Can attachment to a dog become a disorder?

[Anonymous]

Life priorities are always evolving. I traveled a lot in my youth but now I'm over that. My dog brings me joy every single day. I would much rather take my dog on a hike through the park than travel or go to a crowded bar. Just because your priorities no longer align with your friend doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your friend. If you were living all alone with no family and you had a dog giving you unconditional love, you may act the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life priorities are always evolving. I traveled a lot in my youth but now I'm over that. My dog brings me joy every single day. I would much rather take my dog on a hike through the park than travel or go to a crowded bar. Just because your priorities no longer align with your friend doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your friend. If you were living all alone with no family and you had a dog giving you unconditional love, you may act the same way.

+100. So this. Absolutely. OP sounds very narrow minded.
OP the only "disorder" is your disordered thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They probably both have anxiety and are locked in an unhealthy companionship. Very sad to see.

Sure sad

Nothing in the OPs post, once you strip it of OP's bias, speakers of anxiety. I know lots of people who are really obsessed about different things (sports, entertainment, Disney, NASCAR, etc.) I never question their mental fitness. Some people deep dive into certain things. Makes life interesting.

Yes but do those obsessions lead them to being unable to grocery shopping or to the doctor?

Op never said this.

And grocery shopping? Who needs to enter a store anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life priorities are always evolving. I traveled a lot in my youth but now I'm over that. My dog brings me joy every single day. I would much rather take my dog on a hike through the park than travel or go to a crowded bar. Just because your priorities no longer align with your friend doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your friend. If you were living all alone with no family and you had a dog giving you unconditional love, you may act the same way.

Are people reading the details here? Her friend literally can't go to the grocery store or leave the house for 15 minutes. This is not just someone who loves their dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They probably both have anxiety and are locked in an unhealthy companionship. Very sad to see.

Sure sad

Nothing in the OPs post, once you strip it of OP's bias, speakers of anxiety. I know lots of people who are really obsessed about different things (sports, entertainment, Disney, NASCAR, etc.) I never question their mental fitness. Some people deep dive into certain things. Makes life interesting.

Yes but do those obsessions lead them to being unable to grocery shopping or to the doctor?

Op never said this.

And grocery shopping? Who needs to enter a store anymore?

She won't go anywhere without the dog. Does your doctor or dentist allow dogs?

People are twisting themselves in knots here to go "but I love doggies". This is clearly a picture of someone with a severe anxiety issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life priorities are always evolving. I traveled a lot in my youth but now I'm over that. My dog brings me joy every single day. I would much rather take my dog on a hike through the park than travel or go to a crowded bar. Just because your priorities no longer align with your friend doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your friend. If you were living all alone with no family and you had a dog giving you unconditional love, you may act the same way.

Woof !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people develop hyper-dependency on other living things, like dogs. It’s not healthy.

Grrrr !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people develop hyper-dependency on other living things, like dogs. It’s not healthy.

Why not?

I mean, to be blunt, dogs die. I've loved every dog I've ever had but let's get real, I'm in my 30s and have had 5 beloved dogs die, all of natural causes. The oldest was 17, the youngest had to be put down at just 3 from a tumor in her stomach.

Making something that has a significantly shorter lifespan than you your whole world isn't healthy for mist of us, even getting a brand new.puppy, we know we're also seeing that animal to the end of its life.

We loved our dog probably obsessively. He passed away a few years ago. We have no regrets. Really our dog outlived my brother. No one is guaranteed time on earth. It was an honor and blessing to having his loving presence with us.

Woof !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They probably both have anxiety and are locked in an unhealthy companionship. Very sad to see.

Sure sad

Nothing in the OPs post, once you strip it of OP's bias, speakers of anxiety. I know lots of people who are really obsessed about different things (sports, entertainment, Disney, NASCAR, etc.) I never question their mental fitness. Some people deep dive into certain things. Makes life interesting.

Yes but do those obsessions lead them to being unable to grocery shopping or to the doctor?

Op never said this.

And grocery shopping? Who needs to enter a store anymore?

She won't go anywhere without the dog. Does your doctor or dentist allow dogs?

People are twisting themselves in knots here to go "but I love doggies". This is clearly a picture of someone with a severe anxiety issue.

Are you OP or are you guessing what these people are doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life priorities are always evolving. I traveled a lot in my youth but now I'm over that. My dog brings me joy every single day. I would much rather take my dog on a hike through the park than travel or go to a crowded bar. Just because your priorities no longer align with your friend doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your friend. If you were living all alone with no family and you had a dog giving you unconditional love, you may act the same way.

You just described me (a DP) and I love you for it.

I'm a single woman in my 40s who spends way too much time with my dog and I know people judge me for it. The people who judge me all of robust family lives full of multiple kids and all I can feel toward them is a giant f**k you for begrudging me something that brings me joy and fulfillment. Would it have been nice to have a life where I came home every night to a house full of kids and a husband? Sure, but my life didn't work out that way. Instead of being a lonely, bitter misanthrope, I have found happiness with my dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They probably both have anxiety and are locked in an unhealthy companionship. Very sad to see.

OP's friend is GIVING her dog anxiety with this kind of behavior. Dogs are like kids in this respect. They pick up on the vibe of the household.

[Anonymous]

I wish county health departments would send officers to grocery stores and fine them for letting people bring their dogs in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They probably both have anxiety and are locked in an unhealthy companionship. Very sad to see.

OP's friend is GIVING her dog anxiety with this kind of behavior. Dogs are like kids in this respect. They pick up on the vibe of the household.

Yep, she's making her dog anxious by not setting boundaries. The using that anxiety as cover for her own. Vicious cycle.

As a friend is there anything you can do? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

When the dependency on the dog interferes with daily functioning and human interaction, there’s a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect your friend has untreated anxiety and is using the dog to cover it. Not being able to leave your dog to be able to go to the store is really unhealthy.

+1. I had an aunt with OCD and anxiety disorder. She adored dogs but never got one for herself because she was too worried she wouldn’t be able to fully take care of it or something would happen to it. She eventually moved in with us and obsessively spoiled our dog. He loved her but he gained about 30 pounds hecause she would hand feed him constantly because she was so worried he wasn’t eating enough. She would bring the water over to him to drink because she was worried he was thirsty. Etc.

My spouse also has social anxiety and I think he often has used the dog as an excuse to avoid social interactions — can’t go because of dog, has to leave because of dog, etc. its also part of his rigid thinking that relates to the anxiety — of dog eats at 5, someone must be home wt 5 to feed dog, or it’s cruel to dog. Etc.

My view is that any interest that substantially interferes with other aspects of your life or limits your ability to engage in regular daily activities is problematic — whether that’s an exercise addiction, sex addiction, or dog obsession.