Do you think Americans are obsessed with their pets?

[Bia]

I was watching Meet the Natives on the Travel Channel (the 5 members of this specific tribe are travelling the US) the other night and this particular episode showed the host family''s dogs. The tribe members were amazed at the lengths we go to pamper our pets. I think even to the point of thinking we were ridiculous. This is not to say they don''t have pets, they do.

I love my dog and take pride in taking such good care of her. I don''t play dress up with her but I definitely do baby her

GUILTY!

What do you think? Do we go overboard? Do we look ridiculous in other parts of the world? In South America (where my family is from) dogs are loved but they are not treated like babies.

 

[elle_chris]

Yes. But I think Europeans are guilty of it too. At least the ones I know.

Btw, I''ve only seen Meet the Natives when they were with the family from Orange County. That family was pretty umm.. excessive?

 

[radiantquest]

That is an interesting question. Since I live in US I can only speak for us. I think all pets deserve a good life. Why have them if you cannot give them love and attention. Some people do take it overboard as far as I am concerned. Love, food, water, and vet when needed are sufficent. The people that take their dogs and cats to pet spas for massages and nail painting I think is a bit much. How do other societies treat their pets?

I pet mine, talk to them, and overall take care of them? Is that considered too much by these other people? They need toys and treats and their own beds don''t they?

 

[Lauren8211]

I am obsessed with mine. They are treated like family members.

I''d rather people be over the top than not give a crap about them!

 

[kenny]

Pets give us what humans rarely give us, unconditional love.

I heard a very non-PC joke once and I'm sure I'm going to be skewered for telling it but it is relevant to the topic.

If you locked your husband and your dog in your car's trunk for an hour, when you opened the trunk your dog would be happy to see you.

 

[Bia]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:04:53 PM
Author: kenny
Pets give us what humans rarely give us, unconditional love.

I heard a very non-PC joke once and I''m sure I''m going to be skewered for telling it but it is relevant to the topic.

If you locked your husband and your dog in your car''s trunk for an hour, when you opened the trunk your dog would be happy to see you.

ha! very true...

 

[elrohwen]

Yes. When it results in pets getting only the best of care, I''m all for it! Sure it might be spoiling my bunny to get him 3-4 heads of lettuce (which is expensive in the winter!) each week, but since it is a part of the healtiest possible rabbit diet, I''ll do it (among other things). Sure, I might be crazy, but he''s getting the best care possible and I don''t think there''s anything wrong with that! When we have dogs we''ll do the same for them. I think if you have the money to provide the best quality of care, you should do it, just like you would provide your human family members with the best quality food and health care. If someone can''t afford these things, I''m certainly not going to judge them, but it bugs me when people with plenty of disposable income take horrible care of their pets

However, I''m not a fan of people who completely baby their pets to the point that they have spoiled rotten obnoxious biting dogs. Good care also involves setting boundaries for pets and not spoiling them until they''re rotten - or feeding them until they''re grossly overweight!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:04:53 PM
Author: kenny
Pets give us what humans rarely give us, unconditional love.


I heard a very non-PC joke once and I''m sure I''m going to be skewered for telling it but it is relevant to the topic.


If you locked your husband and your dog in your car''s trunk for an hour, when you opened the trunk your dog would be happy to see you.

lol that IS true hahah

 

[Mara]

yep definitely but i don't know that it's just americans. i know some europeans who are the same way. we are not totally insano about our dog, but she is definitely spoiled and well taken care of.

i think part of why pets are so pampered nowadays is that a lot of people have kids later in life and/or not at all and the pet ends up being that 'child of the heart' for those families. for us we are so glad we had a pet first before trying to embark on parenthood since we we have learned a lot about expectations and patience from being pet parents...not that we couldn't have done it before but we feel more confident now in our abilities to parent.

what is sad for me is when families who treated their pet like a kid before end up having a kid and then the pet is relegated to third/fourth/fifth string. they don't get what is happening and while it may not be 'the same' as having your own flesh and blood... they still should be treated at least as lovingly as before. sure they are bottom of the totem pole in 'pack heirarchy', but if they were good enough to lavish love on before that shouldn't change just because you gestated.

one of the things i do think that we tend to do with pets though that we shouldn't is give them our own human emotions...no matter how much a part of the family the pet is and how much love or treats you lavish on them..they are still not the same as human. i try to remember this even though i adore my dog...she's IS a dog.

funny story for us re: kids and pets... Greg's 95 year old ukrainian grandfather...when we visited the family a few years ago and showed like 20 pictures of our dog to them... looked at Greg and said 'where are the kids?'.

when they had pets in his day, they were outside and didn't wear sweaters and eat lamb etc hehee.

