Why do you have a dog?

lexiedhb

lexiedhb

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Walking round a really rather snowy, isolated field watching the ginger gobshite making snow dog angels and try and locate his ballie, :rolleyes: I wondered why we have dogs? I mean ok companionship, but if you do not live alone its not really needed. Gun dogs etc have a job to do, guard dogs the same.

So why do you have a dog?
 
Henry is great company and the extra exercise does me good. Like the different circle of friends it bring outside horses. He also comes to work and my stress levels are definately lower. I think dogs just have a positive effect on mental and physical health.
 
Gun, Guard, Sheep or Companion, it's all the same thing. Without them my life would be empty.

My dogs are my servants. They are also my reson detre (Sp?) :o.

Alec.
 
To me they are a constant delight, even if you live with someone there is nothing like the companionship of a dog. For me it's like having no sunshine, yes life is still worth living but its never as warm or bright :)

Looking at Lil now, groggy still from the drugs after her spay op. I cant explain the love I feel for her. My dogs see me as special, they love and want to be with me constantly - where else will you experience devotion that strong? Nowhere.
 
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i do live alone and after losing my old dog decided that i wouldnt have another as they are such a tie and commitment. i lasted for 5 months and missed the companionship so much that i got my lurcher and a couple of years later my collie cross, so have 2 lovely companions who are always happy to see me and they make me smile LOTS..... i think the pros outweigh the cons............... although this time of year i must admit i would like to have no dogs and no horse and stay in bed in the mornings like other retired people..... i suppose they keep me active....:D
 
No no no NO nO no no! You are all supposed to say " I don't know, pain in the ass aren't they?" I'm having to leave mine temporarily. When I say leave I mean I will still be walking him etc but wont live with him any more. :(
 
I've always grown up with dogs, it is part of my 'make-up'. When my daughter was born, I wanted to make sure she grew up with a dog, learnt some responsibility too. The dog is part of our family that makes us whole, without the pooch, we are not a family.
Thats my personal thought on the matter anyway!!
 
For 31 years I've always had at least one dog, would be lost without one. I must be a big glutton for punishment because I work with them too!!
 
They make me do housework:mad::rolleyes:

I think the benefits of having a dog are huge - they make you get out and do some excercise which in turn helps lower stress levels and there is nothing better then a dogs welcome when you come home:D It has been shown there are huge mental health benefits to regular outside excercise which having a dog makes you do:)

I can't imagine not having a dog in my life/house:o My parents are dogless for the first time in years but they have mine and my sisters to stay so still get doggy time:) As my mum says if you have a dog on a lead you can walk anywhere without anyone looking twice - do the same walk on your one and people look at you:o

Although when I get woken up at 3/4 in the morning I do wonder:mad::mad::rolleyes:
 
I was born in love with dogs. From the moment I could walk, I was obsessed with dogs. I was a nightmare for my mum. As a toddler I would approach dogs to touch them, from the time I could write (4/5), first on my Christmas and birthday lists would be a dog. I finally got my dog, Ben, at age 11. I have horses and donkeys that I love dearly but I could live without equines, dogs I could not.:)
 
Waking up and seeing Floddens happy face, mucking out and seeing his mucky poo stained face light up when he sees a little shred of hoof. his obvious delight when I come back to the car where he has waited patiently for me, the walk on the moor when he trots alongside me, checking I am ok. His concern if I leave to go without him, and the greeting I get when I get home safely. The way he knows when I am upset and tucks in close and licks my tears, then just settles down next to me. What person can be all that and more to you. And ask so little in return.
 
I have been ill since i was 14. The one thing that kept me going through the really bad times was my animals. In particular, the family golden retriever Ronnie. Without them, I honestly wouldn't be here. Pixel is an extension of that. She is my little friend and companion and how she deals with her disability is such an inspiration for me and helped so much with my own problems and recovery after major surgery.

So my reason for having dogs? It doesn't matter how you look, how ill you are, if you can't go out for that meal...they give you unconditional love, for which they get the same back.

