Why Did Your Dog Come To You?

[mutt lover]

My Angel "Lady" is just that my Angel as she came to me in a dream I had not long after my previous little dog had been killed in a dog attack. I was still an emotional wreck and at the time I wasn't ready for another dog and hadn't given a thought to getting another 1 so soon until I felt emotionally ready but I woke up one morning and had a very strong urge that I had to go to rspca that there was a little dog there waiting for me and there she was and as her time was up she was due to be PTS the next day. I truly believe she was sent to me to help heal my emotional trauma and perhaps she had a guardian angel watching over her also and now she is around 16/17 I know her time will be up soon and again I will be an emotional wreck but I cherish every single day I've had with her MY LITTLE ANGEL "LADY"

Edited July 29, 2010 by mutt lover

[dee lee]

Evie came to us to teach me about all aspects of dog ownership.

I learnt all about diet, how to train a dog and sadly, how hard it can be to own a rescue dog with issues.

Because of these issues I found Dol.

Honey came to us to heal us and show us again the joy of owning a dog. She is absolutely my heart dog.

Without Evie I would never have had Honey in my life or be able to look after her as well as I do.

[PAX]

I was a crossover trainer and I think Chill came to me to teach me how to handle a sensitive dog.

Rhythm came to me to boost my confidence that I hadn't made Chill nutty and I can raise a sound natured dog.

Prix came to me to teach me that even though I am a motivational trainer, don't cross the boundaries, there are lines to obey, so 'hey Buddy' it is worth towing the line.

Dogs are so awesome.

I truly believe that all our dogs come to us for a reason.

[Kajtek]

Sweet Dumpling chose us to teach us love, start my dog rescue adventure, show me how to spend every cent on useless things for the dogs and to deprive us of humans-only holidays.

HonBun came because my Sweet Dumpling needed a dog-friend. She's taught us that charm, super personality and master communication skills are very useful. Her beautiful doglet smiles and happines are essential to our well-being.

KI, my darling FF, came to tell me that I cannot foster dogs. He's a clown - we got laughter, joy, youthful exuberance, civil disobedience and buckets of "un-expectations". He's brought us boundless love and the need to be loved right back.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Anna

[MsKatie]

Jess (Run free big girl) Came to me to show me that while owning a dog carries lots of responsibilities it also carries so many rewards with it - and that sometimes you just have to be strong and think of others

Clapton (Run free crabby old man) - taught me the joys of dog training and the hardships of owning a DA dog - he taught me that you need to be strong AND loving

Bonnie (Run free big dog) Came to show me the true meaning of unconditional love and the joy of rescuing a dog and giving it a better life

Rosie - came to show me the joys of puppy hood and I know she is going to help me relearn the joys of training a dog - she also led me to DOL and has given me a whole new perspective on dogs and myself as an owner

Earl - came to me to challenge me - in many ways - from buying a dog from a breeder - to working with that unique hound temperament - he has also taught me to use positve training methods and to be a firm leader

WOW - that was so eye opening for me - all of my dogs have been so unique and so special in their own ways and from when we rescued our first 2 from the RSPCA to buying our first purebred so much has changed

[lovemesideways]

Rover came to bring my mum out of her shell She's made so many friends and found more of a purpose in life because of him!!

He introduced me to my true obsession with dogs. How much fun training a dog can be and how completely forgiving when you're being a twat

Riddick came to me to push me into positive reinforcement training. Give me confidence in myself. Help me learn patience.

and introduce me to new friends !

(and to slowly pull those darn spitz lovers into the Black Labrador loving world )

[corvus]

I've learnt things from all my animals, not just the dogs.

From Penny I learnt how subtle the fallout from corrections can be. She was a victim of my ignorance and still worshipped the ground I walked on. I let her down and I vowed I would never let that happen to another of my dogs.

From Kit the hare I learnt to listen.

From Bonnie the rabbit I learnt to compromise.

From Kivi Tarro I learnt what spitz moments are. And he started me on clicker training and I discovered a patience for and joy in training that I'd never had before. He has taught me to appreciate the little things, and shown me that there are non-confrontational solutions to every social problem. I need a bracelet that says WWKTD.

