Pets...

[ldcdc]

I have never had a pet until I got married. I know what you might think, but don't get the wrong impression. Read forward!

Some 4 months after I got married, I bought my wife a guinea pig, as a birthday present. It was either this, or a hamster, but hamsters are a bit too small, and I read that they are much more prone to biting people.

Not being around animals that much, I was quite amazed how smart these little beings can be. In a couple of days it has mastered drinking from its bottle, but not only that. We take it out daily, and put it on the couch, using it as a playground. To prevent any "accidents" staining it, we use a double sheet. In the first 2-3 days, "accidents" occured quite a bit.

However, with only a bit of encouragement (read treats), it learned to use a box to wee and poo, and all this training took under 15 minutes. Now we just keep on reinforcing what it has learned. Inside the box, is another matter. It can make quite a bit of mess, but we can't stay around her all the while to teach her the proper way to behave. We're just happy we can play with her without the fear of having our clothes and furnishing stained.

We play, and it chirps and begs (squeals) for treats. It does so at this very moment, and it is very cute.

I'll add a picture of the little gal.

So, question comes, do you have/had any pets? What impressed you most about them?

[crislem]

I'll add a picture of the little gal.

I don't see the picture.

My wife and I are not going to have a pet because she doesn't like to take care of animals, she doesn't like them that much. I think it's a matter of feeling dirty after touching an animal, I don't know. And as far as I'm concerned, I don't mind playing with animals or taking care of them, but I don't feel like taking full responsibility at this time. It might take me away from taking care of the kid though when that time comes... 

I'm curious just as you to see what other people experienced with their pets. Animals can be very interesting.

[ldcdc]

I don't see the picture.

Should be solved now. Please let me know if that's not the case.

It might take me away from taking care of the kid though when that time comes...

That can depend a lot on the type of pet that you have. Obviously though, a child would take precedence, even if it must come at the expense of the pet. It's only natural. If it really comes down to not being able to take care of the pet, you can always try to find another owner for it. Though, with the way I know my wife feels about animals, she'd probably find me another owner before giving the pet away.

[crislem]

It might take me away from taking care of the kid though when that time comes...

I was joking, implying that it might be a good thing to have a pet, as it might save me from taking care of the kid. That way I'd be off the hook when it comes to all the diaper change, feed the baby, etc. Not being serious about it because I feel just ike you that "a child would take precedence, even if it must come at the expense of the pet. It's only natural."

Anyway, I just wanted to explain myself.

P.S.: Problem solved with the picture. I can see it now.

[Webkore]

I have a lasso apso. Little dogs who don't shed. I love mine

He's 9 years old now, and still acts like a puppy, but he's incredibly intelligent..looks both ways when crossing a street, and I can let him out and he'll come back home a few hours later. He also adopted our personalities and their quirks.

He's family

[ldcdc]

looks both ways when crossing a street

That's really cool!

Update about the piggie: it is growing; i'm really curious to see how big it will get in the end.

[Webkore]

It's funny how they call us owners/masters of pets, but in reality, they pretty much own us

[ldcdc]

they pretty much own us

You've had a pet for longer than me. I don't feel that way... yet.

[j-jo]

I have two labradors - both spoilt rotten. We had no groomsmen or bridesmaids at our wedding - just the labs dressed in doggy tuxedos. We have no kids, but plan too, and have no concerns about the dogs and the kids issue. Both our dogs are great with kids.

Yes pets do take over your life - but they're worth it. Both my hubby and I have had dogs before and have always loved pets. We only have a couple of friends that don't like animals. We've pretty much told them "if they're not ok with the dogs remaining inside while they're at our home - tough, get over it, or just don't bother coming".  Our dogs are much better behaved than all of our friend's ratbag kids that they drag to our place. So we have no problem being clear on it.

J-Jo

 

[ldcdc]

Truely lovely dogs! They look so healthy... and powerful.

We only have a couple of friends that don't like animals. We've pretty much told them "if they're not ok with the dogs remaining inside while they're at our home - tough, get over it, or just don't bother coming".

Family takes precedence. 

Thank you for sharing the pictures!

[j-jo]

Looking foward to seeing other folk's pets...

[Tetraboy]

You can see my pet as my avatar. Full blooded german shepherd dog we got from the humane society. Seems more like a member of the family than a pet. In the past I've had: dogs, snakes, fish, ants, sea monkeys.

[ldcdc]

sea monkeys

I had to google that.

I've never heard of such a thing before. Very interesting beings though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea-Monkey

As for ants... aren't they difficult to contain? 

[Tetraboy]

Not really. Technically, I only kept the ants for like a week during a school break. They were in a plastic "ant farm" filled with sand and as far as I can remember, none escaped.

[ldcdc]

Not even when you fed them? Which begs the question... what do you feed an ant?

In fact, can you really love them? They're too "impersonal" if you ask me.