How Has Dog Ownership Changed You?

[kitkatswing]

This is something I was talking about with my husband this weekend.

The days before we bought Maui home, I had a clear idea of how/what/when/why about puppy ownership, things that I would do, things that I wouldnt do.

From that very first day we bought him home, I had pretty much thrown that list out of the window.

I never know one small little pup could change a person so much. I have fallen totally and utterly in love with the rascal and would dare anyone to try hurt him when I am around......

I always said NO DOGS ON THE BED... But guess who comes up for a snuggle when the alarm goes off each and every morning? (who also crawls UNDEr the doona and rests his head on my foot)...

I always said NO LICKING ME... But I let Maui lick me, he has licked my nose many times (puppy kisses, god love em)...

I always said NO DOGS INSIDE.... Yes Maui is in with us most of the time, only going out to eat, toilet and play with his toys (or sunbake)..

I share my food with him, he loves the ice from my drinks. (oh um, yeah he once snuck a drink of jamieson & coke, he was too quick!)

My husband works from home and he now has someone to talk to throughout the day, and to play with and de-stress with...

We have only had him since December 17 and he has changed our lives for the better.

I could go on, but I wont

So how has owning a dog changed you???

[mita]

That's a delightful post. You're so right, dogs bring changes to our lives for the better. And it happens while we've been planning something else entirely.

Our little dog, Tessa, passed the age of 13 yrs and then got nicknamed 'Gran', a new name that stuck. She lived for nearly 10 more years and became everyone's gran. Gran taught us patience... 'C'mon, life's too precious to get stressed out!'

Other people who've owned the elderly dogs have said the same. They manage to bring more to us than we can ever bring to them.

[W Sibs]

Charlie saved my life... that pretty much sums up how much he changed my life and how important he is to me

Emmy is an angel in disguised. She makes everything happy and fun. You can't be sad around her, it's like she doesn't allow it

Edited March 9, 2011 by CW EW

[SeeGee]

Charlie saved my life... that pretty much sums up how much he changed my life and how important he is to me ;)

Emmy is an angel in disguised. She makes everything happy and fun. You can't be sad around her, it's like she doesn't allow it :D

Its amazing you say that CW EW....thats how MY Charlie is to me. Charlie and Mia make me live life, not just go through the motions of being alive.

We bought a new car for them, are selling our house to move to a bigger block for them. My greatest fear is something happening to them (or hubby, but you get my drift), coming home to something irreversable (like baiting).

They have changed my life, they have helped me to recover from surgery, battle personal issues, calm my husband - not by doing anything, just by BEING there, and being themselves, and loving us.

They make up our family, and we will fiercely protect them for the rest of our days together.

They give me a reason to get up in the morning.

[chiara]

That's so true! I was the same, NO dogs insede NO dogs on the bed NO licking... a dog is a dog and should be outside where they belong... oh boy was I wrong. When our rottie came home with us at 8 weeks there was no way I could leave him outside... and he cried all night so I eventually gave in and put him in bed with me, all he wanted was to snuggle between us and he went to sleep and slept all night.

He's now an inside dog although I wish he would go outside more often but if we're home he wants to be inside, I even leave him in if it's too hot (AC and TV on) or if it rains!

I share my food with him, I always make a little extra dinner so he can have some, he's spoiled I know but for the unconditional love and security he gives us we just can't seem to be able to give enough back.

[frenzied1]

I live with chronic pain and can have bouts of depression because of this, my dogs make me smile and when I lay on the couch(apparently we were never going to let the dogs on the couch) with them they calm me down and I feel relaxed.

They make me smile and laugh with their funny quirks and they are just a huge huge part of my family.

Just to add what a lovely thread.

[capanash]

How has dog ownership changed us?

12 yrs ago, I had a dog hating husband, would not allow us to have a dog, but we worked on him. We had lots of other pets, even a lamb, husband would not have a dirty smelly dog in the house.

