Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
I was seriously ill for three weeks of misery. My Aussie (yes energy dog etc) Laid next to me only to leave to go do her business and to eat. No play, zero, just sat laid down leaning on -next to me, slept there.... Followed me to the restroom, for water. Next to me as I was throwing up so many times everyday. I got better. I will never forget this. An energy aussie calm and not playing for weeks. That is miraculous.She is 6 now and an absolute gift from God. I try to give her an adventurous decent dog life. Life is short - life is better with a dog. Thx for the videos.
For me, dog ‘ownership’ has been an evolution. The dogs in my life have taught me what dogs are and can be but, I wasn’t always in tune to learn these lessons. I regret some of the decisions I’ve made for my previous dogs but I learned from those mistakes and I think my current dog Odin would agree we have a pretty good existence. At this point in my life it isn’t ownership, it’s partnership; we work, play, learn and face challenges as partners, sometimes he disagrees but now, I listen and hear him. Hopefully, if I were ever judged by my dogs, they’d say I was ok and because I kept trying to be better, the early mistakes would be forgiven.
The best thing about being retired is that I have time for a dog and am able to give it the best life possible. A great way to have a happy retirement.
This is why I don't own a dog yet. With commute time my work day is ~11 hours, and living on my own being the owner of any kind of dogs in that situation would be torture. Paying for doggy daycare would delay my retirement age.
My girl was my Service Dog. In exchange, we went on daily adventures, open spaces with unlimited sniff time, exploring,climbing. That dog had the best sense of humour, and I loved watching her. Did I own her ? Was I her handler ? No, i dont think so. I paid her bills, she filled my heart. She kept me safe and mobile, and I made a commitment to do the same for her. If there was a fork in the trail , 9 times out of 10 it was her choice which route to follow. She was everything to me, and I made it my job the day I brought her with me, to be her ticket to the best rides at the best fair ever.
Stonnie, I'm glad your asking the question, dogs have been in my life for almost my entire 60 trips around the sun, and I think more of us need to ask more question and stop dictating to people like we got all the answers. I know many of us think that our ancestors chose dogs and domesticated them, however there's more evidence to support they actually chose us as a survival strategy. So strictly looking at the successfulness of this strategy and considering just how successful dogs have been vs their ancestor the Wolf ... they made the right choice! I know we call it ownership, .. but if you start to list out all the things you do to be a dog owner, choices you might make in your life, what kind of car you own, where you go on holidays, what type of house, where you live maybe even what type of job you have all to facilitate this burning need to share your life with your Dogs ... If you add all that up it's really more of a partnership IMHO.
I see ‘ownership’ more as I have responsibilities in relation to my dog. It’s less about my relationship with my dog but my responsibility for my dog’s relationship with others around us. I own my car, and it’s my responsibility to make sure it is well maintained so it isn’t a road hazard and that I drive it in a way that is not endangering others.
@@Lissa073 I don't know if he started it yet. I think he'd mention something on this one once he gets Stonnie 2.0 up and running. But I'm still looking forward to it! 🙂
I have often wondered about this too, and I don't have an answer. I grew up with dogs, but in the past 40 years I have not owned one. Nevertheless, one of my hobbies is reading about dogs and watching dog videos.
As a professional dog day care provider here in London.UK I see so many dogs that are treated like living toys. A walk is considered a chore by so many owners, the idea of mixing things up and taking the dogs different places, hell even the idea of walking in the opposite direction than usual in the public park they use doesn't even occur to some people. I'm lucky and have at least 6 different parks that I can drive to relatively locally and use them all. I will even drive 90 mins in the warmer months to the coast to let the dogs see and experience a different environment. I allow all the dogs to run off leash to explore and meet other dogs. and be stimulated. I cry inside when I see owners that never let their dog's meet another or allow it to run free because of their lack of confidence which is ultimately passed on to the animal. Should we own dogs? I don't honestly have the answer to that but I am questioning the whole dog breeding industry in recent years especially the illegal puppy farm situation here in the UK and Europe. I don't own a dog but I think if I were considering getting one it now would have to be a rescue dog not a pedigree breed from a breeder.
That's an interesting question. I always have found it weird when people post a dog for rehoming and then require a fairly large fee to "make sure the dog has a good home." I figure that a good home would be better left with the hundreds of dollars to put towards the dog/getting the home ready for the new dog.
That is purely to prevent the poor animal from ending up, in a dog fighting ring. Most of the gutless creatures that do this to an animal, won't pay for it..
Just asking yourself the question should we own dogs is a great start. I think we should but, there is a whole list of things I think are important to ensure a happy and healthy life of your dog. Knowing this I sadly see a lot of people that are not holding up their end of the contract.
I've often thought a long the same lines. I may be dead wrong, but I've always viewed it as more of a partnership. I have Great pyrenees, and we have learned so much from each other, and we take care of each other. My first one training, was a huge challenge for us both, but with the help of your channel, and just really paying attention to the dogs, watching how they react, what they react to, their general behavior, etc ... We have great relationships. Lotsa love, pure respect, and an unbreakable partnership. Again thank you for all that you do, and maybe some day I can make a trip and visit.
We have rescued dogs or rehomed from owners unable to give their dog the care they need. Whilst there is a purchasing cost involved in these transactions, which could lead to an idea of ownership, we have always considered each of our dogs, no matter what background or life experience they have had prior to coming into our lives, as family, not property. Yes, we are responsible for them. But as members of our family, individual, full of character, and the givers and recipients of love and devotion.
When you asked that question Stonnie, I had to take a trip way back to the beginning of my love affair with dogs - way back. It all began in early grade school walking home one day and this big, beautiful dog decided to "follow" me home, and I asked my parents if I could keep him. Their answer broke my heart because I had to take him home, but I was determined to have my own dog someday. I've raised 2 G. Shepherds, a Golden and a Yellow Lab from pups and each one was different. Through the years I've learned we don't own them - they are a gift. These creatures give you everything they've got, and more if they can, until their last day no questions asked. "Owning" a dog is actually a commitment - that not everyone should make, because they can't fulfil their part and it is a disservice to the needs of these wonderful animals. My current dog is an 80-lb Lab/Boxer rescue I took in 3 years ago because she was discarded and desperately needed a home. She was broken, afraid, unsure but when I spoke to her, I saw something in her eyes that asked for a chance. Today's her "birthday," one that I gave her. I pulled up a video earlier today from when she first came to me and the dog I have today is not the same dog in that video. I've had a little more than 70 trips around the sun, shared more than 50 of those trips with my dogs, and honestly can't ever imagine my life without a dog. Looking forward to your new channel, and always enjoy listening to your insightful comments.
That is definitely a thought provoking question. I guess the best answer I can figure is yes. Dogs were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago. Some of the qualities they need to survive and thrive in the wild are no longer there, so we owe it to them to take care of them. They should be treated as the sentient beings they are and protected from harm and abuse. Humans should do their best by dogs and any other animals they take into their families, which sometimes means making them do things they don’t choose or want to do if it’s in their best interest. Is that the right answer? I don’t know, but it’s how I feel about it. I’m looking forward to your new channel!
@@StonnieDennisWhen humans domesticated dogs, we reduced their ability to survive in the wild. Just like we wouldn't give a 10-year-old child the choice to move out, we have a responsibility to protect and provide for dogs.
I look at it this way. A family put one of their kids at orphanage at 6 months of age ( so like humane high schooler) because they failed to raise him right or were poorly equipped to do it and unwilling to pay to provide proper education by someone like you and learn how to manage their life later. I happened to stumble on this orphan so I adopted her, paid $$$$ for training, her Vet care, learned to make homemade real food balance meals, constantly trying to watch, read and learn about dogs and provide as much outlet for her physical and emotional needs as I can ( that dog gets to run, hike, bike, sniff, chase on daily bases since we live across the street from State and Federal park.). We became a family. It's not perfect, we don't always agree but we all trying to be respectful, have fun together, be there for each other in bad and good. We all set boundaries for all members of this family but we have ownership status due to responsibility based on set of laws. Dogs are not wolves and most will not survive long if they left on their own. It would be like leaving black bear on brown bear territory. Statement that we should not have a right to own animals comes from PETA. Most people don't know what PETA really stands for. That said, I am a firm believer that animal breeding should be highly regulated, highly restricted and harshly punishable for breaking restrictions. That would be start in lowering huge population of animals which leads to many being euthanized. All ownership should be required licensing just like car registration. Fortunately there is so much more issues besides that. And finally Dog shows should be banned. It does nothing for animal's needs fulfillment. Nothing. Parading in a area by bunch of stressed out mentally burn out human individuals ain't healthy for humans nor the dogs. At least in agility sports dogs get to full fill physical need. I feel the same about children beauty pageants. Matter of fact dog shows remind of children beauty pageants. All about "owners/ parents " needs. There, I said it. Let the sky burn now.
This is long so I’m sorry about that in advance. Personally, I view it as the same as children. There is a decision before having kids or getting/breeding a dog that someone needs to make before obtaining either. This decision is one based off the parent/owners wants and desires and has nothing to do with what the child or pet wants because they either don’t exist or have no say in where they end up. This decision is purely based off what the owner wants and I would argue is a selfish decision. Not that there is anything wrong with a selfish decision, it’s your actions after that decision that determine whether I you deserved to make that selfish decision or not. These types of decisions that affect other living beings should come with the responsibility of ensuring that those affected end up better off with this decision being made to satisfy the parent/owners desires. If someone makes the conscious decision that they want a child then they need to make sure that this child’s needs are being met because they didn’t get a choice in being born or adopted by someone. Same goes for a dog, or other pets/livestock, if someone WANTS to own a living being then it needs to be taken care of and better off then if it didn’t have an owner. There are drawbacks to not having an owner for animals, lack of stable shelter, need to find their own food and water, illnesses, parasites, etc. Same goes for a child, the foster care system is terrible so if you can provide for an adopted child much more than that system can then I believe they deserve to make the selfish decision. Deciding to have children or breeding a dog is a bit more complicated but I would say the drawbacks of not being born is that you cannot experience the wonders that life can bring. So if someone decides to bring life into this world they need to ensure they can give that life opportunities to experience all the good they are able to and minimize the bad. If that cannot be afforded then the parent/owner should not make the selfish decision to bring life into this world just to feel happy for themselves. When people do not deserve the selfish decision they made by not properly providing for or physically/mentally harming the living being they brought into their life, then that being has the right to leave that situation. Children and pets cannot easily leave bad situations, which is when authorities should get involved to ensure that children/animal rights are being upheld and they can go somewhere that will treat them better. That’s just my two cents on this topic, I have thought about it a lot and this is currently where I stand. Maybe I’ll change my opinion in the future.
