The joy of owning a dog

I’m surprised to hear that some of you dislike non dog owners so much. I don’t have a dog but my closest friend does and we just agree to differ. I wouldn’t want the extra commitment required to own a dog, nor the extra housework or the winter walks. I like to go out spontaneously which wouldn’t fit in with a dog’s welfare. I have owned one in the past but he was never allowed on furniture or upstairs. Each to his/ her own but please don’t demonise those of us who prefer a pet free life. It doesn’t make us bad people. Just for the record I could never harm an animal or tolerate anyone else doing so.

Love our dogs! Especially once out of the puppy stage which is always a nightmare - how can they do so many wees and poos in one day? ?

Much air-time given to one lady whose very happiness was threatened by not being able to find kennels for her much loved pooch so that she could fly away on holiday.

Not quite so much air-time given to those unable to feed their families this year - let alone consider what a holiday might look like.

made me laugh GreenGran78

My gentle little soul is a real sweetie, lovely manners, never jumps, doesn’t bark and is the most loving creature in the world. He’s cracking on a bit now and has become gloriously, but very subtly wilful, we absolutely roar with laughter at his antics every day. He often forgets that he’s 13 (ish) and bounces around like a puppy. He is very good at snoozing.

Yukky flea alert.
just seen a message from the lady I got my dog from. She’s very against putting chemicals onto or into any of the dogs that she breeds but she’s just said there’s a big flea problem at the moment. I try to avoid using spot on treatment as much as possible but I’m going to use some today even though my dog is currently only being walked on roads.

I am a vat person but like dogs woukd never own one, too much responsibility and so many owners can't control or look after them.

We were always a pet- free home. Kids. Jobs. Holidays. Grandkids. Just too many other commitments. And then the grandog arrived ?. He stays with us several times a week as his pawrents work and we adore him. Cant imagine what life was like before he arrived. He’s happy as long as he’s included in things whether it be walking on the beach, watching telly on the sofa, napping in the garden or playing at the park He’s quiet, easy- going and he’s made our lives complete.

I love dogs more than some humans. They are so good for senior citizens. They love their owners unreservedly and bring so much joy. My sons 5 Jack Russells took away a lot of my grief after losing my husband and now I have two elderly dogs I adopted after my friend died. I have a lot to do with saving dogs from being euthanised in USA where they kill dogs in shelters for lack of space. We look for fosters and Rescues and adopters when possible. The cruelty shown to animals is unbelievable. I try to interest older people to take senior dogs because dogs bring happiness and improve general health. I am a complete bore about dogs and my FB page deals with dogs. Friends and family just accept that my life is mainly about dogs!

I don’t like dogs at all. I tolerate DS’s springer Spaniels out of fdeference to him. I had a few childhood terrors with dogs - a Corgi bit me, a large dog terrified me by jumping up on me, and I was traumatised walking to school every day because there was a large black dog I had to pass on the way, which would bark frantcally at me. I am decidedly a cat lady I like their inependence and feel very privileged to be owned by a cat!

Our little dog is a joy.

Floradora9
Your post about your neighbour's yappy terrier reminded me of a Facebook post I saw recently.

"Good home wanted for small dog. Needs a lot of company and exercise. Likes to be outside, but tends to bark a lot.
If you would like to re-home him, let me know, and I will climb over the fence and get him for you!" ?

Abandoning a dog is disgraceful.

Years ago we took in a stray who approached me in the street and took a great interest in my baby in his prom. She was in a very scruffy state, very hungry, and very nervous of traffic.

We suspected that a family may have dumped her on the nearby busy road because they had had a baby and decided that they didn't want the dog any more. In spite of of our efforts we never found her owners.

She was the most caring and loving dog. We had never had one before, and my DH was very reluctant to keep her. He cried when we finally had to have her pts, as did we all.

RosieJ that is exactly the response I got from my husband when our (my) dog died 13 years ago. He has won the argument but the lack of a dog in my life is something I will never feel at peace with. Don’t let your husband get away with it! I’ve left it too long to argue now.

I don't own a dog, but luckily get landed with a 'grand-dog' quite often. I love her to bits (she's an adorable cockapoo) and the grandchildren accuse me of loving her more than I do them - no comment obviously!! My grand-dog is the most adorable creature ever and sleeps on the bed with me (I didn't start it - my daughter did) and I love waking up in the morning to find that the dog is lying on her back with all four furry paws in the air............I stroke her tummy and we both have a lovely start to the day. There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog.

Kaspar, my Schnauzer is my furry minder, he vets all with two or four legs before allowing them near me. I wouldn't be without him, he is my best friend and knows all the secrets. He never judges yet is a good judge of character and will go to those with treats more readily than those without. He is a vocal boy but not aggressive. I have had dogs and horses all my life interspersed with the odd human.

I agree with Witzend. I can't get along with people wh say they don't like animals. However, dogs do need much attention. So do cats, but they are more patient, can look after themselves for longer periods, make less mess on the whole, show love and affection with delicate nose kisses, not slobber, are almost universally beautiful. A cat will not mind TOO much if you go away for the weekend, if you leave food and water in its familiar surroundings

I agree. We just lost our gentle giant of a Labrador in March and have just bought a Labrador puppy called Molly. She has been hard work but such fun. We love walking her and having her with us.

Our last dog died just over a year ago and the loss in the house is enormous. My husband says he definitely doesn’t want another one and at the moment I can hardly look at him I,m so cross and upset about it.It’s so selfish of him. He has his friends and interests I am determined to have mine . His stock answer is he has enough on his plate as it is .
The love and companionship you get from having a dog is absolutely wonderful. Another heartbeat in the home is just amazing.

I totally agree Grannyrebel17. Our beloved Springer is just another member of our family. He is utterly devoted to my husband, his shadow wherever he goes. We couldn't imagine life without him now. A couple of days ago he bit my husband - he has a rather painful ear (an ongoing problem) and DH accidentally touched it. No serious damage done, but I don't know who was more upset DH or the dog, they both cried! Dog is off to the vet in an hour or so and in a couple of days he'll be his usual happy self.

For those people who love the company of dogs but cannot now own a dog, they might like to consider volunteering at kennels, dog walking, dog sitting or puppy walking etc. even if it's only occasionally. So many animal charities need a little extra help now, it's not all about money!

Witzend What your friend told you is awful. It sent a chill down my spine too!! I'm afraid she would no longer be my friend!

An unexpected benefit of a dog (OK, I’m digressing here) - a niece’s dog sensed that the place they’d just moved to was haunted.

The family had sensed nothing at all, but there was a certain formerly unused area in an old part of the property, where their dog refused absolutely to put a paw over the threshold.

Niece mentioned it to someone she knew who was said to have a certain gift - please NB, she never charged.

After a good look she said that that much older part of the property had once been a knocking shop ? and a man who’d gone too far one night and killed a girl, was still there, out of guilt.

She asked him to leave, and evidently he left, because after that the dog had no problem with entering that part of the house.

Scoffers invariably put such things down to imagination, but if anyone else has ever heard of a dog imagining a ‘presence’ I’d be very interested to hear about it!

Hope your Hattie is around for many years to come xx

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Absolutely grannyrebel7, I think dogs should be ‘on prescription’

It would send my blood pressure through the roof I can't stand them !