Erik has been teaching me what "needs mental stimulation" and "too smart for their own good" means. He has opened my eyes to why people love working breeds and taught me a lot about arousal and how to manage it. His quirks have taught me to concentrate on communicating to my dogs what I want them to do and forget about what I don't want them to do. And to be hyper aware of his reactions so I bloody well know when I'm accidentally rewarding him!

[Sayly]

Gracie came to teach us how frustrating some dogs can be. How tough little terriers can be. That you can love a dog and do the right thing by them but never completely click with them.

Poppy came to us to teach me so much, to never buy a petshop puppy, to appreciate good genetics, the importance of early socialisation, how training doesn't stop when the dog is no longer a pup, and to keep me on this earth when without her I wouldn't still be here. And to keep the bed warm.

Ruby came to us to start my dream of showing (and hopefully breeding eventually) and to keep us laughing. And to help bring Holly into our lives.

Holly came to me to make a dream come true. To make me happy. To help Poppy to keep me on this earth when without them I wouldn't still be here. To make me feel completely and utterly adored for simply being. To open doors and make new friends. And to never trust someone she doesn't like.

ETA: And Holly taught me about soft dogs. I'd never had anything but terriers before her and she's such a soft girl. Very different in needs and training than the terriers and I love it. She's so easy.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Lyndsay

[tez]

Jane came to us because she needed a family who would totally adore a constantly happy but contantly thieving extrovert. She has taught us to be much neater around the house and to never ever put anything less than 4 feet off the ground! Jane has taught us that material things are nothing (especially once chewed!) compared to the unconditional love freely given by 'The Black Menace'!

Gus came to us to show us that some dogs are 'easy' and relaxed and not constantly on the go. He came to us because he would have died otherwise and because he needed a naughty extrovert to let him find the fun in having fun!

[~*Shell*~]

To start off with, Zero came to me because he was 4 hours away from being put to sleep when i met him and it was either take him, or he dies.

But since then, he's taught me more than 16 years of schooling ever did so I think Zero came to me to show me that even when something looks hopeless, it never is. We've been through more than I think I'll ever go through with another dog and come out smiling on the other side.

Zero also came to me as a means to meet some awesome and different friends who have become some of my very best friends. I'm very thankful for that and glad that he's made some good friends because of it too!

[Henrietta]

Abby came to me to teach me the fundamental basics that people should know before they allow a dog into their lives. And then some.

She also came to me to reinforce the importance of responsibility and dedication. This does not come close to describing all the things she has taught me, but you don't need a novel. I think all dogs teach you things, all of them. But I'd be hard pressed to find another that could compete for sheer volume of knowledge.

[kathq]

Pip came to me to show me that there are truly gentle souls in the world..and that it is okay to just be what you are.

Coco came to show me that when everything clicks it is possible to have the type of dog trainers dream of and the sheer joy that can result from her kind of outlook on life

[Dreams]

Belle came to us to show all of us how incredible the right dog for the right family at the right time can be. She is the most beautiful gentle daggy girl that we all adore and we will always be grateful to Larissa at GapVic for allowing us to adopt our precious Bella Bella Pumpkinella.

[Mas1981]

Gabby and Vicky my ridgeback x's ( they now still live with my mum overseas they are 11) they came into my life to teach me that I will never have 2 puppies at the same time ever again, they are obsessed with one another and you cant do a thing with one without the other. Gabby also taught me that I can't control everything no matter how hard I try. They also taught me that I needed to be a stronger leader for my dogs and that is why Mason has turned out to awesome as I was strict on him as a pup and I did not let him walk all over me, I basically did the opposite with him than what I did with the ridgie girls.

Mason has taught me sooo many things, he has taught me that training a dog is possible ( never managed more than sit and shake hands with the previous 2) he has shown me that a human and dog can have a special bond with each other. He has also taught me that dogs can be around each other and show no sign of aggression ( Gabby is very DA). He is also not afraid of anything whereas the other 2 were terrified of their own shadows. Mason has shown me that dogs and cats can also be great mates as he and my male cat get on really really well.

