HALACHA-----pet dogs

Bird5671 Posted - 03 November 2000 17:57

---

How come Orthodox people don't have dogs?

MODERATOR Posted - 03 November 2000 18:16

---

Some do, but relatively few.

The Rambam rules that it is prohibited to own any dog unless it is chained up under the Halachah of "lo sasim damim", or domestic hazards.

The majority of Rishonim, and the Shulchan Aruch, disagree and rule that only a "bad" dog must always be chained up, not all dogs.

The Rav Shulchan Aruch and, he adds, the majority of Achronim, rule that any dog that barks at people is considered "bad" and must be chained up. Others rule that only a dog that bites people is considered "bad".

Rav Yaakov Emden writes that it is proper to own a dog only for a utility purpose, such as a watchdog. Dogs as pets, he writes, are a waste of time and a Goyishe practice.

jj Posted - 05 April 2001 16:23

---

Isn’t it stam bad altz it being a triefa animal?

MODERATOR Posted - 05 April 2001 16:24

---

Not unless you want to eat it...

BinaDaya Posted - 11 April 2001 16:36

---

Is it permissible to pet a dog on Shabbos?

MODERATOR Posted - 11 April 2001 16:41

---

Yes, provided you do not move the dog while doing so. A dog is Muktza, but you are allowed to touch Muktza on Shabbos, you're just not allowed to move it.

jj Posted - 12 April 2001 15:00

---

Sorry, I meant a tumadigi animal.

Isn’t it a problem to be around tumadigi animals to much because it has like a bad hashpoh on you ruchniusig?

MODERATOR Posted - 17 April 2001 19:26

---

jj,

You’re right, according to a Kabbalistic concept that says you shouldn’t even SEE a tumadikeh animal. The Kedushas Yom Tov once scolded someone who tried to bring his (The Kedushas Yom Tov's) son, who was like 8 years old at the time, to a circus for that reason.

But such practices are only desirable if consistent with your other behaviors. If your Neshomah is so pure, even the smallest spot sticks out. Regular people, whose Neshomas are dirty as it is, do not need to worry about the microscopic specs of dust that will be added from seeing a dog.

The Bais HaLevi once said, "Someone who can walk on his hands is an acrobat. Unless he cant walk on his feet. Then he's a cripple."

Meaning, such practices are an ornament only for someone on a high level. But if you try such "spiritual acrobatic skills" without following the things that you are obligated to, then you are like the guy who walks on his head but cant walk on his feet.