What are dogs good for?

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

I know many of us have dogs, cats, horses and etc...I've copied this from SitStay.com, an on-line resource for furkids...enjoy!

by Darcie Krueger
More of The Dish Online

What are dogs good for? Now, that's a silly question to those of us who love dogs. But maybe not so silly to the dog uninitiated.

Let me start with what dogs are not good for: Christmas presents! Never give a puppy or a dog as a surprise gift. The people who are getting the dog need to know that dogs can live up to 20 years and older, that's a big, big, big commitment. Our kids don't even stay in the house that long. I was long gone from home by the time I was 20. And dogs aren't cheap. Dogs are like children, they need room, they need play and walks, they can be loud, they can be teenagers and they can be old timers. They poop, they pee, they make messes, they eat a lot of food. They chew stuff. They take time. Just like with human kids, if you're not ready, you're really, really not ready to have one.

Every once in a while someone will suggest to me that, "It's only a dog, what's the big deal?" Until a person has loved a dog, they'll never really know what is the big deal. Here's the big deal.

Dogs keep us company and protect our children. They protect us. Dogs lower our blood pressure and keep us healthy simply by touching them, that's scientifically proven. They protect our homes just by being dogs. Homes with dogs are most often passed over by burglars for homes without dogs, no protection training needed. Dogs help us get our exercise. It's easy to sit on the couch and veg until your wonderful dog wants to go for a walk. No matter the weather, up and out we go. Dogs are the best exercise machines ever. The love of a dog is the best motivator to stay in shape.

Dogs love us back. Until a person has loved a dog, they won't know the beauty of total and unselfish acceptance. The beauty of a dog's love is in the evening when our dog has been walked and fed and wants to sit close. The look in their eyes tells it all. We are their people and they like being near us.

Dogs are attention getters and they get us out of the house. We meet men, we meet women, we meet children, and we enlarge our circle of friends. You've never walked your dog when someone didn't wave or smile or say, "Hey, a dog!"

Dogs teach us to play. They teach us patience. They teach us compassion. Dogs teach us to rest.

Our love for dogs can make us miss them desperately when they have to leave us. It breaks our heart to let them go. We cry and we should, they were good dogs. And we're sad. Then our hearts start to heal because we think of them and what they gave us. We smile and laugh and remember the great and funny things they did when they were still here. And then pretty soon we get another dog and it starts all over again. Nature knows what's best. And that is a dog needs people and people need dogs.

There are lots of great and happy things in the world, but there's no such better happiness in the world than being loved by a dog. And loving one back. I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the whole world to understand the honor I have to live with my dogs.

Thank you again for your business and your friendship. And for loving the dogs. Buy your Christmas presents early at SitStay.com; don't forget the stocking stuffers like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and Free Ranger Bully Sticks. We'll pay your shipping.

Give the gift of life for the rescue dogs, too. Rescue needs your help and they can't continue without dog supplies. There are still hurricane dogs who are in rescue and dogs who are being separated from their families because of economic problems. They need your help. Give to the rescue of your choice; we'll pay the shipping through December 8th. Bless every one of you for loving the dogs and for helping those dogs who need you now.

And while you're out and about these next few weeks, give a person a hug. Especially if they don't have a dog. You know they're not getting it at home.

Pass this email on to your friends and to your online groups. The more people who help with rescue now, the more dogs we can save together. Thank you.

[Lady Nicolette]

Thanks!  Dogs are the best! 

[Lady Neysa]

That was very touching.  Excuse me....I need to get off the computer and go hug my dog now. 

[Tipsy Gypsy]

I wuff my big smelly rescue babies!

[Lady L]

Aw, that brought a tear to my eye.
My rescue dog is the best. I have only had him 4 months, a dachshund/min pin mix. My other rescue dog was a Pomeranian and he knew I loved him and he loved me. He was a rascal, but I had him 14 years.

Oh, I was going to say...Companionship, unconditional love and protection are the top answers for me.

I have had several dogs in the past 35 years. They were all wonderful and I miss them. Especially my German Shepherd mix dog. If only I could find another one like her, but she was one in a million.

[BLAKDUKE]

I have already had to put one best friend down and the one I have left will have to go some time, may it be long in the future.  But with the first, I never cried so much even when I got divorced, but then my dog loved me.  This one will be even harder.  My wife tells me that when I go to the store or leave the house for errands on the weekend the sound that poor mutt makes is almost unbearable.  It is like her heart is being torn in two.  Then she will sit in front of my chair until I come home and greet me at the door like a long lost soul.  You would have thought that I had been gone for year instead of for a couple of hours.   When we travel in the motorhome, she has 2 positions between the drivers and passengers seat.  If it is cold and the drivers window is up then one paw is on my leg, if the window is open then it is 2 paws and her muzzle on my leg so she can be sure I won't be sucked out through the window.    My daughter hates it when I call the dog her sister.   What can I say the dog is our 4 footed fur bearing love child.    To view the mutt go to:
http://community.webtv.net/lordladymopak/THEKAHLS   Unfortunately you have to page thru all of the pages to the last one.  Webtv does not give me much in the way of options such as selecting a page from the table of contents.