Mushyness over! :D
 
I've always loved dogs but couldn't have one as a kid as Mum was horrendously allergic. A couple of months before we got married 4yrs ago, me and husband got our first dog, Zack. We had been planning for it for about a year before so it was just the happiest day ever when we brought him home. Then we ended up rehoming his sister a year later and got our youngest bitch in December 2010. Having labs got me into gundog stuff, shooting and working tests which I love doing and would never have been involved in if it wasn't for them. I just love them SO much, they are like children to us! They make me laugh, are so loyal and loving and are great fun. I couldn't imagine life without them :)
 
We got Daisy Dumbo Dog (pointer x setter) when my youngest child was a year old as we wanted the children to grow up with a dog as myself and my hubby have :) Daisy is now 9 years old and has been the best family pet ever and has just got back from her walk with my 12 yo son :)
 
I don't really know ;) I was born into a housefull of dogs, grew up surrounded by them and just cannot imagine being without one. They are companionship, protection, encourage me to take exercise and make me laugh, and of course cry when they come to the end of their days with me.:(
 
What on earth would I do all night if I didnt have to restuff the dog beds, wonder how my rolling pin is now in two peices, look at the progress Obi is making in the garden on his quest toward china, try to explain to the MIL that her son left her good screwdriver on the kitchen bench so it was fair game, sending sweets to the vet (and I seem to be paying for her new car), wiping mud off the setees and walls, getting cuddles and slobbers and hairs over every item of clothing - because I like to look like a yak at work with designer paw prints, and they make very efficient knee warmers, and my arm muscles look like a sculpted godess because they havent quite got the hang of heel, and I dont get trick or treaters, and I got a Paw from Obi tonight after three months of trying (the steak was a stroke of genius).
 
Because a house feels odd without a dog in it! My family have always had dogs and when I bought my own house nearky 2 years ago I wanted to get a dog. However, working 9 to 5 5 days a week isn't ideal and in reality I knew I couldn't afford it :( Roll on another year and a promotion at work I knew i could afford it, I just had to persuade the parents to dog sit in the day! Then along came Molly from Dogs Trust! Now it feels she's always been here.
 
Just because!!! We went for a couple of years without when a beloved girl died and life was just a bit...boring. Even when I lived away from home I volunteered and spent time with other people's dogs.
 
For company, still applies to those with large families. There's 4 of us here and nothing beats the atmosphere, or companionship a dog brings. Especially when you come in from college / work.
 
Because they're cheaper than a therapist and the side effects aren't as unpleasant as medication :D

Seriously though, I'd be lost without our guys. They're just such lovely little people to be around. I find it so relaxing in an evening when all three dogs are draped around the room snoozing away contentedly.
 
Alec Swan said:
My dogs are my servants. They are also my reson detre (Sp?) :o.

Alec.
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Raison d'être. I think I'm more their servant than they are mine! I don't recall them ever making my tea!

lexiedhb said:
No no no NO nO no no! You are all supposed to say " I don't know, pain in the ass aren't they?" I'm having to leave mine temporarily. When I say leave I mean I will still be walking him etc but wont live with him any more. :(
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Hugs again, how crap for you. :(

I can't bear coming home to an empty house. I absolutely adore my boys, I'm stupidly soppy over them. They make me melt when I look at them. Pain in the ass, definitely, but so worth it. face of an angel!
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He makes me laugh, he makes me exercise, he makes me play, he is a joy to watch as he pushes himself to ever greater speeds around the fields. He gives me no time to mope and feel sorry for myself, he makes me meet new people every day. He keeps me young by challenging me and making me use my brain to do my best to train him. He is faithful and will never get tired of me. How could I possibly not want him in my life?
 
Enforced exercise has been a biggie, I've never been so fit in my life, contemplating a half marathon in the summer which never would have happened without the wolves coming along. Next winter's diary is already filling up with opportunities to stay in a tent in the freezing weather, getting soaked and muddy, in order to race the dogs. I'd otherwise be at home eating and sitting on my arse. :p

They are excellent therapy - the reason I get out of bed in the morning, always an excuse to go for a stomp and forget about one's troubles temporarily, I get a real sense of fulfilment out of training the buggers which I don't seem to be able to apply to my own life (:o).

They don't ask for much (I can bring huge amounts of joy to their life just by going to the treat cupboard or picking up a lead) but are always super pleased to see me, have given me endless opportunities to go out and do stuff, meet new people, and in this weather Ricoh's butt makes an excellent foot warmer. :D
 
Why not? What's not to love? Our two are a constant delight, along with being a constant pain in the behind . . . and I couldn't imagine life without either of them.

They are therapy on four legs, endlessly entertaining, furry little hot water bottles when it's cold, great company while I'm job hunting and up the yard, fun to figure out/train, great exercise motivators, fabulous foot warmers, good listeners, beautiful to look at, fascinating to study/observe, soft to stroke . . .

P
 
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