People think its OK to comment on the amount I spend on my chosen pasttime (ie. my dogs) :-( but would be extremely offended if I was to comment on their chosen pasttime (drinking and smoking!) Next Christmas I'm going away LOL

Agggh to people LOL!  Wish I was far away this Christmas too LOL.

Angela i've had the same thing this Xmas.

Mentioned that someone is having a litter in another breed and showed a picture of one in my new book for Xmas.. It then turns into the money, time and space for dogs etc etc etc.. Ended up on a major pick on me session last night.. They really know how to make me feel bad - family Argghhh.
Have to say won't stop me though..

Like you i have family members that i think 'waste' money on going out boozing all the time and actually don't even bother to look after their own animals.. Grrr

This is it entirely, a in law found out that I have currently 5 dogs and stated to another in law the only reason anyone would want 5 is to "breed and make money". I pointed out that 3 of them are incapable of breeding, and then it was how much money do you win at shows then? LOL These people live on benefits, have 6 kids between them and have in my opinion a drink problem and never even attempted to work a day in their lives, I wouldn't dream of asking how much they spend on their 'hobbies' as I think its extremely rude, but I think I might change my view on that :-(

Won't stop my hobby either, but will not be bothering with them next year, their loss

I know what you mean.  My own mother is most definitely not a pet lover.  Thinks cats and dogs are dirty!

After I got my own place, and then a dog, and a couple of years later, another.  She came round unexpectedly once, and I told her that I was just on my way out to see a pup that I'd reserved.

She asked (aghast) why I was having another dog.  I told her "because I can!" :-)

Still, she doesn't visit now.  :-)  :-)  :-)

I haven't seen my mother in over 10 years ;). She too thinks animals are dirty etc and is terrified of bull breeds. It is nobody's business how much I spend on my animals but I am alway amazed that no one gives a damn how I manage to keep the rescue afloat but if I go to a breeder to buy a dog then it must be donations I am spending blabla. All hell broke lose when I posted about Bordeaux, some of the texts I got where downright nasty. That is the other side of the coin called "rescue".

> That is the other side of the coin called "rescue".

But you can hold your head up and ignore the ignorant!  :-)

Yep! I wanted Bordeaux, researched the breed, both parents are health tested and one of the few epi free lines. I saved up and had LOTS of conversations with his breeder before taking the plunge. After over 1000 rehomed dogs, wouldn't you think I deserved the "right" to buy a dog? No, I got bombarded with slogans like "For every bought dog, ten dogs die in the Pound" - I nearly fell off my chair. HOW do people come up with statistics like that??

I thought I was the only one who's family (well actually my children)is totally none supportive of having 3 dogs. My family complain when I buy toys grooming products etc. They moan that I spend too much time on the dogs and not enough on them. I tell them I do as much for them as I do the dogs they just dont see it so I explained. I feed the dogs once a day, I feed you twice, I cleans the dogs bed. I clean and make your beds. I bath the dogs, I wash and iron your clothes, I take the dogs for a walk to the fields, I chuffer you around to your mates houses. I buy things for the dogs, I give you spending money, I cuddle and praise the dogs  I cuddle and praise you too. Then I explained what I get from the dogs. Their always happy to see me they dont complain they listen when I talk. They dont ask for anything that I cant give and they dont argue back. My kids just sat there gob smacked..... lol  they're 16 and 19

> They moan that I spend too much time on the dogs

Grinning at that one!  Once had a husband that was like that about the dogs!  No longer a husband I'm glad to say!  :-)  :-)

> After over 1000 rehomed dogs, wouldn't you think I deserved the "right" to buy a dog?

You most certainly do!!!!!!

I feel the same - it's ok for the in-laws to go on about the amount of time and money I spend on the dogs, but if I dare comment about the noise and commotion we've had to put up with from the 2 nephews over the last 4 days...... Don't get me wrong, I love the boys, but I would like a meal without half chewed and spat out food all over the table, parents shouting at the 3 year old (who I think is pretty good for that age!), grandparents sticking their oar in, and nobody else able to carry on a conversation. And yet with all of that, they are of course part of the family, whereas my dogs are treated like just one step up from an object like a sofa. They are not allowed near the main house because sister-in-law is terrified of dogs, luckily there is a granny annex which the dogs stay in, and I have to sneak out to spend half an hour with them every so often. Love family Christmasses!

Any member of my family that make comments about my dogs in a bad way either no longer visit (step mum for example ;-) ) or are asked to leave :-) My house, my dogs, my rules :-D

> My house, my dogs, my rules :-D

Exactly! :-) I have this poem in the hallway as you walk in the house...

                                                                 Dogs Live Here

My dog and I live in this house. You are welcome to come and visit me anytime but we have a few things that you must understand before you visit:

You must expect a few dog hairs to stick to your clothes. I vacuum and clean on a regular basis, but a Dog lives in this house too.

