It's A Dog's Life .. if only..

Life would be so much the poorer without dogs in it...

The longest in my whole life where i didnt have a dog was two weeks! So over 70years now. You are never alone with a dog. My dogless neighbour is amazed how many people i speak to but i dont know their names but know the dogs names. Yes dogs are a tie and yes there are costs involved BUT i dont eat out or play golf or have my own car etc and my dogs are always pleased to see me. We all have a choice but give me dogs any day over people.

In the past I rattled a tin for Save the Children. One year I took my Westie with me for company. My tin was much heavier that year because people stopped to talk to her and put a few coins into my tin.

My DH is in hospital at the moment, having had a knee op yesterday. He will be going for "re-education" as the French call it for up to 3 weeks. This is the first time we have been separated for 40 years. My dogs are great company.

OldBat1 I'm 76 now and have had dogs since we moved out from London in the mid 80s. My dogs are 11 and 12 and I have been wondering when to stop getting another. Currently there are a few older dogs on a website that I look at (every day) who are for re-homing because their owners have died or gone into a care home and there is no family member to look after them. It is the first thought that comes to mind when I think about the future.

Its many years since our wonderful Goldie died and DH who is a big dog lover refuses to have another but admires everyone else's dog as I do when we go out for a walk. I visit my daughter and its their Golden Retriever that gets the first and biggest hugs but he does make sure he does and he is a big boy you cant get past him! There is a constant stream of dog walkers going past our house to stop to chat to each other and I feel very much that we are missing out on social contact but DH is adamant.

I have a 14year old Jack Russel and a 12 year old labrador who are the most wonderful companions. Always greet me with waggy tails and give me a reason to walk to the park every day. The longest I have been without a dog is 4 years when I was younger. I'm 81 now and can't envisage coming home to an empty house.

We have just had an exciting 5 minutes as there was a cat in the garden. My lab was most put out but hasnt quite yet developed the ability to do a big boy bark so continually batted me with his paw to persuade me to sort it out. It made the housework less boring

We have a pup! My first, she will be 9 months old on Sunday. I was totally bereft when we lost our beautiful dog last year, she was a rescue/rehomed dog with the most calm and wonderful temperament. As a tribute to her we found the breeder and got a pup not to replace her but give the love to another beautiful creature. I’m retired but my partner has another 5 years to go and he didn’t want me to be alone. He absolutely dotes on her and vice versa! Honey gets me out every day when I would tend to stay in and read. Every day I have some lovely conversations with people in our local park who stop me to tell me what a pretty pup she is, she sits calmly and waits patiently no matter how long the conversation is. We feel extremely lucky to have another wonderful dog.
For those who can’t have their own for whatever reason there is a scheme called “Borrow my dog” I’m not quite sure how extensive the scheme is or how it works but may be worth looking into?

It works for other people, too. I'm not a dog owner, but when I walk through the park I am happy to engage in a little chat with a dog or two and the owners- " hello handsome" ( strictly to the dog!) and inconsequential stuff to both. I would feel a little presumptuous talking to a stranger without a dog as my starter.

Dogs are real ice breakers, when we first moved to this small village in France we had limited french and were quite nervous about meeting people. However we had a Jack Russell puppy and everyone stopped to talk to him and then to us. We soon became involved in village life.

I do so miss having a dog. Our last one was a parson Russell terrier. She lived for 18 years, and when she died we decided not to have another dog.
We have taken in our DD's cat. He kept wandering away from home and trying to move in with an elderly lady who didn't want him. I too, him in and he seems settled here.

I can't have a dog but I talk to lots of dog walkers while I am out. The dogs always make me smile no matter how I am feeling. They all have different personalities and I have grown fond of quite a few.

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Living her best life! My 5 year old retired racing greyhound - I swore I would not put myself through the sadness again when Gracie was PTS 6 years ago, then sadly Hattie was seriously and incurably ill two years ago aged only 5, but as Paul O’Grady said” You don’t think of tomorrow’s hangover, when you’re enjoying the party. “ 🐶
Rosie
Hattie (black)
Gracie

They are brilliant ice-breakers aren't they? We are dogless nowadays but had a great chat getting to know some neighbours at our caravan site this week, mostly through admiring and patting their beautiful puppy!
We had a pair of beautiful dogs many years ago, but Mr GO found it so traumatic having to have first one, then the other, put to sleep that he won't consider having any more sadly. Given the opportunity, I would jump at the chance to get another - our house feels very empty since our son and girlfriend moved out into their own home. Oh well, I just have to settle for enjoying meeting other people's dogs instead.

