The joy of owning a dog

Our dog doesn’t jump up at people but he does greet visitors with a wagging tail and a wish to be acknowledged and patted, he will then leave them alone. Visitors who don’t like dogs are also greeted in the same way but the non dog loving visitor refuses to acknowledge him or pat him, so he persists in his friendly greeting in the hope of winning them over and getting a friendly pat, which just further irritates the visitor and I have to physically remove him. I know not everyone likes dogs but they really don’t know what they are missing although I’m sure there will be plenty of people on here who will tell me otherwise.

For Bluedaisy. It makes me very sad every time.

Bluebird just something to think about regarding buying a puppy. We bought my mum a little Yorkie for her 70th birthday, she was in good health so didn’t give it a thought as she was a young 70. However out of the blue she had a major stroke at 74 and to cut a long story short we ended up having to take her on. Have you thought of putting your name down for ie Bichon rescue / Maltese rescue or whatever type of dog you are after? Also Battersea dogs home can match you up to possibly a 4/5 year old? It’s non of my business but just saying, maybe you could give it a thought.
Bichon Frise, Maltese are also non moulting and good for asthma for AGAA4.

Dogs have so much personality, they are great company, but when they die (as ours did in February) Chapter closes. I still think I hear her pitter patter here and there. My DH still goes out for a walk when we would have taken the dog. She was family.

Thanks everyone. I've loved reading all your comments.

My beautiful boy, Scooby, sadly died in January.
He was 13 and such a delightful, sweet-natured, smiley dog.
I adored him.

For anyone thinking they are (healthy but) too old for another dog you could always foster. Rescues are crying out for fosterers.
As others have said ex-racing greyhounds make great companions & don't need as much exercise as you might think, but most will take as much as you want to give them.
If you're looking for an older dog Oldies Club advertise dogs from age 7. They were recently also looking for fosterers.

It's 16 years since our last dog died and I still miss having his wet nose shoved into my hand to remind me he's there. My current situation means a dog is impossible but I did enjoy having one around.

Grannyrebel7 I have never had a dog, but always cats. I always say both were put in this earth to be loved. My late husband always said he did not like cats. Guess who spoiled them the most? Yes. They are family,

To share you house with dogs is the best. Their calm non judgmental companionship so relaxing. I too have this problem with friends who don’t like dogs. If they go back to when you didn’t have dogs well you wouldn’t have got into that position. And some of my most treasured memories are with those who embraced my dog warmly it makes such a difference. People can be very inconsiderate and unthinking. As someone said they give so much, can be so easily abused it makes the bond of respect even deeper. People who don’t get that really aren’t worth bothering with.
Cats are allowed freedom and you are not as totally responsible for them as you are dogs who aren’t allowed out without you.
My life now it very much shaped by getting the dogs to the woods, by the streams and letting them be free for a couple of hours a day. Which has changed my life and made me happy. After all the rest of the time they are under house arrest pretty much! Probably never have dogs had such limited lives and yet there are people obsessed in making it worse for them, banning them, insisting on leads in parks etc etc.
Dogs have been our companions for tens of thousands of years it’s a relationship based on trust and love.

We don’t own a dog ourselves, due to the fact that they would be too tying. We are often travelling and sometimes go off spontaneously. Having said that we do dog sit regularly for a friend and a relative. Both of these dogs are very loving and enjoy their time with us and we enjoy having them.
I think we have the best of both worlds and this suits us for now. I am sure that in the future, when we'll travel less, we will definitely get our own bundle of fun.

I love dogs and since my husband died nearly 3 years ago I have thought of getting another.
I have had Shelties in the past and love their gentle nature but can I find one. Im having real difficulty locating one. If there is a kind Gransnetter out there that can point me in the right direction I’d be really grateful.

Bobby dog, I googled sheltie puppies an found 3 litters available within 20 miles of Gtr Manchester, where I live. One litter had a sire who has won various show trophies. My mum has shelties, lovely dogs. Hope you find one

I live in Greater Manchester *iam64 . I’ve looked on Kennel club site and champdogs but no luck. Can you private message me with your information of litters please.

That's GN service at its best bobby and Iam64

There’s a very active Sheltie Facebook page.

I digit for my daughter and partners dogs regularly and when they go away, they think I'm Nanna and I love them and they love me, they don't smell as the house is kept clean, the floors regularly washed and blankets etc are washed regularly. I did know someone who's house stank to high heaven as they had a dog then 2 dogs who lived in the house while both of them went to work full time, they shouldn't have had them really as they do need to go out at least once during the working day. The rest of the people with dogs I know didn't have doggy smells at home.