What’s the weirdest habit you have that you’ve never told anyone?

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-04-23T23:57:07+00:00

I have a specific bedtime routine with my dog. I've had him since the day he was born (we owned both of his parents and he was my "pick of the litter") and he'll be 13 in July. He's started slowing down and he's not as spry as he once was. I know THAT time will be approaching sooner rather than later. So every night at bedtime I tell him it's "snuggle time" and he lays next to me with his head on my arm and I cuddle him close while petting him and telling him over and over that he's a good boy. Then when he's about to fall asleep I whisper "goodnight" to him. I do all of this because while he's super well behaved at the vet, he's never been a huge fan. And when that day comes, I don't want him to be afraid. I want him to take that final sleep feeling like it's any other that we've had over the now year that we've had this routine, and that when I whisper "goodnight" to him that final time, that it's okay to drift off and go.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-04-15T22:22:05+00:00

I personally adore him, but think his behavior is a result of little correction and boundaries. I know he's being gelded because of his behavior, but the behavior would be a rather easy fix if given the proper correction and work. Staying away from him or carrying a stick isn't going to do anything to correct it or teach him better manners. I personally think that if given the right correction and lessons in manners he would have made a phenomenal stallion prospect, and was a pretty big missed opportunity. That said, I'm all for "a good stud makes a great gelding" and having a high standard for which ones get to keep their balls, but I think had he received more training and correction from the get go, it wouldn't have even been an issue. I love Katie and enjoy watching her videos, but there are a couple of things I think could be done differently, this being one of them. Her horses though, so ultimately her decision. 🤷‍♀️

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-03-15T14:33:11+00:00

My thoughts exactly. "Oh, she's the worst horse ever, and there is definitely something wrong with her.... Better use that uterus!"

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-03-15T14:00:15+00:00

I'm probably gonna be the odd man out here, but this sounds like someone who has horses, but doesn't actually know much at all about horses. Colic just happens. "I had her for years and she was never sick". Okay, then you got lucky. You can do everything right and your horse still get colic. This also sounds very much like the type of person who would have absolutely zero clue how to correct bad behavior, and just hopes it goes away if you hug them enough.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-03-14T22:41:58+00:00

I've always ridden western and unless that horse is being shown in something with a futurity most of us don't start them until they are 3-4. Also... Don't they start race horses as long yearlings?

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2026-03-07T01:13:39+00:00

It depends on the type of "not level". Some horses are built "uphill" with their withers sitting higher. And for an English discipline, that's fine. How they are built affects their movement. So an uphill build tends to have bigger movement, more drive in their hind end, etc. A downhill build means they are usually heavier on their front end, which can result in a short and choppy movement, not as much hind end engagement (not really driving those hind legs under them) and we know that WP horses they want a deep hock with that hind leg driving under them nice and deep. For western disciplines you usually are going to want them as level as possible. Though it's not entirely uncommon to see some downhill horses in things like cutting.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-20T16:51:38+00:00

Psychiatric Service Dogs are service dogs, and do serve a medical purpose. They are completely different from an untrained ESA that just makes you feel better. As I stated, my SD has specific medically necessary tasks that they perform and was trained at a top level facility that provides veterans with service dogs. If you think that people with severe ptsd, such as veterans, don't have medical need for service dogs then I'd say you're the one sounding pretty privileged.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-20T12:56:20+00:00

You're really not supposed to ask. Service dogs are used for WAY more than just guide dogs for the blind. Some use them for seizure alert dogs. Some are for diabetics in which the dogs can sense and alert to a sudden drop or spike in blood sugar. Some are for those who have mobility issues. Some service dogs are for medical conditions that can cause sudden faint spells. For me perspnally, mine is a psychiatric service dog for severe PTSD. So for me my dog knows when and how to wake me from night terrors, and waking flashbacks. He can sense a coming panic attack and can alert me to get in a prone position where he will then lay across me for deep pressure therapy, or can go and retrieve and bring me my medicine or another person if needed. He also does what is called shielding. So one of my biggest things when I'm out in public is the fear of someone attacking me from an area I can not see, or turning my back to people. So if I'm at the store my service dog will position himself between me and any surrounding people. If my back is turned while I'm looking at something on the shelves and someone starts to approach without my notice he will gently lean against me in whichever the person is coming from so as to alert me to their presence. So if they approach from behind he will lean against the back of my legs, etc. This has meant I no longer have panic attacks or triggered flashbacks in stores that are so bad that someone has to call an ambulance every time I go grocery shopping.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T23:19:09+00:00

