to ask for some positive dog relationships please..

[Youcanringmybell]

I would like to hear about some positive dog stories please.

I have read so much recently about how people get dogs and then get bored of them, the dog becomes aggressive because the owner cannot care for them properly or that not many people cope. I have also read about on irresponsible people buying puppies..not about all the puppies that are bought with love and only the best intentions.

I have recently got a new puppy and took a long while to consider it and was over the moon with the puppy. But since getting her I have been told by different people that her breed will turn nasty, will destroy my home and I will soon get 'bored' of her or she will try me
People are so negative about it all and are making me feel like I made a huge mistake.

So have any of you get a puppy, and keep it all their life and actually enjoy it? I had a puppy from 6mths to 17 years some time ago and he was lovely and barely any trouble once out of puppy hood.

You should have said 'why, what are you doing in two months?'

Cheeky fecker.

My lovely pup is now 2 1/2 years old and an absolute star. She is silly and loving and has a very curious nose and a very cheeky but soppy personality.

I've always loved dogs but my dad was allergic, and I was bitten by a big Husky when I was 8 so was wary of them. When we decided to get a dog I researched breeds, but my love for cocker spaniels won out - my dad had a real bond with his aunt's cocker and I grew up with stories about him. Our dog is even named after that dog.

We researched breeders and I found someone locally who trains dogs for shooting and breeds from them every now and then and had a litter of puppies. I knew I wanted a wee bitch - we drove up and there were two little girls, the one I had was sweet, very placid and just cosy in my hand. DH's, on the other hand, was a wriggly little nutter. Ooooh, I said as he was cooing over her, can I hold her, too? And that was us, absolutely in love.

When we left the breeder our wee one was actually staring after us over the wooden barrier!

She is the best dog, if not always the best behaved, but she knows basic manners, has really good recall and it's just fun to take her down to the beach. I love her and her silly ways, even though she's costing me a fortune in socks!

We have two dogs and we've had them since pups (oldest is nearly 8 now). Spent the whole of my pregnancy getting them ready for the new arrival and it paid off because now they are all best friends. Our family is a dog family and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I got my lab just before I got pregnant with dd. She is now 10. She has been a lovely first dog. We've made a few mistakes with her including letting her put on weight (those eyes) and few things. But she has a lovely temprement and learns things quickly. She loves people and knows the word "hello" if someone says this to her on a walk (a surprising number do say hello to dogs!) she rushes over for a fuss. Nearly everyone likes her she has such a friendly smilely face. My dd adores her but is sometimes a bit jealous of her getting attention. But dd loves dogs having grown up with her. Last summer we went to a big dog show in Firle, w. Sussex and there were about 1000 dogs there of every kind. I think dd stroked nearly all of them! Honestly they were all friendly and happy to be stroked by a little girl they didn't know. There are more friendly dogs than we hear about in the news.

Our lab puppy is 8 months now and I LOVE him! After we'd had him a few weeks I was so stressed with the mess and chewing etc but
I know we did the right thing in getting him. We all really do love him and could never be without him now.

I'm sitting here with my gorgeous 14 yr old boy lying across my feet. We've had him since he was 5 months old and he's been a constant joy to our family. A loyal, loving, funny companion who kept me going through years of fertility treatment and disappointment. His quiet steady presence gave me comfort during some of the lowest points of my life and to his eternal credit he showed no jealousy or animosity to the 2 children who eventually took our attention. He welcomed them as part of our pack and put up with them playing with him, sitting on him and generally annoying him with never a cross word. I can't imagine life without him and it breaks my heart to know we haven't got too much time left with him. Enjoy your dog, train her well and she'll pay you back in spades. X

I am sitting here with my little Jack Russell /Shetland Sheepdog cross beside me. She was a rescue, we are her 3rd home and she was only 18 months old when she came to us.

She is my disabled daughter's protector, my constant companion, and she filled a hole we didn't know existed in our family.

As for Jack Russels as a breed - they are not without their quirks, but knowing them ahead of time and learning how to react to challenges is the key. Also, give your new pup am outlet for its energy... agility training is fantastic for this.

Enjoy your new family member. I can't imagine our family without Bailey any more.

Love mine to bits. She is a Golden Retriever and I have had her from eight weeks. We walk on the beach twice every day and just watching her run around makes me ridiculously happy! She is now four and I wouldn't be without her

I think that unless there is a medical reason like a brain tumour you get out of any dog what you put in. I'm only on my second, as the first was a faithful companion till he was 18 despite originating from the most appalling abusive environment. Hoping my current sweety will last as long.

Dogs are simple creatures. They live to please you, just kindly show them exactly how & their loyalty & faithfulness will never fade.

Aw beemum and JCW both cuddling your dogs. Mine is lying with me too.

We have two rescue dogs and two DDs with AS.

