Tell me about the love for your dog

[Kidspartytroll]

We're planning on adding a whippet puppy to our family next year. Neither of us have had a dog before but will figure it out (with the help of a professional dog trainer 😅 and lots of research).

But we also kind of don't really understand the love that people have for their pets. Like, people LOVE their dogs. We have a child so can understand that, is it a similar sort of thing? I've always been a bit unsure if you can love animal as much as humans but people really seem to and we're hoping to feel like that once we have one!

Tell me about your love for your dog!

My dog is mine and my husband's best friend. Probably our adult childrens' bestie too. Our late doggie lived until she was 16 and a half and she was like a sister to me. ❤️ Absolute darlings with their own funny wee personalities and give so much back for a regular walk, some food and attention.

Oh mine is the best little dog in the world. She's congenitally deaf and she's learnt signs and she lip reads.
She puts her paws round my neck and presses her face on mine for a cuddle.
I love her so much - she's my family too. My daughter calls her her Furry Little Sister. She comes on days out and holidays.
She's 12, and when she dies it's going to be just awful, because she's my best little buddy.

Absolutely love her as much as I love people. (And a heck of a lot more than I even like some!)

it’s an amazing bond , incredible really that you can bond with someone who never speaks a word but you feel that you can truly have a conversation with 😂. My boy picks up on my emotions, is always pleased to see me & genuinely enjoys everything about his life , bounds around without a care in the world , he’s having a great time & his happiness is infectious !

I love my dog much more than I was expecting - I knew I’d love him (I grew up with dogs and loved them) but I didn’t expect the depth of the bond I have with him and how special that is. He’s our first dog and both DH and I agree he’s one of the best decisions we’re ever made! The hair/snell/mess doesn’t bother me at all as what he gives us back is immeasurable.

I’’m also a perimenopausal mum of teenagers with aging parents and all the stress that goes with this stage of life so my dog is the grounding source of uncomplicated love and joy that I’d be lost without!!

It’s a weird one because I absolutely adore my dog- he’s the most good tempered, happy, best dog in the world but he’s an extra child really and prone to only acting up (trying to follow everyone or trying to get out, grabbing something), when you’re really really in a hurry and stressed. I miss pre dog life- I don’t get to visit home as much and we can’t have spontaneous nights away or a full day out anymore. we’ll never get one again but I do love my little dude and if anyone or another dog tried anything on him I’d wade in and take injury for him!!

I have loved all my dogs even the difficult ones and as they age you develop a means of communication specific to them. They have their own quirks and behaviours that make you feel that you understand them.

Sometimes in life, if you’re lucky, you get blessed with an extra special dog. It’s not about behaviour, looks or training. It’s about a bond that would see you sacrifice more than you would know to ensure they were safe, well and happy. The love both ways is incredible. They are the ones who live in your heart for life.

I can't define it. I'm not even really much of a dog person, I prefer cats, but I've lived with giant dogs for 48 years and they've been my biggest passion.

It's their character, that I love, they're all such individuals, with their own quirky little ways. Some of them are more clever, others more funny or cute; they all give you different things. You feel protective towards them because they depend on you for everything - you are their whole world really and it's a big responsibility. The heartache when they leave you is indescribable, but they bring so much joy to your life.

On days when you're feeling crappy and can't face the world, your dog is your comfort blanket, sitting with you. When you're lonely it's someone to talk to and snuggle with. When you're scared it's your protector. Nothing else can give you what a dog can.

I wish you happiness with your new friend when the time comes. And don't forget to join the puppy thread for moral support and friendly chat.

Thanks everyone! Really interesting to hear it all.

When the time comes I'll definitely be back for some moral support! Just waiting until we have the bandwidth for two noisy and bonkers dependents. Our 4.5 year old (human) is a wild ball of noisy energy so we'll wait for him to get bigger.

my dog is my life, I live alone and he’s absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me (I never knew love like this)
losing him, it will rip my heart out, I don’t know how I’ll cope 😳
he’s a dickhead at times, but imagine the best dickhead there ever was - that’s my boi

I adore my little Teddy. He’s my boy and my hilarious little companion.
DD is 10 now and she too adores him. They’re like besties and play fight and run around together daily! DD is constantly giggling at him!

I agree , i have 3 dogs and have had a dog in my life from the age of 10 when my parents finally gave in !
I was lucky enough to experience 'an extra special dog' he was and to some extent is still the love of my life even though he has been gone over 25 years.
My children aside i have never loved anything as much as i loved him, we had an almost telepathic connection, and he loved me back.
He certainly lives in my heart and i still miss him, i truly hope there is an after life where i see him again.
I totally understand how nuts i sound to someone who hasn't known the love of a dog.

My 8 year old cockapoo drives me mad. He’s so annoying, needy and hyper. But I just can’t imagine him not being here. I’m a sahm so I spend a lot of time with him. He adores me! I know I must really love him because when I come back from a holiday I’m overcome with emotion when reunited with him. Genuinely just delighted to see him.

He is the best thing about my life by a million miles. The purity of the love is mind-blowing.

I will say that it wasn't instant though. During the first few weeks I felt a bit overwhelmed but within a year, I was head over heels.

Oh my gosh she is just the most gorgeous little soul! An absolute pain in the backside sometimes and very much a tie and an expense but I couldn't be without her.
I love that she is so uncomplicated, she doesn't hold a grudge, her needs are simple, I can make her happy. She's a rescue and she's had a hard time but she can still completely love and trust another human.
I love the way she squirms with delight and panic grabs toys when I come back, even if I've only been away for 15 minutes.

