Dogs as surrogate parents

[djhme]

I really appreciated getting so many responses about my pet question.  The pet-writer guru Bruce Fogle says that dogs (I don't know about other animals) are always either a parent or child surrogate in the owner's unconscious mind.  He theorizes that people own dogs in order to nuture something (like a child) or to be nutured by it (like it's a parent).

I have three kids and don't want any more! And my relationship with my parents is so disastrous that I can clearly see that  I definitely would be getting the dog  as a parent surrogate.  Do any of you view your dogs as parent surrogates?  If so, is that working well for you?

thanks for your responses!
djhme

[mum]

HI! My dogs are my dogs.  I don't put too much stock in other opinions regarding WHY I have dogs. I could care less.
 I have them because: I am a nurturer, and I like taking care of them, because I like how funny they are, they are never abusive, and I know full well that they are manipulative, but I give them bisquits anyways.  They appreciate (and show me full body style) anything I do....like show up after work, get up in the morning, etc. Humans just don't show that kind of enthusiasm endlessly!
I had great parents, I have great kids. I just love dogs. Follow your heart on this one!!

[Plucky]

Um, can a dog be a surrogate friend?
Plucky

[Hopalong]

My first big dog was a surrogate good brother, grandfather, and best friend. He revived me once. He was never, ever a face licker, but I'd had an arrythmia and fallen back on the bed near fainting, and he came right up and washed my face nonstop until I could get up and call to my friend.

I had an amazing time with a horse once. Was down at a stables on graduation day, crying my eyes out. A horse I'd never known walked up to the fence and I flung my arms around its neck and just sobbed. All that time, this strange horse stood perfectly still, letting me cry on its neck. No head tossing or twitching. I felt absolutely that it was giving me spiritual comfort, intentionally.

That was one of those holy moments with animals in my life.
And my little cat licked tears off my face once.

I had a friend with a pet bunny and asked her if he showed affection. She said yep he comes up to her and sort of butts her in the leg to show he's glad to see her.

So far, with daughter's python, I'm not feeling the love. But she finds he relaxes her, so that's good.

ssssssssssssssssssshopssssssssssssssssssssss

[mum]

I just gotta tell you, Hops. You are so friggin funny. I love reading your posts.

[solayads]

Bean, I miss having a pet myself.  We cannot have pets in the building that I live in.  And since I'm not home enough, it wouldn't be fair to my pet.  They wouldn't receive the proper care.  But pets do comfort and bring delight to our lives in a different way than humans. 

Personally, nothing can replace HEALTHY human relationships....even though I sometimes have to deal with some painful situations.  It is all part of the learning curve of human relationships.  Weeding out the poisonous relationships and building healthy ones takes work. 

But pets do have a special place in our lives.


Solayads