OT - Everybody Has That One Special Dog
Mates,
We are in that desert known as OT season and I'm in between chores right now. It occurs that one of the most used avatars are people's MgoDogs. My own K-9 is sitting at my feet right now wondering when we are going to go for a run (Soon pup, very soon). With the exception of 'cat people' and those with allergies, almost everybody had or has a dog. Ours have generally been hunting dogs because, well, we bird hunt. But lately I've been thinking our next dog might not be a sporting dog, but some other type. We'll see.
Anyway, the question is simple: Describe your favorite dog you've ever had, whether that pup is with you now, or sometime in your earlier life, and what made that K-9 so great.
Lots of sunshine around this weekend. Enjoy.
XM
Before I had an unknown mix my ex picked up. I was 100% against owning this dog as we already had two. When I got home, this little 8 week old pup broke me. He followed me everywhere I went. Walked side by side without a leash. Melted my heart in a second. He lived with me for 12 years. Cost me a fortune as he had a seizure disorder and ate everything in sight. Ended up with 5 belly surgeries to remove a chew toy, towels, shirts, boxers and so on. Oh and the eating 15 lbs of dog food once. But when he crawled his 90 lb ass up on my lap I couldn't take it. Loved that dog with all I had. Balled like a baby the day he passed and not a day goes by I don't hope my current puppies grow up to be a loving, sweet dog like Jimmy was.
don't have allergies, have never owned a dog.
I've had 5 and each one was as unique and outstanding as the rest. While other dogs are wonderful in their way, poodles do not shed, smell or drool. They may look "frou-frou", but they are wonderful house and outdoor dogs. They are water retrievers (They're called "caniche" in France which means "duck dog" with webbed feet and are very athletic, happy, enthusiastic and eligible for doggy Mensa.)
If you want a hunting dog, you might want to pick a breeder that concentrates on the "nose" and retrieving talent as they were barred from track and field competitions decades ago because they won so much. Hunting with them has been back the last 20 years or so.
Just by watching you, they will learn the household routine and acqure a huge vocabulary. Reward the puppy (or rescue) with a pat and an "atta dog" when they do something accidently that you like, ignore the minor infractions, correct the major ones and they'll train themselves. Train them with treats and/or love in short sessions (10 minutes or so) because they get bored.
Poodle are great therapy dogs and wonderful with kids (although young dogs can be exuberant from time to time with little ones). Monitor it for awhile and they'll be absolutely reliable. One I knew kept the toddlers in their unfenced yard on busy corner without supervision for hours. She had decided it was her job and was not trained to do it.
With couple of walks a day (or a place to run several times a week). even the largest ones will be content in an apartment. They love wrestling with other dogs, flyball and agility. Do not leave them alone all the time or, if you must, plan on eventually having two as they love their people and get lonely. They have a great sense of humor and are joyful. There is no better companion: several of my dogs were even invited to come with me to dinner parties.
They are good watch dogs and are one of the least likely breeds to bite.
Keep them trimmed in a puppy cut every 4-6 weeks and you'll have a drip-dry dog that needs very little brushing. The grooming can be expensive in the city, but you can learn to do it youself.