Stoney, you brought up a very interesting and important topic and one that I've asked myself many times. I've asked the question should we own dogs, or rather, do we have the right to own a dog. Sometimes, I put myself into my dog's shoes and think, if my dog could choose, is this the life he would want? I know he would want to be outdoors most of the day running free in the woods exploring and chasing small animals and interacting with other dogs. Then come back in at night to sleep in a nice cozy place. At least that's what I think he would want. What I know for sure is what he doesn't want is to be cooped up in a house all day, bored with nothing to do, because I'm at work most of the day. I also know that the dog is a sentient being, and because of that, cannot and should not be "owned". And as a sentient being, he has rights and I need to respect those rights. I need to treat him fairly and kindly. He is not there to serve me or be my entertainment. He is there to be my companion and I am there to be his, but not solely. And this is why sometimes I'm sad when I look at my dog and think, is this the life he deserves to have?
After the last 10 months of hardly even walking through my home, I've asked myself that question. Sure, a friend or two have stepped in to provide the exercise and scent simulation my boy deserves, and he knows I've been hurt, but how fair is that? On the mend as of last Friday, and if everything heals as expected, we'll be back to normal soon.
Addendum: As a mostly GSD (according to embark) adult rescue, even with a few coyotes wandering by and a big yard with squirrels to herd, he often wants me to be with him out there. Of course!
I think giving our dogs as much agency in their lives as possible is the direction we should go. None of us asked to be where we are, but having choices makes us feel free. I learned from Susan Garrett and the foundation of her training protocol teaches the dog that their behavior predicts outcome. Similar to your philosophy. I see people taking it a step further where they teach the dog that their behavior predicts what the human will do. So for instance, on a walk the dog can guide the direction they go, when to stop etc by doing specific behaviors that they have been taught predict the human starting, stopping, going left or right. From what I understand, opening this door allows the dog and human to build the communication and the relationship becomes two sided like a friendship. Who knows what dogs will teach us.
One of the first things I taught Seeley was the "you pick" command. At least once a day, I let her pick a treat. She knows as long as she has good manners, she chooses her walking path. I've taught her to look at me if she wants to cross the street, then I give her the 'cross' command when it's safe. This philosophy forces me to be present and not just go through the motions.
Here in South Italy some dogs are free, very competent and people take care of them... one of them started to follow a friend of mine... slept with him... and when someone complained about the dog pee or something, my friend said "he's not MY dog" which was true! Now they live together in another village, where the dog is free to go out on his own if he wants (he's a Corgie); he's seen a vet a couple of times in his life for emergency, he's been fighting with other dogs occasionally, but they have lived in peace in the same places after the "battles". That dog has had a life!
I’d like to think I have a “mutually beneficial” relationship with my dogs. We have strict rules for our dogs, so they ALWAYS know what is expected of them, but we try to always remember that each dog is different. We are also VERY consistent with our dogs.
I think 'yes' we should own dogs. But that is just a social agreement that we will care for the dog as we would for a family member. Thousands of years ago humans had a cooperative arrangement with dogs without the necessity of 'ownership'. Those early human benefited from taking care of the dogs that helped them hunt and survive. Today we don't need the dog for the same reasons as years ago but the cooperative companionship element still exists. Human laws say I own my dog but in reality my dog 'owns' me. 😂 Looking forward to the new channel.
i put my "does my pet want to live with me" with a stray cat i found and cared for. I took him home and when he was better i opened the door and told him the line from lilo and stitch "you dont have to leave but if you want to you can...ill remember you though..." and he decided to walk back in and take a nap on the couch. this cat would sit outside with me and had many chances to leave but chose not to. my dog cries if he cant reach me in another room so i can only imagine how much of a wreck he would be if i turned him loose one day. I dont see myself as a pet owner or pet parent or whatever fancy terms people use just as someone who shares their life with pets and non pet animals.
I look forward to the new channel Stonnie! I’m not a philosopher but here’s my honest best try at your question. I think owning dogs is probably a human problem caused by a human solution to a human problem. “Ownership” is a nice easy catch all that confers responsibility of something to a person. It’s got a fairly clear definition with regards to the law, your neighbors, what have you. But where does it end? I don’t know. One and one between you and your dog ownership I feel isn’t the right mentality. Probably more like a partnership or guardianship. Your job is to help a dependent learn the ways of the world and live a happy life in it. Which is all easy to say when someone else’s way of working with their dog doesn’t cross my personal beliefs of what’s right. And then their ownership comes back up because if it’s actually property then what should it matter if they use a wrench as a hammer. Long comment short I don’t know. Which I guess is the point. Should we own dogs? Hard to say. We do though. So we’re sort of stuck doing the best we can.
This post is exactly why I'm subscribed to you. Also, my son won the Florida state wrestling at 126. I deal with these large breed dog owners in my neighborhood who never leave the yard. The 'owners' think they have guard dogs. 😂 You have a barker who I can get past easily.
All my dogs are rescues and have been forever. I'm 53. I love them, but we don't deserve them. And in a country that won't provide free dental, vision, or hearing care for children, I can't imagine we'll ever require much from dog owners. I wish it were different. I wish, frankly, none of us had dogs though they are the best gift. We just don't deserve them, and it sucks to tell that truth.
Ivan, there is no thing called Free Medical care, it's called Tax Payer supported health supported care. Nearly 40% of Americans don't pay Federal Income Taxes, when I mention this to my foreign friends they can't believe that this is true. I live in the high tax state of California, and we provide a significant safety net for those that can't afford care especially for children. I go to the community dentist that offers free dental care for those in need & a tiered payment system for those with lower income.
Great perspective Stonnie! Look forward to continuing with you AND the very good dogs🐶. I may or may not agree with every thing you say, going forward, but thus far I have learned so much by your channel and love that you respect every animal. Bring it on!
Congrats for the new channel, sounds awesome!! I have lived with big dogs my entire life, then my last st. Bernard died and I spent 5 years without any dog. Then the sweetest poodle came to me by a kind of accident and now I have a cute Maltese. I think God has sent the dogs to me because they are lovely, and amazingly, they are so perfect for me. I mean I like dogs in general, but mine are better for me than I could ever imagine. I think we have to take care of them and learn our way to eternal life. PS: Lord Jesus Christ loves his creatures more than we do, and He lives eternally so in reality our dogs, are His dogs. God bless you and your family, thank you for your videos.
Excited for the new channel! And I really don't mind controversial topics. I'm always interested to hear your thoughts. Can you share a link to your new channel?
OH BOY! 😅 I once had a Dr that told me in no uncertain terms should is a "bad" word and not to use it. He said we just "should all over ourselves" 🤷 when we use that word. Such a complex subject! This is truly a frightening question - looking forward to seeing your summary! I can't imagine my life without dogs in it... I imagine this subject will carry over to your new channel 😁 Congratulations! You will be rockin over there! 😉
New channel still hidden? I tried searching for it. Anyways, the question you raised in this video is one I will have to think on for a while.. It brings up many follow up questions like: Is it alright to 'own' a dog when you have a job outside of your home that you can't take your dog to? Is it fair to put a leash on your dog? (meaning, is it alright to own a dog when you're not in a position to always have your dog off leash?), etc. Great video Stonnie.
I have a bouvier des flandres (Jack). He is an incredible animal. Smart, emotionally intelligent, brave, highly devoted and highly skilled. I haven't scratched the surface of what he is fully capable of or like you said, what he would want to do most of all. I just came upon your channel. As a grappler myself, a dog lover, and someone who thinks about this stuff, I am glad I found you.
Most reputable breeders or rescue organizations I know specifically use the term "adoption" vs. "purchase" to emphasize that one is taking on a special responsibility and partnership. Volunteering in rescue has made me think very deeply about the rights of dogs and the responsibility of humans. Puppies have no choice where they end up and from the same litter, one can end up in a wonderful family and another can end up outside in the rain getting only rancid kibble and dirty water. It is heartbreaking. People would accuse our organization of being too picky in our application selection and we were criticized for charging a $350 adoption fee. Many people said to me "There are so many homeless dogs, why isn't your organization making it much simpler and cheaper to get a dog?". My answer was always that most of our dogs had been dealt a bad hand in life with respect to where they ended up and the lack of care so all of us volunteers felt a very deep obligation to try to give them a wonderful home this time around. We had put a lot of time, nurture, love and money into rehabilitating them medically and emotionally and so we absolutely had a right to be as picky as we chose, acting on their behalf because they could not speak. Period.
My initial thoughts: Humans benefit greatly from responsibly sharing their homes and lives with canines. Working dogs in the field are indispensable. Also, we shared a good part of our human evolution/development with them, ever since we tossed the wild canines those first few scraps from the hunt and allowed them to share our evening fire. Ownership of anything requires responsibility. Owning a living creature demands an even higher standard of responsibility. If you are a reader of the Bible, they are placed into our care to steward. The current trend of dogs as fashion accessories and certain breeders becoming mass producers who use breeding dogs solely to generate litters is counter to that belief. Personally, wouldn't seeing the face of Bradley the Labrador every single day make anyone's life better? In return, wouldn't we want to give a dog like Bradley a good life. Goodness, that pooch's face.