 

[somethingshiny]

In general, yes, Americans definitely go overboard with their animals.

I realize this will probably ruffle feathers, but I really don''t get why people refer to themselves as the "parents" of the pets. Especially people who have real children. It''s like equating a person and an animal and I just don''t agree. Additionally, many people don''t realize that by babying their pets to such extremes, they''re not doing any favors to the animal. Pack animals need an alpha, they need to know the boundaries, it''s what gives them their safety. It''s very hard on a dog to be alpha all the time (as they become within a household). In nature, the alpha changes regularly and it''s best for the animals (obviously or they wouldn''t have lasted.)

I do think the reason for the obsession is due to love. People enjoy loving no matter who or what it is.

 

[radiantquest]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:09:52 PM
Author: elrohwen
Yes. When it results in pets getting only the best of care, I''m all for it! Sure it might be spoiling my bunny to get him 3-4 heads of lettuce (which is expensive in the winter!) each week, but since it is a part of the healtiest possible rabbit diet, I''ll do it (among other things). Sure, I might be crazy, but he''s getting the best care possible and I don''t think there''s anything wrong with that! When we have dogs we''ll do the same for them. I think if you have the money to provide the best quality of care, you should do it, just like you would provide your human family members with the best quality food and health care. If someone can''t afford these things, I''m certainly not going to judge them, but it bugs me when people with plenty of disposable income take horrible care of their pets

However, I''m not a fan of people who completely baby their pets to the point that they have spoiled rotten obnoxious biting dogs. Good care also involves setting boundaries for pets and not spoiling them until they''re rotten - or feeding them until they''re grossly overweight!

*thread jack* Did you see the pictures of my cats in santa hat and beard? Did you have luck finding something for your bunny? I see that hat in the avatar. Is that a real hat or added into the photo? *thread jack over*

 

[Bia]

Certainly not just Americans...I didn''t have enough room to type all the other pet-adoring countries in the world

 

[yssie]

We go overboard with our cats and we both know it, but we'd do the same no matter where we lived, so I'm not sure that it's Americans in particular

.

Ditto elrohwen - if it gives them the best care and the most happiness they can get, and we have the resources to do so, why not

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I agree that taking dogs to spas, etc., is overboard, however, I'm guilty of spending too much on my fish. One of my tiny bettas has a luxurious 10-gallon planted tank all to herself. She patrols it back and forth. Every time I've tried to add friends, she fights with them. So, yes, I spent $150 on equipment for a $3.00 fish. She basically spends 24/7 in her own spa.

(I've read articles from people in the UK all stating that bettas need all that I've provided, so it's not only Americans.)

 

[radiantquest]

This just occured to me... It depends on what kind of pet it is. I am more likely to spoil and such on a cat or dog than I would a lizard or fish.

I know there are some people on here that have a quite a fondness for their fish, but really how can you spoil a fish?

If it is cute and small and fluffy I am more tempted.

If I had a cow or goat as a pet I don''t think I would be as inclined to over indulge.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:18:37 PM
Author: radiantquest
This just occured to me... It depends on what kind of pet it is. I am more likely to spoil and such on a cat or dog than I would a lizard or fish.

I know there are some people on here that have a quite a fondness for their fish, but really how can you spoil a fish?

If it is cute and small and fluffy I am more tempted.

If I had a cow or goat as a pet I don't think I would be as inclined to over indulge.

Spoiling a fish: give them an adequate heater, filter, proper size tank (no overstocking), friends (if they're social - like guppies, for example), and plants. Also, you make sure their water has proper levels of good bacteria to keep them healthy. . .plus do water changes when needed.

