It's sunny and I've had a glass of wine, which may play some role (I'll leave it to others to decide how big or little...) in why I'm posting about my dog on Mumsnet on a Friday afternoon.
But seriously, I love my dog.
I owe him so much. We're childless and I spend a lot of time on my own as DH commutes to London for work and gets back very late (not an issue or a bone of contention, feel very fortunate that he works so hard in a job he enjoys) but I have a very flexible job where I can regularly work from home, so were it not for our dog I would be alone for most of the day.
Our dog is the best thing (other than marry) than we've done.
I love his innocent, non-judgmental little face, his gentle nature, how the tiniest event (breakfast, dinner, new ball, a butterfly, particularly interesting smell in the garden, a familiar doggy friend met on a walk) can inspire so much joy in him.
He's my reason to get up in the morning and my constant companion. I don't know what I'd do without him. Having him dependant on me to love him, walk him and look after him gives another dimension of purpose to my day.
Is anyone else grateful to have their dog/cat as their little buddy, whatever the circumstances might be?
AIBU?
To think I owe my dog so much
Fernandfarrow · 18/05/2018 15:50
Ahhh!! What a lovely post. My dog is like my third child. He is actually my favourite one but dont tell the DCs! 
I love getting home to see him at the door with tail wagging. Same in the mornings when I get up. He is the most affectionate, loyal boy ever. I wish he knew how important he was to me.
That’s lovely OP 🙂
Dogs are the most amazing animals who give you so much. You’re so right about the joy they find in everything.
I blubbed terribly the other day over the dog I lost 20 years ago. God I still miss him. I’m contemplating getting another soon. I feel like I owe it to my children to give them the experience of having a dog in their lives.
Can we see a pic OP?
Awwlookatmybabyspider ours is a rescue but he was only a few months old when he was tied up and abandoned outside the rescue.
Some days I feel disgusted at why anyone would ever do such a thing to an innocent creature.
Other days I bask in the smugness of knowing what an incredible dog we have and how whoever his previous owners will never know what it feels like to have earned his trust and love 
Bearhunter09 I obviously don't know the ins and outs of your situation but, in general, I would say animals do wonderful things for mental health. They depend on you to get up in the morning, walk them, feed them, socialise them. Having something so reliant on you to meet their needs gives your day structure, not to mention of course the company! My dog is a great listener , a great conversation starter with strangers and he doesn't ever judge.
This thread is lovely and makes me a bit teary 
.
I would love a dog - I live alone and no partner/children - but one of the things that stops me is what I'd be like if it died. Even thinking about losing my non-existent dog is scary. (Also, more practically, what to do re holidays etc deters me a bit!).
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Laurie I have a Scottie too! He's the light of my life, he and the dog before who I had till he was 15, literally have kept me going at times over the last two decades. I am a single parent and both my children have autism. No help from anyone. People have said to me "it must be hard being all alone in the evenings" and I am always "
but I am not alone I always have my boy with me". He goes pretty much everywhere with me and never fails to just be there if I am sad or down. His little face gazing at me always gives me a lift, such beautiful loving eyes. He grumbles a lot too, Scottie's tend too, and it feels like he's actually trying to talk to me when he does. We call him The Dog-tor too as he's straight in there trying to distract and comfort my daughter when she has a meltdown. For me life is "less" without a dog as part of my family.
Mine is the hugest pest in the world. Follows me round the house; drops toys on my laptop; tries to sit on my lap when I'm working and generally behaves like he's starved of attention if I so much as turn my back for a second. I love him and all his ridiculous behaviour
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