Why do people bother?

My brother was telling me about someone who bought a puppy from the same litter that they got theirs from (don't get me started on THAT story...).  Anyhow, they returned the puppy three days later.  Apparently they had recently gotten new carpeting and, wouldn't you know, the puppy PEED on the new carpets!  The nerve of that puppy!  It should have known better.

KarissaKS

My brother was telling me about someone who bought a puppy from the same litter that they got theirs from (don't get me started on THAT story...).  Anyhow, they returned the puppy three days later.  Apparently they had recently gotten new carpeting and, wouldn't you know, the puppy PEED on the new carpets!  The nerve of that puppy!  It should have known better.

How about this one.  A friend of mine has Bassets that she shows.  About 11-12 years ago she bred a litter.  One of her pups came back within a few hours of being picked up by the new owners because it chased the cat. 

I wonder that, too.  There are so many people in my neighborhood who keep their dogs outside 24-7.  What exactly do they get out of owning a dog that they never come into contact with, except for when its time to feed them?  I don't get it.  Harry's like my kid.  When I'm at work I miss him.  When I went out of town this past weekend I missed him and couldn't wait to get home to see him.  Sure there are times when we all need a break, but my goodness, why have a dog that you never spend time with??

Yup people are nuts.  Just yesterday I was working with a wonderful dog at the shelter where I work.  "Cream Puff" is 6 months old, but she walks decently on lead, she doesn't jump up or mouth, and she offers sits and downs often.  She was adopted a while ago and returned because she was too active, but she's just a normal adolescent (if anything more laidback than most). 

So I was sitting in the lobby with Cream Puff when a family walks in.  I mention she's available for adoption and the mom responds, "oh she's too hyper" - Cream Puff was sitting nicely at my feet for pete's sake!  The kicker?  The woman then asked our front desk staff where the puppies were!!

I don't get it either. I think people are under the impression they are going to adopt a perfectly well trained dog and not have to put any work into training and when it doesn't end up that way they give up almost immediately and dog goes back to shelter or wherever it came from.  Then there's myself, who thinks long and hard before adding another to the family. Teddi was a thought out process of about 2 months prior.

I often think "why did he bother?" about my uncle's dog.  He has a field bred hunting labrador that he uses for hunting.  He used to be a DNR officer and took his other dogs in the woods with him on patrol, not this one though since he retired when she was a pup.  He spends a good deal of money on a proper working dog, spends tons on hunting equipment, a proper dog box for her to ride in his Jeep, etc, but when it comes to her BASIC training....nothing.  The dog has NO manners and is less than 50% reliable even with her basic commands like sit, stay, come.  She is out of control, basically now a 70lb puppy because he never set any boundaries.  So she jumps on people, mouths and nips very hard b/c she is so big, and charges at other dogs.  Why spend all that time and money on the hunting aspect when all it would take is 15 minutes a day working on basic manners to get the dog under control?  I know she is capable of being a somewhat normal dog b/c my brother took care of her for 5 months and my mom said she was a totally different dog (and my brother barely has a clue about dog training himself).

Here is a story that made me mad:

We get to know the others at the dog park, chatting dog stuff and all.  This younger guy started coming with a beatiful chocolate lab puppy and obviously was training it quite well.  Chocolates are not rare but not as plentiful as yellow or black labs around here.

The other day DH came home from the park and said this guy, "Bailey's Dad", has a new black lab puppy.  I said "Wow, he's going to have his hands full with two lab puppies" to which DH said "Apparently, he sold Bailey".  I was surprised and DH went on to say that this guy said that he'll sell anything for the right price!

I can't imagine selling one of my dogs for any amount!

VanMorrison

 I was surprised and DH went on to say that this guy said that he'll sell anything for the right price!

I can't imagine selling one of my dogs for any amount!

And I can't imagine I'd ever BUY a dog from someone that would just sell their pet for a named price.

     Oh, I've got one stupid owner story to beat them all!!!

     About 30 years ago, my great uncle's wife took a pup from a neighbor's litter. Of course, was relegated outside. About 5-6 years later, my uncle was divorcing his wife, and neither could take the dog, so another relative offered to take the dog. When he was asking questions about the dog to the uncle's ex wife, he discovered that neither my uncle nor the ex knew the sex of the dog

     While it doesn't compare to the above story, I get calls all the time from people who either want to leave an 8 week old pup alone 5+ days a week for 8+ hrs a day (and in a crate all that time, no less) and will justify this time alone by telling me they have another dog. Or, I get people who insist they want a Beagle pup that will basically jsut sit there and blend in with the firniture. My favorites are the ones that insist their "nannies" will be home with the pup. I ask them if they are getting the pup for themselves or the hired help. I have actually recieved several of these types of phone calls, one lady w/o a fenced in yard (and the nanny) went so far as to suggest she'd keep the pup in the basement so he wouldn't run away or bother the help. No, really. Fricken incredable ...