There is no better way to meet people than to get out and about with a dog. I didn’t own my first dog until I was 40, so I’ve never had a dog wing for me, but I know three married couples who met when their dogs gave each other a sniff in the park. I also know a guy who does obedience trials with his Jack Russell (I didn’t think they obeyed anyone!) and meets a lot of women who also adore the breed. Another guy tells me his brown lab gets him tons of attention from cute girls who assume he’s a good guy and feel comfortable approaching.
On one of my favorite neighborhood walks around a local pond, I almost always stop and chat with fellow dog owners while our dogs check each other out. Dog parks like the one in the video are even better – the one near my home has anywhere from 20-50 people with their pooches hanging out on weekend mornings.
Kloof, an iphone app for pet owners, conducted a survey of 1,000 people aged 18-33 to find out which breeds draw the most attraction from the opposite sex.
The top dog breeds to attract men were:
- People are over 10 times more likely to see a man who owns a Golden Retriever and 3 times more likely to see a man who owns a German Shepherd as “marriage material” or “boyfriend material,” than a man who owns a Pit Bull.
- People are 10 times more likely to see a man who owns a Pit Bull or a Rottweiler as “slimy” or “sketchy” than a man who owns a Siberian Husky.
- People are very likely to see a man who owns a Labrador Retriever as a potential “great dad.”
- The vast majority of people surveyed think that a woman who owns a Chihuahua is more likely to be dumb than a woman who owns any other breed.
- However, people think that women who own Chihuahuas are “probably hot” over any other breed.
- More respondents thought that women who own a Poodle are also more likely to just be a “one night stand” than a woman who owns any other breed.
Though a purebreed person myself, I’d give a guy extra “dad” points for having a mutt.
Keeping company with a dog may serve to make you more desirable, or at least more trustworthy. In one experiment conducted by Nicolas Guegen, an attractive male approached women with and without a dog and asked for their phone numbers. Without a dog, the man acquired 11 phone numbers in 120 tries, which isn’t bad. However, adding a canine companion boosted his number to 34! (Private Man must have read that study.) People are also more likely to accede to requests for favors or money if the person asking has a dog.
According to Deborah Wood, author of The Dog Lover’s Guide To Dating: Using Cold Noses To Find Warm Hearts, watching someone interact with a dog can help you learn a lot about his or her personality.
You can learn so much. It really is a chance to view someone acting open, affectionate, kind. It says a lot about who that person really is. We are more guarded with people than with our pets.
The greatest thing about having a wingdog is that all you have to do is point them in the right direction and they’ll do the rest. Step towards your “target” and let your dog become aware of theirs. From the polite to the irreverent, conversation starters are easy when two dogs have their noses buried in one another’s genitalia. Often I learn dog names without learning owner’s names, but repeated sightings – “Hey look, it’s Bruiser!” – generally lead to the humans getting acquainted as well.
Use the same smart tactics you should already be employing elsewhere:
- Smile at every person you find attractive. No exceptions.
- Start conversations with people who intrigue you.
- Flirt.
- Shrug off rejection. Everybody gets rejected no matter how attractive, smart, witty, confident or kind. Do not get mad at people who reject you and do not take their rejection as a sign that you are unlovable.
Obviously, this isn’t a wing you can ditch at the bar or throw onto your couch for one night only. Dog ownership is a huge responsibility and it’s not cheap either. But if you are a dog lover, and your lifestyle permits, they make pretty awesome ambassadors.
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{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
Too bad you can’t take cats out for a walk, or to a park. Most women love cats, but you have to lure these women over to your place first to see them, rendering them basically unnecessary. Stupid, good for nothing cats!
If you are a guy with a cat(s), it sends the message that “I’m really into dudes…”
Nah. Cat-people are awesome!
The ultimate wingdog is the Viszla. They’re athletic, expensive, beautiful, and unusual enough to qualify as a form of peacocking. Despite being friendly, they have an aloof and aristocratic bearing that can only count in a man’s favor in the eyes of anyone who believes that people are like their pets. And they are absolutely wonderful companions. I had my Viszla for 15 years and there isn’t a day that goes by that my wife and I don’t miss him.
