Positive stories of lovely family dogs

[newpup123]

Hi.

I've been doing way too much internet searching about puppy / dog training and now have the impression that all dogs have some behaviour issue or another.

Please can we have some positive stories about nice normal balanced family dogs (and maybe even some tips about how to raise one!)

We have an adorable golden retriever who is quite an old lady now at almost 11. She is very affectionate, gentle, good with cats, other dogs, hens, horses. She is bright and has always been very easy to train eg was toilet trained by 12 weeks, never really a chewer (apart from a pair of flip flops and my friend's daughter's brand new leather school shoes when she was a young pup 🙈). We taught her loads of tricks which she still remembers and which keep us entertained!

The downsides ........

1. the hair, I have to vacuum every day

2. In the last few years she has inexplicably become terrified of loud noises especially thunder and fireworks. She trembles at the first rumble or bang and rushes to find us to hold her

3. she is obsessed by water. Her recall is usually good except when she's in the sea or a river when she chooses to ignore us completely which is very annoying! We are working on this though and are using a whistle and hot dogs as a reward and she is improving.

4. That she is quite old now and I will miss her terribly when she dies 😢

Yes to the hair . I brush him daily but FFS, he should be bald given the amount that comes off him one the brush and onto my floors/furniture/car/clothes

I have had the privilege of two, a beautiful Bassett hound who didn’t have a bad bone in her body, though was notoriously greedy and stubborn but so gentle. After we lost her when she was 13 we chose a dachshund, she loves all people and all dogs and is so affectionate, she’s quite Velcro though and loves a lap which might not suit every family but we adore her and she comes out with us almost everywhere. Best of luck with your search

Another one with a MN hated poodle cross. He is the sweetest boy ever. Loves everyone, lap dog extraordinaire, and very smart. The only time he misbehaves is when he doesn't want to go out in the rain or cold. He rolls on his back looking at me pleading, "How could you?" He is very empathetic and will try to comfort anyone who is upset or hurting. By no means perfect, but really a joy to have around.

My previous dog had a number of behavioural 'quirks':- escapologist, roamer, fighter, would hunt/kill things if given the opportunity, selective recall, to name a few. A black and tan cross bred, we had him for 15 years and he was the most loving, fun, joyful dog that you could hope to 'own' . (I'm not sure we every really owned him, as he just turned up one night, and was very much his own master.) He was the best dog ever, in spite of his faults!

Choose a dog that suits your lifestyle, do your research, and never buy a dog if something feels 'off' with the breeder/advert/set up. No dog is perfect!!!