And finally Mason has helped me at a time in my life that I needed it most, I had only been in australia for 5 months when I got him and I only knew 2 other couples, through him I have made heaps of friends, some from training club and others from DOL. I owe him so much. He is my heart dog, I was very close to a horse I had to leave behind in my old country ( who has since been PTS) but my bond with Mason is even stronger than it was with Sam.

Sam ( RIP) taught me so many things in life, I cant even begin to mention them all.

[Niques]

James in my life as shown me that I can be responsible. Friends and family are stunned at how organised and thorough I am when it comes to the dog as I have never shown any responsibility or commitment in other aspects of my life. They were only half-joking when they said the poor mutt will only last a week with me!

He's made me more social and more likely to be proactive in all manner of things. And he's shown me just how brilliant and strong a connection with a dog can be.

I am so lucky to have James. He is such a wonderful dog and I am beyond grateful that my first dog experience is so positive. Aside from the fact that he's just accidentally sliced my finger open whilst I sit here typing lovely things about him...

[HeavyPaws]

To teach me that the kitchen bench is nowhere near high enough for a cake I spent 6 hours making

[aussielover]

Teddy came to show my mum how wonderful owning a dog is and the importance of good breeding and a good start to life (he was a pet shop puppy who subsequently had issues and was not the easiest to train).

Clover came to us to be a great companion for me and mum and also be a perfect family dog. She came to help me grow up and helped me through all the hard parts of childhood and growing up.

Mindy came to show us how regular training can produce a wonderful dog that knows a lot of tricks! Also to show us and others how dogs can be of such a benefit to the community. And to mend my broken heart from losing clover.

And to introduce us to the wonderful world of black labs!

[PoppyDog]

Poppy came to us to teach us about puppy mills and farms!

She came to us to teach us patience. Toilet training her was HARD work and it took a LOT of patience, repitition and rewards!

She came to us to teach us about training, and doggy health, and grooming!

But most of all she came to us to teach us to love something else in our lives. We never thought we would love our pet dog as much as we love Poppy.

Close family and friends often ask my fiance and I if Poppy is our practice baby! But she really is. We love her with all our being and while I'm sure the love we feel for her will be different to the love we feel for our future skin babies I think that love will be VERY similar!

[ash&elar]

Kara came to me (through my parents when i was 6) to show me how special dogs are, how they will listen to you when no one else has the time, how they will never be the one to let you down and that they will be your best friend no matter what!!! To show me the power i had on another being life by the light i would see in her eyes everytime she seen me walk out to the yard or say her name even when she was crippled and old she would bounce around in joy and to give me such joy growing up with her that i knew i never wanted to live without a dog and i wanted my children to grow up with them. RIP honkey donkey.

Butch was my dads dog but came into my life to show me the joys of dog obedience, but the sorrows of loving and loosing too early. RIP.

Elar to show me the bad effects of bad breeding and what it can do to a breed.

Fez to show me the joys of a toy dog and a inside dog that can sit on ur lap and just cuddle, and to laugh when things dont go right.

ETA and the joys of good breeding!!!

Edited July 30, 2010 by ash&elar

[Jetty]

Jessie came to us to replace our loss of our beloved Casper (RIP)

She filled our hearts with love, she came to me to be a loving companion throughout my teenage years. Through loss, hurt & laughter she was always there on standby for cuddles. She came to us to show us what the perfect family pet is. No one has the same relationship we share, even until this day she is still by my side when I need her strength.

Jet came to me on a whim.

However I do not regret that decision and never will. He has taught me so much. Patience after training and more training he is finally at the place I want him to be. He came to me to teach me more information about the world & the dogs involved.

I never knew I could love a animal as much as I care for him. He is the only thing which will not disappoint me and I can rely on 24/7. Whenever I am upset he comes and comforts me. He has everything I ever wanted and ever need in a dog.

They have both taught me responsibility, which is something I really needed in my life.

Edited July 30, 2010 by ♥JJ