What makes a bad owner?

Well I agree with everything.I really dislike it when owners don't exercise their dog.That just causes behavioral problems left and right.I also think mental stimulation is very important which is basically the same thing as exercise IMO.

 I would add to your second list: inconsistency.

Confusing a dog with inconsistency is a pet peeve of mine, I guess...

Completely agree with both lists and the lack of inconsistency.
 
I would add lack of grooming for longer haired breeds - letting a dog get matts makes a person a bad owner in my book - matts HURT

There are dog owners out there who generally neglect their dogs and don't see anything wrong with it.  They feed their dogs the cheapest food that they can get, they don't take their dogs to the vet for shots, they don't do anything more than leave the dog out in the yard or tie the dog up on a line for the day.  They don't look at teeth, ears, feet.  They don't groom.  They complain about the smell, the hair, the behavior, but they don't see that they don't interact with this dog at all...and worse than anything else, they think that they are a good or average dog owner.  

would like to add that, to me, a bad owner is someone who just opens the door to let the dogs out but does not go out to supervise, or even bothers to peek out the window occasionally to make sure everyone is where they belong.

dogs can jump fences, gates get left open, holes are dug.... i grew up with the idea firmly implanted in my head that fences are not forever and must always be inspected.... but what really really REALLY irks me is the ones who let the dogs out into their UNfenced yard with no supervision.... i have lived in places where fences werent allowed because of landlords, so if i wanted a dog i had to have a kennel and leashes and actually be WITH my dogs....
and like recent events with a certain someone in my family.... laziness is not a good reason for not putting up a fence or supervising your dogs..... if your computer is more important then find homes for the dogs.....

Good post Dumdog!  I agree with everything written, I just helped this last week rehome a dog, I would have kept him, but Baby wanted to tear his throat out.  Young mutt, with mostly hound, tied by a 10ft, heavy chain with never a bowl of water in site.  I just talked to the owner, an older fellow, and he agreed that the dog would be better somewhere else.  

Oye, this is such a loaded question.  Even with what each of us describes as neglect, or even severe neglect, dogs are very forgiving animals...amazing.

i need help i try to follow those kind of things but when it is my turn to brush the dog i whine and cry because i don't want to do it.. what should i do also my dog is very lazy always just sleeping a sitting around and when ever i try to play with it or through the ball she never goes and gets it but when i bring the soccer ball out or volleyball she gets up and plays but i bought her like 7 toys and i don't want my money to go to wast so what should it do??

Well, to me an ideal owner does the following:
 
Clicker trains, and ignores all that dominance talk and other CM type stuff
Feeds a raw diet or MAYBE something like Timberwolf Oranics if raw is aboslutely impossible
Actively trains his dog for some activity, even if only as a fun activity with no desire to compete, to keep the dog's mind occupied
Does not spay or neuter before 18 months of age, and of course has the now-how and sense to not allow the dog to breed
Never leaves the dog outside alone, even in a fenced yard
Does not vaccinate annually, but follows the legal requirements for rabies
Gives each dog individual attention and love
Keeps his dogs clean at all times (except play time of course) and free of parasites, with short nails and no tangles
Takes his dogs on off leash walks and allows free running in places other than the home yard daily or nearly daily, even if this means driving somewhere like I do
Keeps his dogs slender and fit and in top muscular condition
 
Someone who doesn't do those things might not be an ideal home to me- but I wouldn't say this person was a BAD home. Some people worship CM or think it's okay to feed a food like Pedigree. Others are pro early spay/neuter or think dogs truly should never go off leash, ever. I disagree, but that doesn't mean my way is the ONLY way.
 
So... for BAD... I'd have to say...
 
Doesn't feed/water the dog
Allows the dog to become overweight
Leaves the dog outside 24 hours a day
Chains the dog ever
Breeds the dog irresponsibly
Allows the dog to have fleas or other parasites
Uses negative based training methods- hard corrections, rubbing the nose in it for housebreaking, etc
Allows the dog's coat to become tangled or smelly

I think a good dog owner agrees with me and does everything I do, and a bad dog owner doesn't agree with me and does things I don't approve of.

Paula

LOL but that's not what I was trying to say at all- and why I said that this is what I think is an IDEAL owner to ME... but that somebody who doesn't do those things isn't necessarily a BAD owner- just different I know I am opinionated but as I stated, people don't have to agree.

Whippetsownme,

Ah, just ignore that 'reply to' in the corner - it is misleading.  I was responding to the post in general, not you in particular. I think the topic is a wee bit hubristic and thought I'd make a snide, passive agressive joke about it.

Paula

I think a good owner is someone who loves their dog and does everything possible to make sure they are taken care of.  Just because someone can afford to feed the most exspensive food or pay a groomer doesn't necessarily make a good owner.  It is the love that really makes a good owner, and the lack of it that makes a bad.  Some people are lacking education in the ideal ways of taking care of their dogs, but they love them with all they have.

ORIGINAL: crazy_pixie_

I think a good owner is someone who loves their dog and does everything possible to make sure they are taken care of.  Just because someone can afford to feed the most exspensive food or pay a groomer doesn't necessarily make a good owner.  It is the love that really makes a good owner, and the lack of it that makes a bad.  Some people are lacking education in the ideal ways of taking care of their dogs, but they love them with all they have.

i agree... Ving Rames probably fed his dogs the best chow, and had hired the best vets and dog walkers....