 

[Bia]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:18:20 PM
Author: MC
I agree that taking dogs to spas, etc., is overboard, however, I''m guilty of spending too much on my fish. One of my tiny bettas has a luxurious 10-gallon planted tank all to herself. She patrols it back and forth. Every time I''ve tried to add friends, she fights with them. So, yes, I spent $150 on equipment for a $3.00 fish. She basically spends 24/7 in her own spa.

(I''ve read articles from people in the UK all stating that bettas need all that I''ve provided, so it''s not only Americans.)

Date: 12/16/2009 3:18:37 PM
Author: radiantquest
This just occured to me... It depends on what kind of pet it is. I am more likely to spoil and such on a cat or dog than I would a lizard or fish.

I know there are some people on here that have a quite a fondness for their fish, but really how can you spoil a fish?

If it is cute and small and fluffy I am more tempted.

If I had a cow or goat as a pet I don''t think I would be as inclined to over indulge.

I know people who sing to their fish

 

[Mara]

lol radiant i am all about spoiling reciprocation''!!! i tried to keep fish previously but i couldn''t cuddle with them or get that adoring gaze back. i was convinced our fish recognized me and then i read they only have like a 3 second memory due to brain size HA HA.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:13:04 PM
Author: radiantquest
*thread jack* Did you see the pictures of my cats in santa hat and beard? Did you have luck finding something for your bunny? I see that hat in the avatar. Is that a real hat or added into the photo? *thread jack over*

Haha, no, I never found him anything, so I photoshopped a hat onto one of his baby pics. Lol. I''m sure he was pleased with not having to wear a hat as well.

And I didn''t see the pics of your cats yet! I''m going to run and check that out right now. There''s just something hilarious about disapproving pets in Santa hats.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:21:49 PM
Author: Mara
lol radiant i am all about spoiling reciprocation'!!! i tried to keep fish previously but i couldn't cuddle with them or get that adoring gaze back. i was convinced our fish recognized me and then i read they only have like a 3 second memory due to brain size HA HA.

It depends upon the type of fish as far as memory goes. Bettas are prone to "flaring" when seeing another betta. Once I put a mirror right up to the glass of one tank and my betta swam up and flared at his reflection. Normally he hangs out by the heater on the other side of the tank, but after I did that to him, he spent an HOUR watching for that fish to come back. Bettas are very territorial. My guppies don't have much intelligence. Mostly they swim around waiting to eat again. I just got a pregnant one and there is a good chance the adults may eat all of the babies.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:18:20 PM
Author: MC
I agree that taking dogs to spas, etc., is overboard, however, I'm guilty of spending too much on my fish. One of my tiny bettas has a luxurious 10-gallon planted tank all to herself. She patrols it back and forth. Every time I've tried to add friends, she fights with them. So, yes, I spent $150 on equipment for a $3.00 fish. She basically spends 24/7 in her own spa.

(I've read articles from people in the UK all stating that bettas need all that I've provided, so it's not only Americans.)

Haha, I have a 4lb bunny who lives in a "cage" that is 8'x4'. I say "cage" because he's actually free range whenever we're home (and since I'm unemployed, that's all the time now). I guess he's spoiled, but it's nothing people wouldn't do for a cat. And if this is what research says is best for him, I'm all for it. I'm sure your betta loves the pampering

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:27:42 PM
Author: elrohwen

Date: 12/16/2009 3:18:20 PM
Author: MC
I agree that taking dogs to spas, etc., is overboard, however, I''m guilty of spending too much on my fish. One of my tiny bettas has a luxurious 10-gallon planted tank all to herself. She patrols it back and forth. Every time I''ve tried to add friends, she fights with them. So, yes, I spent $150 on equipment for a $3.00 fish. She basically spends 24/7 in her own spa.

(I''ve read articles from people in the UK all stating that bettas need all that I''ve provided, so it''s not only Americans.)