@VD
Was Mithra your dog? What a face!
Interesting notion of peacocking – that sounds valid to me. It also occurs to me that seeing a dog obey a man’s commands would be tingle worthy as a great show of dominance.
As a cat lover I disapprove and denounce this post as racist, antifelines and discriminative. Shame on you Susan
PS
Just kidding, for the ones missing it.
I adore dogs (the muttier and more feral looking the better) and dog people. I don’t see the attraction to cats. Why feed something that has contempt for you unless, of course, you gave birth to it between 13-18 years earlier?
VD–sorry about your loss. He was a good looking dog.
SW–How’s the ankle? Was it sprained or broken?
@J
Hi there! Welcome back! Ankle and fifth metatarsal both broken. Bah.
Why feed something that has contempt for you unless, of course, you gave birth to it between 13-18 years earlier?
That is a myth. My cat is really nice and cuddly with me and my hubby. The thing is that cat are not like dogs “who love everyone in near vicinity that wants to play” they are selective but they do bond with people and get sad when their objects of affection are not around.
Wing dog, LOL. I love that. I always talk to people wi th dogs. I love dogs, but don’t have the time for one, now. But when I do I’m gettin a great Dane and naming him Doug.
Until then I will love up on everyone else’s dog….everyone in the town I live in seems to have at least one. Lucky me!!
Was Mithra your dog? What a face!
Yeah, that was him in his Mr. Saggy Puppy Butt days. Everyone loved him and several friends are now Viszla owners as a result. Gorgeous and obedient, but not the brightest of dogs. We took our dogs to dog school together after we got married and Spacebunny’s dog was always the first to learn the new trick. Mithra, on the other hand, would go through his entire repertoire, then roll over on his back and expose his belly to show that he was willing to do whatever I wanted, he just had no idea what that might be.
If you want a compelling show of dominance, you can’t beat a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I’ve see grown men look ready to roll over on command after the Dainty Flower comes charging in, barking like a deep-throated Hellhound, then sits when she’s told. They’re big, smart, fast, powerful, and fairly obedient. Phenomenal with kids too, but they eat pit bulls for breakfast and have the capability to seriously tear you up. Not quite as pretty as the Viszlas, but wonderful dogs.
Aww. Sorry to hear that, SW. Hope it’s not giving you too much pain and hassle. In a cast? For how long?
Getting a dog was amazing for my Charisma.
Sadly, I have an ugly dog.
http://theprivateman.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/my-dog-is-ugly/
@Anaconia, re: cats
That”s my experience. I’ve had four (two at a time) of the sweetest cats you’ll ever find. What amazed my friends was that they actually had personality.
My latest (Boo) thinks he’s a toddler. When I’m sitting in the recliner he doesn’t lay in my lap but cuddles with his head on my chest like a little boy.
Next, I teach him baseball!
What amazed my friends was that they actually had personality.
Is funny people that are not cat people don’t know this. All our friends have cats (some cats and dogs) and they know the little furries are different and moody
My latest (Boo) thinks he’s a toddler. When I’m sitting in the recliner he doesn’t lay in my lap but cuddles with his head on my chest like a little boy.
That is so cute.
My cat loves to sleep in my lap, tough now that is so hot she rather sleeps next to me when I’m working on the PC.
@ Anacaona
So true.
I’m very much a cat person, and I think that there are differences in attachment styles between people who prefer dogs and people who prefer cats. Dog people seem to enjoy a more exuberant, constant, and open sort of affection. Cat people seem to enjoy a more mellow and reserved sort of affection.
I like dogs, but I can’t handle how much attention they want. It’s too much for me. I like cats because they are fairly self-sufficient, and they leave you alone for the most part. Nothing is sweeter, however, than the odd moment or two when a cat suddenly becomes cuddly and affectionate. I appreciate it more because it’s not constantly in my face.
