When I was a kid, I was terrified of dogs. A million times my mom offered to get me one, and I refused. It was until 10 years ago, when I was an adult, that I got a dog and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. I really missed out, though.
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Yes, you missed out. I, on the other hand, had Buffy the 5 pound terror!
I think 5 pounds is a generous estimate of her size
Oliver – I’ve never understood people who are afraid of dogs. Why were you afraid of them? I can’t imagine a life without them, and have thought so ever since I popped out of the hopper.
I grew up in a tiny town – 500 people – where plenty of rednecks let their mutts run leash free. Being ten years old and walking home at night was always a harrowing experience. I can understand OW’s phobia.
Had a dog called Timmy when I was very small (a replacement for superfierce Tubby the cat (who treated me really well as a toddler). Timmy was put to sleep for biting somebody who was, I realise now, probably gonna hurt me in some way. I once tried to take his bone away from him (I was 3 or 4). He nipped me: no blood, just a pinch with his teeth. Taught me a lesson. Damn he was a great dog, and it took me years to figure that out.
My present dog is called Blue, a pedigree Cocker Spaniel. I took him in because the owners, my brother’s friends, said that he was giving them asthma. That was a lie, but if they can afford to give away a £400 dog, it’s their loss. I think they couldn’t deal with his love of company and need for walking. Some people should be allowed a dog, and not others.
btw, your dog looks like a lot of fun. They are a good way to pick up women, and having a dog (or cat) as a child reduces the chances of the child developing allergies down the line.
Parthenon – I can understand if you have had a bad experience with a dog, but I know some folks who never even touched a dog and just don’t like them. Why?
It’s not logical. At least in my case it wasn’t. As a kid all I saw was teeth and barking. Never been bitten (well, CK has but that’s play biting) but I swore I would be bitten. It is just irrational fear and the only thing that cured me was living with roommates who had dogs. I wasn’t afraid of my cousin’s dog (the first comment in this thread) but that was a far cry from having one at home.
Now cats I don’t like. Not because I’m afraid of them but because cats think they’re better than everyone else.
Yes, maybe 5 lbs was generous. However, I’ve made up for her small stature with our giant mutt Maxx.
I also do not like cats…but then I was attacked by our neighbor’s hairless cat when I was younger (and no, it wasn’t born hairless, it just lost all of it’s hair and went crazy).
I just realized you and Akil both grew up without dogs. You poor, deprived children. By the way what happened to Auntie P’s dog Puppy?
Some rat bastard poisoned her.
Some rat bastard poisoned her.
I recall that happening once when I was a kid, too. They caught the guy; if he served his full sentence he’s still in jail.
Mark – see OW’s above explanation. Just one of those things.
When my 14 year old was 6, he told his dad and me that he ‘had a hole in his heart that only a dog could fill’. OMG. His dad said no, I said yes, we got the dog and a divorce… hehehe
I had a dog most of the time when I was younger. Now, the girlfriend doesn’t want one and it’s killing me. Oh well.
Oh, man– I am in the exact opposite of your position. I grew up with dogs, and love them to death, but don’t have one now (mainly because my apartment is small and I am gone at work for a big chunk of the day, and it seems cruel to me to make a dog live under those circumstances). But those wonderful pictures you linked to really make me want to reconsider…
Oh, and I share your dislike of cats, both for the reason you cite and also because I got a nasty bite from one once.
Thanks, OW – I am glad you got to see that dogs are a gift from God.
And, yeah, cats are not good pets. We have ‘em, but only because the wife likes them. As far as I am concerned, they only serve to annoy the dogs.
Dr. Monkey: “I had a dog most of the time when I was younger. Now, the girlfriend doesn’t want one and it’s killing me. Oh well.”
Dude – it’s easy – get a new girlfriend.
Cats are alright if you only understand that their capacity to give a shit is much lower than dogs. People often call them snobby pets… but they’re about as smart as chickens, I think. Dogs have a bit more going on up top. Nobody’s annoyed their goldfish doesn’t give a shit, eh?
See, OW, it’s never too late to have a happy childhood.
brian, I got my dog because it cheered up my dying dad. He passed about a year after, but my mom still has him during the day whilst I’m at work and also if I am on a holiday.
Sorry, re-read post. Got dog, dad died a year after, mom still looks after the dog.
Parthenon: I’ve been there. My town was a little bigger than 500 people, but a lot of people let their dogs run loose.
When I was a kid there were probably 500 people on my street (300 yards long). The school opposite the house (where my mom still lives) probably had 500 kids from the neighbourhood.
I’ve often said I’d never live in the country. I need fast food (fish and chips natch), more than one pub and a couple of Supermarkets and a weekly outdoor market. 30 thousand would be fine, any smaller would be just wrong for me.