You may be licked and given a paw a few times but he does this because he loves people and wants to say "Hello", so if you feel that you are too good for his love then you may not feel welcome here because this is his home too.

My dog is well mannered and very clean but if you are one of those people who think ALL animals are dirty and smelly then you and I will probably have difficulty feeling comfortable during your visit.

If you don't like the sound of barking, then my home is not likely to be a pleasant place for you. My dog protects me by letting me know I have a visitor. Whether it be a friend or uninvited stranger. If you are a friend, my dog will consider you his friend too but if you are an unwelcome guest, my dog will protect me with his life as I would his.

Do not expect me to lock my dog in another room during your visit. I have trained my dog well so he will not do anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject him to feel as if he is being punished by locking him away for no reason. That would just be cruel.

When you walk in my home, be careful not to trip on a squeaky toy or a bone. These are my dog's little treasures and I will not take them away from him just to show you that I keep a clean house. He knows where all his toys are. They may not look like much to you, but to him, they are worth more than gold.

You see, This is OUR home. We have been together for a long time. I raised him into a well mannered, beautifully behaved dog. I am proud of him.

I consider him my personal gift from God. He has done nothing but give me his endless love and devotion for many years. I love him dearly and want to make his years happy ones. As happy as he makes mine.

When you go home to your family, he stays here with me. A fine and loving companion. He is MY family and I wouldn't change that for the world.

When I was sick, he stayed right by my side as I did his when he was not having a good day. A better friend I could not ask for. When no one else cared, my Dog did. He has given me nothing but pure joy and I love him endlessly.

So please understand that I am not being rude. I'm just looking out for my best friend. :-)

Lovely words :-)

Kiger, love that poem..

Might just have to pinch that and print one out for myself!!! :-D

i have relatives too that think i must be mad , one is a horsey person but wont visit me because of the dogs although she has a dog herself but to her its just a dog ! i have a sign on my  gate with a pic that says

We dont have carpet , just wall to wall dog hair .
if you dont like dogs dont come in

Thats a good one too.. Maybe just to scare them a little bit more add top to floor of slobber!!! :-D

they find that out when they come in, its usually up the walls and hanging from the ceiling  LOL

> We dont have carpet , just wall to wall dog hair .
>

Laughing because I have quite a small lounge.  I always tell folk that they needn't worry , as once all the dogs lie down, it's wall to wall dog, aand you can't see that I haven't vaccumed!

> I always tell folk that they needn't worry , as once all the dogs lie down, it's wall to wall dog, aand you can't see that I haven't vaccumed!

LOL

A friend of mine took a plastic bag of dog hair with her when she went to choose a new carpet!! She actually got quite a good match!

Ohh maddie11881 , how very true that is , i wish my eldest son and mum would understand that, i myself care for everyone including the 3 dogs,
and at the end of the day i get the most reward for doing this from my Dogs , like you say their always happy to see you and i get much comfort from them just by the way they sit at my feet having a pet,
i can sit and watch a whole movie with my bully sitting by me and its peacfully bliss :-),

theirs no moaning or complaining from my dogs they just happy to be around me and me them :-D

Fantastic, JeanSW, me too! As a kid I used to think that moving into my own house meant I could raid the fridge if I wanted to and come home when I liked...and about thirty years later it dawned on me that I could have more than one dog if I wanted to. I now have three, my children think I'm crazy, my mother puts it more politely but also harbours doubts about my sanity and I've never been happier :-)

Hi maddie11881, I have had this same discussion with my sons (aged 18 and 21), who in addition to the benefits you describe almost never wash the dishes, cook, tidy their rooms and generally expect the services of a 5 star hotel--all my own fault, I am sure, for letting them off housework when they were younger. They complain about the way the dogs bring mud into the house, occasionally jump up on them to say hello and that they are "badly behaved"...until I remind the boys that the dogs never forget to thank me, are always keen to go with me wherever I need to go and never complain if they are kept waiting. When I got my third dog in September I didn't bother telling the boys, just went and got the puppy...the boys are just about getting over the shock now
:-)

excellent idea, bilbobaggins, thanks for this--I have been wondering what to match WSS with and now I know how to do it!

I especially like this one:

>Do not expect me to lock my dog in another room during your visit. I have trained my dog well so he will not do >anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject him to feel as if he is being punished by >locking him away for no reason. That would just be cruel.

If people come into MY home then they have to get used to having my dogs around! All they do is have a quick sniff and then usually ignore them anyway.I would be absolutely mortified if a visitor,family or not,asked me to lock my dogs away.I wouldn't and couldn't :(

My brother can't resist getting a dig in about my dogs at every opportunity!! Drives me nuts :( Which is why i love it when it's my turn to host Christmas,my house,my dogs,my rules!If they don't like it they don't have to come!

