Jon & Kate Plus 8

 I know what you mean about Kate. She is a confessed control freak and hates mess. With 2 girls and 6 toddlers I think she is what keeps the family functioning because of her personality. As for the dogs I thought they were CRAZY to even consider adding two puppies into such a chaotic situation. I don't know where she got the dog but I don't know any responsible breeder that would place a pup, let alone 2 in a house like that.
 

I don't care for Kate either.  She tends to be a control freak, & I don't care for the way that she treats Jon.  That being said, what we see on tv is only a smidgen of their real lives, so she may be totally different in real life.

I have no issue in aquiring a dog from a breeder.  I do question their breeder for selling them littermates though.

BEVOLASVEGAS

I have no issue in aquiring a dog from a breeder.  I do question their breeder for selling them littermates though.

Ditto.  I question the choice based on a LOT more than that.  They could have done their research and chosen a reputable breeder, that would have been a good lesson for America as well.

Liesje

They could have done their research and chosen a reputable breeder, that would have been a good lesson for America as well.

I agree.

I have no problems at all with anyone who has done their research, chosen an appropriate breed for them and their lifestyle, and buying from a reputable, ethical breeder.

ETA: My Mom, who watches the show avidly, has said I remind her of Kate...when DH and I watched it he said the same....hmmm....lol....what does that say? LOL! I am on b!tchy side and the neat freak side.

Everyone knows I don't watch TV ... but all the kerfuffle over this "family" has just made me stand and shake my head. 

"Reality TV" -- I honestly just can NOT believe that people BELIEVE this stuff.  this may be a "real" legal family but these folks are **on television** for crying out loud.  They're exposing their lives to manufacture "entertainment".  You hear people talking like "Oh, Kate's a bit controlling but I don't think she'd do THAT ...." or whatever -- like ya think just *maybe* they do some of this stuff for EFFECT?? 

I"m not trying to be nasty -- I just ... *sigh* One could have called Ozzie and Harriet Nelson the first "reality TV" .... but it was all very carefully scripted (even their private lives in many ways) ... dare I say there's nothing new under the sun???

Liesje

BEVOLASVEGAS

I have no issue in aquiring a dog from a breeder.  I do question their breeder for selling them littermates though.

 

Ditto.  I question the choice based on a LOT more than that.  They could have done their research and chosen a reputable breeder, that would have been a good lesson for America as well.

I don't see anything wrong with getting litter mates. We adopt out litter mates though the shelter, when ever we can. Keeping them togeather seems to do more good than not. As long as they are spayed and neutered. Thats the most important thing.

I find it irresponsible for breeders or rescue groups to sell/adopt out litter mates. 

Litter mates tend to bond more strongly with each other than they do with their owners.  An owner of litter mates should be totally committed to working with both dogs on an individual basis.  This means individual play time, seperate training classes, seperate sleeping quarters, & feeding times.  This means double duty for the owner in hopes of actually bonding with both pups as individuals.

I believe that each dog should be allowed to live in a home where they can develop their own personality, & where they have a good opportunity to bond with their owner.  I don't believe that people or organizations, who don't consider these things, are acting in the best interests of the pups.

 I, personally, don't think they should have gotten a dog at all.  Don't they have enough chaos in their days?!  On the subject of Kate...  I think she needs to be took out behind the woodshed!  She is so cruel to Jon.  And my hubby says that * I * am mean!  He's never seen that show!

BEVOLASVEGAS

I find it irresponsible for breeders or rescue groups to sell/adopt out litter mates. 

Litter mates tend to bond more strongly with each other than they do with their owners.  An owner of litter mates should be totally committed to working with both dogs on an individual basis.  This means individual play time, seperate training classes, seperate sleeping quarters, & feeding times.  This means double duty for the owner in hopes of actually bonding with both pups as individuals.

I believe that each dog should be allowed to live in a home where they can develop their own personality, & where they have a good opportunity to bond with their owner.  I don't believe that people or organizations, who don't consider these things, are acting in the best interests of the pups.

Golden Tails

Liesje

BEVOLASVEGAS

I have no issue in aquiring a dog from a breeder.  I do question their breeder for selling them littermates though.

