They NEVER SEE them as having a mind, heart and feelings. GET WITH IT PEOPLE!

Okay, so WHAT SET me off and actually made me look for this Forum?

Wow, you got lots of time,,,LOL? Really it's sad. But here is a little of it.

My mother walked in and treated my precious dogs as if they were pieces of trash. Yelling, screaming. Anyway, she was the one who always LOVED them but now that she's older, she lost the truth of it. My dog saved my life when I was little. My dog cared for me when no one else did. My dog loved me when no one else did. When I was scared, my dog was there.

Can we treat them with love and respect like they deserve MOM? Sorry I had to vent.

 

[Renee750il]

I hear you. I've told people to leave my home for treating my animals with disrespect.

 

[corgipower]

So if we were to "stop treating them like animals", what would you suggest we treat them like?

They should be treated like animals. Like living, feeling, thinking animals.

My mother walked in and treated my precious dogs as if they were pieces of trash. Yelling, screaming.

Well, treating them line pieces of trash isn't the same as treating them like animals. And is unacceptable. Although I don't think I'd call yelling "treating them like pieces of trash"...but then again, my dogs are desensitized to being yelled at, so my perspective there is a bit off...

 

[Lizmo]

So if we were to "stop treating them like animals", what would you suggest we treat them like?

They should be treated like animals. Like living, feeling, thinking animals.

^ this. :hail:

 

[maryannebarker]

Wrong!

First, corgi, I was using that as an expression. But second, Screaming and yelling at a dog IS NOT the way to handle an animal. And for the record, it CAN BE labeled ABUSE.

I have learned that understanding the mindset of my dogs has made their lives rich and mine rewarded for it.

And one more thing, NO ONE (mother or No mother) should walk in MY house and harm or disrepect MY animals!! PERIOD!!!

 

[skittledoo]

So if we were to "stop treating them like animals", what would you suggest we treat them like?

They should be treated like animals. Like living, feeling, thinking animals.

This is how I feel. They are animals and should be treated like animals... that doesn't mean they should be beaten or mistreated... but it also doesn't mean they should be treated like humans either because well... they aren't people...

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I don't love or dote upon my dog. I love him dearly and he's quite spoiled at times, but I never ever treat him like he is human

 

[maryannebarker]

Yes, I agree. As I replied in my last post. I was using that as an expression to VENT. God made Humans and animals. However, I learned sooooo much from some many courses about how we must understand the mind and personality of our animals. My dogs are beyond incredibly trained. I attribute that to the material I bought and then PUT into practice. By the way, my Mom has caused the dogs to run from her when she arrives. Wonder why...

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Unfortunately dogs are property in north america. You may feel yelling is abuse and while it sucks as they are your animals and not hers.. you wouldn't find a legal entity to back you up as dogs are property.

 

[corgipower]

First, corgi, I was using that as an expression. But second, Screaming and yelling at a dog IS NOT the way to handle an animal. And for the record, it CAN BE labeled ABUSE.

I have learned that understanding the mindset of my dogs has made their lives rich and mine rewarded for it.

And one more thing, NO ONE (mother or No mother) should walk in MY house and harm or disrepect MY animals!! PERIOD!!!

Fair enough.

Personally, I think calling screaming and yelling abuse is a bit much and is the beginning of a slippery slope.

But I do agree that no one has the right to harm/scare/disrespect you animals and you should let your mother know that she's not welcome in your home.

I do yell at my dogs...sometimes they just get so incredibly frustrating that it's either yell and blow out the steam or run away from home. But my corgis have always been great at the whole selective hearing thing and the louder I am the more likely they are to play deaf.

Tyr cowered once when I yelled at him and it horrified me. So I got out a toy and we played fetch and we played tug while I yelled. Now? I yell and his tail starts wagging and he looks around for the nearest tug or ball.

Unfortunately dogs are property in north america. You may feel yelling is abuse and while it sucks as they are your animals and not hers.. you wouldn't find a legal entity to back you up as dogs are property.

True. But she could not allow her mother to come over.

 

[maryannebarker]

Corgi, yes, I agree with you. As for my mom, well, you just can't shut your own mother out. Believe me, I got that from my husband. As far as property, it's not about legality...it's about what's right and wrong.

 

[corgipower]

you just can't shut your own mother out.

Actually you can...or you could simply get together elsewhere.

