Comments on: Make Allowances for Others – Good for the Dog; Good for You

By: Lauranne

Lauranne — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:53:48 +0000

Very true.

By: Jessica @YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner

Jessica @YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 19:41:58 +0000

Hmmm…I would be interested to see the video of Honey and Ginny playing. Gretel “boops” Chester on the shoulder (or perhaps the side of the head….I can’t tell) when she wants to play. I have never seen this behavior before so I worry sometimes that she is being a bully…not merely playing.

By: Dogs N Pawz

Dogs N Pawz — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 02:30:01 +0000

Great post. I certainly don’t understand why some people do what they do with their pets but then again, I feel like it isn’t any of my business unless they are abusing their pet. We are all different and have different beliefs but that doesn’t make it okay for me to criticize somebody because they do things differently than me! With that being said, I hope you have a happy New Year!

By: BJ Pup

BJ Pup — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 04:57:06 +0000

I definitely make more allowances for BJ. Let’s face it, he may be my four legged child, but he’s still a pup.

By: Margaret T

Margaret T — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:33:07 +0000

When I assessed a dog in a home for people who were giving her up because they could no longer afford their beloved girl–they had lost their house, and life was very tough for them right then, and the dog needed some expensive dental work–I know she had encountered people who had judged her by the way she kept apologizing and assuring me that the dog was good, that wasn’t the reason they were giving her up. I told her I was not there to judge her, that I knew she was trying to do what was best for the dog, and she nearly cried. That woman will look at our rescue in a much more positive way than she would have if I had given her the “I would NEVER give my dog up” attitude. I’m old enough to know that we should never say never.
And I have never been able to figure out how someone who believes in positive reinforcement can be so negative to human beings and expect anything good to come of it.
Not that I’m perfect in that respect. To the woman who claimed she knew how to take care of dogs, but hadn’t taken her golden retriever with such bad allergies that he was nearly bald to the vet for three years, who expected her teen-aged son to take the dog out in public for walks, I’d have cheerfully given my thoughts, except I needed to get the dog out of there, and that was more important.

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:53:51 +0000

I know I don’t make enough allowances for people, although I have been trying to be more conscious of it. For example, I used to be very judgmental of other peoples’ dog training methods and the like, but I’ve come to realize, as long as they are not abusing their dogs, there are much more important things to speak out for when it comes to do welfare…

Although I personally won’t use them on my dogs, a collar correction or ear pinch on a dog that is otherwise loved and cared for is NOTHING compared to how some dogs are treated, ones that are living chained in yards or rarely getting fed, or living in a puppy mill, pumping out puppies….

Okay, I guess I’m still judgmental – LOL! – but I’m trying to choose my battles more wisely.
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By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 21:06:03 +0000

I love your post and everyone’s response so far. I think most of the dog bloggers I follow try to give allowances. It is forums, FB, G+, and other group interaction sites where I see the most negativity and verbal attacks.

I can’t wait to see that video of Honey and Ginny playing. That photo of them at the top of your post is absolutely adorable!

By: Christina Berry

Christina Berry — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 17:15:21 +0000

I think you’re right. We animal advocates are very compassionate, and we’d do anything for a pet in need. But all too often, we think WE’RE right and everyone else is wrong, and we don’t hesitate to say so. I think we’d do well to realize that in many instances, there’s not one singular right way to do something – there are many ways to get a job done, and just because your way is different from mine, that doesn’t mean yours is wrong.

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

By: Roxy the traveling dog

Roxy the traveling dog — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 14:43:19 +0000

I think people in general need to make allowances for other people. Everyone can be so judgmental, and it wold be better to just pick up the poop and move on.

By: slimdoggy

slimdoggy — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 14:27:07 +0000

I think you are 100% correct. Having only been plugged into this online community for roughly a year, I’ve been surprised at the passion I find, but also the criticality that sometimes, well frequently oozes out over certain hot topics (training methods, rescue methods, etc.). We would all be well-served to adopt our dogs live and let live philosophy.