What Kind of Kids is Oscar Raising?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: "What Kind of Kids is Oscar Raising?"

Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: March 25, 2026

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Overview

This episode centers around a live call from Oscar, a busy father of four, seeking Dr. Laura's advice on how to handle his family's lack of participation in caring for their longtime pet dog. The conversation quickly evolves into a broader discussion on parental authority, responsibility, and the values children learn at home. Dr. Laura delivers her signature, no-nonsense counsel, holding Oscar—and by extension, other parents—accountable for instilling discipline and responsibility in their children.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Caller’s Dilemma: Parental Overburdening and Unreliable Help

• Oscar (Caller) describes struggling to manage his family’s eight-year-old Belgian shepherd, as his children fail to assist with the dog’s care despite prior agreements.
• Oscar’s children: Ages 17, 14, 11, and 8—all living at home.
• He feels alone in the responsibility and admits work stress adds to the issue.
• [01:36] Oscar: “We’re at the point where if I don't, if I don't watch her, if I don't take care, if I don't take her on walks, nobody does.”

2. Dr. Laura’s Tough Love: Parental Authority and Accountability

• Dr. Laura immediately interrupts to query Oscar about his children’s ages and living situation, laying the groundwork for her critique.
  • [02:28] Dr. Laura: “Stop, stop, stop, stop. Before we go on, just stop for a moment. How many kids do you have and how old are they and which ones live with you?”
• She bluntly admonishes Oscar for not asserting authority in his own home:
  • [02:58] Dr. Laura: “You're the patriarch in this house. Don't give me any shit that you can't make your kids do what's responsible...What kind of a dad are you that you're not raising your kids to take on this responsibility? Hmm?”

3. The Responsibilities of Raising Children vs. Rehoming the Pet

• Dr. Laura pivots to a strong admonishment:
  • [03:20] Dr. Laura: “Instead, we want to ship the dog out. I think we should ship the kids out.”
• She insists parents should expect—no, demand—their kids’ participation in household care, especially for pets, whom she refers to as “helpless animals.”

4. Expectations, Consequences, and Directives

• When Oscar suggests his kids only help “for a few days” then slack off, Dr. Laura ramps up her exhortation:
  • [06:38] Dr. Laura: “There are consequences up their asses. What the hell is wrong with you dad? What kind of creepy, lazy bummy kids, self-centered and twitty are you raising?”
  • Assign duties by age, set clear expectations, establish consequences.
• She emphasizes that discipline and consistency are essential:
  • [07:07] Dr. Laura: “100 years ago your forefather would not have had any problem and the kids would only be told once. That's correct, isn't it?”
  • Oscar agrees.

5. Memorable Solution and Final Warning

• Dr. Laura summarizes her expectations:
  • [07:22] Dr. Laura: “Act like the man of a hundred years ago, please, because I don't want you turning 4 self centered rancid kids into the public sphere.”
• Oscar thanks Dr. Laura for her honesty and promises to enact her advice.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Laura: “Don't give me any shit that you can't make your kids do what's responsible.” ([02:58])
• Dr. Laura: “What kind of kids are you raising that don't take responsibility for a helpless animal?” ([03:16])
• Dr. Laura: “We don't get rid of the dog, we straighten out the kids.” ([07:39])
• Dr. Laura: “Act like the man of a hundred years ago, please, because I don't want you turning 4 self centered rancid kids into the public sphere.” ([07:22])
• Oscar (Caller): “I appreciate your thoughts on it and I'm gonna make it happen. Thank you.” ([07:33])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:31] — Oscar introduces his dilemma about dog care and his kids’ lack of help.
• [02:28] — Dr. Laura presses for specifics about the children.
• [02:58] — Stern admonishment from Dr. Laura regarding parental authority.
• [03:20] — Discussion pivots to responsibility: dog vs. children.
• [06:38] — Dr. Laura outlines discipline, consequences, and historical context.
• [07:22] — Final warning about raising self-centered children.
• [07:39] — Dr. Laura reiterates solution: “We don't get rid of the dog, we straighten out the kids.”

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Takeaway

Dr. Laura forcefully underscores the duty of parents to instill accountability, respect, and consistent care in their children—especially when it comes to animals who cannot care for themselves. Her approach is unapologetically direct, insisting that Oscar, and parents like him, rediscover their backbone and follow through with real-world consequences and expectations. The episode is a classic Dr. Laura moment: brisk, bracing, and intended to jolt listeners into action.

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Transcript

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[Caller (Dog Owner)]

Hey, Dr. Laura. Thank you for taking my call.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You're welcome. How can I help?

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

Yes, ma'. Am. So my question is in regards to our, our family dog. I know you, you're a dog lover and I've heard you many years talk about it. So the situation is that we've had our dog for about, about eight years now. She's a Belgian shepherd. I, I love her. I mean, she's, she's great. She's a great dog. The only thing is, is that I'm having a hard time with work and just kind of being busy taking care of her. And, and at the. Initially, the idea was that, hey, my kids are going to help me take care of her. And we all kind of agreed on it. And, you know, they're. We're at the point where if I don't, if I don't watch her, if I don't take care, if I don't take her on walks, nobody does. Right? So I talked to a lot of friends.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Stop, stop, stop, stop. Before we go on, just stop for a moment. How many kids do you have and how old are they and which ones live with you?

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

All four live with me. I got four kids 17, 14, 11, and 8.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Okay. Have you noticed that there's anything a little unusual somewhere between your knees and your belly button?

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

Yes.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Okay, well, why don't you use them? You're the patriarch in this house. Don't give me any shit that you can't make your kids do what's responsible. And everybody participating in taking care of this dog, playing with it, feeding with it, snuggling with it, taking it for walks and throwing balls or what kind of balls? I'm back to balls. What kind of a dad are you that you're not raising your kids to take on this responsibility? Hmm? Instead, we want to ship the dog out. I think we should ship the kids out.

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

Okay, I was kidding about that part.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So go home and act like a man, please. And I'm sorry, but I find that too, too many men in our culture don't act like men. It's like they don't know they have balls and they're supposed to live up to them. What kind of kids are you raising that don't take responsibility for a helpless animal? This episode of the Dr. Laura podcast is brought to you by Alloy Health. Use the promo code DRLAURA for $20 off your first [e-mail]. many marriages hit the rocks when a woman's hormones start getting out of whack. Brain fog, sleep issues, changes in hair, skin and sex drive are all connected to your hormones. Join the 95% of women who feel better in just two weeks. Go to myalloid.com, use the code DRLAURA today.

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[Caller (Dog Owner)]

It seems to be that it's they tend to do it for a few days and then it's like, well then

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

there are consequences up their asses. What the hell is wrong with you dad? What kind of creepy, lazy bummy kids self centered and twitty are you raising? Well, they only do it for a couple of days. What the hell they're assigned. You assign days, you assign time and you assign for each kid appropriate to the kid what they're supposed to do. And if they don't do it, they're not going to enjoy their lives. Holy cow. I can't believe I have to tell you this. 100 years ago your forefather would not have had any problem and the kids would only be told once. That's correct, isn't it?

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

Yes, it is.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Well then act like the man of a hundred years ago, please, because I don't want you turning 4 self centered rancid kids into the public sphere.

[Caller (Dog Owner)]

I appreciate your thoughts on it and I'm gonna make it happen. Thank you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Thank you very much. I'm going to take a break now when you can all cogitate on that call. We don't get rid of the dog, we straighten out the kids. My number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Podcast of course. I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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