Owning a Dog

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  • #607852
    Yenta
    Participant

    Any reason why a Frum home should not have a dog?

    #922208
    shmoel
    Member

    Because it barks, bites, is expensive to maintain (monetarily and time wise), is very demanding, dirties the house, is tuma and it pas nisht.

    #922209
    ThePurpleOne
    Member

    i think chazel sed it cud scare a pregenet women… like same reason why expecting women dont go to zoos… idk!! my neighbors have a dog and it drives me craazyyy esp when it cums to visit!! i run away hollering!! im petrified!!

    #922210
    YW Moderator-007
    Moderator

    No reason whatsoever not to have a dog.

    There is a reason why there are very clear halachos of how to take care of a dog on Shabbos (walking it etc). If it was osur to have a dog, it would very clearly say that.

    Go buy one if you desire.

    Disclaimer: It does smell, and is a royal pain in the neck to take care of.

    #922211
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    Ah, I love dogs. I grew up in a house with two of them. 🙂

    Were it not for the fact that some relatives (not anyone who actually lives in the house) of mine are allergic, we would have at least one. Alas, we value their company more, so we don’t.

    We do, however, keep a hamster.

    The Wolf

    #922212
    takahmamash
    Participant

    . . . and is a royal pain in the neck to take care of.

    I have 2 upper teenagers and one 20 year old, and I find that our dog listens (and obeys) much better than the kids.

    #922213
    ThePurpleOne
    Member

    hellooo i just realized that its a mitzva to have a dog!!!! cuz u cud have the chance every single morning to feed it b4 u feed urslef!! bravo, im genius!! as long as u x live in my state ill b ok…

    #922214

    Fish are the only non-humans allowed to reside in our home.

    #922215
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    I have 2 upper teenagers and one 20 year old, and I find that our dog listens (and obeys) much better than the kids.

    lol…I was just thinking how well this little tidbit applies to human progeny…

    Because it barks, bites, is expensive to maintain (monetarily and time wise), is very demanding, dirties the house…

    #922216
    MorahRach
    Member

    My father always feeds my families 3 dogs before he takes a bite of food in the morning or at dinner time. I am a hugeeee dog lover. Yes it’s a pain sometimes but it becomes part of your routine and doesn’t seem like a pain once you have had a pet for a while.

    #922217
    Health
    Participant

    From an old topic here in the CR:

    “Pac-Man

    Joseph

    Kesef Mishna brings the Gemora supporting the Rambam in Mesechtes Bava Kama 15:2 not to have a dog in your house.

    and Rambam Hilchos Talmud Torah 6:14, and Hilchos Nizkei Mamon 5:9, Chazon Ish on Choshen Mishpat Likutim 18:9.”

    #922218
    yael.e
    Participant

    I believe you are not allowed to have a ‘mean’ dog which may include certain types of dogs like pit bulls maybe?

    #922219
    tahini
    Member

    Having a dog is a fantastic way of keeping fit as you need to take the dog out for walks all the time, much better than any gym membership, the dog has to have a walk, no ifs or buts.

    Dogs are very loyal and loving, no need to have a fierce breed at all, so many lovely breeds. We live in a frum area and some of our neighbours were taken aback when we got our dog, now their kids come over to play.

    #922220
    MorahRach
    Member

    Here we go. Pit bulls are not mean dogs. Any dog can be a mean dog if its raised a certain way. I have 2pit bulls. They are the sweetest things in the world. If they had been beaten as puppies it would be another story. A pit bill has the ability to do damage because of their strength but if treated right they won’t be like that.

    #922221
    Imaofthree
    Participant

    We once asked our Rov if it was muttar to have a dog. He said it’s muttar but in many frum homes it’s “not done”.

    Having a pet dog or cat is an expense and a responsibility (and tons of work!) but it can be a very nice thing. It’s a great companion.

    #922222

    Give your love to humanity rather than to animal.

    #922223
    tahini
    Member

    Our dogs are retired ‘ guide dogs for the blind’, they have acted truly as “man’s best friend “for years and now it is time for us to give them some love and care. They teach people to be patient, respect those with disabilities and care for one another.

    #922224
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    Give your love to humanity rather than to animal.

    Who says that it has to be either/or? Why not give it to both?

    The Wolf

    #922225
    wanderingchana
    Participant

    The dogs didn’t bark as we were leaving Mitzraim. We owe them some gratitude, nu?

    #922226
    Torah613Torah
    Participant

    If I didn’t live in the city, or in a frum neighborhood out of the city, or in an area with houses spaced far apart, I’d insist on having a dog with a very loud bark. Or a gun. Mostly because I don’t look very intimidating and would like to have some sort of self defense.

    #922227
    yehudayona
    Participant

    t613613t: I would never trust a dog with a gun.

    On a serious note, dogs can be therapeutic. I never wanted a dog, but one fell into our laps (in a manner of speaking), and it’s having a beneficial effect on some family dynamics.

    #922228
    downandin
    Member

    In retrospect; I think our purchase of a dog specifically for herding our livestock was a mistake. I could have spent the money on better fencing (and maybe a gun or two) and called it a day. It would have been a lot easier.

    My kids always have to have play-dates out of the house; because even though the dog lives outside and is housed in the barn; our 150 pound marshmallow really scares people.

    Now, of course, we have very little money, and I am always struggling to feed the animals. The halacha to feed your animals first takes on a new meaning when I have to chose between buying food for us or food for them.

    The livestock will, I’Y’H support us one day, but the dog is hard to justify at this point. But she is part of our family now and highly trained to herd. I rely on her for so many things it’s hard to give her up. We have considered it!!

    Dogs are a serious time and money drain-well worth it if you live in a community that will tolerate it, but not even an option in any haredi environment. Don’t fool yourself; it will be a stone around your neck.

    Better off getting a pet hen! You can keep them inside; and they lay eggs. Yes, there are hen diapers!! I don’t know the halacha, cause hens aren’t “caged”. She should have run of the house and the yard, then I think you’re good to go. Very trainable too!!

    #922229
    neenee
    Member

    pets are so nice for children. Most animals are kind and compassionate for children.

    #922230
    yehudayona
    Participant

    Any personal experience with workarounds for neutering a pet? It’s assur min haTorah to neuter an animal (see yesterday’s daf), but I’m wondering if you can temporarily sell it to a non-Jew or something like that. (Of course, I’d ask a posek, but I’m wondering about others’ experience.)

    #922231
    downandin
    Member

    Really? You wouldn’t be embarrassed to ask a posek? I’ve never been able to get the nerve up to ask any of the Rebbeim that I know such a question. They would tell me to get rid of the dog. Hands down. My female working dog is not fixed, but she is an outdoor dog in a fenced area. I know she would probably live two years longer if she were fixed, but I can’t bring myself to ask my Rav. Who would specialize in such a shaila anyways??

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