The JRT was around 2YO when we got him. He'd clearly been knocked about and was very frightened of men and toddlers. 3 years later, he is still nervous around male visitors if we don't introduce them properly or they try to do something daft like tickle my DD2 (10). However he doesn't do anything but get between them and perhaps growl a warning. He hasn't bitten anyone. He and DD2 are soulmates. They calm each other and roll around on the floor together. She falls asleep on his bed with him sometimes. He probably could get in the habit of guarding if we didn't manage it carefully and he is very much the boss despite the fact that the terrier cross is now bigger than him. He's daft as a brush with female visitors, older children and men who know how to behave around nervous dogs and putty in the hands of anyone he thinks may be in possession of a treat or two.

The terrier cross arrived aged 5 mths after being abandoned. Now aged 2, she's still a chewing nightmare and a bundle of energy. She and DD1 (16) are joined at the hip whenever possible. She sits on her feet when she's doing her homework. She's much more demonstrative than the JRT but that's probably because she wasn't abused and came to us much younger.

They are hard work but they add so much quality to our lives that we wouldn't be without them. They also give the sort of unconditional love that is priceless for children who struggle socially.

Oh yes. Our elder dog we got at 4 months - a little too old and he was extremely hard to toilet train and poorly socialised. We've always struggled to get past his early bad start. However, he is now nearly 12 and has been the most loyal devoted family dog you can imagine, the best friend of DD1 through her whole childhood.

Our younger dog I got 3 years ago after a miscarriage when I needed something positive in my life. We got her at 8 weeks. She wax bouncy, lively, confident, had had a great start and came toilet trained. However, she's a boisterous breed (part Jack Russell part Spaniel) and was not easy as a puppy. We did dog training classes every week and she would be perfect there and completely impossible at home! She chewed everything in sight. She thought DD2 was a fellow puppy and jumped at her constantly and tore holes in all her clothes. Her recall was non existant. Although she got here second, she quickly decided she was in charge of poor older dog and went through a phase of quite nasty fighting with him. If we left her alone she howled the place down or destroyed everything in sight.

I don't believe in giving up an animal once you've taken it on, any more than you would give up a difficult child. We worked like mad to train her. We got in a behaviourist. The whole family went to dog classes so we were all consistent.

She is 3 now. She is wonderful. Utterly reliable, perfect recall, so devoted and loving to us all, wouldn't hurt a flea, you can do anything with her. She's bright and funny and full of character. I've decided she needs to live forever as I can't imagine my life without her in it.

Enjoy your puppy

We have had dogs ever since our children were young. We now have two - our first dog sadly died last year, and we have a puppy of the same family to keep alongside our older dog.

We decided not to breed from any of them as there are too many animals needing homes, even though it would have been nice to have done so and they are well-bred dogs themselves.

When the children were little, they would sleep in the dog's bed, especially if they weren't feeling well, and the dog would sleep with them, outside her bed as if she were guarding them.

The children know how to look after animals, and have an idea of how much work it involves though I do most of it.

The dogs are taken into consideration at every stage, eg how long we go out for during the day, where we go on holiday, etc. We try not to run our lives around them, but sometimes it verges on that.

Watching the sheer joy of the dogs when they are running free through the fields always makes me smile. They are kind, gentle, loving, hard work, frustrating at times, funny, time-consuming, expensive and absolutely gorgeous.

op

I have a Jack Russell as well! She's 18 months(ish) now, we've had her since she was 8 weeks (from the loc dogs home).

She's lovely. Very obedient, pretty quiet, great with other dogs and very good off lead. My dp and I get out and about so much more than we did before. Have found various new places in the city I've lived all my life that I was entirely unaware of before having her.

Of course there are days (cold and wet ones) when I think "so can't be arsed walking her" but honestly she is so much more chilled out and happy if given a good run out. Plus there are few things funnier than watching her barrell towards me with a squeaky burger in her mouth

She was a bit of a chewer when younger but lots of squeaky toys proved to be a nice distraction. She's never turned nasty.

My parents JR is older and has also never "turned". He wasn't a chewer though, ever. I think that will depend on the individual dog.

I grew up with collies. I still have the lead of the first collie who meant something special to me - mum and dad got her when I was six. She died 14 years ago aged 15 but she is still talked about among the family. I spent hours and hours with her. I found grooming her intensely therapeutic, and during my GCSE and A'Level revision leave I walked her for two hours every morning, and then settled down to revising, while she settled down on my feet. I miss her.

Mum and Dad got two more collies after she died. One is still going, one died last summer and it is still hard to talk of her. My most memorable moment was having her to stay when my parents went on holiday, and there was a thunder storm. She was terrified of thunder, so I ended up putting a sunbed mattress on the floor, and she slept with my arms round her and her head on my shoulder. The remaining dog is 13 and slowing up but is so loving and quiet, and yet still so ready for a game.