This post couldn’t have come at a better time because I’ve been thinking about the differences between cat people and dog people this week. I’m very much like a cat, in the sense that I’m selective with my affection. It’s also more reserved and understated. I also only own cats.
I think Doug1 would be a great name for a dog.
Mithra was beta
I recall a few RRs at the dog park, very impressive animals indeed.
2 weeks down, 4 to go. Thanks for the good wishes. How was your vacay?
@Private Man
LOL, you and Danny. I like a man who can love an ugly dog.
This post couldn’t have come at a better time because I’ve been thinking about the differences between cat people and dog people this week. I’m very much like a cat, in the sense that I’m selective with my affection. It’s also more reserved and understated. I also only own cats.
Heh you might be right about this but for other people I personally like cats because they act like babies and I love babies. In the other hand hubby and his family and friends are cat people and they do mention that Dogs are too high maintenance for them, but then one of them has a female cat that is needier than a dog. She comes around and wants everyone to pet her and cuddle with her, so I guess she has some strange wiring there going on.
I grew up with a cat named Boo. We had two other cats as well – my mom loved all cats, especially the big ones. She watched nature documentaries constantly about lions, tigers, etc. and I recall her taking us to see Born Free.
As I said, I didn’t get a dog until I was 40. I like both cats and dogs, but I know I never want to be without dog love again. My dog is a soulmate.
What about birds? I’ve never seen a dog or cat that could talk. Very smart – but I guess that’s the problem. People don’t like to have pets with more brainpower than they have.
@Mike M.
Walking around the pond the other day, I encountered a man walking with a parrot on his shoulder! My dog was not interested, though, so I had no excuse to stop and chat.
reserved and understated. I also only own cats.
. 17 Susan Walsh July 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm
But when I do I’m gettin a great Dane and naming him Doug.
I think Doug1 would be a great name for a dog.
————————————————————–
I can just picture it…”cmon Doug, we’re goin for a walk” His name would morph into Dougalicious, Dougaluffagus, Dougie-do, etc. He’d have those hangaling lips like danes have. oh, I have to work this out, and soon!!
What about birds?
Funny enough my in laws are bird people too. They actually gave me a cute bird feeder for my backyard (except the freaking birds had not seen it yet!!) and I have a hummingbird feeder too (that one is the opposite they drink it too fast I have to fill it every three days or so) but my cat is a housecat so I’m not fattening them to have my kitty to eat them, I swear.
Parrots in my country are on the edge of extinction so we don’t have many as pets anymore. And my cat comes from a long line of really good hunters so getting one here is out of the question. So I do like birds and fish but I love cats, I never really had a choice on the matter.
I love birds, too. When I was a kid I really wanted to have tons of birds. Then I realized it would be sad for them because they’d be caged.
FUCK YEAH GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
*thumbs up*
@Master of the Mind (1)
Rejoice and be glad, Meister! You *can* train cats.
I used Pavlovian conditioning to get them to come whenever I need them (I used jingling my keys instead of ringing a bell). They don’t like their harnesses and leashes very much, but they are good walkers after a bit.
We are still working on “sit” and “heel” though. =^..^=
Also, since I am a weirdo, they let me dress them for holiday cards and such. The big one (originally 20 lbs at the shelter
) was Santa and the little one (5 lbs originally, now 12!) was an Elf for Xmas.
For Halloween, I cross-dressed them– the big boy was in a “Drama Queen” outfit and the little girl had a “skull and cross bones” t-shirt. I would post the Easter Dresses picture if I could figure out a way to do it anonymously!
A friend also gave me a bride and groom outfit, in case I want to stage some sort of cat wedding. I’ll keep you posted!
@Jackie
I would be addicted to it and probably trying to do the same in our 1/3 feral cat…poor me. :p
You should totally do a blog to post your pics of your kitties!
Hope: “love birds, too. When I was a kid I really wanted to have tons of birds. Then I realized it would be sad for them because they’d be caged. ”
I love birds as well,Hope.
