Sometimes I feel like communicating to him that even though he is my servant I want to treat him well and make sure he is comfortable and happy. I do this with food, hugs, and walks.

[eskielover]

My dogs think I'm their servant.....I am forever cleaning up after the messes especially that Leo makes as he's forever getting into things & tearing things apart especially the trash he likes to get into...especially if I have to go away & not take him with me....he gets even & I end up cleaning up the mess.....no, the only servant around here is ME......he wouldn't know how to fetch anything....even though he understands everything that I say to him......he's way too smart for his own good....my other eskies are easier & don't make the mess he does....but I'm the servant giving them food & making sure they have fresh water all the time.......my dogs wouldn't know what it was to have it the other way around......they bark.....I do the work.

[Fresia]

This is completely the other way around in my house and that of anyone in my family; I too, like Eskie, serve them, not the other way around and am at their beck and call. I always have said, if reincarnation exists, I want to come back in one of my families' homes.

[gayleggg]

Same at myself. My husband and I are trained to open the door when beckoned, pick them up and put them on and off the bed as they wish and must have meals ready at the same time everyday. But the look in their eyes when they see me come into a room makes it all worth it.

[lizardlady]

No way are my pets servants. They are part of the family. Al is currently very unwell. I sit on the floor and hand feed him. I clean up his messes on the floor. Neither of us is the servant. I am caring for him the same way I would care for an ill family member.

[Grey Matter]

My dogs aren't my servants, they are family members ^^ too. We would never have adopted shelter dogs in hopes of committing them to serve us. They are kind, dealt with a lot of hatred, and now we are happy to give them a happy and safe life.

I look at my dog more like a friend and partnership. She keeps watch at night and lets me know when someone is on the property during the day, and in return I keep the chow coming and keep watch for her when she wants to sleep (she always wants to sleep nearby).

I don't at all see myself as the 'master'. She knows tricks and commands but only follows them when she feels like it, and I've never made her listen. If it was safe to do I'd let her wander wherever she wanted, but because there are a lot of large predators around where I live I wouldn't be upholding my half of the deal.

The only thing I don't let her do is sleep on my bed, mainly because it would leave no room for me But in return I don't mess around with her bed. If I even go near it she comes over to keep an eye on what I'm doing, hehe.

[TheOriginalMe]

My dog is a companion and not a servant. She gets food and love and warm safe place to be. I get vet bills, food bills, wear and tear bills and a whole lot of fun. Our relationship is mutually beneficial and I let her do pretty much what she wants as long as it is safe and socially acceptable. As dogs are highly social, they are programed to abide by social rules and although I give her quite a lot of freedom she has come to understand boundaries and is happy to live within them.

[transient]

I think the OP meant service dogs...
I actually want a service dog, and If I had one, I would feel kinda guilty, but I wouldn't mistreat it and I'd be extra nice to it for helping me.

[DogTrainingLove]

I don't feel guilty for having my Service Dog, she loves doing her job. She was trained using only positive reinforcement so she's not forced to do the work. When I get her gear out she immediately gets excited.

As other people have said, my animals are part of my family.

[4andone]

My dogs own me,I live to serve them,but when they look at me with their loving eyes, it makes it all worth it.

[nummy]

My cat doesn't feel at all guilty for ensnaring me to a lifetime of love, and I think I pretty much agree.

[Maven]

I feel just like everyone here has pretty much said...or would, if I had a dog (and when I have more I will)...I feel it's a partnership, a friendship, and if anyone's a servant, it's me. Yes, you could say the pet is a servant, in that s/he must learn behaviors that conform to a society that doesn't tolerate dangerous animals, but the same is said of children.

DogTrainingLove brings up another great point. Service dogs have jobs, but I like to think every person who needs and uses one treats that pet with great respect and friendship. A pet is family, when all is right. Giving an animal a job is also a way to help him or her stay active, use energy, exercise brain power and the physical, and give mental stability.

Sometimes I see a service dog and I feel sorry for it, but I hope and assume that the owners are selected based on their ability to care for the dog and that they respect it as well.

[DogTrainingLove]

With most organizations you have to fill out paperwork, do an online/paper, phone and/or in person interview and go for about a week of training on how to handle and work with the dog. Though of course there are bad organization that don't do all that and just ask you to hand over money, and people who don't care for their dogs properly. (Just like with normal dog owners there are good and bad ones) However for the most part many places are very thorough in making sure the person is able to care for and work the dog properly.

Most will also take the dog back if they find the person isn't handling the dog properly.

My dog definitely prefers work rather than staying at home in a crate. Whenever her vest comes off she does everything else a normal dog gets to do (Go to the dog park, go on walks, do fun sports and trick training, chewing on bones and playing with toys, meeting new people, ect) it's only when the vest is on that she's working.