I first got to know you Stonnie when I purchased a sweet Goldador puppy. I named her Chelsea. She was not only a gorgeous chocolate brown beauty, but was so tender and yet super smart and funny. I live in an urbanapartment complex in San Diego County and she was a true companion during COVID and a favorite with my neighbors ,especially the children. She was easy to train using some experience I have being a dog “owner” most of my life and using some of your techniques. Almost every morning I took her on wonderful adventures in an awesome canyon nearby me with an ever running creek , big trees, an abundance of friends and wildlife. She would get so muddy and being with her in that environment was some of the best days of my life. I laugh sometimes thinking about her dragging a BIG stick around or running down a hill into the water, splashing around and running back up that hill four or five times. Or just finding a puddle to roll in or a tiny bird or duck to be fascinated with. She also accompanied me to Target, Home Depot etc. … generally everywhere I went. Sad to say, she also got pretty big on a mostly raw food diet ( about 80 pounds) and in her later adolescent year would get a little goofy and very exuberant and with me being a senior lady knocked ( or pulled ) me down several times. Unfortunately, with me having osteoporosis the last time I got hurt pretty bad. Just before she was two I had to make the decision to find her a new home and seeing her go was one of the hardest days in my life. I hope and 🙏🏼 every day that it was the right decision. Should we “ own” dogs ? I’m also a semi retired preschool teacher and dogs are so much like those little people. It’s a HUGE responsibility. And they are sooo dependent on us to give them a good life. Great GREAT question Stonnie!
I believe that we take ownership of a dog upon acquiring it. We typically have a financial exchange to acquire the asset. However, as soon as that transaction has occurred, our obligation changes from ownership to stewardship. We are obligated to provide careful and responsible management and care to this wonderful creature that has been entrusted to us. What stewardship is manifests itself differently for different people.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on why you think most people decide to own dogs to begin with, the right and wrong reasons for dog ownership, etc. It seems like there's a pathology developing of people who decide to keep dogs around because it's easier to interact with dogs than it is to interact with people, and people are getting much worse at being able to interact with people. The infantilization of dogs and treating them like little babies, dressing them up and talking to them like children, etc... seems like something is off to me in the head of the culture. Looking forward to the new channel.
people who baby their dogs most likely do it because they want kids but cant afford them or just dont want them but still have an instinct to nurture something. for a lot of people its easier to deal with pets because dealing with people is very emotionally draining for some and some just arent people oriented people. there are also people who have mental disorders who find dealing with people to be very scary because they are not understood by them so they prefer animals. personally idc if someone wants to baby their dog or not. if the dog enjoys it then who am i to judge.
I am torn about pet ownership....my gut feeling after fostering a dog, owning a cat, and having fish and a reptile is that it is wrong. I feel that even reptiles are sentient, and all animals evolved to live in the natural environment have freedom to seek mates, food and have drives just like we do. As for dogs especially, even the ones that are well cared for, I wonder how many of them are bored, depressed etc due to lack of mental stimulation..becoming zombies just lying around the house for hours most of the time. House destruction is a good tell I suppose. Too many of them suffer maltreatment though that is for sure. People want to own things. We used to own slaves. So we are somehow geared toward it. I do not think I will ever get a dog, as tempting as it is and I do love them, because I feel I could never fulfill it properly without my entire life revolving around the dog, because it is TOTALLY dependent on me. Unless it is a farm dog, or a stray, all dogs are utterly dependent on us, yet we have our human things we do which they cannot participate in....work, shopping, the internet, etc. We are humans not dogs. I would get bored with playing fetch day in and day out for 12 years. I am betting there are plenty of dog owners who do not think of this. A dog is basically like having a toddler.
Looking forward to the new channel! I like having separate channels so if I just want to see dogs having fun and training, I can go there but if I'm interested in content that's more in depth, I can go to the other!
This is the kind of mental twist I love to go deeper into. :P The word 'owner' has always been puzzling to me. But understandably, we have a history of purchasing dogs, selecting and having control over who breeds with whom for our own benefit. Many dogs are still displayed in petshops for people to fall in love and pay to have them, and that will continuously be a thriving strategy... Dogs, cats, horses.... are still animals that we seek to purchase. Now....getting pass the purchasing stage, it is now a matter of how we plan to raise and maintain this individual alive AND thriving. Loads of people are not capable of raising, or their standards are so low, but lucky enough to have a very hearty and resilient individual that is being kept alive. Living miserably, but still alive. And unfortunately these are also the people that say that raising a dog is much easier.... when to my eyes, they are also failing to raise their dog. Raising anyone (human or non-human animal) requires dedication, stamina, resources and support. But our world has been too conditioned to surrogate the raising to others. Schools can teach many things to its students, but raising is still the parents (or in this case, dog owners) responsibility and duty.
I own my horse, and I've owned many dogs and horses. I may own a dog again. They are not feral (horse) or wild/wolves or coyotes. They would not be able to survive if they were turned out into the wild. I do my best to make them 'good citizens', I take care of their needs or food, shelter, health care, love and companionship. In return they give me companionship, joy, and some of the dogs I've had have provided protection for me and my family from both animal and human threats. I think we strike a good balance. And yes, we can/should own animals, except for those who neglect or abuse them.
@@srflow2 I disagree. I know way too many people that believe they are kind, and their actions don't translate the same way. They can't tell the difference. So how to define kindness, too? How much kindness blends with neglect and indulgence?
@@StonnieDennisEXACTLY! A small example, I can't stand, listening to classical music for more than 10 minutes. If you put me in a room for eight hours and made me listen to classical music the whole time, it would feel like slow torture. Whereas I have a friend who could sit in that room and listen to classical music all day and love every second of it. Sometimes, there is a fine line and it can be quite individual. (Of course, I'm not talking about outright abuse and cruelty that the average person would agree to it obviously being wrong).
A relationship based primarily on friendship. They touch our lives with qualities that we humans don't have. Like SAR dogs. My goal is to train an accredited SAR dog and to share my experience with new generations. I learn a lot from your channel. thanks for your presence🙏
Let’s go stonie!! When I was at college I’d see all these larger dogs that are looking like they are trapped in little dorm room. I’d think of my labs back home and how much they get to roam living on a farm. That’s a big difference to me. Also how about them basketball Cats, hope in pope.
I had these questions recently. Many people in the suburban area where i live just walk their dog a few times a day around the neighborhood on a short leash and that's it. Then they get to live indoor with their human(s). I don't think many dog owners play with their dogs that much for example. Are the dogs happy? Or is it a recipe for reactivity and frustration? I don't know. Recently there was an enforcement of a rule in this suburban area that all dogs must be leashed. And it really promotes the lifestyle i mentioned. Where the well trained, obedient dogs that are calm, polite and respectful will be impacted negatively. People are afraid of dogs, because unfortunately there are dog owners who dont take responsibility. So most older women cheered when they announced this rule.... I just feel sorry for the dogs.
I quit training other people's dogs because of social media. The misinformation is too much to overcome. Rescue rehabilitation and rehoming is my goal now
with so much talk these days about microbiome health I have started to think about my animals as my macro biome. you hear about farmer's kids never getting asthma etc. Do I own my microbiome? do I own my body? or is it just the water in which this little fish swims?
Well, I think if we didn't own dogs they would go extinct. It's like asking whether we should eat beef. If we didn't eat beef, there would be no beef cows. For some people, they would be OK with that. No domesticated animal has the same life as a wild animal but which is better? Life is not a picnic for wild animals. Most wild horses only live 9-10 years and wolves around 5 years. Good question to get lots of different answers.
No, they wouldn't go extinct, sorry. Still today over 50% of all dogs worldwide are wild dogs with no owners. (this includes all those dogs living in cities, it's not only i"n the wild"). This being said, you're right, life indeed is not a picnic for wild dogs. Most of them only live for 5 years, compared to let's say 10 years for dogs with an owner. But indeed: which is better? it's a fair question: a better, safer life with us but with all the restraints coming with that or a fully free but harsher and shorter life in the wild...
The answer I guess (for the miniscule few who might ask) depends on your base beliefs. You often hear" should we have children" with many couples opting not to have kids these days. The short response is that, if we choose to have a dog, we should aim to give it the best life possible that is congruent with our realistic circumstances.
I know how much I love my dogs and try to make their lives as good as I can. They couldn't survive on their own, and I don't want to survive without them.
Of course we should own more than one dog. However a dog isn’t a wrench or hammer. A living thing that gives and deserves affection and protection. The problem is we humans are less responsible than others. Leash and clean after your dog humans. It is the law!
It seems to me that dogs, as domesticated animals, do best with good owners. I don't think they are suited to being wild although I am certain some breeds would adapt. However, I don't view them as "property" either. They are, as you say Stonnie, sentient beings with emotions and, I believe, souls. As owners, we are responsible for their health, care, and environment-- healthy exercise, affection, emotional security, etc. That means that sacrifices must be made to see that their needs are met and they are genuinely loved. Training so they know their "job" and exercise so they can feel fulfilled is key. With rights, come responsibilities. What are the limitations? Abuse, which should be clearly defined so everyone understands what that means. Dogs should always have water, food, shelter, vet care, exercise, and socialization necessary for their daily needs and performance expectations-- and never be beaten. I have seen, all too often, people tie up a dog/puppy in their backyard and just leave it there. They don't know how to house train the pup, to teach it to be a good member of the family, etc. I don't think these are always uncaring people-- I have seen it with otherwise well meaning folks. They just don't know what to do. When should law enforcement be involved? I do agree with basic licensing and vaccinations, etc. I wish there were a larger culture for puppy classes and basic obedience classes (where the owners are taught what to do-- it's really people training). I wish such opportunities were widely available at a minimal cost-- at least for the basics as I think more people would engage in them. I don't believe that training tools should ever be banned (pulse collars, etc.). It's not the tool that is the problem, it's how it's used. Professional "balanced" trainers know how to do it correctly. Again, it's the untrained that use such tools in a harmful manner. I cannot imagine life without my cats and dogs. Right now I have a 12 week old Rough Collie puppy-- and she's a handful! But patience and consistency will get us there. :) It's just common sense. Thanks for all your great videos.