 

[skittledoo]

Actually you can...or you could simply get together elsewhere.

hahaha sorry CP... I just am agreeing with you on everything you're writing here lol. Honestly. To the OP if I was in your shoes I would definitely meet up with my mother elsewhere and not allow her into my home if she was going to treat my dogs that way. You absolutely CAN shut your mother out if she does not abide by the rules you have in your own home.

 

[HayleyMarie]

I Would sit your mother down and explain to her that if she continues to treat you dogs like that she is not longer welcome at you home and that you two have to meet somewhere else.

Or if you cannot do that. Put your dogs away in a room or kennel them away from your mother. They are your responsibility to keep then safe and away from abuse so take them away from the situation. If you cant keep your mother away from your home.

I would in NO WAY put up with my animals being treated that way, even from my parents. They would not be allowed at my place anymore.

 

[Doberluv]

I absolutely would not allow anyone to treat my animals unkindly, no matter who they are. You need to tell your mother how you feel or do like CP said, meet her elsewhere. You do not have to put your dogs through being yelled at or frightened just because it's your mother.

 

[Doberluv]

I think screaming and yelling is abuse if it causes an animal to cower and feel awful inside...emotionally. If a dog isn't fazed by it, then maybe not. But physical injury or pain isn't the only kind of abuse.

 

[SizzleDog]

So if we were to "stop treating them like animals", what would you suggest we treat them like?

They should be treated like animals. Like living, feeling, thinking animals.

Well, treating them line pieces of trash isn't the same as treating them like animals. And is unacceptable. Although I don't think I'd call yelling "treating them like pieces of trash"...but then again, my dogs are desensitized to being yelled at, so my perspective there is a bit off...

CP, I lurve you!

(PS - I guess Revy was subjected to abuse last weekend then... close range gunfire and being rushed by an angry yelling dude with a stick, abuse! Abuse! Even "worse", people were applauding and laughing at the situation. Revy didn't get the memo that she was being abused though, she loved it. )

 

[HayleyMarie]

CP, I lurve you!

(PS - I guess Revy was subjected to abuse last weekend then... close range gunfire and being rushed by an angry yelling dude with a stick, abuse! Abuse! Even "worse", people were applauding and laughing at the situation. Revy didn't get the memo that she was being abused though, she loved it. )

I agree with yah Sizzle CP you rock my socks!

And Bah ha ha to your story. I wish I could yell at my dogs J/K. Emme Lou has a melt down. I think its a Bouve thing and Teagan.... well Teagan ignores it. I get nothing.

 

[corgipower]

I think screaming and yelling is abuse if it causes an animal to cower and feel awful inside...emotionally. If a dog isn't fazed by it, then maybe not. But physical injury or pain isn't the only kind of abuse.

I agree. But I think that a blanket statement calling yelling abuse doesn't work and to try to define things to that extent is dangerous. I can cause some dogs to cower without saying a word. But I'd be hard pressed to call "staring at and waving my arms while approaching" abusive.

Also, that's why if my dogs show any sensitivity to being yelled at, I desensitize them fast. They either ignore it completely or they learn that it means play time.

 

[Pops2]

i'll have to disagree that hitting a dog is always abuse. for example if you have a fight break out among your hounds laying into the whole group w/ a knotted rope will stop it quick and over time will teach the dogs to avoid fight picking dogs. likewise if a dog is hard headed about chasing stock or snapping at people, a good pop upside the head will get his attention so he hears you say no. under necessary conditions i look at like giving them a shot, a bit uncomfortable now but in the long run it might save their life.

 

[Doberluv]

likewise if a dog is hard headed about chasing stock or snapping at people, a good pop upside the head will get his attention so he hears you say no.

Well, that may be your way Pops, but it isn't mine. It's old school. Modern trainers who lean toward behaviorism don't generally do stuff like that...don't have to. I have other ways to deal with things like that and do so professionally. I certainly don't hit a dog that is snapping or biting people or chasing other animals.

The point is that Maryanne, the original poster, finds hitting, yelling, frightening dogs mistreatment and I agree with her sentiments. (Her dog isn't even chasing stock or getting into dog fights.) And furthermore, she doesn't quite know what to do about her mother, who she finds is treating her dogs disrespectfully. Some of us are saying she doesn't have to tolerate that, she can meet her mother elsewhere or put the dogs away in a protected room when her mother comes around. I don't get the feeling from her posts, that she is going to go along with the idea that hitting, yelling, screaming etc is an acceptable way to treat animals.