I just had an email from friends of mine who want to come and visit me for 2 days. They have asked me if there is a B & B in my area as, the wife tried to put it politely, the husband doesn't like all the dogs in my house. Hmmm, maybe it's time to tell them that (although I smoke cigarettes), the smoke from his cigars makes me gag?

definitely otterhound. I am afraid being a non smoker and despite having a 17 year old that smokes (grrr) any smokers including her smoke outside or in the garage. I would give them the b and b address with pleasure wont upset the dogs then !
And chelzeagirl I agree its lovely sitting watching tv or whatever surrounded by the furrie family. You just need someone to make the coffee because you cant disturb the animals when you get up !!  
and maddie must try those words on mine (17 and 19) so true

I've just read the poem and some of the replies to this topic to my family and their response "ITS SO SAD THAT DOGS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMANS". My response was that no they are part of the family and sometimes you actually get more love and attention with a dog than a human.
TBH my feelings are that my dogs are important than some humans, to me they are.

They still don't get it even with going through this topic..

Reading these posts makes me realise how lucky I am. Although none of my family are what you'd call 'into' dogs, and I wasn't allowed one until I was 14, none have questioned what we spend on them. My parents don't have any dogs, but they do look after ours when we go on holiday and also look after new puppies during the day while we're working. Other half's parents don't have dogs but they used to, and they have pictures on the wall of our dogs as well as their old dogs. Some family members bring dog biscuits when they come to visit :-D.
Probably the least doggy person in my family (i.e. the only person who comments on the hairs and the smell) is my brother. Even he knew that they were so important to me that when he got married in 1998, my 2 dogs were also invited to the wedding - he knew I'd never have gone otherwise :-D.

It's not just dogs people make comments about, i breed & show cavies (guinea pigs) and the amount of times my brother & his wife have said to me ''how many of you got now?'' then they go back back and tell our parents & then they have to ask me, for some reason they find it very interesting & are shocked each time i tell them!

What's it got to do with them how many i have its my business not theirs, i don't ask them for money to help support them so i think they should mind their own business, & next time i'm going to tell them so. It makes me so angry.

My cousin did that regarding choosing a carpet thats blends in with the dog hairs. LOL

I am lucky all the family have dogs... exception is my brother and his wife but their not having dogs is them being realistic about their life style ! They know they can borrow mine whenever they want!

> I am lucky all the family have dogs

So do most of mine, but they view them in a different way to me. Plus they don't actually do any activities with them, not keen on taking them places, like classes, special walks, pubs etc.. Where as i do and try to take them everywhere i can.. :-D

With you Sue, my girls come everywhere possible with me, and to be perfectly honest i prefer their company to that of many humans i know, and sorry once more for the arguements i caused xmas day with your family, just tell them you have pick of litter hahaha

> just tell them you have pick of litter hahaha

You know should i want an argument i would be tempted to say that.. Hehe..
Its not your fault that their minds wander into another planet and not actually listen to what i say!! They hear ooh one thing, when actually i've said the opposite..
You can't change your family, if only sometimes.. :-P

funny,an ex of mine resented my dogs and cats too.still got dogs and cats,probably always will have,too.ive also had people comment that"the dogs come before the kids in that family",well,what  do they know and how dare they assume things like that?ive always tried to look after everyone the best i can as im sure you all do,as well!people,pah!

You will never do enough for your families to understand how you feel about yor dogs will you? I never have. I cant split myself in two its never enough. Unless the person your trying to make feel welcome in your home is a out and out doggie person they will never understand. so why bother tyrying to explain. just enjoy your beloved companions, love them like they deserve and if someone doesnt understand then that is their short fall. they have never been loved by a dog x

>"the dogs come before the kids in that family"

Oh Gawd,I've heard that on more than one occasion. My ex used to rank himself third under my kids and dogs!

Sounds like at least he was a realist, Eden, my ex didn't believe I'd choose a second dog over him...and now I have three dogs and we have a great day every day! Yay!

lol JAY15 my other half moved out because of my dogs............... his fault he shouldnt have made me choose lol. Hope my kids dont make me choose . not untill they can afford to rent :-)

I agree with you lot - but my hubby's in the other lot - not that he doesn't love the dogs, but he puts his human family ahead of mine and the dogs' convenience. That's not necessarily bad, though I do feel that perhaps sometimes it could be them first, and just occasionally us! :-)

Here Here!

Furriefriends - I agree its lovely sitting watching tv or whatever surrounded by the furrie family. You just need someone to make the coffee because you cant disturb the animals when you get up !!  
Can't say how long I've stayed snuggled up desperate for a drink or the loo etc cos I don't want to disturb my girls LOL

> snuggled up desperate for a drink or the loo

Or trapped under the duvet a dog each side!! Well that's my story and I intend sticking to it!!