I love the softness and silliness she brings out in my husband, and how unique her relationship with each of us is.
I love that she grounds us, gives us something to giggle about every day, is always up for a cuddle.
I love that she's basically a perpetual toddler. Her own funny little personality, eager to learn and interact, but an absolute buba who will never grow into the complexity of being an adult human.
I love that she's not a child, for all the similarities, she is 100% dog, and all the special things that make dogs dogs.
Dogs have literally evolved and been bred to make the perfect companions for people, it's in our DNA and there's, so prepare to have your heart well and truly stolen.

Mine is the most emotionally receptive and intelligent girl.
She's a jrt and she's got an amazing sense of humour, yes comic timing and makes me laugh and smile all day.

I wish she could actually speak, as she tries so hard to communicate with me.
She's the kindest dog, very sweet and obedient.
She's also batshit and loopy.

She's been my companion for 8 years and I truly love her so much.

It's their eyes, they just want to please, and mine is always so happy to see me, even if I've popped out to the letter box.
X

She loves me unconditionally and me her. I love the way she greets my dad, smiles at my daughter and licks my husband. These things she saves only for these people.
She is not keen on other dogs or people, which makes me think she loves us even more.
She is not a cat, though imitates them, but i love her just as much.

My friend has a whippet, and she can't bring her on walks as her prey drive is so strong. I am not sure of their cuddling abilities either, being so skinny.
Puppyhood was hard work, not helped in our case by a sensitive stomach and cream rug in a holiday home combo.....but I guess one forgets in the same way that women have more children after child birth.

@Tcateh My dog was a JRT and I know exactly what you mean about them being fiercely intelligent. My girl could almost anticipate what I was going to ask of her and I could give her commands just by moving my eyes in a certain way e.g. I'd look left and she'd run that way and I could roll my eyes and she'd roll over onto her back for a tickle.

As for the sense of humour and timing - yes! Off the scale brilliant.
The day I brought her home from the rescue I gave her dinner and, when she'd troughed it down I asked, "Did you enjoy that girl?" and she made the biggest howl, just like laughing thank you. I knew then I was smitten and I it was total love until her very last breath (and still now two years later if I'm honest).

I wish I could put down just how much I love all of my dogs! I never had any growing up and then it was the first big purchase I made when I moved out. I now have 3! They are all special in their own ways, I love them all differently but I do have a special one - he & I have been threw so much together and he’s getting on a bit now that I honestly don’t know what I’ll do when he is gone. I’ll be lost without him, I love him more than anything or anyone that I have in my life to be honest and I have a lot of people in my life and it might be a bit sad that, that’s the case but he’s my best friend. He’s always happy to see me, he follows me around, he knows when I’m sad, he comes to bed and cuddles under the covers. I love the other two just as much but it’s different with him. There is downsides obviously like you don’t really get to go away often if you do then you have to book someone months in advance so your never really spontaneous anymore, you can’t go away all day or you still have the same issue where you either have to book in advance or make sure your home after X amount of hours, it’s a lot of work. They are routine orientated which is great until you get off their schedule. I wouldn’t have it any other way though!

This thread is lovely.

I love my dog so much and he gives so much love back. We've just been away for a week to Cornwall and there were just so many dogs on the beach just having such fun just tearing around after their balls or one funny dog just lying in the waves, I could watch them for hours. My boy was so well behaved all week apart from a bit of separation yowling when one of us goes into a shop or up to the bar. We had to leave him for a week earlier this year when we went abroad but I found it upsetting and have vowed just to have Uk holidays that include him now until he is gone as he's getting a bit older. He forces us to go out in all weathers as needs his walks. We had another dog who died suddenly last year I still miss her so much she had so much character.

People (all people, even your husband) are always there in your company. Dogs are there in your solitude. This is why they worm their way into ending up as a loss which is different and indescribable to people who haven’t had a dog. They become a background part of your life and when gone it’s a particular loss.

You begin to realise this when the dog starts to go grey, stiff, or just slow down. They don’t live long enough. And you realise you just love them in a different way, and then their loss is a the loss of a thousand, mostly silent but always present, even in your solitude, interactions a day.

My dog can be difficult, and has many behavioural quirks we are still ironing out six years down the line!

However, he has the most beautiful, gentle little face, he’s going all grey round his chops as he gets older. He gets a helicopter tail whenever he sees anyone he considers a friend. He is still a bit worried about our baby DS, but it’s clear that he really wants to befriend him. DS is absolutely fascinated by him, and laughs his little head off whenever DDog walks past. DDog will go and lie down next to DS’ playpen and seems to have figured out that DS loves it when he wags his tail, so he wags it against the playpen

Dog ownership can be a bumpy road, and there are many times I’ve thought “bloody hell, why did I have to get THIS dog?” but he still melts my heart. Oh, and he brings me one of his toys if I’m upset 🥰

Also had jrts and many other breeds, loved every single one more than the world but I have to say my jrts were so special. They were so funny, proper little comedians, so loyal, real little gentlemen. Really cuddly, really good with children, could almost read my mind. Loved them so much

My boy is the love of my life. He's my first dog, I never had one growing up, and I'm so far out of my depth I can't tell you, but not once, not even for a second, have I regretted it. Nothing prepared me for the strength of the emotional bond. It's been a love affair since the first day we met - a coup de foudre, a lightning strike.

He makes me laugh every day, even when he's being an absolute nobhead; to me, he's perfect. He costs me a fortune, has in many ways shrunk my life, limited my freedom, and gets me up at 6am, none of which I'd ever have predicted I'd happily do for a dog, but I do. I would do anything for him. I adore him. He's my dog, I'm his person, and that's that.

We don’t have kids yet - but we have a spaniel, she really is the light of our lives. She’s the best thing we have. I think it also goes on the breed you get - if you get a breed known for being loyal and you build a good bond with them they are a child To you! Xx