I am regularly amazed by how much affection my dogs want/need/require,

[TheKitchenWitch]

how much they give back, and how incredibly warming and satisfying it is :)

Some days are so busy and we don't have time to just snuggle, and then when I eventually, late in the evening, plonk myself down on the couch, they will come over and practically demand to be stroked etc, and will cover me with little licks and do that head-butting thing they do to show affection. And I am, every time, amazed at how social they are, how it seems to be so important to them that we do this every day.

It reinforces my belief that we are meant to live together :)

I have pondered along these lines myself. Dogs are quite unique in their bond with humans, aren't they? Have any other creatures adapted to live with us to such an extent? My two are the same as yours - once all of the jobs are done and DH and I sit down on the sofa - it's SNUGGLE time.

The bond we have with them is wonderful but I do think it works to their detriment sometimes. So many people have forgotten what dogs really need and how they think, and dogs suffer because of this. People expect dogs to be more "human" than they are I think.

Ours are like this too, just thrilled to be near us and or fussed over and we love it. Looking after them well makes us supremely happy!

Occasionally I look at our two and think "OH MY GOD! THERE ARE ANIMALS IN MY HOUSE!". It's such a weird concept. And they have no practical use, either. Years ago I suppose they would have been guard dogs, or possibly used for hunting, but now they really are there just for the company.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant at the moment, and frequently need to lie down after ds has gone to school and I've been out with the dogs. After about the second time, they clocked that as soon as I go into the bedroom and start removing clothes, it's on-the-bed-snuggle-time. They are so unbelievably comforting.

Kitchen I think that too sometimes. Though I would argue that mine have no practical applications. My dogs have lots of uses:

• Unloading the washing machine (DDog 1 only)
• Anti-Cat patrols
• Clearing up after toddler DS has eaten his meals
• Foot warmer
• Hand warmer
• Postal-worker alerts

I'm sure there are more!

Don't forget alarm clock in the many-uses-of-dogs!

It's the affection that gets me, when surely dogs wouldn't have any need of that in the wild. And their wonderful live in the moment attitude - every day is a fresh start.