The way I got around the caged thing was to feed and thus, semi-tame the wild birds that visit my garden.
As a result, I have had the same (monogomous) pair of Ravens, visiting daily for over seven years, now. Every year, they have one or two babies and bring them around too. The male is my absolute favorite. I can now hand feed him.. Not the female, she is timid and skittish..
I give him treats, like cookies from time to time. He likes to dunk his cookie in water so I get the cat dish and fill it with water for him.. This beautiful jet black Raven then walks alongside of me (about a foot away). I place the bowl near an old shed at the back of the yard and put the cookie next to it. The raven drops it in the dish, so it softens up enough so he can eat it… I know I shouldn’t do this, but he likes jelly beans as well, so I give him a few from time to time.
Also have a pair of Butcher Birds that visit..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DddHasJeahM&feature=related
They succesfully reared a brood of three last year. Their aerobatics are so entertaining.. I can throw a piece of meat high into the air, and they will swoop and catch it with precision… There are other birds that visit as well. I have a big bird bath in the front of the garden, that my husband bought for me sometime ago, that is frequently used by these birds. I get a lot of pleasure and entertainment from watching these birds.
I have a beautiful big Ginger cat with a tail like a fox, but he’s pretty much lazy.. Though , when he was younger he would catch a few birds, which I absolutely hated.. One day I managed to grab him by the scruff of the neck after he had just grabbed a little honeyeater, I prised open his jaw and the little bird instantly flew off, high into the sky.. I was both elated and relieved..
@Ana
Thanks! Your Dominican kitty sounds like a handful– but fun.
About a blog– someone already beat me to it:
http://petswhowanttokillthemselves.com/
@Kathy
Kathy, your bird sanctuary sounds awesome! So neat that you have them eating out of your hands– literally.
Thanks! Your Dominican kitty sounds like a handful– but fun.
Yeah she is so cute and I love her to bits but she has a mark on her vet file “will bite” and she needs to get pills she needs at least four people to do the job and she is not even 6 pounds! My husband calls her “the little blender in the shape of a cat” …Yeah feisty Dominican girl like her mom
http://petswhowanttokillthemselves.com/
Funniest blog ever! Although in the case of my cat if I could get her to wear any of that the title will be: Owners at the edge of getting killed by their pets or owners with a death wish
@Private Man
That blog post was full of win. The Mendozan rat dog story made me lol.
About cat vs. dog people…I was a die hard cat person until I recently became a sucker for dogs. Around the same time, I started scoring ENTJ instead of INTJ. Cats are great, but dogs make me smile.
I want a dog very badly, but I don’t know if I can care for one properly with my current schedule and no roommate or mate for help.
Wow, a dog will serve as a wingman? This is interesting and will probably change the dating game.
Apparently, one of the attractors in seeing a man with a dog is that it signifies to the girl that this is a man that can successfully care for a living thing. A living thing that needs to be fed and walked everyday.
I can’t remember where I read that.
For sheer canine game, nothing beats having the same breed, opposite sex, as your target.
My favorite dogs, which will always elicit a response from me at the dog park are
1) Beagles, as I am a proud and devoted Beagle owner
2) Shetland Sheepdogs – wonderful, cheerful dogs. No woman could own a Sheltie and stay neurotic
3) Akita Inu – Easily the noblest dog on the planet, but aloof
4) Afghan Hound – unfortunately, usually has more beautiful hair than the owner
5) Welsh Corgi – OK, so I’m a Cowboy Bebop fan.
@Mule
I will subject myself to ridicule by acknowledging that I am a Standard Poodle fan. Best. Dogs. Ever. My dogs can practically talk. Oh! That reminds me!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8MMiytwNs
Kathy, you’re like the bird whisperer!
Royale W. Cheese, I have read that more cat-lovers are introverts, and more dog-lovers are extroverts.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201002/personality-differences-between-dog-and-cat-owners
Alas, we have no pets right now.
I never found any of my dogs to be effective wingmen because I lived in the country and my dogs got to run loose all the time.
