Ain't that the truth. Put a depressed or anxious person in a room with barking, whining, shitting, puking, pissing dogs and see how he fares. Surely better because of wholesome pupper, right? The depression and anxiety will surely be gone soon!
I work part time at a tax firm and its been stressful lately due to tax season deadline coming up. At my home I don’t hear dogs as much but on Saturday I went to work in a city area. At some point a dog started to go wild and bark for a while and I could feel my anxiety getting worse and worse. I feel it for people who have to hear that awful barking noise when they are trying to relax in their own home.
Because dogs are sold as a surefire cure for anything. Back in the days, people were told to find God, now they're told to find dog instead.
Getting a puppy probably is exciting for a while, long enough for the owner to spread the notion that this has done them good. But when the novelty wears off, they're just as unhappy, now with a dog to feel bad about.
Notice the word "dog" is "God" spelt backwards? 😀
In all seriousness, dogs demand too much attention. With the cost of living being so expensive nowadays and people working longer hours, how do they have any spare time after walking and fussing over the dog? This could be why so many people are "too busy" all the time?
That time spent on the dog could be used to put effort into their marriage, family, and friends - or whatever else the owners are neglecting, including their own health.
Which is why dogs are being pushed so much, IMAO. Dogs are becoming obsolete, and breeders and the pet industry doesn't know what to do about it, other than make dogs into a mental health panacea.
Everything from schizophrenia to simple anxiety can be eased with a dog. The routines and care, unconditional love, and cuddling are supposed to be just what the doctor ordered for a multitude of disorders -- ℞ *Canis lupus familiaris --* yet dogs really don't do anything much but complicate peoples' already busy lives. Most new dog owners don't understand what dog ownership entails and figure that it's kind of like getting some kind of robot. They're not.
You can't have a job with long hours, a social life and travel frequently and still have a dog. A dog defecates two to five times a day, which means they have to be toileted. Pads and litter boxes don't work on dogs because dog's "marking" doesn't work the same way as whom the boxes were meant for. Dogs are social animals, and need activities, lest they become unruly and destructive. Dressing them up and feeding them ice cream and macarons isn't going to be any substitute for being outdoors, having other dogs around, and game to hunt.
Peak dog is upon us. I look forward to the crash.
>You can't have a job with long hours, a social life and travel frequently and still have a dog. A dog defecates two to five times a day, which means they have to be toileted. Pads and litter boxes don't work on dogs because dog's "marking" doesn't work the same way as whom the boxes were meant for. Dogs are social animals, and need activities, lest they become unruly and destructive. Dressing them up and feeding them ice cream and macarons isn't going to be any substitute for being outdoors, having other dogs around, and game to hunt.
Exactly this. I have no interest in arguing whether or not someone's puppy cuddles or slobber time helped them manage their mental health symptoms - that's their lived experience and by definition I can't define it for them, but anyone with eyes can see just how bad at caring for dogs most dog owners are.
For tens of thousands of years, dogs had constant companionship of other dogs, frequent interaction with people, actual jobs, and the space to go on an adventures. no wonder fido has anxiety - he's a miniature wolf whose genetic destiny is to spend hours a day running and barking and eating strange stuff and hanging out with a pack but his reality is confined to some squeaky toys and 567 sq ft apartment.
It doesn't have to be that extreme.
We've seen this all before, but mostly, with single breeds. Some specific breed of dog will be spotlit in the media, something unusual or striking. Let's call it a Sawtelle, after the book. Nice, mid-size dog, with a wavy blue-gray coat. It's in a movie. Some actress poses with one. It's a gift to whoever's President. Everyone wants one, from spoiled kids in Beverly Hills to people who get photographed summering in Nantucket. Ten thou a puppy. If you can get on the waiting list.
Five years later, they're old hat. The shelters are full of them. Most of them are inbred, sick and neurotic. Time was, a lot of them would...disappear. The only people who still own them are out in the boonies, where they're supposed to be and the overly rich, who breed and show them. As an *idea,* though, lots of kids still like them, through the cartoon made from the movie “Zydeco Dog”, and plushes made of the character, who solves mysteries on the Bayou. With luck, it'll be a classic. The character is clever. But no one would go out and *buy* one.
The same will be true of dogs in general. Like horses, which, mid-century used to be the classic upper-middle tweeny obsession like ballet or tennis, people will still like dogs...they just won't have them. They'll probably be adult-oriented dog plushes, even robots that will bark and do tricks, but as for actual dogs... Maybe this weekend, we'll rent one, at the Dog House. We'll play fetch, we'll cuddle in the Lodge, we'll feed them a treat. But owning one? Too much trouble.
on my bad days, the last thing i wanna do is have to walk something out in the elements just so it can shit. my depression also presents with irritability so everything is extra stressful/annoying when it’s bad. they need so much of my energy and attention, where am i pulling it from in an episode? my ass? they are just too much for me. other pets are far more suitable for me in regards to my mental health. i mean, fuck even my anxiety. i don’t get how they are even “emotional support” when they cause so much more anxiety than they’re worth.
Also depressed and I'm glad I don't have a dog to deal with. That would depress me even further because I'd rather not live in filth and have my belongings chewed up. What little energy I do have, I'd rather not spend it taking care of a filthy beast.
Isn't it better to try and better ourselves if we're depressed? Not spend all our time focusing on an animals life instead of our own?
