Is this another reason not to get a dog? Or why we should read beyond the headlines

 
Recently these headlines or some variations appeared in news sources:

Man's worst friend: Average dog causes 2,000
family arguments in its lifetime
Source

Dogs cause 156 family arguments every year
Source

Dogs cause three family arguments every week
Source

 

Wow…dogs must be the worst thing ever to happen to family life if we are to believe these headlines.

According to a study by a UK pet insurance company, arguments range from what to do with the dog while going away, who should walk the dog, whether the dog should be allowed on the furniture, what kind of discipline should be used, how much money is spent, who should clean up the messes, and destruction caused by the dog.

Sadly, 26 per cent of these dog owners have at some point considered getting rid of their dog,

But wait…

There’s more.

Buried in some (but not all) of the stories is this sentence:

The study also revealed while the majority of family arguments are more likely to be about the children than the family pet, 14 per cent of owners reckon they row about the dog more than their children.

So--- buried in a subordinate clause near the end of some of the stories, we find that the majority of family arguments are about children, not dogs after all. Apparently 86% of the people questioned didn't think the dog was that much of a problem.

Most of the stories just omitted this fact about the study.

Ah, the ethics of professional journalists.

The only real conclusion seems to be that there are simply a lot of family arguments. But that probably wouldn't be "newsworthy."

Comments

[Jodi]

Well since our kids are gone all we have left to fight about is the dogs. LOL

I would have to say most of the time we agree on them though. :-)

[Linda]

The dogs never caused the problems the kids did as they were growing up. :)

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

[georgia little pea]

Yes we're a statistic! But if push came to shove, I'd probably be the one tossed on the street looking to be adopted.

[Clive]

Never an argument or cross word here about the dog but the CAT - well, that's another story!!

[Higgins]

No fights over me! My parents always say they wish they raised chihuahuas than children because I am so much easier! HA!

~Higgins

[Prudence]

We always have to read beyond the headlines buddy! As far as I know, I haven't been the cause of an argument, barooo!

[Jen]

My husband and I get in "discussions" about the dogs. For instance, the other day I was playing catch with them in the house and Leroy bumped into the end table where my husband had his pop sitting. The table tipped and the pop spilled on him and we "discussed" why I feel the need to play with two 150 pound dogs in the house:)

[Kristine]

That's a whole lot of arguing going on! I don't know if my husband and I have ever fought about the dog. Really though, we don't fight much at all.

I really have to wonder about the basis for studies like these. Sometimes I think they survey five people and then call it a statistic.

[Snoopy@snoopysdogblog]

And what about all the joy we bring? How many times do we make the humans smile with our cute, lovable, silly ways? :)

Have a fun day,

Your pal Snoopy :)

[2browndawgs]

No kids for us and no arguing over dawgs either. :)

[Tootsie]

Great post! Of course, you and I both know that dogs make life brighter and better because dogs are wonderful creatures worthy of every praise :)

Now, take the paragraph about the range of arguments, and replace the word 'dog' with the word 'KID': "arguments range from what to do with the KID while going away, who should walk the KID, whether the KID should be allowed on the furniture, what kind of discipline should be used, how much money is spent, who should clean up the messes, and destruction caused by the KID.

Not that I have anything against kids...I'm actually very good with them :)

Keep on wagging,
Tootsie

[Dana]

If my mom and dad fight over me, it's because they love me so much that they both want to take me with them everywhere they go. They make me chose which one I want to go to work with or who I want to ride with.

[jackie]

Dexter settles fights .doesnt' start them.