At one time I was seeing a woman who was in a herd dog club(she had a Border Collie) and it always surprised me how many really androgynous looking women were involved in that pastime.
That is a myth. My cat is really nice and cuddly with me and my hubby
In this case, Ana, my mileage does vary. When we were newlyweds, DH had a cat that his sister had abandoned. She was the nastiest animal I’d ever seen. She scrathched and bite me constantly. I will stipulate though that perhaps NACALT.
I think that there are differences in attachment styles between people who prefer dogs and people who prefer cats. Dog people seem to enjoy a more exuberant, constant, and open sort of affection. Cat people seem to enjoy a more mellow and reserved sort of affection.
Or perhaps dog people are more doglike themselves with cat people being more catlike. I am exuberant, constant, and open with those I love. DH is more mellow and reserved.
@SW
I think Doug1 would be a great name for a dog.
It’s been taken. There’s a woman name M who already has a dog named Doug 1.
Too bad about the ankle. I was hoping it was just sprained, but sometimes a sprain can be as bad as a break. I’m glad you’re on the mend and hope it mends well and quickly.
My vacay was terrific. DH and I had a slobberingly good time, and the boys enjoyed themselves as well (though they won’t admit it
). Next vacay will be just us though! It’ll be more slobberful that way.
At one time I was seeing a woman who was in a herd dog club(she had a Border Collie) and it always surprised me how many really androgynous looking women were involved in that pastime.
Ever hear the phrase “as thick as dykes and dogs”?
>> “2) Shetland Sheepdogs – wonderful, cheerful dogs. No woman could own a Sheltie and stay neurotic”
Cosigned SO MUCH!!! They’re very bright dogs, and their personalities are very funny and quirky. They’re very cute as puppies, and they’re beautiful as adults. Best dogs ever!!!!
Here’s a cute sheltie video, for people who are into that sort of thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwmUllLcR4
will stipulate though that perhaps NACALT.
Heh funnier given that my cat is sleeping on my lap after liking me clean as I type. Definitely NACALT
It’s been taken. There’s a woman name M who already has a dog named Doug 1.
Heh so true.
@Emily
I had a Sheltie mix when I was a kid. She was the best, so smart, friendly and even tempered. She lived to 15 years old. I still miss her.
I had one cat with a perfectly soft, smooth tongue. So strange, but I let him lick me all he wanted!
I had one cat with a perfectly soft, smooth tongue. So strange, but I let him lick me all he wanted!
Actually my cat has a normal spiky tongue but I had gotten used to her displays of affection so it doesn’t bother me anymore, neither does hubby. It does takes time but I heard that is not unusual for cats to show care by “grooming” you, the way they groom themselves.
at 2:43 pm
@SW
I think Doug1 would be a great name for a dog.
It’s been taken. There’s a woman name M who already has a dog named Doug.
————————————————————————
If its not a huge great dane with hangaling lips I am still gonna use it!!
Btw, am I the only one who cringed when I saw Chihuahua on the ” top dog breeds to attract men” list?
I think it’s pretty sad that modern humans feel the need to exploit another species in oder to facilitate mating. Seriosly, this is beyond pathetic. The bar scene is sad enough. I guess nowadays us guys need a routine of carrying plastic bags and scooping dog shit to help break the ice safely with a woman. What a world indeed!
I think we can thank Elle Woods for that
Apparently, chichuahua and poodle owners are perceived as slutty.
I used to have an American Bulldog. As a natural introvert, I can confirm that just walking around a city with a dog will almost force you to converse with strangers. Too bad about the pitbull/rottweilers being associated with perceiving negative personality traits in the owners. Pits are great friendly dogs and have difficulty getting adopted because of all the bad press
I had a rednose American Pitbull Terrier for 14 years. He was a gift from a good friend, who was a huge pitbull evangelist. I lived with him for 3 years, and cared for his pitbull, Envy, who was an amazing dog. I walked him every chance I got, and took him to dog parks, and worked with him daily. When my buddy got engaged, and was moving out, he surprised me on a road trip when we stopped by a friends place at the top of a field covered hill. We wandered out back to a fenced in area, where 5 little golden pups clamored for our attention. The one that jumped the highest up the fence got into my arms, and into my life. To this day, he was the best gift anyone ever gave me.