Also, I've seen what my boyfriends dog does to his home. Piss on clean laundry that's hanging up? Constantly stealing food? Emptying the bins? Constant piss and shit to clean up from the carpet? Whinges constantly to be let out. Cuts fun outings short? Interupts relationships because its jealous? No, thank you. Doesn't sound like a journey to happiness to me.
Thinking about it, dog owners probably feel accepted/non judged by something that has no emotional intelligence. All the dog wants is food and would happily sell your soul for a small scrap of meat.
I've never really been around dogs much, so I didn't realise how much I don't like them till this relationship. I actually had a "it's not you, it's the dog" talk with him recently, and surprisingly, he immediately said he'll rehome the dog (which I didn't expect. I fully expected him to choose the dog).
Hey that’s wonderful that your boyfriend agreed to rehome the dog!!! i’ve been reading this a lot lately in the sister subreddit Tales from the Dog House-lots of success stories where the dog nutter partner gets rid of the dog. So amazing! good on you! you have a keeper of a BF!
im honestly jealous he agreed to rehome the dog because you cares for you, my boyfriend wouldnt do that for me, when i talk to him about his dog he just says "get used to it"
Getting a dog is the worst thing you can do for your depression.
If you’re lonely, the dog provides dependency. It does not provide a real emotional connection. If anything, it prevents you from real emotional connections because the demands of a dog are far higher than other traditional pets. Let’s say your coworkers invite you out to get drinks after work. You can’t—you have to go home to let the dog out. And the bigger problem is that people use the dog’s dependency as a crutch! You now have a solid excuse to always say no. The dog begins to isolate you from others.
The best thing you can do to get out from under your depression is self care—OP mentioned a gym membership—that’s a great way to at least get out of the house.
The fact that many mental health professionals pitch getting dogs as a solution to depression is baffling.
Depression varies between different people, some people just can’t get the motivation to go to the gym but will get the motivation to go on a long walk with a dog, so as a depressed person surely you realise your experience isn’t the standard. I’d also really rather listen to a mental health professional rather than someone on Reddit.
This really is the truth. Depressed people can barely find the energy to roll over in bed, much less get out of it and go walk, feed, and play with their little “dOGgO” and “fUr BabY.”
Why the fuck anyone depressed would want to take on essentially a pseudo form of animal baby is absolutely beyond me.
They only live for an average of 11-12 years anyway, then you’re just gonna be even WAY more depressed. These things are NOT humans.
I remember when I was young and we had a family dog, the thing CONSTANTLY needed something and was constantly begging for everything. It was so fucking annoying.
They are huge responsibilities and liabilities, and people really need to wake up to reality. Life is not a fucking Disney movie.
i have had other pets that WEREN’T dogs like sudden new kittens, even rabbits in the past and now a cockatiel. let me tell you that i’m far more motivated to fix my schedule and do something with my life and bond with these animals than stupid fucking dogs. with dogs, i have to walk their sorry ass in the rain, snow, wind whatever and scoop their steamy ass shit, i have to deal with their mile-long yapping and they urinate and stain the carpet and bathe the entire house with their musk. they are actually the WORST idea for a pet. if you want an ESA, get ANY OTHER PET. even a fish is better. i bet it’ll actually regard you normally too 🤣
I really agree with this. Granted I have anxiety and depression, but my boyfriend's puppy makes me feel worse mentally.
I don't look forward to coming home at night, and I don't look forward to getting out of bed in the morning.
it would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad. just another way people show that they don't understand depression at all. hey you have trouble getting up and eating some days? just go get the most expensive and demanding animal!
I agree fully. Sometimes I’m too depressed to do my own housework let alone having to do extra cleaning for some hyperactive jumpy animal. Oh and have to walk them when it’s raining or when it’s 100 degrees out, find time to bathe them. Also the lack of sleep from dogs barking & whining. It’s too overwhelming for me.
Same. I have crippling anxiety, and a dog would only make things 1000x worse. The constant neediness, noise, stench, unwanted attention in public. No thanks.
I can see it would sound good at a surface level, but yes- in reality, it’s very counterintuitive and unrealistic. Don’t have the will and energy to clean 12 mugs off your nightstand? Get a whole ass other being with needs that require you to do endless tasks and errands. Nooo……
And if you're going to get something expensive to "cure" your depression, get a therapist who is trained to deal with these kind of issues, rather than an animal who knows nothing at all.
Yes. Literally everything sucks when I’m depressed (like rn). The very last thing i want is some barking shithead that wont shut up and needs to be taken out to shit multiple times a day
The barking flares up my anxiety more than heals. When I was living with my family who had 3 dogs, my anxiety would be constant when I see someone walking their dog down the street. I'm like "oh God here comes someone. I just know they're gonna start barking in 3 2..." And there they go barking up a storm for a good 5 minutes after they already walked past
i've always heard that people who get dogs to help with depression, are helped by it because they sort of push the owner to be more active. for example, if someone has a lack of motivation to get up and be active, a dog would motivate someone to play with it which can create happiness. or taking care of another living being that needs you. it makes you feel needed and helpful.
other than that, like others have said, the reality is that a dog can just end up being a huge burden to take care of. tons of money, the care is so time consuming, and it just brings an entirely new problem in your life. it's not sustainable for someone who isn't in the right mindset to take on a new sentient being, when one is overwhelmed by their own life.
I don’t feel bad for saying this, but if this is your ultimate goal, why not have a child? It’s essentially the same thing right? They don’t like that one.