11 yrs ago, Victor the Standard Poodle joined the family. How our world has changed since then! After a year, Victor was joined by Freya, who became our first showdog. We now have 6 Standard Poodles, all Champions (1 Grand Champion, 1 also CD titled) and both of us are very involved in the dog world. My daughter learned to groom our first dog, providing her with a job while studying at university.

We have a whole new circle of friends, our dogs are involved in conformation and obedience, Pets as Therapy and the Responsible Pet Education program, modelling and advertising, life would be very empty without our fur kids.

Husband is still here, he has one of the poodles as his walking companion, previously would never have gone for a walk. Also has a new lot of friends from the dog park. His only complaint is "why didn't you make me have a dog earlier".

[monique.c]

I always said NO DOGS ON THE BED... But guess who comes up for a snuggle when the alarm goes off each and every morning? (who also crawls UNDEr the doona and rests his head on my foot)...

I always said NO LICKING ME... But I let Maui lick me, he has licked my nose many times (puppy kisses, god love em)...

I always said NO DOGS INSIDE.... Yes Maui is in with us most of the time, only going out to eat, toilet and play with his toys (or sunbake)..

I agree with all these things, before we got our puppy I was definitely opposed to dogs inside, dogs on the bed etc because that's how I was brought up. But we have Snowy Pup inside with us most of the time when we are home now, even if we just have the back door open and he knows he can come in if he wants most of the time he is happy to sit on the back deck or come in and lie on his blanket and play with his inside toys.

I definitely didn't want dogs on the bed but now when we get up in the mornings Snowy comes inside and up onto the bed for cuddles. He sleeps outside but we have an old high-set queenslander and all under the house is covered and dry and partially built in so it's like he has his own granny flat!

[Bartok]

THEY MADE ME POOR

I can't have human children so they have helped fill a void

[The Ark]

Dog ownership has made me much poorer and much busier.

But I love each and every one of them for the things that they bring into my life - the fun, the outings, the socialising, the cuddles, the education, and especially the dog-loving friends.

I pity those people who, through choice or circumstance, never get to share their life with a canine.

[Bluefairy]

I don't have a dog at present. I had to return my Pug so she could live a healthier life than here (we have had 3 dogs in 10 years, the first 2 died of cancer, my 3rd was also getting sick) The reason was never found. So we are hoping to move soon and then get another Pug.

But my dogs changed my life:

I could talk to them and not feel like I was talking to myself.

I could look at them and smile, knowing how much I loved them.

I could laugh at their antics, and wish I could be that stress free.

I could cry in front of them and not feel I should hide it.

I could go for a walk, not because I needed the exercise, but because I loved their company.

I could watch TV while they sat at my feet or at my side, and they never talked through the movie.

I could share my snacks, and know I wasn't eating too much.

I could feel safe knowing that they were there for me.

I never felt alone or scared, as I knew they were by my side.

I never felt stupid or dumb in front of them.

I never felt I made mistakes, just learned a better way of doing it.

I always had a true friend when I had a dog.

I can't wait to get a friend again.

BF

[dee lee]

Honey has changed my enjoyment of dog ownership- she has shown me how joyous it can be.

But generally dog ownership has made me get fitter and more of a morning person. I get up early every morning by necessity and take the dog for a walk or a jog.

My time management has gotten better too.

Unfortunately not all changes are good- I can now detect the smell of a poo on the kitchen floor, 3 floors below, at 3am while in a deep sleep...

[Dogsrawesome]

I know this will sound a bit cheesey but

Dogs make my life whole, i dont think i could live with out them.

They make me so happy

[Beth.]

Before I got Lottie I was the same - no dogs inside, never ever ever on the bed etc - now she's always in with me, sleeps on my bed if she wants (she hardly ever does as she gets to hot!!).

She makes me happy everyday.

She makes me laugh everyday.

I spend money on her everyday - she can never have enough toys.

I couldn't imagine her not being around.

I love taking her out to the lake or the park or a big walk everyday.

I love training - and never thought i'd love it as much as I do.

I can't wait until I can add another aussie to our little family!