Of course, my parents, who have always owned dogs (collies, labs, English pointers) were dismayed, having bought into the hype on pitbulls. My Mom was especially upset, telling me that he wouldn’t ever be a good pet. Well, that soon changed. My mom, who spent her life training animals (horses, dogs) eventually referred to my dog as “the gentleman” and changed her views entirely on the breed. He never met a person he didn’t like. He was the worst guard dog. He would invite you in, show you where the biscuits were, then wait for the patting. He was great with cats after being trained by a Maine Coon about boundaries. He and the horses worked out a few issues early on and he was respectful after that. He didn’t like strange dogs on what he considered “his territory” later in life, but that’s part of the breed, and requires some work for proper introductions
He was gorgeous, a golden red color with a white starburst on his chest, and muscled like a champion. I’m social, and I bounced at clubs. He would stay in the coat room at one club with another dog during working nights when he was young. He loved people, and for exercise we would wander all over the city. He was well behaved on patios, and women would be stand-offish at first, but the second they got a chance, they would get all gushy over him. He ran next to me pre-knee surgery and then next to me on my bike, until his age took a toll.
He passed away the beginning of this year, and it was rough, because he was my constant companion. I think there is a sense of responsibility I miss, a reason to get up, a reason to get out, and sense of duty that provides some orientation in the world. I’m not ready for a new buddy yet, but soon.
My parents have four dogs they have recovered from various situations. Two black labs, a chocolate lab, and a chihuahua. I borrow one of the black labs (sitting at my feet at the moment) or the chocolate lab (have to pry her from my mom) for a week or so at a time. I dog sit for friends when I am not travelling, and I have access to a couple Australian Shepherds, a Boston Terrier, a pit/whippet mix, and a few others.
I go to a local dog park, where they are lots of people, and a couple ponds that the dogs love, and it is a great place to meet people and be social.
I think I agree with a lot of the rankings, but a young healthy looking dog is a big of an attractor as the breed, I think. Good behavior is also very important.
I can say the chocolate lab is a lady magnet, she’s slim, tall and graceful, with perhaps some doberman a few lineages ago. She’s high energy, but well trained, and very social, always going to greet people. Of a few comments I have received, one sticks out. One of the very gorgeous college graduates in my building commented on how she thought the chocolate lab was a much more suitable match to me than the chihuahua she had seen me with a week prior. I got a chuckle out of that.
@JutR
Thank you for sharing that lovely story about your dog. I’ll share one about learning not to judge people based on appearances.
One day I was sitting at the vet waiting to be called when a big, burly guy walked in carrying a golden retriever. He walked up to the counter and gruffly said, “It’s her time.” The woman working there began to bring him right back to a room, but he said, “You take her, I’ve gotta run.” I was horrified. It made me so angry that a man would send his dog to die alone among strangers.
45 minutes later I was leaving and walked out to the parking lot. The guy was sitting in his pickup truck, sobbing uncontrollably over the steering wheel.
You never know what’s going on with people.
Oh man, I can’t even talk about the day without crying, months later.
He had bone cancer in his rear left leg, and we’d been through rounds of escalating pain meds, and he was suffering, as there is no real relief from the pain. It’s very hard not to be selfish and want to keep them around, but you have to learn when it is time, and he made it through the holidays, but the long winter ahead was too much for him.
I couldn’t have left him with strangers for the end of his life after he gave so much. The vets came out to my parents farm, where I had dug a grave a month earlier under the lilacs at the edge of the garden, knowing the ground would be frozen when the time came.
I knew I was going to break down, but I didn’t expect to see the veterinarian and his assistant crying along with me.