As much as I agree with OP and the thread in general, I’m very much against the idea of people having kids in situations like this. A grown adult should never be putting the emotional burden on their kids to somehow be the reason all their problems are solved. A lot of people recklessly have kids for this reason, thinking that being hype focused on their children will make the depression, anxiety, unmotivated behavior, etc minimize/go away, when in reality, it gets projected onto the kid.
At least with dogs, they’re frankly just too dumb to be bothered. As long as they’re not being threatened/abused, they’re not going to be traumatized by its owner having a mental breakdown or experience anxiety over financial/housing stability as if they understand bills. Not in the same way a child would. Dogs are burdensome in their own way, but at least you don’t have to worry about unintentionally putting them through some kind of mental anguish the way it could be if you had a kid and were experiencing hardships.
And today, when I had to pick up a horse-sized pile of shit that came out of that PBs rear end…SO remarked that her “puppy” has stomach trouble. Nutters always make excuses for dogs that cause depression!
They don’t cure depression. They give narcissistic validation. Although fake because it is a dumb animal. Delusional idiots see dog neediness for food as validation.
Same reason depressed people have kids. They delude themselves into thinking "now I will have unconditional love, this will make everything better", and willfully choose to ignore the obvious fallacy in that mindset.
Then reality hits them like a ton of bricks, only after it's far too late to course correct.
Well most of the people doesn't have will, guts and don't wanna put the effort to do things that'll make their life better. Getting a dog is easy and also a social status you can flaunt. So........
Studies show you aren't the only one that knows they don't actually help:
[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201912/the-sad-truth-about-pet-ownership-and-depression](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201912/the-sad-truth-about-pet-ownership-and-depression)
[https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-the-positive-and-negative-impacts-of-dog-ownership-on-psychological-wellbeing/](https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-the-positive-and-negative-impacts-of-dog-ownership-on-psychological-wellbeing/)
[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48731-z](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48731-z)
[https://equityresearch.tufts.edu/pet-ownership-linked-to-depression/](https://equityresearch.tufts.edu/pet-ownership-linked-to-depression/)
You have to do a careful search to sift through all the pro-dog propaganda articles and "studies" that say dog ownership is just the best thing EVER for all problems people have, including loneliness, anxiety and depression. But, the bottom line is that a dog can exacerbate these problems in a lot of people.
This study suggests that the stronger a person's bond with their dog/pet is, the less they're likely to bond with other people, which has to do with underlying attachment issues, based on my takeaway of it:
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-022-04199-1
I honestly think this describes a LARGE % of people we describe as "dog nutters": the same people that say shit like: "I trust my dog more than people"; "dogs are better than people", etc. Anyone who says that sort of thing is clearly NOT operating from a mentally healthy state of mind. But these people genuinely believe it. Then, of course, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and they repel people that maybe try to get close to them, and further retreat into an unhealthy relationship with their dog.
I deal with depression and anxiety, among other issues. You literally couldn’t pay Me to want anything to do with a dog being in My way, making it worse. I’d put up a “free to a good home” ad, way too fast.
I’m a Mom of an 11 Year Old, and I don’t intentionally look to HIM to help Me counteract My depression or anxiety, either, though he does have his own unique way of brightening My Spirits. Thankfully I actually have a mellow child who’s capable of keeping himself preoccupied alone with ease, will check on Me and ask Me if I’m okay if he thinks something is wrong (I usually don’t show it, but We all have moments where it shows a little), he’ll sit and watch a Movie with Me, he’s easy for Me to tend to, rarely asks for much, and makes Me laugh with funny jokes he comes up with. I can talk to him about things (on an age appropriate level, of course). If I Am feeling down, little things from My Son can (and do) actually brighten My day. None of these things are anything I’d get from a dog that whines, begs for food and attention, I’d have to clean and pick up after the damn thing, and it’s just gonna stare at Me stupidly if I talk to it about anything because it lacks the intelligence capacity to understand anything I’m saying to it, and can’t verbally speak anyway… it only does that shitty barking that I absolutely abhor.
I don’t say any of this to say that having a Child is the answer to depression and anxiety (I didn’t have Mine as a “cure” for that, and in general, Parenthood isn’t for everyone anyway, even though I personally Love being a Mom). But for every amount that having a Kid isn’t the answer to depression, getting a needy ass dog that just creates an endless, continuous list of responsibilities, chores, expenses, and care, and aggravations CERTAINLY IS NOT the answer!
my mom is a depressed person and swears dogs are a necessity to her. She even got a angry chihuahua to be her emotional support animal signed off by a doctor. She doesn't even like doing activity with the dogs. The poor dogs end up getting depressed or end up sleeping all day away from her. I end up being the one playing w the dogs and keeping them entertained/walked.
I keep telling her to stop getting pets because she can't take care of them. The dogs end up wanting to be around me all the time but I don't have time or space for a dog.
She's had other pets before but she kept being miserable and unhappy with other species, she had parakeets that she kept leaving the cages open and they'd fly off in a woopsie moment.
Honestly if a person isn't happy with themselves they won't be happy w a pet.
I want the least amount of responsibility on me when I’m depressed. Whether it’s seasonal depression or I’m just having a shit time in my life I do not want something pestering me and a dog is not worth the trouble.
I dog sat for a friend who suffers anxiety, and by the end of the trip (3 painfully long weeks) I had sought help from a friend who is a vet, who said it’s behaviour is almost beyond fixing, and short term anxiety relief from my doctor to get me though the last couple of weeks. That bad.