Haha, I have a 4lb bunny who lives in a ''cage'' that is 8''x4''. I say ''cage'' because he''s actually free range whenever we''re home (and since I''m unemployed, that''s all the time now). I guess he''s spoiled, but it''s nothing people wouldn''t do for a cat. And if this is what research says is best for him, I''m all for it. I''m sure your betta loves the pampering

My friend has bunnies who have a whole room sectioned off to themselves. They hop around all day and eat papaya enzymes as treats. lol Bunnies are so adorable. There was the cutest one at a petstore by me that I almost went home with. My cat would have flipped out though because he is so shy and needs tons of reassurance. He''s almost like a bunny, himself.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:33:53 PM
Author: MC
My friend has bunnies who have a whole room sectioned off to themselves. They hop around all day and eat papaya enzymes as treats. lol Bunnies are so adorable. There was the cutest one at a petstore by me that I almost went home with. My cat would have flipped out though because he is so shy and needs tons of reassurance. He''s almost like a bunny, himself.

Haha, I know some bunnies who would take offense to that - they have more attitude than most cats I''ve met

Though my guy does fall into the shy and sweet catagory

 

[ursulawrite]

I think Americans are super animal lovers, but I think the British are even crazier about their dogs. The leash laws are much more relaxed in the UK, and a documentary that aired last year on BBC--Pedigree Dogs Exposed--caused tremendous uproar among the general public, and was even debated in Parliament.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 12/16/2009 3:04:53 PM
Author: kenny
Pets give us what humans rarely give us, unconditional love.

I heard a very non-PC joke once and I''m sure I''m going to be skewered for telling it but it is relevant to the topic.

If you locked your husband and your dog in your car''s trunk for an hour, when you opened the trunk your dog would be happy to see you.

Love it!!!

 

[anchor31]

I think some people anywhere go overboard. No offense to PSers who do it, but I think dressing up pets is silly. One thing that really makes me angry is people who take their pets everywhere, even places where pets are not allowed. I know they love their pets, but what about people who have allergies, or phobias? Then, people who don''t take their pets in the stores leave them in their car, and I think that''s just cruel. Last winter I actually called the police because a dog was howling in a car at 11:30PM in front of my apartment when the owner visited someone in the hospital next to which I lived.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/16/2009 4:04:29 PM
Author: anchor31
I think some people anywhere go overboard. No offense to PSers who do it, but I think dressing up pets is silly. One thing that really makes me angry is people who take their pets everywhere, even places where pets are not allowed. I know they love their pets, but what about people who have allergies, or phobias? Then, people who don''t take their pets in the stores leave them in their car, and I think that''s just cruel. Last winter I actually called the police because a dog was howling in a car at 11:30PM in front of my apartment when the owner visited someone in the hospital next to which I lived.

To add to this. . .I think having pets in a car is irresponsible, period. When someone is driving around and their dog is jumping around all over in the back, how can that possibly be safe when the driver is distracted? Once I tried driving down the road with my cat and he kept meowing and climbing all over me. . .I''d never do that again. . .simply dangerous!

There should be laws governing pets in cars.

 

[upgrade]

I think a lot of people go way overboard. I love my dog to death, and he is given quality care but he is a dog, not a human. I know people who have dogs with more expensive wardrobes than me. I find that pretty silly and over the top, but it''s really none of my business what they do with their money. What picks me though, is when dogs are spoiled in terms of having no rules/boudaries. That really isn''t in the best interest of the animal. I''m a firm believer that dogs need discipline and rules and they really need a strong leader to be happy.

 

[Bia]

Date: 12/16/2009 4:28:12 PM
Author: upgrade
I think a lot of people go way overboard. I love my dog to death, and he is given quality care but he is a dog, not a human. I know people who have dogs with more expensive wardrobes than me. I find that pretty silly and over the top, but it''s really none of my business what they do with their money. What picks me though, is when dogs are spoiled in terms of having no rules/boudaries. That really isn''t in the best interest of the animal. I''m a firm believer that dogs need discipline and rules and they really need a strong leader to be happy.

Yup. Same with parents and their kids.

ditto!

 

[bee*]

I don''t think it''s just America. I can only speak for Ireland but people here are the exact same. I personally draw the line at dressing up. A dog has fur for a reason, they don''t need clothes on top of that. I don''t think that there''s anything wrong with spoiling a pet so long as the pet is well behaved.