Interesting thoughts. I have known only one dog for about one year and these questions have been so pressing for me. There was a time not so long ago when we had ideas of ownership over other human beings just because of the colour of their skin. Yet here we have a completely different species,sentient being with desires such as our own. Maybe we will be able to stretch our minds and think of dogs in a fairer and more conscious way in the same way as we have changed our minds about our fellow human beings. Can a day come when maybe we can replace the idea of Shylock,The Merchant of Venice with a dog? Imagine Shylock’s great monologue issuing from the mind of a dog. What an enormous intellectual evolutionary stride forward.
I think of it as a partnership. I adopted a large mixed breed when he was 13 months old. I could not "make" him do anything because of his size. It took time for each of us to learn how the other communicates and what each of us values for us to have a successful partnership. It takes time but it's been worth it
The relationship between humans and dogs, as with other domestic animals, is basically utilitarian. Dogs protect, herd, are service dogs or pets. In many countries, strays or other 'useless' dogs are denied the right to even exist and are systematically killed - like most recently in Turkey. I think we owe respect to all our domestic animals and ought to fulfill their specific needs for food, shelter and exercise - even of those who are less lucky than dogs and cats and whose ultimate task is to feed us with their meat. Yes, we should own dogs, but we should also be ready to take responsibility for them (or any other animal we might own).
On the topic of online bickering, I don't know if you're aware of how much of that is actually AI bot traffic. I don't know who or why these things exist but apparently a lot of online hateful comments are just chat bots that are trying to 'get your goat' and they work way too well.
I have been around dogs (Labs mainly) my whole life. We bred AKC registered labs and my uncle has been training labs since 1985. I have hunted with labs and am a sucker for Black Lab, I have a 8 week old now. These are great questions and not super easy to answer. I would say we should own dogs IF we are taking full responsibility for the training and quality of life of that dog. My dogs are my best friends, we go swimming, hiking, hunting, sled riding etc. If they are on a chain or in a cage most of their life, maybe that person should not own a dog.
Stonnie I love your channel so much. I cannot imagine my life without having dogs and cats. My favorite part of the day is when my husband and I walk our property as the sun is setting and we have our 3 dogs and two cats go with us. It's just an evening stroll checking the fence to make sure nothing was damaged. We live in the country in Virginia. I just can't imagine not having pets in my life. I do think it's a privilege and responsibility as well as a right. Great question! I have been going through your videos and I have a question I haven't seen answered yet. Do you agree with the modern philosphy of never punishing a growl? I mean for something like an owner looking in a dog's ear or a child petting the dog. Not the dog growling at a stranger. This is a family member. Older dog training concepts said that growling at a stranger is acceptible but a dog growling at a family member was not. Now trainers say if a dog growls at a family member, to never punish it because the dog will learn not to growl and give warning, but to go straight into a bite. This is popular among newer, force free training philosophies. Do you agree with this? I totally trust your method of training so I'd very much value your input!
Millennia of co-evolution. Dogs chose us and we chose them. That’s not to say all dog owners deserve to be dog owners though. It takes a lot of time, resources, and love to meet their needs. That said, Victorian era dog breeding probably did get just a bit out of hand…
Doing something for a long time does not answer the question of “should or should not”. We domesticated dogs to the point of dependence, yet we could live just fine without them.
Super excited about the new channel Stonnie! Especially politics - I’m always looking for new ideas on how to approach common human fears & desires, and I suspect you have some awesome ideas that I haven’t encountered before.
today's dogs become family...... much different than even a few decades ago. We take them in and they either fit in, rule the roost or live a life of quiet desperation behind a fence. It is a big responsibility if one chooses to accept it, the rewards can be more than dreamed of - or not so much if we don't take the time & love to train them to fit in. Maybe some people should own dogs, and others not....
Great topic. Just awesome. In reality I don’t look at my dog like I own her. But in reality that’s the arrangement. But I told her when she was a puppy that we could learn from each other. I specifically ask her to show me how to live in the moment. Dogs are experts at that. In return I promise to give her the most exciting life I could with excellent care. 15 degrees we are out. 95 degrees same. Rain snow sleet. If I’m sick. To bad. We go. Maybe it’s still ownership but the universe would have to show me another way. Stonnie just gets life.
Should we be allowed to freely breed dogs the way we do? Its seems like their is an over abundance of dogs being breed into the world while there is a shortage of vets to care for them. This along with being one of the most difficult countries to become a vet in is why I believe vet care is so expensive
My dog could have been a work dog, been kept in a cage all day then let out after dark to secure a lot, but he's alot happier being treated as a little boy lol. Yes we should own dogs. The problem is people typically don't or can't dedicate the time to raising a dog right. Most dogs are neglected in my opinion. But, what do I know? I've only had well trained happy animals all my life.
I think the question should be phrased a bit different. A better question is if you should pay someone to breed a new dog just for you when there are millions of homeless dogs in shelters. Why are we breeding so many more dogs when there are so many that are waiting for a loving home? There are so many sweet dogs with good temperaments that are lonely and locked up in a kennel right now waiting for someone to love. If you don't look, how do you know that none of them are the perfect dog for you?
@@StonnieDennis - well it's related. When you buy a dog, you are paying for a new dog to be bred and you have to ask if you are providing the dog with a good enough life for it to be a worth you purposely bringing them into this world. When you adopt, the dog is already alive. You just have to ask if their life in your home is better than being stuck in a shelter kennel or being euthanized
Yes we absolutely should own dogs. They are fabulous creatures. As long as we take good care of them. If you dont want the responsibility, ie the walking, feeding playing, going to the vets etc, dont get one.
I have a relationship with my dogs. I am a custodian who ensures they stay safe and healthy. In exchange, they provide protection, comfort and joy to me and my family. I try to appreciate their nature and working tendencies to give them opportunities for satisfaction even when inconvenient for me (walking in the rain, buying fetch toys, offering adequate safe free range). I love them more than most things in life- most days I believe they love me too.
Nce thought Stonnie. And here I am thinking I am a kind of a Samaritan for adopting a "dump-puppy" from the South of Italy. I reckon having dogs is one of the oldest relationships between humans and animals so at least we're in ood company there. Doesn't mean that you can treat your dog like any other property. I suppose that's where humans stand out from from human animals. Greetings from the Netherlands
I HATE the word "own"!!! I do not own my dog any more than I own my son! I rear my Doberman, Guinness. I love him; I put him before myself. If I can't afford something this month for myself, I still make sure he gets the best food for him, the best toys and treats. I am lucky to have him. A dog is a sentient being: He thinks, he feels, he has emotions. You know when he's sad, happy, scared, etc., no different than a mute child. The laws need to change to reflect this, and they should protect them and be as strict as they are for a child! You beat them, starve them, do any bodily harm to them, you should go to prison for years, not just get a fine or warning, and, you should not be allowed to have a pet again for the rest of your life, not this, "You can't 'own' a dog for five years" bullshit!!!! I have raise dogs all my life, and I've raised and trained five Dobermans and trained many large-breed dogs. Even back in the days when aggressive training was the norm, I did not believe in it. I trained dogs the way I wanted to be taught as a child, with love, understanding and respect. You give that to a dog, you get it back. Do I want my dog to be perfect? No! I want him to be a dog. Yes, they were (and are) all obedient and followed my instructions, but they did it out of repetition, kindness and understanding on my part, and wanting to please me. Their lives are so short, why not make it the best life they can have?
@@StonnieDennis You know, it's one thing to speak and say something stupid before you think, but to write before you think is just asinine!! Does your 2-years old child have a right to leave, stupid??!! That's what you call a homeless dog, and that's what we dog lovers are trying to prevent. Use your brain!!! Besides, my dog would never leave, being a velcro dog, he loves being with me at all times, and no, he does not have separation anxiety; I leave him alone occasionally to ride my bike, and though he whines a touch, he calms immediately, and I watch and give him treats via our Furbo, and he just rests on our couch until my wife or I return. I never trained him to be off-leash, but he always turns and looks to see if I approve and returns to me whenever I call. End of conversation with you. I've wasted enough time on one whose brain is utilized in such a limited fashion.
Hi, just ran into your channel. I was looking for advice on working with our Great Pyrenees that we “rescued” from someone at the farmers market. He is 1 year old this month and we are finding that the desire to roam is just an innate issue that we are going to need to work with. Would love your advice….he is not fixed (and I don’t want to neuter him) and we are replacing old welded wire fencing with cattle panel on most sides of our 7 acres.
Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour.
Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com
Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
AMEN 🙏
Let's not forget the catahoula dogs in Florida ua-cam.com/video/Tsy_c4Df2mI/v-deo.htmlsi=aJSaqM3FDlppX-gz
@stonniedennis post a link to the channel
Did you make the new channèl?
Your videos have helped me tremendously. Thank you
I was seriously ill for three weeks of misery. My Aussie (yes energy dog etc)
Laid next to me only to leave to go do her business and to eat. No play, zero, just sat laid down leaning on -next to me, slept there.... Followed me to the restroom, for water. Next to me as I was throwing up so many times everyday. I got better. I will never forget this. An energy aussie calm and not playing for weeks. That is miraculous.She is 6 now and an absolute gift from God. I try to give her an adventurous decent dog life. Life is short - life is better with a dog.
Thx for the videos.
❤❤❤
For me, dog ‘ownership’ has been an evolution. The dogs in my life have taught me what dogs are and can be but, I wasn’t always in tune to learn these lessons. I regret some of the decisions I’ve made for my previous dogs but I learned from those mistakes and I think my current dog Odin would agree we have a pretty good existence. At this point in my life it isn’t ownership, it’s partnership; we work, play, learn and face challenges as partners, sometimes he disagrees but now, I listen and hear him. Hopefully, if I were ever judged by my dogs, they’d say I was ok and because I kept trying to be better, the early mistakes would be forgiven.
The best thing about being retired is that I have time for a dog and am able to give it the best life possible. A great way to have a happy retirement.
This is why I don't own a dog yet. With commute time my work day is ~11 hours, and living on my own being the owner of any kind of dogs in that situation would be torture. Paying for doggy daycare would delay my retirement age.
