people with dogs & dog lovers

just curious to see how many people on these CC forums are dog lovers.  i would LOVE a dog or two or three of my own, but my situation just wouldn't be for the best for any dog. im always 'eyeing' up other people's dogs. i thought about starting a dog walking service over here, but the market is not that receptive.

so what do you love most about dogs?

We have 2 6mnth old king charles cavalier spaniels. They're so cute! All they do all day is go outside eat chicken poop (we have chickens too) and come back in for lots of snuggles and cuddles. Their breath stinks but they're oh so soft and warm...

Brock is my constant companion. I just got him a month ago. He's a 5 month old mini dachshund, longhaired. I wanted a big dog but I live in an apartment, but he's perfect anyway. He follows me around the apartment, we go for walks, he rides in the car with me, he takes naps in my lap when I sit down. It's just really nice.

I love dogs too and have a 5 year old black lab. She can be a handful at times but mostly just a friend.

Before I could have a dog I volunteered at the human society animal shelter. I would go for an hour or two a week. I walked the dogs, brushed them and played games in outdoor kennels. I found it to be a great way to get some one on one time with a dog.

Dogs are love on legs--unconditional love. They always make you feel special when you come home, even when you've only been away for 10 minutes, because they're so happy to see you.

I was never allowed to have a dog as a child, although our family had a miniature poodle when I was a teenager--but as soon as I got married we got a dog, and we've had at least one, usually two, ever since. The most we've had was 3 (a dachsund, a Labrador retriever cross, and a king German shepherd) which is a zoo, pretty much impossible to walk together on leash by yourself. Two is perfect, which we have right now--the dachsund died of old age but we still have the Lab X and the German shepherd. The German shepherd has spoiled me for other breeds because he's so smart, I talk to him normally, as if he's a person. He is always with me, like a shadow. But the Lab X likes to hug and if I'm crying, she snuggles up close and puts her paw on my arm and licks my face to make me feel better--she's a mommy dog. 

They're posing for the camera in my Gallery, if you want to see Holly and Sam.

I always had dogs growing up. We had an English Cocker Spaniel that we got when I was 5 and then we got a lab/retriever mix (literally, best dog ever) when I was 12. The Cocker Spaniel died when I was a  senior in high school and we got a shephard/chow mix that my parents got rid of do to her destructiveness. Then my sister adopted a dalmation mix when I was in college (smartest dog ever).
Now, I live in Korea and there's a HUGE problem with people abandoning dogs (worse than the States) and I adopted a Cocker Spaniel from there. She's about 3 years old (they think) and she's perfection.

So yeah.. I love dogs.

I've always had dogs, one or two at a time.  What I love most about my girls is that they are always happy to see you, even if you don't have a cookie in your hand.  I love that they sense when you are upset and try to offer comfort as best as they can.  I love that they will stand between danger and the person they love, even unto death. I love that my mutt Rosie has extra toes.  I love that my bulldog thinks she weight three pounds and it's ok to sit in my lap.

Oh! Here's a story for whoever wants to read it.  When I was very small, our family dog was a German Shepard named Bear (more like Dad's dog, actually, but he was great and didn't mind tail pulling).  We lived out in the sticks, and our nearest neighbors had a son in his teens who had Down's Syndrome.  He wandered away from home one day and was missing for about 24 hours.  My father took Bear to the neighbors and had him smell the boy's bedding, then turned him loose.  Within a couple of hours, Bear had located the boy.  They found him in the woods a few miles away.  He was fine, just hungry.

And that is why I love dogs.

She's my friend and companion. She provides me company, affection, and play...and in return I do the same. A match made in heaven :)

i've got a deaf 4-year-old pit bull mix named Murphy (pics in my profile).

he's my best buddy! we go for walks, car rides, trips to the beach, to petco etc.

i've been a life long dog lover, and am an aspiring dog trainer. i don't ever want to be without a dog in my life again. all the work is worth it!

i love that dogs love you no matter what. they find joy in the simplest things. they don't hold grudges, they don't judge. and they are darn good cuddlers! a world without dogs would be a sad place!

I have a 12 year old toy rat terrier. I have always had dogs and always will.  She is my constant companion, and designated protector of the family pack (someone forgot to inform her that she is a rat terrier, not pitt bull terrier).  I would be lost without her. 

BTW, I am always suspicious of someone that does not like dogs.  Like they are missing a vital human trait or perhaps they are a serial killer or something.  I am also leery of someone that she does not like, like she can smell evil on a person...

i had cats and horses when i was a kid, and i loved them, but since i got my first dog, when i was 26, i'm a convert.  sydney was a rottweiler-appenzeller hound cross, very bright, maternal with all small things, not aggressive at all.  kenya is only my second dog, and i've had her less than three months, but it's a joy.  i was starting to think i'd never be able to have another dog, after putting syd down in 2003, but here i am, in love again ;-)

i feel the same way christie!! when someone tells me they don't like dogs, or animals in general, i'm like ooook....back away slowly....

unless they have a really good reason like having been attacked as a kid or something, it makes me very suspicious!

