Quote: michael_wise

The only time I think that I really frustrated her was when I started feeding them raw. She says I obsessed over it. I don't know what she is talking about, but oh well. Maybe I thought about it a little too much, and spent too much money on their food in the beginning.

Oh yeah, the raw diet was a discussion and half for a while too.

"Those dogs eat better than I do" was the main comment.

Oh they sure do eat better!! We laugh about that all the time!

My husband has the same complaint. Especially since I changed his diet to more of a "whole foods, no junk" kind of diet. (He's always happy to eat it, though.) At least I'm still cooking his....

the thing i had to learn re: raw was not everyone likes discussing bowel movements....

also, b/c toby and i had dated before, but i'd gotten luc and teagan in the meantime before we got back together and got serious....when your boyfriend complains the dog is squishing him during the night (luc is allowed on the bed), answering 'that's b/c you're sleeping on his (luc's) side of the bed' is the WRONG answer. oops! ....now only humans are allowed in the bedroom when toby is over, and i keep sheets just for him (i.e., free of dog and cat hair).

My husband is pretty tolerant except he refuses to live his life around the dogs as he puts it. Always having to be home by a certain time if we are out and having to board them when we go on vacation can be expensive and frustrating.

He likes to walk the dogs in the morning and evening which really helps me out, especially if I have alot of borders to take care of.

He sometimes complains that the dogs eat better than he does, especially when we go grocery shopping together.He always asks me when I put something in the cart, if it is for us or the dogs.

He gets upset because the puppy listens great to me, but doesn't listen to him at all! I made the mistake of letting the puppy sleep in the bed when he was out of town one night. Well,of course, big mistake. I knew it was a "no no" when I did it.I can't help but laugh when my husband tries to move her out of his spot and she growls and goes after him. I'm terrible but it is quite comical!

she growls/goes after him? luc kept on just sleeping on top of toby til toby'd move.

that's the one thing about being vegetarian, toby knows the meat is for the dogs (i'm sure he sighs).

I have been on hiatus from training and competing (Gabor is not), but Gabor and I met through the dog sport. We had friends in common and knew about each other (when I was in Calif and he was in Europe) a few years before we met.Then ironically, we both moved to the same area and met at a trial in Scottsville, KY.

So, dogs come with the territory. But, Gabor is pretty balanced about doing non-dog stuff.

 Quote: Carol Boche

How do your spouses, significant others and kids feel about all the time spent with your dogs?

AND

What role, if any, do they play in the part of your dogs care and training?

The majority of his needs are met by me but potty breaks are split up and the last one in the kitchen after dinner gets to feed him. I take on the training and extended daily exercise most days and on more than a few occassions have been missing for hours but no one has ever complained. I think this has more to do with teenagers being greatful for every moment that I'm not observing all the things they so unwittingly try and never get away with; vs support for my dedication to Thor.

In my husband's eyes the kids do no wrong, the dog does no wrong and even I am viewed through rose colored glasses. So he never complains about the time I spend with the dog but does think I am too strict until he can't get the dog to do something and has to have me intervene

Vacations are more difficult but everyone prefers to have the dog with us and I think since Thor has a unique relationship with everyone in the house as long as I don't interfere with their time with the dog everyone is fine with the amount of time I spend with him.

 Quote: Carol Boche

I try and make sure that he is taken care of first, but sometimes I get SO into my training that I lapse (forget to start supper, run late from training, ect....) and if it happens too many times, he lets me know.

You're overachieving here; lapse as you sit at the computer 10 feet from the kitchen playing spider solitaire and act like you don't hear all the pans slamming around as he makes dinner after a hard days work. Late from training is admirable in comparison.

My husband got me into dog sport.

He knows my dog is the best post-combat therapy in the world, so he doesn't complain.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

You're overachieving here; lapse as you sit at the computer 10 feet from the kitchen playing spider solitaire and act like you don't hear all the pans slamming around as he makes dinner after a hard days work. Late from training is admirable in comparison.

The only time my husband complains is when he gets up before me and Yote moves from my feet to sleeping next to me on his pillow. But since I am asleep it makes it easier to feign innocence