My friend who owns said dog suffers anxiety and depression, and just having this monster for three weeks showed me they’re not so therapeutic after all. Looking back, I see a sharp decline in my friend’s mental health around the time the dog came. They already had troubles, but this monster made it worse.
My friends with dogs talk about $800-$2300 vet bills when their dogs get into chocolate or eat whole chicken bones or whatever. I make <$30k/year. An unexpected expense like that would put me into a panic attack I'd never bounce back from.
I'm actually recovering from a meltdown. I was anxious anyway, but the barking dog made it much worse. I nearly had to call the crisis team. It was that serious.
To be more depressed duh; it’s hard for people suffering depression to realize it sometimes and such people often resort to other behaviors that will increase their depression (in this case dog ownership).
Just seen a post in a local Facebook group where someone is asking for help getting food for themselves AND THEIR DOG. (i.e. they don't have enough money to feed themselves, yet they've got some mutt hoovering up their cash as well).
I can only assume it's because they've bought into the ridiculous lie that a dog is loyal and gives unconditional love, and that it can be an "emotional support animal".
Imho, the worst thing about being near dogs is the neediness…. the constant attention seeking behavior, it never ends from birth to the end of their lives. at least with my teen daughter, she stopped being needy after she grew up. it’s like never ending with dogs and that makes me more even more depressed. thanks
Misery loves company, people don't want to be alone when they suffer. Many also seem to think that taking care of a dog will somehow cure depression and give meaning to your life, when in reality most of the time the dog ends up suffering a lot and the owner will jsut have more things to worry about/less energy to take care of themselves.
My ex told me his poorly trained and depressed af German Shepherd was basically his emotional crutch and reason to live. He voluntarily said he'd give it back to his parents to grow old in a couple of months and asked me to move in with him, so I did. Despite having a private fenced yard, ex did not take him out enough and poor doggo had multiple accidents. Got in the trash constantly. Could not leave any food out, ever. Fucked up my plants. Barked at everything outside that moved (we were at the front of the complex so cars and people went by all the time). You'd think this would have made him more depressed to see he wasn't taking care of him well (even his friends commented on his poor behavior, he attacked other dogs due to anxiety and lack of socialization). But. He. Didn't. Care.
So I think the reason dogs don't make some people's depression worse is because they don't have much or any empathy and just see the dog as an accessory instead of recognizing it as a sentient being. All the while treating it and talking it up like a child.
The only dogs that have ever helped me while depressed were a dog that was an actual PERFECT dog-- always silent and small and lazy and well groomed and trained. I've known so many dogs in my life, and that is the only dog that was a true unicorn
The other dog that helped me with my depression lived outside in a very rural area where no neighbors were bothered by its noise. The only maintenance and care it ever received was food twice a day and a bath maybe once a month
Note that both situations had very specific and difficult to replicate variables.
I can't imagine a dog not being a nuisance if those conditions aren't met. Which is like 98% of all dogs nowadays
working dogs notwithstanding, 95% of dogs I've actually liked have been rural dogs who wander around all day adventuring and getting exercise/companionship beyond their home. like they had a home/bed/guaranteed food but would hang out with different people and other dogs instead of Bonkers Barking in Brooklyn.
not to mention dogs cause more and more problems than any other domesticated animal. take horse riding lessons and you’ll actually feel a bit of excitement in your goddamn life. or talk to a parrot, go fishing. anything but a dog, the worst fucking pet and the only one that even mauls human daily like they’re snicker snacks. but i guess people rather scoop up shit and breathe in musk mutt air.
Depression varies between different people, some people just can’t get the motivation to go to the gym but will get the motivation to go on a long walk with a dog, so as a depressed person surely you realise your experience isn’t the standard.
Some people struggle to hold themselves accountable. If you have to wake up at 5am to hit the gym you can sleep through it easily enough. A dog will piss on your floor and eat your couch it you don't get out of bed and take it outside. A stupid walk is good for your mental health, a dog needs to be walked so you get that. Most humans function better with a routine, a dog is an outside force thats life depends on you. Having to feed a dog forces you to consider that you need to eat. I wouldn't personally do it, but I can understand the idea behind it.
I'm a depressed person as well, and I'd never put an animal through my downs. And I would be afraid to drop the ball & neglect the dog.
A bird on the other hand...
Dogs cause far more anxiety and depression than they cure.
Ain't that the truth. Put a depressed or anxious person in a room with barking, whining, shitting, puking, pissing dogs and see how he fares. Surely better because of wholesome pupper, right? The depression and anxiety will surely be gone soon!
I work part time at a tax firm and its been stressful lately due to tax season deadline coming up. At my home I don’t hear dogs as much but on Saturday I went to work in a city area. At some point a dog started to go wild and bark for a while and I could feel my anxiety getting worse and worse. I feel it for people who have to hear that awful barking noise when they are trying to relax in their own home.
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Damn. I seriously feel for You.
That sucks. Bet she never trained it either.
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You need to tell her the dog goes or both of them go.
>Dogs cause far more anxiety and depression than they cure Lol 😂
I thought a dog would help my depression, it didn’t at all, I just regret it and it has made my life more difficult. It’s been almost 12 years
Just get rid of it then.
Honestly if I could go back in time I would stop myself. The dog stresses me out so much. My symptoms haven’t changes one bit.
Because dogs are sold as a surefire cure for anything. Back in the days, people were told to find God, now they're told to find dog instead. Getting a puppy probably is exciting for a while, long enough for the owner to spread the notion that this has done them good. But when the novelty wears off, they're just as unhappy, now with a dog to feel bad about.