I have a 4 year old beagle named Cooper.  He's my boy!  He just wants to be everyone's friend.  He always seems to have a big smile on his face!  My husband doesnt really care for dogs that much & if you ask him if he likes Cooper, he will tell you no, but I've seen them together-they love each other!  Last night when hubby & I were getting ready for bed, he was already in bed & I was putting Cooper in his room & he took off running into our room & jumped up on the bed and layed right down next to hubby and stared at him and kissed him.  How can you not love that!?

I have 2 dogs -- one puppy 7 months old he is so cute and high strung -- the older dog is only 2yrs old hes big and hairy and mellow.  They both get jealous if I am peting the other or paying more attention at the time to the other.  Its so fun when I get up or come home and see them fight for my attention.

I grew up in a family that always had at least one dog in the house.  Hubby is from a cat family -- I don't like cats -- they just don't "need" humans like dogs do.

I've had dogs my whole life and I've volunteered with various animal related organizations since I was 18 - such as the local Humane Society, an animal Hospice, wildlife rescue, and most recently an organization that helps people who are elderly, disabled, or terminally ill to care for their animals so they don't have to give up their companions even if they don't have the resources to care for them.

If you can't have dogs of your own, I recommend joining a volunteer group that helps animals and/or if your situation allows, volunteer at a shelter to foster animals in your home.  That way you get the interaction and companionship without the full lifetime committment of being a pet owner.  If you are having trouble locating volunteer activities, check the United Way website.  They often list volunteer opportunities in your area, and you can sort it by helping animals, children, elderly, etc.

To answer your question, I love animals in general, but dogs especially.  Their love and loyalty is unconditional, and they are always thrilled to see you walk through the door, whether you were gone 5 minutes or 6 months.

I <3 my labrador.  If I could have figured out a way to have her in my wedding, I would have.  She's just such a lover-girl :)  Plus, she's a great exercise tool - she doesn't get mad at me when I'm too schlubby to go out, and is excited EVERY day about jogging around the neighborhood.  Can't beat that for enthusiasm :)

Volunteering is a GREAT idea for animal lovers.  I just started volunteering at a no-kill shelter (Animal Friends in northern PGH).  I love this shelter not only because of how great they take care of their animals, but because they have great, fun fundraising events.  Lady and I are involved in a Mutt Strut on Sunday, and they're hosting an amateur dog show too.  I signed her up for the "Friendliest dog" competition, but I think it'll be lots of fun to watch the "Fastest eater" or the "Best kisser" competitions too :)

Hubby wanted to take all the dogs home last time we volunteered - I had to tell him that the shelter will be like our vacation home, and all of "our" dogs just get to sleep and eat there, and we can come visit our away home anytime to see them :)

Btw, there's a link in my profile to my animal friends page - including a great pic of our lovely Lady :)

I've had dogs all my life. My current one is now 10 1/2yrs border collie x. She makes me laugh out loud at least once everyday but usually a lot more.

As well as dogs I've always had a house full of animals from pet rats, cats, birds, fish, polecats, outside the house up until 2yrs ago I had a horse (had to sell, broke my heart) Shetland pony, three goats, calf..hhhmm think that's about it.

I also recommend volunteering at an animal shelter or something.

 

My mother showed dogs in both confirmation and obedience, so I grew up with them. We had all different types: Doberman, Weimeraner, Springer Spaniel, German Shepherd, Beagle, Lab and Cocker Spaniel. The cockers are what caused me to quit on dogs for a while. Everytime I turned around I was grooming them for her and she had 4 at the time.

So I took a 20 year hiatus and then got my own dog about a year and a half ago from the Humane Society. He was supposed to be over a year old and was about 8-9 months. He's a mixed breed of Australian Shepherd and Border Collie and the sweetest, loving animal I've ever had. He is so worth coming home to and he ended up my dog even though my son picked him out as HIS!

Mel

I have a pug we resued from the pound so we don't really know how old she is.  She is awesome...and noisy.

awww. . . . .I LOVE animals.  I have the most adorable JRT ever!  And a white kitty and a black lab.  I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my babies.  I don't understand how any person couldn't like animals.  Especially when they are babies!  I am a sucker for for any baby animal!

I have a Springer.  His name is Murphy and he is so fun and funny!  We got him when he was 7 weeks old and he will be 11 in June.  He is so full of energy....one would think a dog that old wouldn't act like a puppy anymore or at least be slowing down some...but that has not happened yet.  In the past two years he has blown out both of his knees and we have dropped a lot of $$$$ in 3 different surgeries but honestly if needed I would do it all over again and again.  He is always there for me and I don't know what I would do without him.