Do you ever wish you didnt know as much as you did?

[bubbatd]

I'm still learning ....I feel sorry for people who think they know everything .

[Romy]

Originally Posted by ACampbell0304

Sometimes it bothers me, but there's other times where I can sit back and smile...

For instance, I have a friend with a blue pitbull female he got from the shelter. She's gorgeous! We got into talking about dog food and he said he was feeding her IAMS...I cringed a bit but he kept insisting she had the most beautiful soft coat (which she does!!!) then I flipped it to...ya know, if you fed a premium food she'd be even softer and would just shine...about 6 months later (he's deployed right now) he messaged me on Yahoo to tell me he switched foods like I suggested and she's even softer and smoother and I HAVE to come see her!!! So, I guess sometimes it does work to tell them about better foods and stuff, she's now on Flint River Ranch (or something like that)

Nice!

I'm glad to be blessed with a little bit of knowledge about dogs. My dogs are a lot happier, better adjusted and healthier than they would be.

I'm so sad though. One of my friends who shows dogs used to feed awesome foods, but her collies hips were always a little boney. He's a very active working dog, under 2 years old, so I thought it was fine. Anyway, some other collie breeders convinced her to start feeding Purina.

Well, he is still skinny and I'm sorry but his coat looks like CRAP. Seriously. She's hoping it will come back in nice since he's also blowing it but holy moly I hope she sees the light soon because he will do much better in the show ring with decent nutrition. It's so brittle the hairs break in half if you pet him backwards *shudders*.

Yes. Even when I'm watching movies and TV shows I have to turn off the knowledgeable pet owner button to try and enjoy it. Only one of my friends is what I would consider dog savvy (actually she knows WAY more then me when it comes to dogs) the rest of them don't listen all too much. It's even worse with smaller animals like rats or hamsters because they are considered throw-away pets. You think some dog owners are bad and ignorant you should see the people with rodents, bad enough to make you cry.

[~Tucker&Me~]

Originally Posted by 4dogs3cats

It just hurts. I have done research. They call me the dog whisperer (which I hate lol,) They KNOW how much I know about dogs, yet they listen to my aunt who this isher first dog and her first food was royal canin because they have "cute shaped pieces and a golden retriever on the bag."

It makes me feel like they don't value my opinion.

I used to ask myself the exact same thing a few years ago. I think I understand better now why this happens.

I am very opinionated about everything dog. I won't deny it. When it comes to training, breeding, feeding, care, and a bunch of other things, I have my own opinions of what is best for dogs. When I was younger, I didn't have a good sense of how much is too much. If people mentioned they were feeding something I thought was less that great, I would give them my full and detailed opinion on what *I* thought was good food and why they should feed it instead. I think people who weren't serious about dogs started looking to other people because with me there was right and wrong and I was basically lecturing them.

I had to learn that in order to help other people's dogs, I had to come across as less imposing. When people ask I try to politely suggest things, otherwise for the most part I keep my mouth shut (unless of course a dog was being mistreated or something).

I find that unless someone asks me for a suggestion, they generally aren't going to take my advice anyway.

I frequently have to remind myself that ok, feeding Science Diet isn't great, but the dog is not being mistreated and is happy. It's unfortunate, but it happens. I try and be polite about respecting their decision while being open to any questions they might have.

Of course, this is for people that mean well but are naive, not about those who don't care or are abusive.

There are times I wish I didn't know, but for my dogs sake, I am glad I do.

Sorry didn't mean to write a novel

[~Tucker&Me~]

Originally Posted by Blue_Dog

You think some dog owners are bad and ignorant you should see the people with rodents, bad enough to make you cry.

Oh and the people with fish... It is so so horrible.

[smkie]

Well gee. I could go to dog shows and enjoy seeing the different breeds if i didn't know how screwed up they are.


I could buy treats without worrying about what is in them. ANd i could buy much cheaper food which would be better for my budget. But no...nada.

I could not be bothered by what i see other people do to or not do to their dogs.

I could not worry about ticks, fleas, and mosquitos and the diseases they carry. THat would be REAL nice.

I could look at the puppies that are being sold in the pet store and not want to scream.

[YodelDogs]

I have the hardest time when I hear someone talk about how they just took their dog to the vet and the dog was given a 7 way combo shot, rabies shot, dewormer, topical flea control, and heartworm pills all at the same time!

[Criosphynx]

Heres my deal. I've owned dogs for 3 years. Count 'em.

and in that time I've aquired a vast amount of knowledge. About everything, health, training, diet, etc.

It just iritates me to no end that if I can learn all this in 3 years people who have had dogs their entire lives can be so horribly ignorant. I'm talking the "rub the face in pee" "dog is trying to dominate me" "I should breed my dog because it exists" types.

The info is out there. The info is free. Its not hard to aquire.

I pretty much had to avoid dog people for a long time, until I learned how to ignore them. There was a period of time where I could not help myself.

especially about training. I get emotional about training. Can't help it, now that I know what I know.

pretty much now I've learned not to give any advice unless its asked for, because if its not asked for, they won't listen to you anyway.

[misfitz]

YES! All the time. And also, no.

I tested in the 95th percentile in high school (the ACT or something) and my dad in his great wisdom told me, "That means that 95% of the people you meet are dumber than you." Sigh. Thanks, Dad.

It is very hard, especially when you're young (and I'm still pretty young) and you learn all these great (prey model raw feeding) and not-so-great (thousands of animals dying in shelters) things. I remember when I first became enlightened about "green" living. I realized how EVERYTHING I did was soooo wasteful, and all the products I bought were so FULL of horrible chemicals, and tried to change everything overnight. And of course, I burned out on that in about a month.

I still try to live "green", but it's in babysteps now. The same way, I try not to feel too horribly guilty when I can't help out at ALL the shelter adoption events. I do what I can, and I'm going to feel good about that, rather than feeling bad about all the things I can't do. What I think, when you DO know the things you know, then you have to just do your best and be an example for others. Those that want to learn, will ask you why and how, and you can teach them. Those that don't want to learn, nothing you can do about it really.

[Kim M]

Since I foster chldren and hear what people do to them and see the situations the state gives the children back to I haven't been as bad about dogs not eating the best food or about someone not taking their dog to the vet ASAP. When you see how kids are treated it is hard to be upset because someone isn't feeding their dog the best food they could be.

However, I can't stand when I see a dog that lives outside 24/7 and rarely or never gets any attention. That one is still hard for me even when I know there are children that live like this too. The dog food is important but not as sad to me as this.

I also hate how people treat any of their pets (like some said rats, hampsters, fish) bad or neglect them. I get so upset when I see anything suffering.

My daughter's boyfriend and my friend never take their dogs to the vet. My friend's one dog lived till she was 14 and her other one is around 12 now. My daughter's boyfriend dogs are 13 and 5 (Boxers). No heartworm, no shots, nothing! I couldn't do it but somehow these dogs are doing fine. My Mom rarely took our dogs to the vet when I was younger and my Poodle lived to be 19! Now my Mom's dogs are treated better then most children! LOL.

Like I said I don't agree with it and would never do it but I don't get as upset about it as I used to. I won't lose friends over it unless they are totally mistreated or being cruel. I can't even kill a bug and get upset when someone does if it is not necessary.