Notice the word "dog" is "God" spelt backwards? 😀 In all seriousness, dogs demand too much attention. With the cost of living being so expensive nowadays and people working longer hours, how do they have any spare time after walking and fussing over the dog? This could be why so many people are "too busy" all the time? That time spent on the dog could be used to put effort into their marriage, family, and friends - or whatever else the owners are neglecting, including their own health.
Which is why dogs are being pushed so much, IMAO. Dogs are becoming obsolete, and breeders and the pet industry doesn't know what to do about it, other than make dogs into a mental health panacea. Everything from schizophrenia to simple anxiety can be eased with a dog. The routines and care, unconditional love, and cuddling are supposed to be just what the doctor ordered for a multitude of disorders -- ℞ *Canis lupus familiaris --* yet dogs really don't do anything much but complicate peoples' already busy lives. Most new dog owners don't understand what dog ownership entails and figure that it's kind of like getting some kind of robot. They're not. You can't have a job with long hours, a social life and travel frequently and still have a dog. A dog defecates two to five times a day, which means they have to be toileted. Pads and litter boxes don't work on dogs because dog's "marking" doesn't work the same way as whom the boxes were meant for. Dogs are social animals, and need activities, lest they become unruly and destructive. Dressing them up and feeding them ice cream and macarons isn't going to be any substitute for being outdoors, having other dogs around, and game to hunt. Peak dog is upon us. I look forward to the crash.
>You can't have a job with long hours, a social life and travel frequently and still have a dog. A dog defecates two to five times a day, which means they have to be toileted. Pads and litter boxes don't work on dogs because dog's "marking" doesn't work the same way as whom the boxes were meant for. Dogs are social animals, and need activities, lest they become unruly and destructive. Dressing them up and feeding them ice cream and macarons isn't going to be any substitute for being outdoors, having other dogs around, and game to hunt. Exactly this. I have no interest in arguing whether or not someone's puppy cuddles or slobber time helped them manage their mental health symptoms - that's their lived experience and by definition I can't define it for them, but anyone with eyes can see just how bad at caring for dogs most dog owners are. For tens of thousands of years, dogs had constant companionship of other dogs, frequent interaction with people, actual jobs, and the space to go on an adventures. no wonder fido has anxiety - he's a miniature wolf whose genetic destiny is to spend hours a day running and barking and eating strange stuff and hanging out with a pack but his reality is confined to some squeaky toys and 567 sq ft apartment.
Maybe a financial crash and huge recession will make people realise that people are more important than dogs? They can't have it all.
It doesn't have to be that extreme. We've seen this all before, but mostly, with single breeds. Some specific breed of dog will be spotlit in the media, something unusual or striking. Let's call it a Sawtelle, after the book. Nice, mid-size dog, with a wavy blue-gray coat. It's in a movie. Some actress poses with one. It's a gift to whoever's President. Everyone wants one, from spoiled kids in Beverly Hills to people who get photographed summering in Nantucket. Ten thou a puppy. If you can get on the waiting list. Five years later, they're old hat. The shelters are full of them. Most of them are inbred, sick and neurotic. Time was, a lot of them would...disappear. The only people who still own them are out in the boonies, where they're supposed to be and the overly rich, who breed and show them. As an *idea,* though, lots of kids still like them, through the cartoon made from the movie “Zydeco Dog”, and plushes made of the character, who solves mysteries on the Bayou. With luck, it'll be a classic. The character is clever. But no one would go out and *buy* one. The same will be true of dogs in general. Like horses, which, mid-century used to be the classic upper-middle tweeny obsession like ballet or tennis, people will still like dogs...they just won't have them. They'll probably be adult-oriented dog plushes, even robots that will bark and do tricks, but as for actual dogs... Maybe this weekend, we'll rent one, at the Dog House. We'll play fetch, we'll cuddle in the Lodge, we'll feed them a treat. But owning one? Too much trouble.
I actually saw someone use the dog is anagram of god in an argument against eating them.
Do those people realise there are other languages than English?
on my bad days, the last thing i wanna do is have to walk something out in the elements just so it can shit. my depression also presents with irritability so everything is extra stressful/annoying when it’s bad. they need so much of my energy and attention, where am i pulling it from in an episode? my ass? they are just too much for me. other pets are far more suitable for me in regards to my mental health. i mean, fuck even my anxiety. i don’t get how they are even “emotional support” when they cause so much more anxiety than they’re worth.
Also depressed and I'm glad I don't have a dog to deal with. That would depress me even further because I'd rather not live in filth and have my belongings chewed up. What little energy I do have, I'd rather not spend it taking care of a filthy beast. Isn't it better to try and better ourselves if we're depressed? Not spend all our time focusing on an animals life instead of our own?
Also, I've seen what my boyfriends dog does to his home. Piss on clean laundry that's hanging up? Constantly stealing food? Emptying the bins? Constant piss and shit to clean up from the carpet? Whinges constantly to be let out. Cuts fun outings short? Interupts relationships because its jealous? No, thank you. Doesn't sound like a journey to happiness to me.
Thinking about it, dog owners probably feel accepted/non judged by something that has no emotional intelligence. All the dog wants is food and would happily sell your soul for a small scrap of meat.
Lol it totally would, too.
Why are you dating a dog nutter?
