Dogs Are Pains!

I can understand your predicament, Lily and I can also relate. We think that dogs can understand our scoldings. But can really understand our language? When I want to get angry with pets I stop a few moments and ask myself, What's the point of getting mad at them if they wouldn't understand what I'm saying? Well, I know dogs can be trained how we want them to behave. I used to have lots of cats and a dog. But now I can't live with them because I live in a rented apartment that don't allow pets.

My dogs are really good with the cats and the kids, but occassionally one of the cats startles them & they snap. I'm sure they don't mean harm, but like you say, big dogs can do allot of damage even unintentionally. I don't have any worries with scolding them though. They have to know who's boss otherwise they'd just take over. And I think in a household with kids in it the dogs need to be kept very firmly in their place. Just now one of my dogs and one of my cats are curled up together like two little balls. So sweet. Whoever said that dogs & cats don't get on has never seen this bunch of softies! I'm not sure whether the cat thinks she's a dog, or the dog thinks she's a cat :-)

I know what you mean Lily. If I have to scold my dog he looks so sad but I know there are times it has to be done. After I scold him though it's kinda cute because I ask him to say "sorry" and when I say that he comes over and licks my hand or my cheek. I did notice that someone commented about teaching your dog by telling him "leave it", and that's a really good suggestion. I can actually put food down on the coffee table right in front of him and say "leave it" and walk away. He doesn't go near it. So it's a nice thing to teach them.

It IS hard to scold our beloved furry friend. I remember when my dog almost bitten our chicken. The hen hurriedly flew away from her. My dad yelled at my dog, and she just wagged her tail, ears down and head held so low.

This is why I either have a dog or a cat. I don't generally have both. I might consider two dogs or two cats, but not one of each. I like how a lot of pet parents bring their puppies to PetSmart to socialize them. It's really cool. They go for dog walks in the store at least once a week and have their dogs socialize with other dogs. Yes, a big dog biting a cat could be dangerous, if the cat slapped up the dog, that could be dangerous if the cat has claws. Dogs have been bred to serve people. So they get sad if they mess up. Cats, not sure what they were bred for, keeping us old ladies from being lonely (I know you're not an old lady dear, speaking for myself only) and to keep our feet warm! Puppies and kitties are adorable. They have to be or we'd never be able to endure some of their mistakes (doo doo and pee pee while training for example). Take care.

It's emotional blackmail and they are very good at it!!! My dog a large German Shepherd sleeps and plays with our two cats but if there is food around she will snap at the cats, not near enough to actually bite just enough to warn them! I tell her 'leave' and she starts looking so sorry for herself she makes ME feel quilty! It's those big brown eyes and the 'I'm sorry' look that is our undoing! The cats if told off just either glare at me or stalk away as if they couldn't care less.

I have no problem with my outdoor cat, Spot. Spot is so fierce that any dog that wanders in our driveway, she would chase and claw away. LOL. And literally, she chases any dog aroun three to five houses down. Most of my neighbors laugh when they see Spot chasing stray dogs in our street.

I guess since you have a dog, you and your sister found a place to live. That's great!

Sometimes i scold my dog. Because there are times my dog never stop barking, never stop running and jumping that she scare all of my cats at home. We are close so to thinking she is happy but I am more of she wants me to notice her than of the cat. I think she is jealous with them. And yes they cannot bite cats. And i don't want that to happen to my pets bitting each other.

Oh my goodness are you right on with this post. My mother has four cats- I have a pit bull and when everyone is together it is total khaos...lol. Although my pit was raised around cats- she is usually calm and just wants to play with them- but they don't take it as playing and when they scare her (the pit) she does snap at them - and I do have to scold her- but I end up feeling guilty about it in the end because of the looks my pit gives me as I'm trying to scold her- It's like she knows exactly when to put on the puppy dog eyes...LOL. I still say that dogs are way more intelligent then we give them credit for ;)

It's kinda funny that this is one of the first posts I came across today. We took our puppy to a training class and they said there to never give your pup full run of the house. Meaning don't just let them wander wherever they want. We have a door that closes off the bedrooms from the living room and rest of the house. When we are back in the rooms we keep that door closed. This morning, my dog proceeded to jump up on one of the chairs in the dining room and got a paper off the table and shredded it by the time we came back out. keep in mind we were back there for less than five minutes. Guess that's all it takes. Was it her fault, no necessarily. She makes it super hard to be mad at her cause she is a black lab and does the little head tilt thing like huh... i'm sorry...