What would you do if you had to choose...
- Thread starter Lolas Dad
- Start date
I love dogs. I really do.. obviously, most of us here do lol and as much as I enjoy having them in my life, its not a necessity. It would suck to not have a dog to walk and play with and just have.. but I'd get used to it, my life wouldn't feel incomplete and hopeless or anything.. it would just be a bit sad to think about all the doggy stuff I'm used to (walking, playing, training etc..)
Marriage, boyfriend, the whole love deal, for me is a necessity. The idea of finding someone, falling in love, getting married, buying our first place.. that for me is my dream, thats what I see myself doing and what I want my life to be.
I would want SOME KIND of pet of course (no fish..or reptiles) because ya, I do love that. I love taking care of something and the love that comes with having a pet. so we would just find something that works..
it could be a cat, rabbit, or birds.
plus I do love doodles.. so if that would work then thats what we would do.
Marriage, boyfriend, the whole love deal, for me is a necessity. The idea of finding someone, falling in love, getting married, buying our first place.. that for me is my dream, thats what I see myself doing and what I want my life to be.
I would want SOME KIND of pet of course (no fish..or reptiles) because ya, I do love that. I love taking care of something and the love that comes with having a pet. so we would just find something that works..
it could be a cat, rabbit, or birds.
plus I do love doodles.. so if that would work then thats what we would do.
I think it's just a personal choice thing, honestly, Fran. I prefer dogs to people any day, and they're what keeps me going. Maybe I'm speaking too much from my heart right now because I rely on my girls so much after losing Bella, but I also know that Psyche won't tell me she's sorry and comfort me one day and be saying every hurtful thing she can to upset me the next.
There are a lot of men who, while they don't particularly like dogs, don't dislike them, and would put up with their wife/girlfriend having a dog, even if it meant taking allergy medicine or shots, especially if it's a small pet that's obviously a "woman's dog" and they don't have to take care of it . . . but trust me, they are NOT going to be at ALL enthused about living with Filas and APBTs :rofl1:
And those types of men will not be living with me. Been there, done that, never again.
And those types of men will not be living with me. Been there, done that, never again.
I think we all have things we just would not compromise on. For me, being able to have a dog is one of them. They're just too much a part of my life. I've done the dogless thing before and I was really miserable and depressed. Dogs bring something special into my life that can't be replaced by another pet. Plus, a lot of my 'extra curricular' type activities are dogsports and I'd lose yet another thing I enjoy.
In the end, even if he was perfect and great and wonderful, I think I'd resent him for taking away one of my passions and my joys from my life. And I don't think that's fair to him either.
So yes, definitely a deal breaker. I would definitely be willing to keep the dogs extra clean and look into allergy medicines and maybe a couple low allergen breeds (but their coats REALLY don't appeal to me), but no dogs is a deal breaker.
In the end, even if he was perfect and great and wonderful, I think I'd resent him for taking away one of my passions and my joys from my life. And I don't think that's fair to him either.
So yes, definitely a deal breaker. I would definitely be willing to keep the dogs extra clean and look into allergy medicines and maybe a couple low allergen breeds (but their coats REALLY don't appeal to me), but no dogs is a deal breaker.
Oh I agree.. It really is a personal choice, I was just trying to more clearly explain myself
I just don't want to sound like some heartless bitch thats like "oh forget the dog! I want my mancandy!" lol because thats not what it is..
I just wish I could explain myself better..
as much as I love what having a dog brings to my life.. being in love, for me, is something so much more than that.
and I know thats not the same for everyone, again, I think its a personal choice and different personalities.
I can see myself living in a dogless household. Petless? no. I need SOMETHING there. but yea, not having a dog... I would miss it but having some other pet to care for and love I think would help with that
but for me, being in love is the happiest and most amazing thing I can imagine.
Dogs are more stable..yes lol you bring up a valid point. Dogs love you in a stable, totally balanced sort of way. Its part of what makes them so special
Relationships, love, boyfriends.. its messy. people get hurt and heartbreak sucks and there is usually drama. but at the end of the day, for me, what you get in return for all the drama and fights and stupid crap is bigger than all that. Loving someone and someone loving you back.. in my eyes, is priceless.
I just don't want to sound like some heartless bitch thats like "oh forget the dog! I want my mancandy!" lol because thats not what it is..
I just wish I could explain myself better..
as much as I love what having a dog brings to my life.. being in love, for me, is something so much more than that.
and I know thats not the same for everyone, again, I think its a personal choice and different personalities.
I can see myself living in a dogless household. Petless? no. I need SOMETHING there. but yea, not having a dog... I would miss it but having some other pet to care for and love I think would help with that
but for me, being in love is the happiest and most amazing thing I can imagine.
Dogs are more stable..yes lol you bring up a valid point. Dogs love you in a stable, totally balanced sort of way. Its part of what makes them so special
Relationships, love, boyfriends.. its messy. people get hurt and heartbreak sucks and there is usually drama. but at the end of the day, for me, what you get in return for all the drama and fights and stupid crap is bigger than all that. Loving someone and someone loving you back.. in my eyes, is priceless.