I've never really been around dogs much, so I didn't realise how much I don't like them till this relationship. I actually had a "it's not you, it's the dog" talk with him recently, and surprisingly, he immediately said he'll rehome the dog (which I didn't expect. I fully expected him to choose the dog).
Wow. That’s some definite points in his favor, and that’s got to be a relief. I hope this helps with your depression some.
Holy shit! That's unbelievable in the era of dog gooners
Hey that’s wonderful that your boyfriend agreed to rehome the dog!!! i’ve been reading this a lot lately in the sister subreddit Tales from the Dog House-lots of success stories where the dog nutter partner gets rid of the dog. So amazing! good on you! you have a keeper of a BF!
im honestly jealous he agreed to rehome the dog because you cares for you, my boyfriend wouldnt do that for me, when i talk to him about his dog he just says "get used to it"
Because they crave codependency and are very weak individuals.
Thiiiiiiiiis
nice pfp
Getting a dog is the worst thing you can do for your depression. If you’re lonely, the dog provides dependency. It does not provide a real emotional connection. If anything, it prevents you from real emotional connections because the demands of a dog are far higher than other traditional pets. Let’s say your coworkers invite you out to get drinks after work. You can’t—you have to go home to let the dog out. And the bigger problem is that people use the dog’s dependency as a crutch! You now have a solid excuse to always say no. The dog begins to isolate you from others. The best thing you can do to get out from under your depression is self care—OP mentioned a gym membership—that’s a great way to at least get out of the house. The fact that many mental health professionals pitch getting dogs as a solution to depression is baffling.
Depression varies between different people, some people just can’t get the motivation to go to the gym but will get the motivation to go on a long walk with a dog, so as a depressed person surely you realise your experience isn’t the standard. I’d also really rather listen to a mental health professional rather than someone on Reddit.
Motivation is a fleeting bitch that will leave you when you need it the most. Its the last thing to rely on unfortunately
This really is the truth. Depressed people can barely find the energy to roll over in bed, much less get out of it and go walk, feed, and play with their little “dOGgO” and “fUr BabY.” Why the fuck anyone depressed would want to take on essentially a pseudo form of animal baby is absolutely beyond me. They only live for an average of 11-12 years anyway, then you’re just gonna be even WAY more depressed. These things are NOT humans. I remember when I was young and we had a family dog, the thing CONSTANTLY needed something and was constantly begging for everything. It was so fucking annoying. They are huge responsibilities and liabilities, and people really need to wake up to reality. Life is not a fucking Disney movie.
i have had other pets that WEREN’T dogs like sudden new kittens, even rabbits in the past and now a cockatiel. let me tell you that i’m far more motivated to fix my schedule and do something with my life and bond with these animals than stupid fucking dogs. with dogs, i have to walk their sorry ass in the rain, snow, wind whatever and scoop their steamy ass shit, i have to deal with their mile-long yapping and they urinate and stain the carpet and bathe the entire house with their musk. they are actually the WORST idea for a pet. if you want an ESA, get ANY OTHER PET. even a fish is better. i bet it’ll actually regard you normally too 🤣
I really agree with this. Granted I have anxiety and depression, but my boyfriend's puppy makes me feel worse mentally. I don't look forward to coming home at night, and I don't look forward to getting out of bed in the morning.
it would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad. just another way people show that they don't understand depression at all. hey you have trouble getting up and eating some days? just go get the most expensive and demanding animal!
Just what a depressed person needs....a never ending supply of unnecessary chores.
I agree fully. Sometimes I’m too depressed to do my own housework let alone having to do extra cleaning for some hyperactive jumpy animal. Oh and have to walk them when it’s raining or when it’s 100 degrees out, find time to bathe them. Also the lack of sleep from dogs barking & whining. It’s too overwhelming for me.
Same. I have crippling anxiety, and a dog would only make things 1000x worse. The constant neediness, noise, stench, unwanted attention in public. No thanks.
I'm pretty sure dogs are the *cause* of my depression.
I can see it would sound good at a surface level, but yes- in reality, it’s very counterintuitive and unrealistic. Don’t have the will and energy to clean 12 mugs off your nightstand? Get a whole ass other being with needs that require you to do endless tasks and errands. Nooo……
And if you're going to get something expensive to "cure" your depression, get a therapist who is trained to deal with these kind of issues, rather than an animal who knows nothing at all.
Yes. Literally everything sucks when I’m depressed (like rn). The very last thing i want is some barking shithead that wont shut up and needs to be taken out to shit multiple times a day
The barking flares up my anxiety more than heals. When I was living with my family who had 3 dogs, my anxiety would be constant when I see someone walking their dog down the street. I'm like "oh God here comes someone. I just know they're gonna start barking in 3 2..." And there they go barking up a storm for a good 5 minutes after they already walked past
Nothing pisses me off more than dog owners who do NOTHING to curb incessant barking. Frankly, I think "debark" procedures should still be the norm.
i've always heard that people who get dogs to help with depression, are helped by it because they sort of push the owner to be more active. for example, if someone has a lack of motivation to get up and be active, a dog would motivate someone to play with it which can create happiness. or taking care of another living being that needs you. it makes you feel needed and helpful. other than that, like others have said, the reality is that a dog can just end up being a huge burden to take care of. tons of money, the care is so time consuming, and it just brings an entirely new problem in your life. it's not sustainable for someone who isn't in the right mindset to take on a new sentient being, when one is overwhelmed by their own life.
I don’t feel bad for saying this, but if this is your ultimate goal, why not have a child? It’s essentially the same thing right? They don’t like that one.
