I'm not sure I'm a good dog owner :(?

Question

i dont know i love dogs to the bone and ever since i was little i always wanted to be a vet i still do want to be one.

i feel like im not a good dog owner cause i see alot of people bragging on how they got a new bag to carry theyre dog in or their fancy colar. People tell me im mean to my dog cause she lives outside and every once in a while i forget to go play with her. my mom feeds her in the morning and i feed her in the afternoon.she's an only dog and has her own dog house with a coushony bed and like 10 toys i bought her a shirt and she wears it in these months but it isnt to cold outside right know (i live in Arizona)so its not like shes suffering.

i got my dog when she was like 5mos. and we were great but now were in a bit of a financil tight cause we have to pay for my brothers education in medicine.dont worry i have enough for her regular checkupsbut i mean for x-mas im only getting her a kong toy :( but i wish i could give her more but cant cause of $ isuseim i mean ?

well sometimes i get impatient with her cause she jumps on me so i go back in the house then i hear her howel and i ignore it cause i know that if i listen to her that shell howel to get my attention and sometimes i dont play with her so i was thinking of getting her a companiion but when i asked yahoo answers if there was a free stud i could borrow to breed her so she could have puppies then we could keep one but then the only answers i got was no and every one was yelling at me so now im thinking of getting her spayed and adopting one from a shelter or pound

what should i do cause even though i cant pamper my dog i still love her (shes a cockerspaniel)

my mom doesnt want her inside and i havent taken her on a walk in a while because she doesnt know how to behave and im trying to teach her but shes realy stuborn but our yard is medium sized and she runs alot around the yard and she loves to play catch with squeeky toys so i play with her for a while then i feed her purina and give her filtered water from our frige and in the summer since Arizona is really hot i wet the grass put ice cubes in her water and we swich the water 2 or 3 times a day

my dog isnt tied up she has the whole yard for herself

Answer 1

You really aren't a bad owner. In fact, your dog has more things than most of the dogs in my neighborhood, and just because you forget to play with her sometimes, doesn't mean that you aren't a good dog owner. The way I see it, you are tight for cash, yet you pay money, that you could be spending on yourself, and you go buy your dog a toy so that he/she can be happy on Christmas as well. That to me sounds like a GREAT dog owner. Kudos to you!!

Answer 2

You sound like a good owner to me. I wish you success in pursuing a career as a Veterinarian. I know how there can be financial hard times and those fancy collars and carriers, while I have nothing against them at all, they are really for the owners. The dogs don't care about that stuff. I am sure if your dog had a choice between a rhinestone collar and a cushiony bed she would choose her cushiony bed in a New York second.
The greatest thing you can give to your dog since she lives outside is companionship. Play with your dog as much as you can and try and make time to take her for a walk every day. That is important to her.

Answer 3

The thing about dogs is they love you whether or not you buy expensive stuff or not just make sure you give him as much attention as you can and feed him what you can afford and s he'll love you also get rid of the shirt or at least don't leave it on ALL the time as it may get wet and then she would defiantly get cold also dogs fur \hair is a natural protection from all the elements heat and cold

Answer 4

Being a good dog owner is not about how many toys you buy the dog or how many sweaters. It is about giving him good vet care, quality food, lots of love and attention. Why is he an outside dog? Do you ever take him for walks? Dogs love to go for walks with their owners. Sounds like the best gift you could give your dog for Christmas is more attention and love, a daily walk preferably two, make sure he always has fresh water and quality food and think about making him and indoor dog.

Answer 5

Well first if she is over 2 do not get her a puppy for a friend. she might feel like she is getting replaced. also go and get her fixed. dogs can actually live longer if they are!
Don't worry about fancy bags or w/e i spoil my dog and he doens't have any of that stuff. he is in the house though. but he just got diabetes and i made him a pillow. so u could make your dog something for christmas if u r worried about that.
I wanted to be a vet when i was younger to but now im alergic to dogs a little bit. but it doesn't mean i don't love them! that is y i am still finding out everything i can about dogs and animals so i can help!
Dogs howl for their pack. u are your dog's pack or family. that is why she howls she wants your attention. but a little obedience training can help the jumping. also being fixed might actually calm her a bit more.
so no, i don't think u r a bad pet owner.

Answer 6

To tell you the truth you should find this dog a good home!!!!!! She jumps on you because she loves you and wants attention!!!! Would you like to be tied up outside and ignored? There is more to feeding and watering a dog!!!! She is suffering....... she needs love, attention and continuous interactions with humans! DO NOT.... PLEASE...... DO NOT get another dog!!!!! Find a lovable home for this one!!!!!! I just commented on a ????? as to why people gets these dogs and ties them up in their yards??? Is it so one can say..... I have a dog? What a life your poor dog has. Some dogs howl for attention!!!

Answer 7

just because you can't buy her nice things like a bag to carry her in or clothes and stuff doesn't mean you're a bad owner. however, if she's a small dog or a semi small dog, leaving her outside all the time is pretty mean, especially when it's cold. i think its ok for bigger dogs who have more body fat and aren't that affected by it, but for a little dog, it's hard to keep warm in the winter. why not bring her inside at night? if you live where it's cold, she might not be able to keep her body temp up at night and could die. but as long as you give her what she needs and play with her, you aren't a bad pet owner

Answer 8

You should let your dog go inside and out on a daily basis. Almost every dog loves their owners. So you should write a list of what time and how long you should play with the dog.

Hope you take my advice

Answer 9

HI! In my opinion, you are not a bad owner because she doesn't have pet-paraphernalia. Most dogs don't want to be carried around in a bag or a stroller. Its actually not good for their developing bones. She may be howling because she loves you and wants your attention. With training she will stop jumping, and you can train her! I don't suggest you get her a companion, she needs human friends! ( Do you have time for 2 dogs?)
The best Christmas gift any one can give their pet is the most precious, and is FREE..... Love! Cuddles, hugs, a walk, play time! This is all dogs want! Yeah they need to chew on toys, but they will become depressed if they don't get human contact on a regular basis!
I truly wish you well on furthering your pursuit of becoming a Veterinarian! :o)

Answer 10

no it's not your fault for the financial issue but you still play with your dog, right? It's not like if you're beating the dog to death like some people do. I have a dog and her name is Ginger. I take care of her, feed her, play with her but i have to be careful when i play with her because she is blind. She is a Cocker Spaniel and is a sweet dog but i always check on her. The way you treat your dog shows if you are a good owner or not.