My girl was my Service Dog. In exchange, we went on daily adventures, open spaces with unlimited sniff time, exploring,climbing. That dog had the best sense of humour, and I loved watching her. Did I own her ? Was I her handler ? No, i dont think so. I paid her bills, she filled my heart. She kept me safe and mobile, and I made a commitment to do the same for her. If there was a fork in the trail , 9 times out of 10 it was her choice which route to follow. She was everything to me, and I made it my job the day I brought her with me, to be her ticket to the best rides at the best fair ever.
Thank you for sharing your story ❤
Exactly
Stonnie, I'm glad your asking the question, dogs have been in my life for almost my entire 60 trips around the sun, and I think more of us need to ask more question and stop dictating to people like we got all the answers. I know many of us think that our ancestors chose dogs and domesticated them, however there's more evidence to support they actually chose us as a survival strategy. So strictly looking at the successfulness of this strategy and considering just how successful dogs have been vs their ancestor the Wolf ... they made the right choice! I know we call it ownership, .. but if you start to list out all the things you do to be a dog owner, choices you might make in your life, what kind of car you own, where you go on holidays, what type of house, where you live maybe even what type of job you have all to facilitate this burning need to share your life with your Dogs ... If you add all that up it's really more of a partnership IMHO.
I see ‘ownership’ more as I have responsibilities in relation to my dog. It’s less about my relationship with my dog but my responsibility for my dog’s relationship with others around us. I own my car, and it’s my responsibility to make sure it is well maintained so it isn’t a road hazard and that I drive it in a way that is not endangering others.
Good point
Let's not forget the catahoula dogs in Florida ua-cam.com/video/Tsy_c4Df2mI/v-deo.htmlsi=aJSaqM3FDlppX-gz
Looking forward to the new channel, Uncle Stonnie! Glad you decided to create another one and keep this one---best of both worlds!
Any luck finding the new channel?
@@Lissa073 I don't know if he started it yet. I think he'd mention something on this one once he gets Stonnie 2.0 up and running. But I'm still looking forward to it! 🙂
Dogs should definitely be owned by people. Just not most people.
I have often wondered about this too, and I don't have an answer. I grew up with dogs, but in the past 40 years I have not owned one. Nevertheless, one of my hobbies is reading about dogs and watching dog videos.
As a professional dog day care provider here in London.UK I see so many dogs that are treated like living toys.
A walk is considered a chore by so many owners, the idea of mixing things up and taking the dogs different places, hell even the idea of walking in the opposite direction than usual in the public park they use doesn't even occur to some people.
I'm lucky and have at least 6 different parks that I can drive to relatively locally and use them all.
I will even drive 90 mins in the warmer months to the coast to let the dogs see and experience a different environment.
I allow all the dogs to run off leash to explore and meet other dogs. and be stimulated.
I cry inside when I see owners that never let their dog's meet another or allow it to run free because of their lack of confidence which is ultimately passed on to the animal.
Should we own dogs?
I don't honestly have the answer to that but I am questioning the whole dog breeding industry in recent years especially the illegal puppy farm situation here in the UK and Europe.
I don't own a dog but I think if I were considering getting one it now would have to be a rescue dog not a pedigree breed from a breeder.
That's an interesting question. I always have found it weird when people post a dog for rehoming and then require a fairly large fee to "make sure the dog has a good home." I figure that a good home would be better left with the hundreds of dollars to put towards the dog/getting the home ready for the new dog.
That is purely to prevent the poor animal from ending up, in a dog fighting ring. Most of the gutless creatures that do this to an animal, won't pay for it..
This is exactly the kind of thinking that makes me love you, Stonnie! Looking forward to a channel that has a less censored you!
Just asking yourself the question should we own dogs is a great start. I think we should but, there is a whole list of things I think are important to ensure a happy and healthy life of your dog. Knowing this I sadly see a lot of people that are not holding up their end of the contract.
I've often thought a long the same lines. I may be dead wrong, but I've always viewed it as more of a partnership. I have Great pyrenees, and we have learned so much from each other, and we take care of each other. My first one training, was a huge challenge for us both, but with the help of your channel, and just really paying attention to the dogs, watching how they react, what they react to, their general behavior, etc ... We have great relationships. Lotsa love, pure respect, and an unbreakable partnership. Again thank you for all that you do, and maybe some day I can make a trip and visit.
We have rescued dogs or rehomed from owners unable to give their dog the care they need. Whilst there is a purchasing cost involved in these transactions, which could lead to an idea of ownership, we have always considered each of our dogs, no matter what background or life experience they have had prior to coming into our lives, as family, not property. Yes, we are responsible for them. But as members of our family, individual, full of character, and the givers and recipients of love and devotion.
❤❤❤
When you asked that question Stonnie, I had to take a trip way back to the beginning of my love affair with dogs - way back. It all began in early grade school walking home one day and this big, beautiful dog decided to "follow" me home, and I asked my parents if I could keep him. Their answer broke my heart because I had to take him home, but I was determined to have my own dog someday. I've raised 2 G. Shepherds, a Golden and a Yellow Lab from pups and each one was different. Through the years I've learned we don't own them - they are a gift. These creatures give you everything they've got, and more if they can, until their last day no questions asked. "Owning" a dog is actually a commitment - that not everyone should make, because they can't fulfil their part and it is a disservice to the needs of these wonderful animals. My current dog is an 80-lb Lab/Boxer rescue I took in 3 years ago because she was discarded and desperately needed a home. She was broken, afraid, unsure but when I spoke to her, I saw something in her eyes that asked for a chance. Today's her "birthday," one that I gave her. I pulled up a video earlier today from when she first came to me and the dog I have today is not the same dog in that video. I've had a little more than 70 trips around the sun, shared more than 50 of those trips with my dogs, and honestly can't ever imagine my life without a dog. Looking forward to your new channel, and always enjoy listening to your insightful comments.
Wonderful
That is definitely a thought provoking question. I guess the best answer I can figure is yes. Dogs were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago. Some of the qualities they need to survive and thrive in the wild are no longer there, so we owe it to them to take care of them. They should be treated as the sentient beings they are and protected from harm and abuse. Humans should do their best by dogs and any other animals they take into their families, which sometimes means making them do things they don’t choose or want to do if it’s in their best interest. Is that the right answer? I don’t know, but it’s how I feel about it. I’m looking forward to your new channel!
I never look@it as owning a dog ,I look@it as I'm opting to share my life with 1...❤
Then you have to be willing to let them go if they choose not to live with you anymore...
@@StonnieDennisWhen humans domesticated dogs, we reduced their ability to survive in the wild. Just like we wouldn't give a 10-year-old child the choice to move out, we have a responsibility to protect and provide for dogs.
@@StonnieDennisI leave my door open. They can leave anytime.
like in the little hobo? (serie from the 1980) ua-cam.com/video/oT15Gd81xa8/v-deo.html
I look at it this way. A family put one of their kids at orphanage at 6 months of age ( so like humane high schooler) because they failed to raise him right or were poorly equipped to do it and unwilling to pay to provide proper education by someone like you and learn how to manage their life later. I happened to stumble on this orphan so I adopted her, paid $$$$ for training, her Vet care, learned to make homemade real food balance meals, constantly trying to watch, read and learn about dogs and provide as much outlet for her physical and emotional needs as I can ( that dog gets to run, hike, bike, sniff, chase on daily bases since we live across the street from State and Federal park.). We became a family. It's not perfect, we don't always agree but we all trying to be respectful, have fun together, be there for each other in bad and good. We all set boundaries for all members of this family but we have ownership status due to responsibility based on set of laws. Dogs are not wolves and most will not survive long if they left on their own. It would be like leaving black bear on brown bear territory.
Statement that we should not have a right to own animals comes from PETA. Most people don't know what PETA really stands for. That said, I am a firm believer that animal breeding should be highly regulated, highly restricted and harshly punishable for breaking restrictions. That would be start in lowering huge population of animals which leads to many being euthanized. All ownership should be required licensing just like car registration. Fortunately there is so much more issues besides that. And finally Dog shows should be banned. It does nothing for animal's needs fulfillment. Nothing. Parading in a area by bunch of stressed out mentally burn out human individuals ain't healthy for humans nor the dogs. At least in agility sports dogs get to full fill physical need. I feel the same about children beauty pageants. Matter of fact dog shows remind of children beauty pageants. All about "owners/ parents " needs. There, I said it. Let the sky burn now.
This is long so I’m sorry about that in advance.
Personally, I view it as the same as children. There is a decision before having kids or getting/breeding a dog that someone needs to make before obtaining either. This decision is one based off the parent/owners wants and desires and has nothing to do with what the child or pet wants because they either don’t exist or have no say in where they end up. This decision is purely based off what the owner wants and I would argue is a selfish decision.
Not that there is anything wrong with a selfish decision, it’s your actions after that decision that determine whether I you deserved to make that selfish decision or not. These types of decisions that affect other living beings should come with the responsibility of ensuring that those affected end up better off with this decision being made to satisfy the parent/owners desires. If someone makes the conscious decision that they want a child then they need to make sure that this child’s needs are being met because they didn’t get a choice in being born or adopted by someone. Same goes for a dog, or other pets/livestock, if someone WANTS to own a living being then it needs to be taken care of and better off then if it didn’t have an owner.
There are drawbacks to not having an owner for animals, lack of stable shelter, need to find their own food and water, illnesses, parasites, etc. Same goes for a child, the foster care system is terrible so if you can provide for an adopted child much more than that system can then I believe they deserve to make the selfish decision. Deciding to have children or breeding a dog is a bit more complicated but I would say the drawbacks of not being born is that you cannot experience the wonders that life can bring. So if someone decides to bring life into this world they need to ensure they can give that life opportunities to experience all the good they are able to and minimize the bad. If that cannot be afforded then the parent/owner should not make the selfish decision to bring life into this world just to feel happy for themselves.
When people do not deserve the selfish decision they made by not properly providing for or physically/mentally harming the living being they brought into their life, then that being has the right to leave that situation. Children and pets cannot easily leave bad situations, which is when authorities should get involved to ensure that children/animal rights are being upheld and they can go somewhere that will treat them better.
That’s just my two cents on this topic, I have thought about it a lot and this is currently where I stand. Maybe I’ll change my opinion in the future.