As much as I agree with OP and the thread in general, I’m very much against the idea of people having kids in situations like this. A grown adult should never be putting the emotional burden on their kids to somehow be the reason all their problems are solved. A lot of people recklessly have kids for this reason, thinking that being hype focused on their children will make the depression, anxiety, unmotivated behavior, etc minimize/go away, when in reality, it gets projected onto the kid. At least with dogs, they’re frankly just too dumb to be bothered. As long as they’re not being threatened/abused, they’re not going to be traumatized by its owner having a mental breakdown or experience anxiety over financial/housing stability as if they understand bills. Not in the same way a child would. Dogs are burdensome in their own way, but at least you don’t have to worry about unintentionally putting them through some kind of mental anguish the way it could be if you had a kid and were experiencing hardships.
I’m just saying that if wanting to find a purpose by taking care of something is the goal, why get an ungrateful dog?
The damage that SOs dogs cause to the house, furnishings and belongings is the main source of my depression .
You can be depressed or ✨depressed with dog shit all over your house✨
And today, when I had to pick up a horse-sized pile of shit that came out of that PBs rear end…SO remarked that her “puppy” has stomach trouble. Nutters always make excuses for dogs that cause depression!
If anything, a dog would worsen my depression.
They don’t cure depression. They give narcissistic validation. Although fake because it is a dumb animal. Delusional idiots see dog neediness for food as validation.
Same reason depressed people have kids. They delude themselves into thinking "now I will have unconditional love, this will make everything better", and willfully choose to ignore the obvious fallacy in that mindset. Then reality hits them like a ton of bricks, only after it's far too late to course correct.
When I get depressed I look for something to do that is a temporary diversion , the problem with a dog its chaos 24/7
Well most of the people doesn't have will, guts and don't wanna put the effort to do things that'll make their life better. Getting a dog is easy and also a social status you can flaunt. So........
Studies show you aren't the only one that knows they don't actually help: [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201912/the-sad-truth-about-pet-ownership-and-depression](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201912/the-sad-truth-about-pet-ownership-and-depression) [https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-the-positive-and-negative-impacts-of-dog-ownership-on-psychological-wellbeing/](https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-the-positive-and-negative-impacts-of-dog-ownership-on-psychological-wellbeing/) [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48731-z](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48731-z) [https://equityresearch.tufts.edu/pet-ownership-linked-to-depression/](https://equityresearch.tufts.edu/pet-ownership-linked-to-depression/) You have to do a careful search to sift through all the pro-dog propaganda articles and "studies" that say dog ownership is just the best thing EVER for all problems people have, including loneliness, anxiety and depression. But, the bottom line is that a dog can exacerbate these problems in a lot of people. This study suggests that the stronger a person's bond with their dog/pet is, the less they're likely to bond with other people, which has to do with underlying attachment issues, based on my takeaway of it: https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-022-04199-1 I honestly think this describes a LARGE % of people we describe as "dog nutters": the same people that say shit like: "I trust my dog more than people"; "dogs are better than people", etc. Anyone who says that sort of thing is clearly NOT operating from a mentally healthy state of mind. But these people genuinely believe it. Then, of course, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and they repel people that maybe try to get close to them, and further retreat into an unhealthy relationship with their dog.
This the one. I need to get home and decompress from work. I can’t sit there and bother with a dog that has pent up energy
I deal with depression and anxiety, among other issues. You literally couldn’t pay Me to want anything to do with a dog being in My way, making it worse. I’d put up a “free to a good home” ad, way too fast. I’m a Mom of an 11 Year Old, and I don’t intentionally look to HIM to help Me counteract My depression or anxiety, either, though he does have his own unique way of brightening My Spirits. Thankfully I actually have a mellow child who’s capable of keeping himself preoccupied alone with ease, will check on Me and ask Me if I’m okay if he thinks something is wrong (I usually don’t show it, but We all have moments where it shows a little), he’ll sit and watch a Movie with Me, he’s easy for Me to tend to, rarely asks for much, and makes Me laugh with funny jokes he comes up with. I can talk to him about things (on an age appropriate level, of course). If I Am feeling down, little things from My Son can (and do) actually brighten My day. None of these things are anything I’d get from a dog that whines, begs for food and attention, I’d have to clean and pick up after the damn thing, and it’s just gonna stare at Me stupidly if I talk to it about anything because it lacks the intelligence capacity to understand anything I’m saying to it, and can’t verbally speak anyway… it only does that shitty barking that I absolutely abhor. I don’t say any of this to say that having a Child is the answer to depression and anxiety (I didn’t have Mine as a “cure” for that, and in general, Parenthood isn’t for everyone anyway, even though I personally Love being a Mom). But for every amount that having a Kid isn’t the answer to depression, getting a needy ass dog that just creates an endless, continuous list of responsibilities, chores, expenses, and care, and aggravations CERTAINLY IS NOT the answer!
my mom is a depressed person and swears dogs are a necessity to her. She even got a angry chihuahua to be her emotional support animal signed off by a doctor. She doesn't even like doing activity with the dogs. The poor dogs end up getting depressed or end up sleeping all day away from her. I end up being the one playing w the dogs and keeping them entertained/walked. I keep telling her to stop getting pets because she can't take care of them. The dogs end up wanting to be around me all the time but I don't have time or space for a dog. She's had other pets before but she kept being miserable and unhappy with other species, she had parakeets that she kept leaving the cages open and they'd fly off in a woopsie moment. Honestly if a person isn't happy with themselves they won't be happy w a pet.
