I agree you do Not need a counter point to all of what she says. However, you can succinctly say a general statement that counters her arguments such as
"Notwithstanding your claims to the contrary, I think Woof enjoys AND benefits from affirmations I provide as another source of love in his life, etc.....
(PIGPEN now that I think about it, I wonder if there's even a negative to you just dropping out of his life, for the dog I mean. Meaning, can dogs come to FEEL abandoned by an owner? I'm just pondering this now, not sure what I think but it's worth reading about I think. If it were a stepchild, it would concern me.)
She will tune you out if you go on for long or if you do a counter point, which is another reason NOT to bother doing one.
I think the differences between pet owners Can be good for pets, meaning for instance, my h takes our dogs out for runs whereas I throw a ball with them more. Both activities benefit the dog; they're just different. And It's Not as if we train them differently with behavior. (okay I admit it, I DO give them people food when h isn't around....
But keep it short and get to the part about WHEN you want the dog, quickly.
And maybe down the road, open your mind and heart to the idea of another dog in your life...there are so many great dogs in need of a home...
I'm NOT saying to give up! But we just lost our oldest dog in March, a very beloved family member. I was reminded of how short dogs' lives are, relative to ours. So it's not as if you'll never have another dog in your life, ( maybe having another dog would be an asset to your dog, having a play mate??)
I wonder at some point, IF a battle is not winnable, when is it time to move past it?
Just food for thought, okay?
M: 57 H: 60 M: 35 yrs S30,D28,D19 H off to Alaska 2006 Recon 7/07- 8/08 *2016* X = "ALASKA 2.0" GROUND HOG DAY I File D 10/16 OW DIV 2/26/2018 X marries OW 5/2016