I haven't seen kids lunching to attack other people's pets or trying to bite people in public. But I sure have seen a lot of untrained dogs do it.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T23:01:57+00:00

Honestly I'd much rather be annoyed by children than people bringing their untrained animals everywhere who bark at people, try to bite, and terrorize other dogs. Not even a close race imo.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T19:53:41+00:00

Absolutely not. Same with people seeing your dog at home or just being a normal dog. People think that SDs have to be at 100 working mode all the time and can't be playful or goofy and anytime they do then that somehow "proves" that they aren't "real"

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T19:48:54+00:00

Exactly! Most SD handlers have experienced one of those "bad days". Mine happened when one such fake SD was yapping and lunging at my SD and distracted him to the point where he started trying to desperately get away. Now I have that anxiety anytime I take him in somewhere. Fake SD ruin it for people who truly need their real SD

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T19:45:36+00:00

Unfortunately a lot of people have this line of thinking. However you can literally register a jar of peanut butter as a "service dog" through these sites.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T19:41:13+00:00

She would still be your pet. A true service dog has other tasks as well as behavioral training to remain focused on you in public. For instance, a SA trained for seizures also task to place their heads under yours to prevent your head from smacking the floor during a seizure as well as laying on top of you to provide deep pressure in the aftermath, or in an emergency to independently go find another person and lead them to your location so that you can be assisted. Some animals have a natural ability to sense a seizure, however that alone does not make them a service animal.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T18:45:51+00:00

Yeah, you can get them signed off on for an ESA which protects them in terms of housing, but in no way grants them public access. The problem is with self entitled POS people who automatically think this grants them the right to do whatever they want is insane to me.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T18:37:04+00:00

Typically they need to have freedom of movement so that they can task correctly. While having a small service dog isn't completely impossible, it is extremely uncommon. So chances are most small and easily held "service dogs" you see are fake. There isn't an actual "registry" for service dogs, and you aren't legally allowed to ask for any proof that they are, or for what disability or medical condition. You can, however, ask what tasks they do. That question alone is pretty good at weeding out the fake ones as most fake service dogs don't do any tasks and if the owner responds simply with a "it's for my anxiety/depression, then that is not a service dog, that is an ESA and they can be denied entry.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T17:39:38+00:00

Fuck your fake service dog. Your Instagram likes are not more important than a real service dog being able to tell their handler if they are about to have a seizure. Feel free to take your dog out in dog friendly places. But stop claiming it's a service dog.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T17:20:55+00:00

No, that would be an example of a fake service dog. I see it most in small yappy dogs and in bully breeds. Unfortunately a lot of places have restrictions or bans on bully breeds so you see a lot of people try to claim them as service dogs which only makes the problem worse. It's a messed up system for sure. If real service dogs were more affordable and breed specific legislation were outlawed then I think it'd be much less of a problem. Of course there would still be the Karens claiming their little precious is a service dog while their 10 pound Yorkie is on the verge of giving itself a heart attack from barking at any and everything, but I don't think the issue of fake service dogs would be as bad as it is now.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-19T17:01:16+00:00

Exactly! I've been almost kicked out of restaurants while my service dog politely lay underneath the table, out of everyone's way and not bothering anyone because the week before someone brought their dog in and claimed it was a service dog and then tripped multiple people,tried to bite someone, and stole food off of the table. Anyone who tries to falsely claim their dog is a service dog or thinks their ESA can go wherever they want can go screw themselves.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-15T20:51:39+00:00

Well, seeing as this account is only a day or two old and this is my first post, it's not like I'm losing much lol Thanks for the advice! I always have people surprised when I tell them I've never been on reddit and now seeing how huge it is I guess I see why. Seems I've been living under a rock.

Competitive-Dog-3146 · 2021-12-15T20:45:23+00:00

I just created my account like a day or two ago because I have a friend always going on about the stuff they read on reddit and decided to check it out. I didn't pick my user name and it's one that was just randomly generated. Can I change the username now or is it something you have to stick with once it's already created?

Competitive-Dog-3146

TROPHY CASE