 

Ditto.  I question the choice based on a LOT more than that.  They could have done their research and chosen a reputable breeder, that would have been a good lesson for America as well.

I don't see anything wrong with getting litter mates. We adopt out litter mates though the shelter, when ever we can. Keeping them togeather seems to do more good than not. As long as they are spayed and neutered. Thats the most important thing.

We'll agree to disagree then.  I think the most important thing is that each dog gets the attention and socialization it deserves.  I know some very well respected breeders who will not keep two littermates together when holding pups back for themselves, generally one is raised by a friend or co-owned.  It's very difficult to properly raise, train, and socialize them equally and independently, especially if the owner has kids and already has other dogs.  I can't even deal with two puppies at a time, let alone littermates, and I don't have ANY kids.

I don't see anything wrong with this family adopting or purchasing a dog.  Just because I don't personally like someone or think they have a lot of kids doesn't automatically make them unfit for a dog.  Littermates, no.  BYB, no.  But a dog in general?  Sure, why not?

 Did anyone watch the season opener last night. There was only one clip with the dogs in it, but they both seemed very very well behaved.  I was very happy to see that at least.  If one thing can be said for Kate, its that she is 100% consistant.  She'd have to be with that many kids.  Even without professional help, I think a point in the right direction regarding training would be all that was needed for Kate to handle both of those pups.  The kids seemed very relaxed around them too.  They have certainly grown since the show where they were adopted. 

What concerns me more is the media following their marriage issues, Jon's affair and the effect its having on the kids.  I mean, they put themselves in the public eye, but c'mon people, these are real people.  There have been comments everywhere from every pov, how people don't blame Jon for having an affair, Kate drove him to it.  How he should be shot for doing that with all those kids.  How she should just kick him out and never speak to him again.  Its absurd.  She mentioned that statistically, parents of multiples have a 3X higher probability of divorce, but she had thought that her and Jon were going to beat those odds.  I felt so sad for her.  And for him, as he's obviously beating himself up over it.  (I suppose I would be too)  But how do you move on after that, when the talk is everywhere?  There are 8 kids in this mix. 

FWIW, I've adopted littermates before and failed miserably at it.  I'd never do it again.  Socializing them was soooooo much harder than socializing one pup.  They defaulted to each other each time something intimidated them and their fear grew on that until it was almost unbearable.  Puppies are not like human children.  They don't need to be kept together.  They aren't going to reach a certain age where they are going to start wondering what happened to their sisters and brothers.  The most important thing should be finding each puppy a good home, not cramming as many pups into each home as they are willing to take.

Bullymom

 I, personally, don't think they should have gotten a dog at all.  Don't they have enough chaos in their days?! 

I tend to believe that everyone's situation is unique, & what may seem like "chaos" to one person, may seem perfectly normal to another person. 

I am sure that people think that I am crazy to have six dogs, & two kids, but honestly, it works very well for our family.  Sure, our house is almost always bustling with activity, & some people might view it as chaotic, but it works for us. 

What one person sees as chaos, another person may see as a serene situation.

 Honestly, I don't think that anyone can get any kind of feel for what their marriage issues truely are just by watching a show.  DH and I are not miserable, but I can tell you that there have been snippets of arguments that neither of us are proud of and would definately be rumor mill fodder if they were aired on national TV.

It may appear that one spouse is over bearing and controling while the other is just mild mannered and sweet, but it may actually be that the "sweet" partner is actually hardcore passive aggressive and the other has reached the end of their rope.

 IF there is cheating going on, I feel for anyone who is being cheated on.  I have many friends and family members who have dealt with it and it tears families apart.  The fact that someone would go so far as to cheat when they know that they are the center of media attention just makes me shake my head, especially considering that there are 8 kids involved who will one day be able to look back and see a very public record of their family troubles.  Can you imagine that?

 I see everywhere kate does this and that but whenever I've watch the show I see how Jon is so mean to his kids maybe it's the episodes I watch, I only watch the show if there is nothing else on, so I only caught a few and the way Jon has put his kids in their seats and talked to them the way he does, I think kate is a much better parent.