Really good questions. Very few people ask or wonder what dogs want. I see this as a relationship, not a matter of ownership.
Uncle Stonnie! I asked Bradley. He says he loves his time in Bluegrass!
Ha!
Thank you for doing this video! I have thought of this question many times over the years and it's one of the reasons I don't have a dog right now.
Looking forward to the new channel!
Stoney, you brought up a very interesting and important topic and one that I've asked myself many times. I've asked the question should we own dogs, or rather, do we have the right to own a dog. Sometimes, I put myself into my dog's shoes and think, if my dog could choose, is this the life he would want? I know he would want to be outdoors most of the day running free in the woods exploring and chasing small animals and interacting with other dogs. Then come back in at night to sleep in a nice cozy place. At least that's what I think he would want. What I know for sure is what he doesn't want is to be cooped up in a house all day, bored with nothing to do, because I'm at work most of the day. I also know that the dog is a sentient being, and because of that, cannot and should not be "owned". And as a sentient being, he has rights and I need to respect those rights. I need to treat him fairly and kindly. He is not there to serve me or be my entertainment. He is there to be my companion and I am there to be his, but not solely. And this is why sometimes I'm sad when I look at my dog and think, is this the life he deserves to have?
@@andreavanda5402 The idea a wild dog gets to sleep anywhere cozy is nonsensical.
After the last 10 months of hardly even walking through my home, I've asked myself that question. Sure, a friend or two have stepped in to provide the exercise and scent simulation my boy deserves, and he knows I've been hurt, but how fair is that? On the mend as of last Friday, and if everything heals as expected, we'll be back to normal soon.
Addendum: As a mostly GSD (according to embark) adult rescue, even with a few coyotes wandering by and a big yard with squirrels to herd, he often wants me to be with him out there. Of course!
I think giving our dogs as much agency in their lives as possible is the direction we should go. None of us asked to be where we are, but having choices makes us feel free.
I learned from Susan Garrett and the foundation of her training protocol teaches the dog that their behavior predicts outcome. Similar to your philosophy.
I see people taking it a step further where they teach the dog that their behavior predicts what the human will do. So for instance, on a walk the dog can guide the direction they go, when to stop etc by doing specific behaviors that they have been taught predict the human starting, stopping, going left or right.
From what I understand, opening this door allows the dog and human to build the communication and the relationship becomes two sided like a friendship. Who knows what dogs will teach us.
One of the first things I taught Seeley was the "you pick" command. At least once a day, I let her pick a treat. She knows as long as she has good manners, she chooses her walking path. I've taught her to look at me if she wants to cross the street, then I give her the 'cross' command when it's safe. This philosophy forces me to be present and not just go through the motions.
Here in South Italy some dogs are free, very competent and people take care of them... one of them started to follow a friend of mine... slept with him... and when someone complained about the dog pee or something, my friend said "he's not MY dog" which was true! Now they live together in another village, where the dog is free to go out on his own if he wants (he's a Corgie); he's seen a vet a couple of times in his life for emergency, he's been fighting with other dogs occasionally, but they have lived in peace in the same places after the "battles". That dog has had a life!
I’d like to think I have a “mutually beneficial” relationship with my dogs. We have strict rules for our dogs, so they ALWAYS know what is expected of them, but we try to always remember that each dog is different. We are also VERY consistent with our dogs.
I think 'yes' we should own dogs. But that is just a social agreement that we will care for the dog as we would for a family member. Thousands of years ago humans had a cooperative arrangement with dogs without the necessity of 'ownership'. Those early human benefited from taking care of the dogs that helped them hunt and survive. Today we don't need the dog for the same reasons as years ago but the cooperative companionship element still exists. Human laws say I own my dog but in reality my dog 'owns' me. 😂 Looking forward to the new channel.
Very well said. Agree 100%.
i put my "does my pet want to live with me" with a stray cat i found and cared for. I took him home and when he was better i opened the door and told him the line from lilo and stitch "you dont have to leave but if you want to you can...ill remember you though..." and he decided to walk back in and take a nap on the couch. this cat would sit outside with me and had many chances to leave but chose not to. my dog cries if he cant reach me in another room so i can only imagine how much of a wreck he would be if i turned him loose one day. I dont see myself as a pet owner or pet parent or whatever fancy terms people use just as someone who shares their life with pets and non pet animals.
I look forward to the new channel Stonnie! I’m not a philosopher but here’s my honest best try at your question.
I think owning dogs is probably a human problem caused by a human solution to a human problem.
“Ownership” is a nice easy catch all that confers responsibility of something to a person. It’s got a fairly clear definition with regards to the law, your neighbors, what have you.
But where does it end? I don’t know. One and one between you and your dog ownership I feel isn’t the right mentality. Probably more like a partnership or guardianship. Your job is to help a dependent learn the ways of the world and live a happy life in it.
Which is all easy to say when someone else’s way of working with their dog doesn’t cross my personal beliefs of what’s right. And then their ownership comes back up because if it’s actually property then what should it matter if they use a wrench as a hammer.
Long comment short I don’t know. Which I guess is the point.
Should we own dogs? Hard to say. We do though. So we’re sort of stuck doing the best we can.
This post is exactly why I'm subscribed to you. Also, my son won the Florida state wrestling at 126. I deal with these large breed dog owners in my neighborhood who never leave the yard. The 'owners' think they have guard dogs. 😂 You have a barker who I can get past easily.
All my dogs are rescues and have been forever. I'm 53. I love them, but we don't deserve them. And in a country that won't provide free dental, vision, or hearing care for children, I can't imagine we'll ever require much from dog owners. I wish it were different. I wish, frankly, none of us had dogs though they are the best gift. We just don't deserve them, and it sucks to tell that truth.
Ivan, there is no thing called Free Medical care, it's called Tax Payer supported health supported care. Nearly 40% of Americans don't pay Federal Income Taxes, when I mention this to my foreign friends they can't believe that this is true. I live in the high tax state of California, and we provide a significant safety net for those that can't afford care especially for children. I go to the community dentist that offers free dental care for those in need & a tiered payment system for those with lower income.
I AM MY DOGS PET HUMAN. 😎🎸
I feel the same! And I feel she sometimes gets annoyed with how difficult I've been to train 😂
TELL YOUR DOG NOT TO WORRY, YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD. HUMAN NEW TRICKS. 😎🎸
Yep! My girl has trained me well 😁❤️
😂😂😂 ❤❤❤❤
Great perspective Stonnie! Look forward to continuing with you AND the very good dogs🐶. I may or may not agree with every thing you say, going forward, but thus far I have learned so much by your channel and love that you respect every animal.
Bring it on!
Congrats for the new channel, sounds awesome!! I have lived with big dogs my entire life, then my last st. Bernard died and I spent 5 years without any dog. Then the sweetest poodle came to me by a kind of accident and now I have a cute Maltese. I think God has sent the dogs to me because they are lovely, and amazingly, they are so perfect for me. I mean I like dogs in general, but mine are better for me than I could ever imagine. I think we have to take care of them and learn our way to eternal life. PS: Lord Jesus Christ loves his creatures more than we do, and He lives eternally so in reality our dogs, are His dogs. God bless you and your family, thank you for your videos.
You are a wise man, one who poses a VERY important question to consider. Thank you.
Excited for the new channel! And I really don't mind controversial topics. I'm always interested to hear your thoughts. Can you share a link to your new channel?
OH BOY! 😅 I once had a Dr that told me in no uncertain terms should is a "bad" word and not to use it. He said we just "should all over ourselves" 🤷 when we use that word.
Such a complex subject! This is truly a frightening question - looking forward to seeing your summary! I can't imagine my life without dogs in it...
I imagine this subject will carry over to your new channel 😁 Congratulations! You will be rockin over there! 😉
New channel still hidden? I tried searching for it.
Anyways, the question you raised in this video is one I will have to think on for a while.. It brings up many follow up questions like:
Is it alright to 'own' a dog when you have a job outside of your home that you can't take your dog to?
Is it fair to put a leash on your dog? (meaning, is it alright to own a dog when you're not in a position to always have your dog off leash?), etc.
Great video Stonnie.
Yes Uncle Stonnie! Because we both reciprocate happiness and love! ❤
yeah! bring it on I look forward to your new channel - we have another chance to start a valuable conversation.
Cant find the 2nd Channel
I have a bouvier des flandres (Jack). He is an incredible animal. Smart, emotionally intelligent, brave, highly devoted and highly skilled. I haven't scratched the surface of what he is fully capable of or like you said, what he would want to do most of all. I just came upon your channel. As a grappler myself, a dog lover, and someone who thinks about this stuff, I am glad I found you.
Most reputable breeders or rescue organizations I know specifically use the term "adoption" vs. "purchase" to emphasize that one is taking on a special responsibility and partnership. Volunteering in rescue has made me think very deeply about the rights of dogs and the responsibility of humans. Puppies have no choice where they end up and from the same litter, one can end up in a wonderful family and another can end up outside in the rain getting only rancid kibble and dirty water. It is heartbreaking. People would accuse our organization of being too picky in our application selection and we were criticized for charging a $350 adoption fee. Many people said to me "There are so many homeless dogs, why isn't your organization making it much simpler and cheaper to get a dog?". My answer was always that most of our dogs had been dealt a bad hand in life with respect to where they ended up and the lack of care so all of us volunteers felt a very deep obligation to try to give them a wonderful home this time around. We had put a lot of time, nurture, love and money into rehabilitating them medically and emotionally and so we absolutely had a right to be as picky as we chose, acting on their behalf because they could not speak. Period.
My initial thoughts: Humans benefit greatly from responsibly sharing their homes and lives with canines. Working dogs in the field are indispensable.
Also, we shared a good part of our human evolution/development with them, ever since we tossed the wild canines those first few scraps from the hunt and allowed them to share our evening fire. Ownership of anything requires responsibility. Owning a living creature demands an even higher standard of responsibility. If you are a reader of the Bible, they are placed into our care to steward. The current trend of dogs as fashion accessories and certain breeders becoming mass producers who use breeding dogs solely to generate litters is counter to that belief.