She's super well behaved and such an easy dog to live with.

And all the great people I have met through having a dog

I'm a little slightly obsessed, hehe - but I love it!!

[BCPuppy]

All of the above, never had skin kids, so the feelings that the fur kid aroused were so unexpected

She wasnt even supposed to be mine, but our bond was instant, I had never experienced such unconditional affection and trust, she makes me happy even on the worst of days, has made me laugh more, clean less, walk more, take more time to relax, and has saved many arguments with the OH

[fuzzy82]

Life is so much better with dogs. I loved it when I adopted my adult poodle x, she was so calm and well behaved, so I thought why not get a puppy. That was a bit of a disaster, I actually hated him the first two weeks I had him because he's such a whirlwind and he was constantly misbehaving, but then I worked out a daily routine and did lots of good manners training, and now he's my little baby and whenever he misbehaves it's just funny. It does piss me off once in a while when he does something really bad, but most of the time when he looks up at me with that happy innocent look on his face I can't help but smile and tell him he's naughty while also giving him a belly rub.

[ESCS]

Our little Miki has changed all our lives but he has made the most difference to my daughter's life. Our daughter is naturally shy and reserved and had difficulties forming friendships at school. As a mother, it is heartbreaking to hear that your daughter doesn't have anyone to play with at lunch and doesn't have the confidence to join in with existing groups.

It was about this time that Miki came to live with us. From the time that he joined our family as a 13 week old pup, he has been a devoted and loyal mate for my daughter.

His love for her is unconditional and constant. He waits for her to come home every day and is always there to give her tibbie kisses and cuddles. No matter how hard the day at school may have been, she has him to come home to. Those beautiful doggy eyes literally shine with love and it is pretty difficult not to feel special under such an assault of love and attention!

While we did everything we could to give our daughter the love and security she needed, it was Miki's unconditional love, friendship and devotion that helped her grow into a confident and secure person. She is now having a great time at school and has many lovely friends to play with but she never forgets her little furry friend who was always there for her when times were tough.

I'm sure most people say this but we really could not imagine life without Miki. He is a star even on his naughtiest days!

[Enigma]

lets see, before dogs

i didnt have to look for my shoes

my furniture didnt have chew marks

I didnt have to see what I need to put away before I went out

I could put on clean clothes and stay clean most of the day

my back yard didnt have craters in it

I could lay on the couch in peace without having to make room for dogs

I could go to the toilet without dogs scratching at the door wondering where i have gone

and that is just of the top of my head there are plenty more

but I wouldnt be without them

[Nushie]

Apart from all the obvious, makes me laugh, keeps me company etc. Jager also makes me feel safe.

I hate sleeping in an empty house. Whenever my boyfriend would travel for work or have a boys weekend away i wouldn't sleep, i would literally lay awake at night untit stupid o'clock in the morning and then dose on and off waking up to any teeny sounds.

We have had Jager for about 10 months now and last weekend was the first time that my boyfriend has been away, 4 nights he was gone, and i slept like a baby (maybe better). Went to bed, straight to sleep, didn't wake up for anything. And the only thing that has changed is Jager. Either he makes me so tired i sleep through the fear, or he just makes me feel safe and calm.

I think he makes me comfortable and safe. Mind you, if someone broke in i dont know what i would expect him to do to save me. He is in a crate next to the bed, and if i let him out, he might lick their ears until they ran away!

He gives me something to get up for. Every day 6am, out of bed to feed, walk and play with him. Even on weekends, 6am. I might only be up for 30minutes before going back to bed, but there was no chance that a year ago i would ever get out of bed that early on the weekend!

[mokhahouse]

Since Molly and Mokha arrived in my life I can honestly say I have never felt lonely. The 2 days I had them in boarding kennels recently nearly killed me. I couldnt wait to go and pick them up even though I knew they were being well looked after. Not to have Mokha give me my wake up woof in the morning was horrible.Lying on the couch in the evening without Molly curled up with me was not nearly as relaxing. Having my dogs just makes my life so much better in so many ways.