Great things about getting a puppy/dog

[NotMostPeople]

When we got our puppy in the summer I had a look over here and found the puppy thread, which made me feel that we were about to have a very hard few months/year. Obviously we all only tend to post when we've got a problem that we ned help with, but I thought it would be nice while it's Christmas to have a positive thread.

So, I'll start.

My puppy is now 7 months old, he's a black and white Lurcher rescue. It has been an absolute joy to have him in our family and he is now very much one of us. He was house trained within a few weeks and now just barks at the back door when he wants to go out. We go to dog training with him and he's doing very well, with a few hiccups recently due to the onset of adolescence. He smiles at us when he greets us, wraps himself around our feet on these cold nights and is the most loving, loyal, entertaining dog. I have never regretted getting him and it's been worth what was really only a few weeks of hard work in the beginning.

Am off to get him a Christmas bone later.

My dogs love me unconditionally!
They make me laugh hourly
They are the best companions ever
They are my entertainment manager - I have meet so many lovely people through my dogs
They keep me fit
They do what I say (the only ones in the house that do - without saying but.....)

loads more but I must get on with some cooking

Thought of one more dogs don't eat Christmas Chocolate Roll!

My dog adores me!
I love how excited we both get when learning new tricks!
We've found some brilliant walks around our village that I never would have found on my own!

Merry Christmas to you and your lovely dogs, thank you to all the doghouse ladies, who've have been brilliant over the last few months with my Qs!

It doesn't matter how bad my day has been, when I hug my dogs it suddenly becomes ok again. They know too, and stay really still and calm until I'm happy again. Love my boys

Really good to read these positive stories.
I have had Mylo for 2 weeks now and l am finding it hard going with a 10 week old pup. Toilet training is a bit hit and miss and boy are these baby teeth sharp.
I have never been so stressed and disorganised for Christmas before. At least with a baby you can use a nappy...

It is so good to hear that their is light at the end of this dark tunnel.

But l adore my pup regardless...

Doha - there is light. I don't think this is the greatest time of year to have a small pup, so it's even harder but your work will pay off.

My Lola is just over 14 weeks and is an absolute joy! Such hard work up until about 2 weeks ago, though (makes a difference being able to take her out).

She is almost toilet trained - only a few accidents to deal with and these are becoming less frequent very quickly.
She is the cuddliest animal in the world! She likes nothing better than to be welcomed onto our laps for a long comfy cuddle.
She is hugely funny and knows how to turn on the charm and make us laugh - her silly spaniel ears are a joy :)
She gets on great with the children.
She is exceptionally clever and is great to play games with.
She is such a good girl on her lead.
She knows when it's bed time at night: picks up her teddy and trots to the kitchen, puts it in her crate and curls up with it.
No one has ever been so happy and waggy to see me - even after a 5 minute absence!

I've never been a doggy person, so Lola was mainly for DH and the children, but she has become most definitely MY dog and she and I are best friends. I couldn't even think about being without her and her daft ears :)

as I am looking for a dog this thread has made me feel relieved after some of the others I have read! Glad you are all happy dog owners. You have pointed out the the reason why most of us want a dog in the first place. Merry Christmas.

Our pup is now 8-9 months, lab x rescue, and not really hard work at all - the kids and the pup together, OTOH have caused me the occasional regret. Just as much kid-related as pup-related, to be fair.

Only occasional, because....

Watching him tramp through the woods with the children, foraging and exploring, is great.
Watching him play tug games with my eldest, who now knows how to interact with dogs, is great.
Watching him 'drop it' with my youngest, who used to be terrified of dogs, is great.
He's a joy on walks, loves every dog he meets, plays gently with small dogs, stands up for himself with bigger rougher dogs, no longer jumps up to lick toddler faces/bicycles/joggers (though people with treats are at risk).
He lies on his bed when we eat - mostly.
He protects us from squirrels and foxes (but never barks at people or the doorbell)
He barely moults, rarely chews our things, but will bring any stray shoes to us for a pat and some praise.
He is a canine dustbin, but that makes him easy to train.
He tears in from the garden and waits to have his paws wiped, then rolls on his back on my lap for cuddles.

His paws smell divine.

My beautiful beautiful VeraWang. What can I say?? She is a strange looking mongrel of JRT descent and I could not care less what she looks like (think black loo brush with no stick). She is 3kgs of pure doggy devotion. I obviously loved her before my DD came along but since she has been born (she's 2 now) Vera has been a godsend. For our own reasons it's very unlikely we will be having another child and vera is a wonderful playmate for DD. She has Brio tracks built around her, gets taken for walks (gently) around the living room and spends hours chasing her squeeky toy and retrieving it. She does this for no one but DD. We take Vera to socialisation walks at the weekends and DS comes in her buggy and she has met many other dogs and people and has become a more sociable toddler because of it. I mentioned in another thread of Veras problems with other dogs but she has been such a good student! She mothers our chickens, rabbits and cats and is just so so gentle. And she makes a fabulous hot water bottle. Merry christmas VeraWang. xxx

He is always, ALWAYS thrilled to see us, even when we've only been upstairs or in a different room for a little while.

He's meant I've got fitter through walking him.

I've got chatting with so many people out and about with him than ever before.

i have just applied for a lab retriever on a rescue site. I am quite keyed up after reading this thread. Some of the threads are terrifying!

I love the sound of them thumping down the stairs when they realise i am home and the greeting i get, you can be in the worst mood and this always brings a smile to my face.

Watching my little shy boy gaining confidence and then catching me watching him and i am sure he blushes.

Walking in the rain with my boys cause we are hardcore dog people lol.

Knowing that no matter what my hair looks like how ill i feel or how grumpy i am they love me no matter what.

Watching my boys and daughter play and look forward to them growing up together, and watching them cuddle up together on the sofa to watch tangled one pup either side and a blanket between them.

The lovely people you meet through walking the dogs.