Personally, wouldn't seeing the face of Bradley the Labrador every single day make anyone's life better? In return, wouldn't we want to give a dog like Bradley a good life. Goodness, that pooch's face.
I first got to know you Stonnie when I purchased a sweet Goldador puppy. I named her Chelsea. She was not only a gorgeous chocolate brown beauty, but was so tender and yet super smart and funny. I live in an urbanapartment complex in San Diego County and she was a true companion during COVID and a favorite with my neighbors ,especially the children. She was easy to train using some experience I have being a dog “owner” most of my life and using some of your techniques. Almost every morning I took her on wonderful adventures in an awesome canyon nearby me with an ever running creek , big trees, an abundance of friends and wildlife. She would get so muddy and being with her in that environment was some of the best days of my life. I laugh sometimes thinking about her dragging a BIG stick around or running down a hill into the water, splashing around and running back up that hill four or five times. Or just finding a puddle to roll in or a tiny bird or duck to be fascinated with. She also accompanied me to Target, Home Depot etc. … generally everywhere I went. Sad to say, she also got pretty big on a mostly raw food diet ( about 80 pounds) and in her later adolescent year would get a little goofy and very exuberant and with me being a senior lady knocked ( or pulled ) me down several times. Unfortunately, with me having osteoporosis the last time I got hurt pretty bad. Just before she was two I had to make the decision to find her a new home and seeing her go was one of the hardest days in my life. I hope and 🙏🏼 every day that it was the right decision. Should we “ own” dogs ? I’m also a semi retired preschool teacher and dogs are so much like those little people. It’s a HUGE responsibility. And they are sooo dependent on us to give them a good life. Great GREAT question Stonnie!
I’m so excited for the new channel!!
I believe that we take ownership of a dog upon acquiring it. We typically have a financial exchange to acquire the asset. However, as soon as that transaction has occurred, our obligation changes from ownership to stewardship. We are obligated to provide careful and responsible management and care to this wonderful creature that has been entrusted to us. What stewardship is manifests itself differently for different people.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on why you think most people decide to own dogs to begin with, the right and wrong reasons for dog ownership, etc. It seems like there's a pathology developing of people who decide to keep dogs around because it's easier to interact with dogs than it is to interact with people, and people are getting much worse at being able to interact with people. The infantilization of dogs and treating them like little babies, dressing them up and talking to them like children, etc... seems like something is off to me in the head of the culture. Looking forward to the new channel.
people who baby their dogs most likely do it because they want kids but cant afford them or just dont want them but still have an instinct to nurture something. for a lot of people its easier to deal with pets because dealing with people is very emotionally draining for some and some just arent people oriented people. there are also people who have mental disorders who find dealing with people to be very scary because they are not understood by them so they prefer animals. personally idc if someone wants to baby their dog or not. if the dog enjoys it then who am i to judge.
I am torn about pet ownership....my gut feeling after fostering a dog, owning a cat, and having fish and a reptile is that it is wrong. I feel that even reptiles are sentient, and all animals evolved to live in the natural environment have freedom to seek mates, food and have drives just like we do. As for dogs especially, even the ones that are well cared for, I wonder how many of them are bored, depressed etc due to lack of mental stimulation..becoming zombies just lying around the house for hours most of the time. House destruction is a good tell I suppose. Too many of them suffer maltreatment though that is for sure. People want to own things. We used to own slaves. So we are somehow geared toward it.
I do not think I will ever get a dog, as tempting as it is and I do love them, because I feel I could never fulfill it properly without my entire life revolving around the dog, because it is TOTALLY dependent on me. Unless it is a farm dog, or a stray, all dogs are utterly dependent on us, yet we have our human things we do which they cannot participate in....work, shopping, the internet, etc. We are humans not dogs. I would get bored with playing fetch day in and day out for 12 years. I am betting there are plenty of dog owners who do not think of this. A dog is basically like having a toddler.
Could you please post a link to the new channel? Thanks!
Looking forward to the new channel! I like having separate channels so if I just want to see dogs having fun and training, I can go there but if I'm interested in content that's more in depth, I can go to the other!
Bradley's such a goooood booooy! You da man, Stonnie!
This is the kind of mental twist I love to go deeper into. :P
The word 'owner' has always been puzzling to me. But understandably, we have a history of purchasing dogs, selecting and having control over who breeds with whom for our own benefit. Many dogs are still displayed in petshops for people to fall in love and pay to have them, and that will continuously be a thriving strategy... Dogs, cats, horses.... are still animals that we seek to purchase.
Now....getting pass the purchasing stage, it is now a matter of how we plan to raise and maintain this individual alive AND thriving.
Loads of people are not capable of raising, or their standards are so low, but lucky enough to have a very hearty and resilient individual that is being kept alive. Living miserably, but still alive. And unfortunately these are also the people that say that raising a dog is much easier.... when to my eyes, they are also failing to raise their dog.
Raising anyone (human or non-human animal) requires dedication, stamina, resources and support. But our world has been too conditioned to surrogate the raising to others.
Schools can teach many things to its students, but raising is still the parents (or in this case, dog owners) responsibility and duty.
I own my horse, and I've owned many dogs and horses. I may own a dog again.
They are not feral (horse) or wild/wolves or coyotes. They would not be able to survive if they were turned out into the wild. I do my best to make them 'good citizens', I take care of their needs or food, shelter, health care, love and companionship. In return they give me companionship, joy, and some of the dogs I've had have provided protection for me and my family from both animal and human threats.
I think we strike a good balance. And yes, we can/should own animals, except for those who neglect or abuse them.
Who gets to define neglect and abuse?
Any kind hearted person knows the difference.
@@srflow2 I disagree. I know way too many people that believe they are kind, and their actions don't translate the same way. They can't tell the difference. So how to define kindness, too? How much kindness blends with neglect and indulgence?
Uhm, I live in Reno and we have wild horses. There was horse poop in my neighborhood this morning.
@@StonnieDennisEXACTLY! A small example, I can't stand, listening to classical music for more than 10 minutes. If you put me in a room for eight hours and made me listen to classical music the whole time, it would feel like slow torture. Whereas I have a friend who could sit in that room and listen to classical music all day and love every second of it. Sometimes, there is a fine line and it can be quite individual. (Of course, I'm not talking about outright abuse and cruelty that the average person would agree to it obviously being wrong).
A relationship based primarily on friendship. They touch our lives with qualities that we humans don't have. Like SAR dogs. My goal is to train an accredited SAR dog and to share my experience with new generations. I learn a lot from your channel. thanks for your presence🙏
Let’s go stonie!! When I was at college I’d see all these larger dogs that are looking like they are trapped in little dorm room. I’d think of my labs back home and how much they get to roam living on a farm. That’s a big difference to me. Also how about them basketball Cats, hope in pope.
I had these questions recently. Many people in the suburban area where i live just walk their dog a few times a day around the neighborhood on a short leash and that's it. Then they get to live indoor with their human(s). I don't think many dog owners play with their dogs that much for example. Are the dogs happy? Or is it a recipe for reactivity and frustration? I don't know. Recently there was an enforcement of a rule in this suburban area that all dogs must be leashed. And it really promotes the lifestyle i mentioned. Where the well trained, obedient dogs that are calm, polite and respectful will be impacted negatively. People are afraid of dogs, because unfortunately there are dog owners who dont take responsibility. So most older women cheered when they announced this rule.... I just feel sorry for the dogs.
YES! We should own dogs.
I quit training other people's dogs because of social media. The misinformation is too much to overcome. Rescue rehabilitation and rehoming is my goal now
with so much talk these days about microbiome health I have started to think about my animals as my macro biome. you hear about farmer's kids never getting asthma etc. Do I own my microbiome? do I own my body? or is it just the water in which this little fish swims?
Well, I think if we didn't own dogs they would go extinct. It's like asking whether we should eat beef. If we didn't eat beef, there would be no beef cows. For some people, they would be OK with that. No domesticated animal has the same life as a wild animal but which is better? Life is not a picnic for wild animals. Most wild horses only live 9-10 years and wolves around 5 years. Good question to get lots of different answers.
No, they wouldn't go extinct, sorry. Still today over 50% of all dogs worldwide are wild dogs with no owners. (this includes all those dogs living in cities, it's not only i"n the wild"). This being said, you're right, life indeed is not a picnic for wild dogs. Most of them only live for 5 years, compared to let's say 10 years for dogs with an owner.
But indeed: which is better? it's a fair question: a better, safer life with us but with all the restraints coming with that or a fully free but harsher and shorter life in the wild...
Some people shouldn't that is a 100% sure answer
The answer I guess (for the miniscule few who might ask) depends on your base beliefs. You often hear" should we have children" with many couples opting not to have kids these days.
The short response is that, if we choose to have a dog, we should aim to give it the best life possible that is congruent with our realistic circumstances.
I know how much I love my dogs and try to make their lives as good as I can. They couldn't survive on their own, and I don't want to survive without them.
Of course we should own more than one dog. However a dog isn’t a wrench or hammer. A living thing that gives and deserves affection and protection. The problem is we humans are less responsible than others. Leash and clean after your dog humans. It
is the law!
Drop a link in the description ❤
It seems to me that dogs, as domesticated animals, do best with good owners. I don't think they are suited to being wild although I am certain some breeds would adapt. However, I don't view them as "property" either. They are, as you say Stonnie, sentient beings with emotions and, I believe, souls. As owners, we are responsible for their health, care, and environment-- healthy exercise, affection, emotional security, etc. That means that sacrifices must be made to see that their needs are met and they are genuinely loved. Training so they know their "job" and exercise so they can feel fulfilled is key. With rights, come responsibilities. What are the limitations? Abuse, which should be clearly defined so everyone understands what that means. Dogs should always have water, food, shelter, vet care, exercise, and socialization necessary for their daily needs and performance expectations-- and never be beaten. I have seen, all too often, people tie up a dog/puppy in their backyard and just leave it there. They don't know how to house train the pup, to teach it to be a good member of the family, etc. I don't think these are always uncaring people-- I have seen it with otherwise well meaning folks. They just don't know what to do. When should law enforcement be involved? I do agree with basic licensing and vaccinations, etc. I wish there were a larger culture for puppy classes and basic obedience classes (where the owners are taught what to do-- it's really people training). I wish such opportunities were widely available at a minimal cost-- at least for the basics as I think more people would engage in them. I don't believe that training tools should ever be banned (pulse collars, etc.). It's not the tool that is the problem, it's how it's used. Professional "balanced" trainers know how to do it correctly. Again, it's the untrained that use such tools in a harmful manner. I cannot imagine life without my cats and dogs. Right now I have a 12 week old Rough Collie puppy-- and she's a handful! But patience and consistency will get us there. :) It's just common sense. Thanks for all your great videos.
