Why do people who live in small apartments, work and travel a lot, get dogs?

[Anonymous]

Impulse purchase

[Anonymous]

my dog is litter box trained and needs minimal exercise. She goes to daycare a couple times a month and if im going to work a long day I can usually bring her with me or go home for an hour or two.

[Anonymous]

I live in a 64-unit building. All but a few people have dogs and/or cats. I have 2 large dogs and one cat. We are across the street from a park. Many people work from home, and our on-leash dogs socialize as we do at the park at different points in the day. There are also 2 dog parks and Rock Creek trails within short walking distance. Most dogs are shelter rescues, and many people also foster dogs since it is a great environment for providing socialization. Dogs provide fun & companionship, require that we exercise daily, and are great for teaching responsibilities to children. There is also a very steady and healthy income for the pair of dogwalkers that service our building!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Yep this. At least you can leave a dog at home alone. Young children need a sitter/caregiver every second you need to be away.

Children over time become more and more independent. Not true with dogs or any pet. There will never be a time when the dog can get its own food or take itself for a walk.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Yep this. At least you can leave a dog at home alone. Young children need a sitter/caregiver every second you need to be away.

Children over time become more and more independent. Not true with dogs or any pet. There will never be a time when the dog can get its own food or take itself for a walk.

Inn the time it takes a child to become independent, a dog becomes dead (unfortunately).So if you're done with the responsibilities of pet ownership, there it is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

A big difference is that kids become more independent over time.

[Anonymous]

Dog parenting is easier than human parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other people can afford dog walkers, sitters and boarding and you can’t, OP.

OP here. I can afford it, but it seems like a lot of money to spend in order to NOT spend time with your dog. It's different to me than people who have kids and then put them in daycare and send them to school -- most people do not have kids "for companionship". They do it because they want to raise kids, and part of that is getting them good care and an education.

But the main reason people get pets is for companionship. It seems odd to me to get a very high maintenance pet when you are going to be away from them for long periods of time often. I'm sure the dogs to fine with the dog walkers and sitters (and may even enjoy them), but it seems like an odd choice from the perspective of the human.

It seems like all the burden of having a pet with more minimal enjoyment because you are working/out/traveling so much. The main reason I don't have a dog is that I would not want to ever have to choose between my dog and going out to dinner or taking a last minute weekend trip, but I know people with dogs often have to do this because they will say to me "oh I'd love to do that but I have to worry about the dog."

Be honest. You don't REALLY want a dog. People who desire children or desire pets will get them no matter what the sacrifices. The hours of companionship are worth it to them. Don't forget the nights - they count.
You seem like a very self-centered individual who has no particular motivation to place other living beings' interests above your own. And that's FINE. Just own your personality and don't ever get a pet or kids with that mindset!

OP, your neighbor found the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Yep this. At least you can leave a dog at home alone. Young children need a sitter/caregiver every second you need to be away.

Children over time become more and more independent. Not true with dogs or any pet. There will never be a time when the dog can get its own food or take itself for a walk.

+1

Yep this. Dogs and children are not the same. I am more than happy to skip out on going to dinner to hang out with my kid. Skipping social events because I need to race home so my dog won’t tear up my house. Nope.

[Anonymous]

We have a huge house and my dog rarely leaves the family room/kitchen. I think he’d be fine in an apartment. And he’s a big receiver. He sleeps like 20 hours a day and we walk him about 4-5 miles a day. He does like our backyard but if we lived in an apartment I’m sure he wouldn’t know hat he was missing.

[Anonymous]

Most dogs don’t randomly have to pee during your conference call. They go a couple times of day, can hold for a long time/ unless sick or old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most dogs don’t randomly have to pee during your conference call. They go a couple times of day, can hold for a long time/ unless sick or old.

The question was posed by someone who has not had, doesn't like, and doesn't know anything about dogs. Then the conversation devolved into some other haters talking about kids.

I don't see any responses at all to the PPs who actually answered the OP.

[Anonymous]

So don’t get a dog OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So don’t get a dog OP.

But OP will still have to live in a world where other people have other priorities and make different choices. OP needs them to see how wrong they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Yep this. At least you can leave a dog at home alone. Young children need a sitter/caregiver every second you need to be away.

Children over time become more and more independent. Not true with dogs or any pet. There will never be a time when the dog can get its own food or take itself for a walk.

Inn the time it takes a child to become independent, a dog becomes dead (unfortunately).So if you're done with the responsibilities of pet ownership, there it is

The dog is there to fulfill an emotional need in the owner, and then the dog dies and the owner gets another puppy (or two).