Do Pets Teach Us to Be Better People?

I'm watching a really interesting program on channel 4, called The Underdogs, which is about six dysfunctional teenagers who are paired with dogs that they have to look after and train for the Crufts. The idea was devised by a psychologist and a dog trainer, who think this kind of interaction between pets and people will teach these teenagers important life lessons and put them on the path to success. So, I was wondering: do you guys think that the responsibilities of taking care of an animal make us better people?

I personally think there could be an element of truth in it. After all, you're technically responsible for a life. Surely, there's something to learn from that!

I think I agree to an extent, but as we all know, some people are total c***s to their pets.

Yeah, that really pisses me off

I think I've seen something similar to that, but with prison inmates. Though, even if it did teach them something, what good is it when they're in there for life?

Yeah, that is a bit pointless. They could probably do it in the UK, though, cos life in this silly country doesn't really mean life!

Life isn't life in this country!

Great Minds Think Alike!

I think there has always been a notion that getting a family pet or getting a boy a dog will teach the child a lot about responsibility and emotions.

I have seen people have a baby and get a puppy as soon as the baby is born so they grow up together. Its not something i have done or would do but a lot of people think its a good thing to do.

f*** having a baby and a puppy.

yeah seems like a lot of hard work in one go to me, but people do and for some reason they are always staffs

Something else we agree on. some people are just gluttons for punishment!

I'll just take the puppy thanks

If the responcibility of having a small dependant pet helps the child grow in maturity then this seems a great idea. But a just born baby can't do this. A new born seems enough for a family to look after. However you do use this signature "I love to experience life in all its agonising glory." and both new baby and pet would truely be agonising! By the way I love that dancing girl!

I personally think that the people who look after dolphins are fairly strange almost to the point of being mentally ill, I think most people can see what i mean.

Well Laura is right about some being c***s with there animals and it pisses me off and Treebs is right about the inmate thing. However maybe the program that was watched with the kids it could work, if they had some issues and was given an animal to care for and loved the animal it could help them to be a better person Or at least lets hope.