Interesting thoughts. I have known only one dog for about one year and these questions have been so pressing for me. There was a time not so long ago when we had ideas of ownership over other human beings just because of the colour of their skin. Yet here we have a completely different species,sentient being with desires such as our own. Maybe we will be able to stretch our minds and think of dogs in a fairer and more conscious way in the same way as we have changed our minds about our fellow human beings. Can a day come when maybe we can replace the idea of Shylock,The Merchant of Venice with a dog? Imagine Shylock’s great monologue issuing from the mind of a dog. What an enormous intellectual evolutionary stride forward.
Peace On Earth Goodwill to you and your family Uncle Stonnie!
I think of it as a partnership. I adopted a large mixed breed when he was 13 months old. I could not "make" him do anything because of his size. It took time for each of us to learn how the other communicates and what each of us values for us to have a successful partnership. It takes time but it's been worth it
The relationship between humans and dogs, as with other domestic animals, is basically utilitarian. Dogs protect, herd, are service dogs or pets. In many countries, strays or other 'useless' dogs are denied the right to even exist and are systematically killed - like most recently in Turkey. I think we owe respect to all our domestic animals and ought to fulfill their specific needs for food, shelter and exercise - even of those who are less lucky than dogs and cats and whose ultimate task is to feed us with their meat. Yes, we should own dogs, but we should also be ready to take responsibility for them (or any other animal we might own).
I feel that huskies and the way they were traditionally kept was a good balance.
Dogs are more like children, part of the family and you`re responsible for them.
On the topic of online bickering, I don't know if you're aware of how much of that is actually AI bot traffic. I don't know who or why these things exist but apparently a lot of online hateful comments are just chat bots that are trying to 'get your goat' and they work way too well.
I have been around dogs (Labs mainly) my whole life. We bred AKC registered labs and my uncle has been training labs since 1985. I have hunted with labs and am a sucker for Black Lab, I have a 8 week old now. These are great questions and not super easy to answer. I would say we should own dogs IF we are taking full responsibility for the training and quality of life of that dog. My dogs are my best friends, we go swimming, hiking, hunting, sled riding etc. If they are on a chain or in a cage most of their life, maybe that person should not own a dog.
Stonnie I love your channel so much. I cannot imagine my life without having dogs and cats. My favorite part of the day is when my husband and I walk our property as the sun is setting and we have our 3 dogs and two cats go with us. It's just an evening stroll checking the fence to make sure nothing was damaged. We live in the country in Virginia. I just can't imagine not having pets in my life. I do think it's a privilege and responsibility as well as a right. Great question!
I have been going through your videos and I have a question I haven't seen answered yet. Do you agree with the modern philosphy of never punishing a growl? I mean for something like an owner looking in a dog's ear or a child petting the dog. Not the dog growling at a stranger. This is a family member. Older dog training concepts said that growling at a stranger is acceptible but a dog growling at a family member was not. Now trainers say if a dog growls at a family member, to never punish it because the dog will learn not to growl and give warning, but to go straight into a bite. This is popular among newer, force free training philosophies.
Do you agree with this? I totally trust your method of training so I'd very much value your input!
Millennia of co-evolution. Dogs chose us and we chose them. That’s not to say all dog owners deserve to be dog owners though. It takes a lot of time, resources, and love to meet their needs. That said, Victorian era dog breeding probably did get just a bit out of hand…
Doing something for a long time does not answer the question of “should or should not”. We domesticated dogs to the point of dependence, yet we could live just fine without them.
Super excited about the new channel Stonnie! Especially politics - I’m always looking for new ideas on how to approach common human fears & desires, and I suspect you have some awesome ideas that I haven’t encountered before.
Would you add a link to your new channel?
I like the new items for the pups to navigate!
today's dogs become family...... much different than even a few decades ago. We take them in and they either fit in, rule the roost or live a life of quiet desperation behind a fence. It is a big responsibility if one chooses to accept it, the rewards can be more than dreamed of - or not so much if we don't take the time & love to train them to fit in. Maybe some people should own dogs, and others not....
Stonnie asking the deep questions. I love it
Yes. We should own dogs. What else would we do with them? Turn them loose to fend for themselves?
Let them make their own choices…
Great topic. Just awesome. In reality I don’t look at my dog like I own her. But in reality that’s the arrangement. But I told her when she was a puppy that we could learn from each other. I specifically ask her to show me how to live in the moment. Dogs are experts at that. In return I promise to give her the most exciting life I could with excellent care. 15 degrees we are out. 95 degrees same. Rain snow sleet. If I’m sick. To bad. We go. Maybe it’s still ownership but the universe would have to show me another way.
Stonnie just gets life.
Love it! I am looking forward to your new channel. ❤
Should we be allowed to freely breed dogs the way we do? Its seems like their is an over abundance of dogs being breed into the world while there is a shortage of vets to care for them. This along with being one of the most difficult countries to become a vet in is why I believe vet care is so expensive
And pedigree dogs with huge temperamental problems and physical deformities
Love the lexus back there (and your channel, being a 1 year old lab parent). Got a GX myself.
Is there a link to the new channel yet?
No content yet, I’ll get that to you next week!
My dog could have been a work dog, been kept in a cage all day then let out after dark to secure a lot, but he's alot happier being treated as a little boy lol. Yes we should own dogs. The problem is people typically don't or can't dedicate the time to raising a dog right. Most dogs are neglected in my opinion. But, what do I know? I've only had well trained happy animals all my life.
I think the question should be phrased a bit different. A better question is if you should pay someone to breed a new dog just for you when there are millions of homeless dogs in shelters. Why are we breeding so many more dogs when there are so many that are waiting for a loving home?
There are so many sweet dogs with good temperaments that are lonely and locked up in a kennel right now waiting for someone to love. If you don't look, how do you know that none of them are the perfect dog for you?
That’s a different question…
@@StonnieDennis - well it's related. When you buy a dog, you are paying for a new dog to be bred and you have to ask if you are providing the dog with a good enough life for it to be a worth you purposely bringing them into this world. When you adopt, the dog is already alive. You just have to ask if their life in your home is better than being stuck in a shelter kennel or being euthanized
Yes we absolutely should own dogs. They are fabulous creatures. As long as we take good care of them. If you dont want the responsibility, ie the walking, feeding playing, going to the vets etc, dont get one.
I have a relationship with my dogs. I am a custodian who ensures they stay safe and healthy. In exchange, they provide protection, comfort and joy to me and my family. I try to appreciate their nature and working tendencies to give them opportunities for satisfaction even when inconvenient for me (walking in the rain, buying fetch toys, offering adequate safe free range). I love them more than most things in life- most days I believe they love me too.
Nce thought Stonnie.
And here I am thinking I am a kind of a Samaritan for adopting a "dump-puppy" from the South of Italy.
I reckon having dogs is one of the oldest relationships between humans and animals so at least we're in ood company there.
Doesn't mean that you can treat your dog like any other property.
I suppose that's where humans stand out from from human animals.
Greetings from the Netherlands
Stonnie - can we get a link to the new channel?
I HATE the word "own"!!! I do not own my dog any more than I own my son! I rear my Doberman, Guinness. I love him; I put him before myself. If I can't afford something this month for myself, I still make sure he gets the best food for him, the best toys and treats. I am lucky to have him. A dog is a sentient being: He thinks, he feels, he has emotions. You know when he's sad, happy, scared, etc., no different than a mute child. The laws need to change to reflect this, and they should protect them and be as strict as they are for a child! You beat them, starve them, do any bodily harm to them, you should go to prison for years, not just get a fine or warning, and, you should not be allowed to have a pet again for the rest of your life, not this, "You can't 'own' a dog for five years" bullshit!!!! I have raise dogs all my life, and I've raised and trained five Dobermans and trained many large-breed dogs. Even back in the days when aggressive training was the norm, I did not believe in it. I trained dogs the way I wanted to be taught as a child, with love, understanding and respect. You give that to a dog, you get it back. Do I want my dog to be perfect? No! I want him to be a dog. Yes, they were (and are) all obedient and followed my instructions, but they did it out of repetition, kindness and understanding on my part, and wanting to please me. Their lives are so short, why not make it the best life they can have?
Does your dog have the right to leave?
@@StonnieDennis You know, it's one thing to speak and say something stupid before you think, but to write before you think is just asinine!! Does your 2-years old child have a right to leave, stupid??!! That's what you call a homeless dog, and that's what we dog lovers are trying to prevent. Use your brain!!! Besides, my dog would never leave, being a velcro dog, he loves being with me at all times, and no, he does not have separation anxiety; I leave him alone occasionally to ride my bike, and though he whines a touch, he calms immediately, and I watch and give him treats via our Furbo, and he just rests on our couch until my wife or I return. I never trained him to be off-leash, but he always turns and looks to see if I approve and returns to me whenever I call. End of conversation with you. I've wasted enough time on one whose brain is utilized in such a limited fashion.
At the same time does the dog know what’s out there waiting if it did? Would it understand the notion of the red or blue pill as per the matrix?
What exact type of lab is this? It's really attractive. I want him.
Hi, just ran into your channel. I was looking for advice on working with our Great Pyrenees that we “rescued” from someone at the farmers market. He is 1 year old this month and we are finding that the desire to roam is just an innate issue that we are going to need to work with. Would love your advice….he is not fixed (and I don’t want to neuter him) and we are replacing old welded wire fencing with cattle panel on most sides of our 7 acres.