Yes, I agree with this.
And this.
And I also agree with smkie, living without a dog is FAR worse than living without a man. Sure, I would like to meet my soulmate, get married, live happily ever after, blah blah blah - but I also know I'm not going to be devastated if that never happens. I would, however, be devastated to live without a dog. Bringing Auggie home after having a dogless household for so long so clearly illustrated that... I never want to live in a home without a dog ever again.
And this.
And I also agree with smkie, living without a dog is FAR worse than living without a man. Sure, I would like to meet my soulmate, get married, live happily ever after, blah blah blah - but I also know I'm not going to be devastated if that never happens. I would, however, be devastated to live without a dog. Bringing Auggie home after having a dogless household for so long so clearly illustrated that... I never want to live in a home without a dog ever again.
I get what you're saying, and I don't want to sound bitter and heartless in that I'd turn down someone I had feelings for for my dogs... but they just mean more to me.
And like I said - it probably wouldn't even get to this point with me, because before I'd be willing to change my life for anyone, they'd have to know and love my dogs, and if they didn't I wouldn't change anything for them.
As it's been said, dogs are my life. I don't go out and party and drink... my spare time is spent at agility trials, at local shelters volunteering, playing with my dogs, or training them. They ARE my extras, and so if I were to get rid of them, my life wouldn't be the same. It'd be boring and I wouldn't know what to do with my spare time.
And like I said - it probably wouldn't even get to this point with me, because before I'd be willing to change my life for anyone, they'd have to know and love my dogs, and if they didn't I wouldn't change anything for them.
As it's been said, dogs are my life. I don't go out and party and drink... my spare time is spent at agility trials, at local shelters volunteering, playing with my dogs, or training them. They ARE my extras, and so if I were to get rid of them, my life wouldn't be the same. It'd be boring and I wouldn't know what to do with my spare time.
If Brian suddenly came down with horrible allergies that could not be controlled in any way and it was either him or the dogs... the dogs go. sorry I love them but they aren't THE single most important thing in my life. I wouldn't want to get rid of them and we would try whatever we could but if absolutely nothing worked and I HAD to make the decision... my human family comes first.
that doesn't mean I don't love the dogs and it doesn't mean I'm just willy nilly about giving them away but it's not worth ending my marriage over.
But that's worst case scenario that the allergies would be THAT bad and there was nothing on the planet that would help... so not likely lol.
that doesn't mean I don't love the dogs and it doesn't mean I'm just willy nilly about giving them away but it's not worth ending my marriage over.
But that's worst case scenario that the allergies would be THAT bad and there was nothing on the planet that would help... so not likely lol.
thats also a good point.
its more than just having a dog at home.. for some people dogs also touch the rest of your life. Training, the people you meet through them, volunteering, work etc..
I certainly understand you there.. for some people its more than just "Oh ill get another pet" its finding a new group of friends if you met them through dogs, something to do on the weekends etc.. and that would SUCK no matter how you spin it lol
I volunteer at the shelter and I'm sure I'd find a way to continue to do that.. but other than that, basic dog care (walk, feed, groom, play) and chaz.. Dogs don't really touch other parts of my life.
So it would certainly be easier for someone like me to say "well..I could just get a cat" than someone whose dogs touch other parts of their lives, work, time, people they talk to etc..
This thread is turning out to be pretty fascinating! sorry that I keep quoting you I just think its interesting how everyone is responding!
its more than just having a dog at home.. for some people dogs also touch the rest of your life. Training, the people you meet through them, volunteering, work etc..
I certainly understand you there.. for some people its more than just "Oh ill get another pet" its finding a new group of friends if you met them through dogs, something to do on the weekends etc.. and that would SUCK no matter how you spin it lol
I volunteer at the shelter and I'm sure I'd find a way to continue to do that.. but other than that, basic dog care (walk, feed, groom, play) and chaz.. Dogs don't really touch other parts of my life.
So it would certainly be easier for someone like me to say "well..I could just get a cat" than someone whose dogs touch other parts of their lives, work, time, people they talk to etc..
This thread is turning out to be pretty fascinating! sorry that I keep quoting you I just think its interesting how everyone is responding!
Just more motivation for me to get that malidoodle breeding plan under way. 
For some reason I can only find the Official Designer Hybrid Name, but no pictures
So I looked at Shepadoodles.
If you threw one together that came with prick ears, I would keep its body clipped close and its face clipped even closer... I could totally swing that.
Ahem... that would be malinoodle, FYI.
For some reason I can only find the Official Designer Hybrid Name, but no pictures
So I looked at Shepadoodles.
If you threw one together that came with prick ears, I would keep its body clipped close and its face clipped even closer... I could totally swing that.
For some reason I can only find the Official Designer Hybrid Name, but no pictures
So I looked at Shepadoodles.
If you threw one together that came with prick ears, I would keep its body clipped close and its face clipped even closer... I could totally swing that.
because DUH.. smaller = more $$
imagine...A fast agile smart hypo-allergenic protection dog..
that can fit in your purse