@JutR
Oh boy, that story got me crying. I remember crying hard when I saw that guy in his pickup truck too. I feel like my dog is my soulmate. I lost one at 14, but had two, which helped. She’ll be 11 this fall and I’m already upset just thinking about it.
Re: shelties, I LOVE them!!! My dog growing up was a sheltie, he just died in March at 15. He was the best.
My family is getting a sheltie puppy in a few weeks. I’m super excited!
God, this thread took a bad turn.
I just got a call from my parents about my golden retriever. He’s a couple weeks shy of 13, but last night he wasn’t doing well at all. We bought him some more time with pills but at this point I don’t think we can let him continue to suffer. I’m going to fly back home next weekend to be with him for what might be his last hours.
I was an emotional wreck yesterday…I knew this was coming but I didn’t expect it to be so sudden…
SayWhaat, I didn’t mean to drag the tone down, I just read Susan’s story, and it resonated with me, and I think men have a tough time dealing with the emotions in situations like that. It feels like (as a male) people perceive you as weaker to display such attachment.
That being said, I agree with the premise here. Dog parks and dog friendly people are great social areas.
JutR,
not at all. The two times a man can cry are when his dog dies and maybe his mother. He can also get away with shedding a tear during the scene in “The Godfather” in which Vito asks the undertaker to make Sonny’s corpse look better (as long as does so quietly).
I cried for days after I put my dog to sleep. It took me years to stop being actively sad about it and think about him again
IMO there’s something deeply masculine about a man who has a close relationship with his dog, although I’m not quite sure why. I wouldn’t think any less of a man who cries over the death of his dog.
My cat is my first real pet, my parents don’t like animals, city people both. Hubby has told me stories of having to put his other cats to sleep, he cried a lot for all of them. I can’t even imagine having to make that choice at any point on my life, I truly consider my cat my first daughter and she does sees me as her mom.
My condolences to all of you animal lovers, it must be really though.
The sadness is part of the experience. I find dogs live fast, and give a lot of joy. You have to maintain the perspective of how much of a good life you gave them, and how much unconditional love you received in return and the sadness becomes a small aspect of the greater experience.
I don’t get emotional at movies, but the scene from I Am Legend, where Will’s dog got infected was a heart grabber.
Just so you know, I would never date anyone who owned a pet. It is a turnoff. It is yucky. I hate dirty animals. It is quite bad. I especially hate cats. Dogs are worse. A man can never fit in with a girl’s dog. There’s something about a dog being territorial. If women have pets, it means she had given up.
I guess you are entitled to that view, Johnny.
Kids are dirtier than a dog, usually, and take less time to learn what is acceptable. I personally don’t do much more than vacuum a little more often to maintain my house with a pet around, walks and feeding aside.
As a male, I don’t agree with much else in your assessment. All humans seek unconditional love, regardless of whether they deserve it. I would rather see a female express that through care of a pet than through seeking male attention or making a baby without a committed father.
And on getting a pet being equal to “giving up”?
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/pet_ownership_statistics.html
That’s a pretty wide brush to paint with, but I suspect you are in some odd market that must seem to have some degree of correlation for you to come up with such a statement.
@JR: Kids are not dirtier than a dog. That’s an amazing indictment. Dogs are usually left outdoors and they take into the house anything that comes with them including their smell, fleas (if any), fur, and dirt. Kids are just like you, but if you’re kids are dirty, you’re dirty too.
I’m glad you finally asked what bothered you the most. I consider women who have pets as given up since they substituted pets for kids. Many consider their pets to be better friends than people. It’s no wonder why. You asked for “unconditional love” and you prefer it if women get it from their pets instead of people; however, you mistake it as a subtitution for single motherhood. No, sometimes women prefer pets for men, which they look at with suspicion.
The correlation is I dated women who had no pets and preferred children to pets. Sometimes after you have children, it is better to not have the pets for safety and health reasons.
It seeems like you came up with your own brush to paint me with little information to go with. Idiot.