[Lady Nicolette]

My son actually likes it that our old dog was "Big Brother Buzzy," and our current dog is "Little Brother Beau."

Most people who know me know that to "be in the dog house," is a good thing around here!
*Note that there is no dog house, dogs live in our house with us, as dogs are meant to live.  With their pack members. 

[Ferret]

I have already had to put one best friend down and the one I have left will have to go some time, may it be long in the future.  But with the first, I never cried so much even when I got divorced, but then my dog loved me.  This one will be even harder.  My wife tells me that when I go to the store or leave the house for errands on the weekend the sound that poor mutt makes is almost unbearable.  It is like her heart is being torn in two.  Then she will sit in front of my chair until I come home and greet me at the door like a long lost soul.  You would have thought that I had been gone for year instead of for a couple of hours.   When we travel in the motorhome, she has 2 positions between the drivers and passengers seat.  If it is cold and the drivers window is up then one paw is on my leg, if the window is open then it is 2 paws and her muzzle on my leg so she can be sure I won't be sucked out through the window.    My daughter hates it when I call the dog her sister.   What can I say the dog is our 4 footed fur bearing love child.    To view the mutt go to:
http://community.webtv.net/lordladymopak/THEKAHLS   Unfortunately you have to page thru all of the pages to the last one.  Webtv does not give me much in the way of options such as selecting a page from the table of contents.

People could learn a lot from dogs. Imagine coming home and people greeting you like the dog does. That would be a pretty happy family.

And you have to remember when you are gone for 2 hours, that is like 14 dog hours. Of course they miss you and go nuts when you return. you are their everything and deserve it.
Ferret

[Synnovea]

Dogs are good for EVERYTHING!!!!!

[Lord Figaro]

Dogs love us back, of that there is no doubt. I know there are tons of cat lovers here. But I'm a dog person, always have been. Cats are cute no doubt. But I've yet to have a cat look at me with their eyes and tell me as much as a dog ever has. From hey lets play to, OMG let me out or we're both gonna be sorry.

[renren]

Unconditional love!

[Lady_Lily]

Yay for dogs. :-)
I have two special ones in my life. My very own that's basically my baby and one that I'm an aunt to...I love them both much. There's almost nothing greater than when a dog lays it's head in your lap or keeps you all warm and cuddles up with you. Dogs are great and they love so much!

[Tipsy Gypsy]

I have an ornament that says "Lord, make me the person that my dog thinks I am". 'Bout sums it up, for me

[Lady L]

When my oldest son was 2 years old, he called my German Shepherd his "other mother". She was very protective of him. She would follow him around outside and if he started to wander, she would herd him back to the house. Once, she got a hold of his jacket sleeve and pulled him back off the road. She liked to keep him on the patio, where she would back up and sit on him. He would be crying and trying to get away, but she would smile and look like "yeah, that's MY boy." We lived in the country then, surrounded by cornfields. As he grew older, he would try to sneak off, but she would run after him, so he wouldn't get lost in the cornfields. We tried to play hide and seek, but she always knew where he was. Once, I was working around the yard and suddenly realized he was no where to be seen. I looked at her and said "where did Matthew go?" But, she seemed unconcerned, just laying there. I was looking around, becoming frantic, but she just stretched her legs and yawned. I could not understand that. Finally, she walked over to her doghouse and looked in, wagging her tail. She knew where he was the whole time. I never doubted her after that.
Another time, husband and I were going to paint a room. He had a paint roller in his hand, while he was talking. She didn't know what a paint roller was, but it looked threatening to her. She pushed him back until I realized the problem was the roller. After he put it down, she was fine.

She would try to herd the chickens into the pen, which was futile.
Another incident, I was in the house, my son was playing in the yard. I heard barking and went to look. Here was my son, on top of the swingset, with the dog barking madly at a huge snapping turtle. She was between the turtle and my son. This turtle was HUGE, with a head the size of my fist. It could have easily hurt a child. I got a big barrel and was able to put it over the turtle. Later that night, husband let the turtle out and it went on it's way.
I still cry every time I think about her, because I miss her so much.

[anne of oaktower]

Ok...I am a confirmed Cat Person.  No doubt about it.  But all your stories here are making me consider the possibility of getting a dog one day - after I move out of town, so the dog will have some room to run.