A home without a dog is not a home- for me ...

We had almost a year after we lost little Emma- but our rescue Yata (ex Princesse) has been with us for 2.5 months and is such a joy. She gets more confident by the day, and spends al her time with me in the garden, or going for long walks in the woods- and sleeping in the kitchen with her mate Minou 3 legs.

Probably our last dog as we are getting too old to garantee to be here for 15+ years, and we will make the very best of the joy to have her with us, and knowing we saved her from terrible suffering makes it even more so. Same for Minou.

A life without dogs would be so sad 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Sitting here snuggled up with my mad cocker spaniel and my daughters 3 mini sausages. Sadly we lost our beautiful working cocker three weeks ago 😢😢😢😢

I will never be without a dog. I live alone and I know how lonely my life would be without my wee rescued Fox Terrier. She was really ill 2 weeks ago, I nearly lost her and the whole time she was in the vets the house was so quiet, I really missed her.
She sits at the window and all the doggy walkers now look for her, she actually gets a wave at times. All of us have got to know each other so well now, it's a great way to meet up and stop for a chat. If I'm ever out on my own I'm asked have I forgotten something, they are more interested in seeing the dog.
They are the best thing to help loneliness, they can keep you fit with all the walks and best of all they put a great big smile on your face.

Absolutely agree, such li emu company and makes life more sociable, plus I’m always chatting away to mine 😊

Since we moved from London back in the mid 80s I've had several dogs, most of them rescues, one a puppy and the others more mature. I have two at a time because I think (for my benefit) that when one dies the other will need a companion.

There's no doubt that it can be devastating when they die but in a way, it becomes a little easier the more dogs you have. As I type there is one laying under my desk and the other sleeping a few feet away.

I never think of the new one being a replacement. Some are naughtier than others but all (unless you're unlucky) are rewarding.

Taking on an older dog is especially rewarding because most of them have needed re-homing through no fault of their own. Also, you don't have to go through the process of puppy training . My rescued dogs have all settled in very quickly and are happy to be with us.

My family had dogs when I was growing up, haven't been able to have one and an adult. However I also enjoy chatting to dog walkers when out and about. My neighbours dog sneaks out to visit me from time to time , loves a cuddle ! Think it's cupboard love though, after saying hello he shoots into my utility room and scoffs the biscuits my cat has left! My lovely cat keeps out of the way during his visits. When his owners realize he is not around they know where to find him! So not a dog owner but I enjoy other peoples dogs.

I agree about making friends and acquaintances when out walking the dog. Usually the same dog walkers are out pounding the pavements at the time my dog and I go walkies, and it's lovely to catch up with their chat. Some of them have become real friends.

My little Bichon cross is a huge drain on my finances owing to having had 4 operations in 2 years. The operation fees were met by insurance, but I now have an exclusion on skin issues. Three of the ops were skin related and the 4th was blindness caused by cataracts. He now has new lenses.

It's the medication he needs that costs along with our far too frequent visits to the vet. All necessary.

I have said all that, but I absolutely wouldn't be without him. He's funny, fascinating, and cheeky. Also friendly. He's loved by all who meet him. But mostly by me.

I grew up with dogs and have had dogs for the past 30 years . We had a 3 year gap between the first and second dog and a 7 month gap between the second and current dog . All 3 are labs. Our current dog is a fox red pup aged 13 months and gets lots of attention from other dog owners and non dog owners.
Dog owners are so friendly and chatty .
I often walk with friends who have dogs and now both DH and I are retired it’s a great reason to get out in the fresh air and obviously the exercise is important . I normally clock up over 15,000 steps a day .
Yes they are a tie and puppies are hard work but they’re so worth it. Life is definitely better with a dog .
When my late fil was in a care home we used to take our previous lab in there . With permission from the manager obviously. The other residents loved seeing her and would make a big fuss of her , and would talk about dogs they’d owned in the past . Their faces would light up when they saw her.

We have a gorgeous ruler of the world who is almost fourteen.
We won't have another one , once he passes. The dog has had significant health issues for the last eight years or so. He literally is the ruler of our times due to his medications. When we go on holidays he actually has to board in a specialist hospital as a regular boarding place can't deal with his requirements.
My husband has health issues and I worry that we would pass before the dog and ...that would be horrible .

Such good ice breakers. We love to walk our dog, and people stop for a chat, with or without dogs. If they have a dog, we often chat, whilst the dogs have a frolic.