“All humans seek unconditional love, regardless of whether they deserve it. I would rather see a female express that through care of a pet than through seeking male attention or making a baby without a committed father.”
Sort of explains it all. Why should men bother with women who own pets? You like it this way.
I’ve been around kids a good amount, though I don’t have my own, so I am no authority on kids. I know dogs pretty well though. No dog will ever put an ice cream cone in a VCR. No dog will ever use crayons or water colors to spice up their environment. Few dogs go through a feces smearing stage. Dogs rarely break glassware just to hear the sound. Dogs get muddy feet, but have less tread than your average sneaker, and certainly less surface area.
Now, if your dog is outside all the time, then they will get dirty. Same with kids. You wash your kids right? But a dog that goes a month without washing is somehow dirtier than a kid that gets washed daily?
That being said, I have found there is no unconditional love in this world from humans other than children, and that is only for a short while. A dog will always be faithful.
“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” Mark Twain
Psychologically, I wonder if a woman seeking unconditional love from a dog is mentally healthier than one looking for it in men. Does it mean she will need you less? Possibly, if she has other things in her life that have a degree of importance. That seems to irk you to a degree.
I’m so sorry, Say Whaat.
“Psychologically, I wonder if a woman seeking unconditional love from a dog is mentally healthier than one looking for it in men. Does it mean she will need you less? Possibly, if she has other things in her life that have a degree of importance. That seems to irk you to a degree.”
Why would it irk me if I avoid her and don’t give a damn? When you date, you have a checklist. I suppose you don’t realize that. There are some things that I dislike that will disqualify certain women. Pets are one of those things. From my dating history, there was only one woman that had a dog. It was turnoff that her dog was territorial. I only dated her once.
Usually mental health is assumed. If she had to get it from her dog, why are you even there?
Again, what is your problem? You’re free to do anything you want. You seem to want a pet dependent women. Or she might not even notice you.
@SayWhaat
Your being there will mean so much to him! When my dog died two years ago, I spooned with him and hugged him while they put him down. He was calm and at peace as he died. I’m sure the vet thought I was a nut but I didn’t care. He had been trembling and fearful until I did that.
I’ll be thinking of you.
You seem rather upset, based on the tone of your writing.
“It seeems like you came up with your own brush to paint me with little information to go with. Idiot.”
“Again, what is your problem? You’re free to do anything you want. You seem to want a pet dependent women. Or she might not even notice you.”
Some nice ad hominem and shaming language. I don’t think I need to talk with you any more.
“You seem rather upset, based on the tone of your writing.”
You’re getting weirder. You said this rather emphatically “That’s a pretty wide brush to paint with, but I suspect you are in some odd market that must seem to have some degree of correlation for you to come up with such a statement.”
You think I shouldn’t take offense?
You’re an idiot and weird.
Pets are not for everyone.
Greyhounds. Best dogs ever to get a response from people, and the rescues (like ours) all have great stories to break the ice with. Plus, they all look like an Art Nouveau interpretation of a dog. Most common comment? “She’s so beautiful!”
You CANNOT go wrong with a greyhound.
@GregMan
Rescuing greyhounds is a noble thing. You have my respect. I have seen some pretty timid greyhounds, probably reflecting poor treatment earlier, and I imagine they are the most loving and loyal dogs ever to kind owners once they are able to trust.
Thanks for your thoughts, everyone.
Great article!! For the record, with lots of patients…you CAN train a cat to walk on a leash!! When we were camping one time….a couple walked by with a cat on a leash….my daughter went apeskit!! She tried with a few kittens we have had sense…and finally found a cat that it worked out well with. I personally don’t care for cats too much and have my own thoughts about dudes with cats….but imagine the conversation starter!!!
Just thought I’d give an update…
Great news! We gave our dog some medicine just to see if it would work. If it didn’t, we were prepared to make a decision, but luckily he’s a fighter and he pulled through. We’ve just bought him time. I’m under no illusion that he’s ever going to be back to his normal self (13 is pretty old for a goldie), but for now he’s still here and doing well.