I have my own three year old collie now and she is perfect. She is my shadow. She is placid beyond belief with my girls and through her they are learning to be gentle and responsible around animals. She is very protective of them though - out on a walk if my daughter goes more than a certain distance away from me the dog is off and with her, and barking back at me to remind me I need to look after my kids! And neither does she like it if people she doesn't know pick up the baby - she doesn't do anything exactly, more just gets in the way all the time so they can't get to her [the baby]. She is loyal, and affectionate, and easy to care for, and fun to walk (although she's crap at finding balls so she's a bit expensive to buy tennis balls for). I am besotted and cannot imagine ever being tired of her. I love her more now than when she was a puppy. She was cute then, but harder work. Now, she is just a big fluffy bag of love who knows what is expected of her and is a wonderful companion, who loves cuddles and attention but is also happy to wait quietly in the background. All my family's dogs - grandparents, parents etc - have been adored until their natural time was up, and all are remembered with affection.

DH got a Boxer puppy about 4 months after we met. He was a little sod and ate his kitchen door, but he knew what he was getting into so not too bothered. He had no manners what so ever, but DH and DMiL took him to training classes and worked with him at home.
That dog soon became our dog when DH moved in with me. We then moved into a new house together and DD came along when he was 4. He loved her to bits from the moment we brought her home. He would sit with his head on the edge of her moses basket or bouncy chair. DD is now 4 and he is 8 and they are best friends. She sits in his bed with him watching telly. He is grey now and getting slower which is sad but he has really been the best family dog ever (photo on my profile).

Aaah look that them together! Sweet @ Haveto

We have a Jack Russell. He was my MIL's dog, she asked us if we would have him if anything happened to her, we adopted him when she died last year. He has fitted in beautifully with our other two dogs (beagle we've had from a puppy, and a rescue ex-racing greyhound) and is gorgeous with the kids and visitors, and no problem with other dogs. When we first had him he was a little nippy/excitable from living in a very quiet home where he didn't see many people - now he's absolutely fine and a very sociable little thing. Enjoy your puppy, ignore the naysayers.

My doggy shadow is on my feet right now. He's fab now, but didn't like him as much when he was younger and dafter. Was about 18 months when he started to listen more and understand life - my old dog was very intelligent and was a 1yr old rescue so I missed the puppy bit. I do think that you have to be careful choosing breeds, we're on a farm so plenty of space and stuff going on. I think my dog would go crazy mad living in a house and walking on a lead - he needs to be busy and have stuff to do. I think if you're concerned/worried about your choice of dog/training etc etc then you're obviously thinking about it, researching it and will have everything pretty much under control. Enjoy your puppy

It annoys me when people say a specific breed is aggressive. Any breed has the potential to be aggressive, people make dogs aggressive, not the breed.

This "jrt's are aggressive" is a new one to me. I guess a lot of people misunderstand the breed though. Little does not mean they don't need exercise. They need bloody loads.

I don't think any entire breed is aggressive by nature. Certainly some breeds are incredibly powerful and need someone with understanding of the breed and the ability to train them properly. But really, any dog can turn, all owners should understand the breed and take the time to train.

It was only by fluke we ended up with our jrt. We'd put our names down for a lovely staffie boy (about 2 years old) but his owners changed their mind and took him back(I hope he had a happy ending), the home asked if we would be interested in rehoming a young puppy. Said yes and the rest is history!

This thread has cheered me up after a bad day, thanks everyone. Best advice I can give you is to give your dog the best food you can afford. I recommend Burns. Some dogs react very badly to additives and colours, like kids on sweets.

My dog and cat were pretty much all I got after leaving my emotionally abusive ex. He dumped them on me, said I had to take them or he'd abandon them.

My dog has gone from strength to strength. Ex locked him im a small crate all the time, said he couldn't cope with him. Dog was out of control, underweight and couldn't be walked down the street without jumping on people.

He's now calm as you like, healthy and happy. We're currently cuddled up together on the rug, next to the radiator. He's resting his head on me and I'm resting on him. It's really, really hard work being on my own with him. There were times when he tore stuff up in my rental house. Or destroyed a cushion while I was in the bath. However, those are just things that can be replaced. I wouldn't be without him. He's a so called 'dangerous breed' but IMHO there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Both were NIGHTMARES as puppies now they are amazing, laid back dogs (aged 3 and 5), fantastic company and I wouldn't be without them. They were dreadful up to 6 months, hard work 6-12 months then FAB!

Not a staffie - a jack russell. I have mostly had this shock reaction.

Haven't got time to read the whole thread now as I'm off to bed but just wanted to say my mum has a Jack Russell and she is a darling little thing, so much fun and no trouble whatsoever. She hasn't a mean bone in her body. Full of energy mind, and needs to get muddy at least once a day .
Even relatives who claim not to be dog-lovers have fallen under her spell and been spotted giving her a cuddle.