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Monday, June 3, 2013

Am I Spoiling My Dog?

Mom is writing this one.  Lying here holding BJ at 1 AM as he pants and shakes because of the thunderstorms we had last night, I got to thinking about whether or not I spoil BJ.
(Other people's opinions of spoil.)

A short list of the extras that I do for BJ, in stream of consciousness order:

  • Minutes before thunder or blasting for the subway, BJ would zoom up on my lap and begin to pant and shake uncontrollably. I would hold him and talk softly to him,  The thunder suit didn't work.  Is that spoiling him?
I have ice cubes.
  • When we come in from walks in hot weather and I give him fresh water, I put a few ice cubes in it to make it refreshing.  He now waits for the ice cubes.  Is that spoiling him?
  • BJ doesn't like to eat alone.  If I want him to eat immediately I stay in the kitchen until he finishes.  If I walk away, he follows me.  Is that spoiling him?

G-d this list is getting long.  Maybe I am spoiling him.

  • I've been quite sick from soon after I returned from BlogPaws and have been in bed most of the time.  Since BJ doesn't like to eat alone, I moved his food dish into the bedroom.  He looks at me and starts eating immediately.  Is that spoiling him?
    I'm Allowed!

  • As you might note from some of the pictures, BJ likes his comfort, ergo soft pillows.  When he gets tired of resting on the chair cushion, he hops up on the back pillow.  Is that spoiling him?
My Side of the Bed


















    • In spite of his having his own memory foam bed, he'll jump up on my bed and hop on the pillows on "his" side of the bed.  When they get flattened, I puff them up for him.  Is that spoiling him?

    This one is empowering him.

    • When we get into the street for our walk, I stand still for a second and he chooses the direction.  There are times when I really need to go a certain way.  If it's okay, he goes; if it isn't, he digs in and refuses to move.

    So what do you think?  Am I spoiling BJ?

    What things do you do that you think spoil your pet?

    12 comments:

    1. Assuming your questions aren't rhetorical: no, no, no, no, no, no, no.....

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      1. Thank you.
        I did want my blog friends opinions on which if any were spoiling him. BJ is 13, so I'm not changing now. As he gets older and his needs change I'll probably do more.

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    2. Pft...spoiling?? Max wonders if there really IS such a thing???? He knows no other way than to be the center of the universe! Isn't THAT his job in life? :) That said, heck no...you're just being a good Mom!

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      1. Thank you. I figure since she adopted me (Actually, I gave her the pleading look and she what I wanted and took me home. ) she wanted someone to spoil.

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    3. Nope, nope , nope ... none of these is "spoiling" in my world...it's just having a strong bond and respecting BJ's needs...No problem with any of that

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      1. Good. I didn't think I was spoiling him, although when it comes to him I don't know what the word means and he's not teaching me.

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    4. I don't think we can EVER spoil them too much! If you are spoiling him at all it is standing there while he finishes his dinner! :)
      I am so sorry you have been sick ever since returning home from BlogPaws, me too!! Did you have a cold/cough kind of thing? That's what I am getting over.

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      1. When I got home on that Sunday, it was pouring and there were no cabs at Penn Station. By the time I got one I was drenched so I was surprised when I got a sore throat and cold. Now I just have a cough. I'm on the mend!

        But you know what, mo matter how sick or what the circumstances, BJ get his three walks a day. If it weren't for him, I would have stayed in all week. I'm glad I have him.

        Hope you feel better. BJ send hugs and licks.

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    5. I think my pets are like my grandkids--meant to be spoiled!
      Splotchy always picks the direction for our walk too.
      I thought I was the only one.
      Hope you're feeling better real soon!

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      1. Thank you. From what my blog friends are saying, the word spoil is not in their vocabulary when it comes to dogs and cats. BJ is 13 and I'm just going to continue to give him the best life I can.

        Someone put him out on the streets of NYC, a good person brought him to the Humane Society, and he adopted me when I visited. He changed my life and I know I changed his.

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    6. I don't consider it spoiling him, if you're spoiling him doing those things, I can't imagine what people think of me! LOL I hope you are feeling better.

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      1. Okay, you need to share what I'm not doing to spoil him.

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