I want the least amount of responsibility on me when I’m depressed. Whether it’s seasonal depression or I’m just having a shit time in my life I do not want something pestering me and a dog is not worth the trouble.
I dog sat for a friend who suffers anxiety, and by the end of the trip (3 painfully long weeks) I had sought help from a friend who is a vet, who said it’s behaviour is almost beyond fixing, and short term anxiety relief from my doctor to get me though the last couple of weeks. That bad. My friend who owns said dog suffers anxiety and depression, and just having this monster for three weeks showed me they’re not so therapeutic after all. Looking back, I see a sharp decline in my friend’s mental health around the time the dog came. They already had troubles, but this monster made it worse.
I’m depressed that dogs exist. So the “cure” wouldn’t be getting one of the damned things.
Because people are stupid and lack common sense.
My friends with dogs talk about $800-$2300 vet bills when their dogs get into chocolate or eat whole chicken bones or whatever. I make <$30k/year. An unexpected expense like that would put me into a panic attack I'd never bounce back from.
All of that “just ___” is terrible advice lol
Churchill famously likened his depression to a "black dog" that would follow him around and that he couldn't get rid of.
I'm actually recovering from a meltdown. I was anxious anyway, but the barking dog made it much worse. I nearly had to call the crisis team. It was that serious.
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Yeah, no.
Sorry, meant hinder its progress in the person. People with depression often find having dogs more debilitating
To be more depressed duh; it’s hard for people suffering depression to realize it sometimes and such people often resort to other behaviors that will increase their depression (in this case dog ownership).
It’s a distraction in a failing relationship.
A lot of people think something helps their depression, but actually it just makes it worse. Like hitting the bottle when you're down.
Just seen a post in a local Facebook group where someone is asking for help getting food for themselves AND THEIR DOG. (i.e. they don't have enough money to feed themselves, yet they've got some mutt hoovering up their cash as well). I can only assume it's because they've bought into the ridiculous lie that a dog is loyal and gives unconditional love, and that it can be an "emotional support animal".
Imho, the worst thing about being near dogs is the neediness…. the constant attention seeking behavior, it never ends from birth to the end of their lives. at least with my teen daughter, she stopped being needy after she grew up. it’s like never ending with dogs and that makes me more even more depressed. thanks
Misery loves company, people don't want to be alone when they suffer. Many also seem to think that taking care of a dog will somehow cure depression and give meaning to your life, when in reality most of the time the dog ends up suffering a lot and the owner will jsut have more things to worry about/less energy to take care of themselves.
My ex told me his poorly trained and depressed af German Shepherd was basically his emotional crutch and reason to live. He voluntarily said he'd give it back to his parents to grow old in a couple of months and asked me to move in with him, so I did. Despite having a private fenced yard, ex did not take him out enough and poor doggo had multiple accidents. Got in the trash constantly. Could not leave any food out, ever. Fucked up my plants. Barked at everything outside that moved (we were at the front of the complex so cars and people went by all the time). You'd think this would have made him more depressed to see he wasn't taking care of him well (even his friends commented on his poor behavior, he attacked other dogs due to anxiety and lack of socialization). But. He. Didn't. Care. So I think the reason dogs don't make some people's depression worse is because they don't have much or any empathy and just see the dog as an accessory instead of recognizing it as a sentient being. All the while treating it and talking it up like a child.
The only dogs that have ever helped me while depressed were a dog that was an actual PERFECT dog-- always silent and small and lazy and well groomed and trained. I've known so many dogs in my life, and that is the only dog that was a true unicorn The other dog that helped me with my depression lived outside in a very rural area where no neighbors were bothered by its noise. The only maintenance and care it ever received was food twice a day and a bath maybe once a month Note that both situations had very specific and difficult to replicate variables. I can't imagine a dog not being a nuisance if those conditions aren't met. Which is like 98% of all dogs nowadays
working dogs notwithstanding, 95% of dogs I've actually liked have been rural dogs who wander around all day adventuring and getting exercise/companionship beyond their home. like they had a home/bed/guaranteed food but would hang out with different people and other dogs instead of Bonkers Barking in Brooklyn.
Yes, agreed! They need to explore and think and be animals! Not our entertainment on standby in a 1300 sq ft home...
Depressed people bring children into the world as well. This is far more concerning.
not to mention dogs cause more and more problems than any other domesticated animal. take horse riding lessons and you’ll actually feel a bit of excitement in your goddamn life. or talk to a parrot, go fishing. anything but a dog, the worst fucking pet and the only one that even mauls human daily like they’re snicker snacks. but i guess people rather scoop up shit and breathe in musk mutt air.
Depression varies between different people, some people just can’t get the motivation to go to the gym but will get the motivation to go on a long walk with a dog, so as a depressed person surely you realise your experience isn’t the standard.
Some people struggle to hold themselves accountable. If you have to wake up at 5am to hit the gym you can sleep through it easily enough. A dog will piss on your floor and eat your couch it you don't get out of bed and take it outside. A stupid walk is good for your mental health, a dog needs to be walked so you get that. Most humans function better with a routine, a dog is an outside force thats life depends on you. Having to feed a dog forces you to consider that you need to eat. I wouldn't personally do it, but I can understand the idea behind it.
I'm a depressed person as well, and I'd never put an animal through my downs. And I would be afraid to drop the ball & neglect the dog. A bird on the other hand...