Dogs

[SW_shooter]

Yep, dogs love me. A lot of people don't.

Years ago I was at a party of business associates of the ex. The home owner had a 110lb Rotty that was 1 yr old. The woman of the house kept warning people to be careful around 'Bear' because he could get mean if provoked. Well I was sitting on the patio on a lounger and Bear kept coming over to me and nudging my elbow with his sizeable nose. So I petted him carefully. Soon I got up and walked into the house and around to check it out. Bear followed me everywhere I went. I started to get paranoid and worried. I sat down and Bear started to nudge me some more. Soon I was petting and grabbing his ears and shaking his head about and he loved it. The woman of the house saw this and screamed at me to stop! She claimed I was making the dog mad and he would attack. She then took Bear away and locked him up. Poor pooch.

Anyway, there are other similar stories about dogs taking a liking to me, but some humans have a harder time with me. Maybe its because I don't obey very well.

 

[Slim Chance]

I got to thinking and I can recall twice that I was bitten in 24 years. Once I was fighting two drunks in their home in an arrest attempt and a mixed breed dog bit my calf. The other time a grouchy woman with a fuzzy type ankle biter was fussing at me on a call and the dog got my ankle. I once caught a killer Rottweiler by reaching out of my patrol car window and petting it till I got a hold on the collar. The owner was a block away screaming at me not to shoot him. The dog had broken a leash and thought they were playing chase.

 

[smokey04]

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible but it is a long story.1971 I came home from my last tour in Viet Nam. I reported in to Ft. Carson, CO. and was assigned to the Cavalry Squadron [then 4/12 Cav.]The C.O. wanted me to be the Squadron [Battalion] Staff Personnel Officer. The Captain vacating the position was leaving for Germany. He invited me to his quarters for supper with his family.[wife and 3-4 year old daughter]He met me at the door and had me wait until he could put his Doberman in a bedroom and close the door. He said the dog hated men, including him! During the course of the evening the Dobie got out and came into the living room. She came right up in front of me and looked me over. I talked to her and next thing you know, she was putting her head in my lap and licking my hands.Captain xxxx said he couldn't believe it ,she hated men!Long story shortened He asked me if I would take her since he didn't wan't to have her go through quarantine to get into Germany. I did take her. I kept her in an apartment that did not allow pets of any kind for 3+ years. I don't know if the manager knew or was afraid of her ,anyway no problems! My next assignment to Ft. Knox, KY ,pretty much the same and next assignment to Ft. Rucker, AL.where I owned the home and again, no problem. Then, the poor old gal contracted what amounted to bowel cancer.She was an AKC registered ,pedigreed Doberman. She was a little small for the breed[Runt of the liter?]and she had been spayed.But, folks let me tell you she was the most loyal, obedient,and loving animal on the face of MY world! Tessie had a name as long as my leg but, she was Comtessa de La ..... Hence "Tessie".Now I have "put down" beloved pets for friends that they couldn't do themselves but,when it came to Tessie.. I couldn't .I had a Vet put her "to sleep" to save her from more suffering.I held her, stroked her,and loved her until she expired. That was in 1977. Since then, I have not had another dog[ no one could replace her]and I cannot tell this tale without tearing up. Oh yeah, I'm a hard guy and have lost no sleep over killing enemy soldiers, but, that Tessie, well that's another story.God Bless that old gal, I loved her more than I loved myself.Let me go dry my eyes and blow my nose. NIck

 

[Iggy]

Smokey04,
I had 3 dobies over the years and they were the gentlest and most loving dogs I have owned.

I understand what you felt in putting your's to sleep. Been there and done that many times with dogs and horses.
I'm a big ol tuff guy, but losing a pet leaves me in tears and sobbing like a baby.

BUT, each of my dogs has found a spot in my heart and I thought I could never stand to have another. Each time another has found a new spot. The others haven't been replaced, it just that another one found some room in my heart and life and made it richer.

Meanwhile, there is another pooch out there that desperately needs a job worming it's way into your life and heart. Open your heart one more time. You won't regret it if you put another one to work.

 

[therevjay]

Dogs generally seem to like me, though there are exceptions. I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them. I'm a fairly dour-looking old guy, and a lot of humans look at me and shy away, missing seeing the laugh lines; but dogs seem to see through the look.

Dogs can most of the time tell who likes dogs and who don't. How I don't know, but they seem to be able to.

Before I retired I always carried a box of dog biscuts in the truck with me, just to help them make up their minds. It's a fact that by the time they finish chewing. Most of them have decided you're not really a threat after all.

 

[ralph7]

Smokey04,

BUT, each of my dogs has found a spot in my heart and I thought I could never stand to have another. Each time another has found a new spot. The others haven't been replaced, it just that another one found some room in my heart and life and made it richer.

Meanwhile, there is another pooch out there that desperately needs a job worming it's way into your life and heart. Open your heart one more time. You won't regret it if you put another one to work.

It took me 4 years, but I put my heart back out on loan for about another 12-15 years.
Harder to lose a pet than most humans I've known.

 

[Iggy]

Harder to lose a pet than most humans I've known.

I agree 100%.

 

[POPPER]

Hope I keep this as brief as possible, Except for bird dogs and cow dogs my favorites have always been and always will be Labs and Cur dogs. Curs tend to need a dominant hand at times but I love 'em. I'm hearing impaired from too many jet turbine engines way back when so I keep a dog at my side at all times when at home to listen for me at night especially. Interesting enough for you all I hope, I had a black Lab Nellie that stayed with me all the time and never would bark and make any noise. She would come over and bump me around till she got my attention then go to the door and stare at it and me till I checked it out. Loved that because she never made any noise. Got a black Mouth Old Yellar' cur dog now except she is the complete opposite. She'll take her paw and hit me wherever is handy and bark. Very posessive and guarding. Lastly I might ad there is nothing like a cur dog in my opinion except you need to be the dominant figure in that mix or you will have problems down the road. They are comfortable when you are the leader of the pack and dominant. If not you're going to have problems with a cur . Also might ad these dogs will hunt anything and everything and not a good selection for city or apartment living. They need to be able to run and hunt.

 

[cowboy45]

I've raised my abandoned Lab and Aussie/pit from pups. both are very sweet and I have raised them that way.
Lord forbid you become aggressive toward me or get on my property when I'm not home. They will let my neighbor come feed them if I'm gone overnite because they grew up around him.



Dogs are a pretty good judge of people. I like dogs more than most people.

 

[LVSteve]

Note: Worst encounter was with a Collie, not dreaded Roth or Pit. That one got me for 13 stitches!

Many years ago when I was a kid, my great uncle had a collie/spaniel mix who was fine with me but a bit iffy with certain other folk in the family, no names, no pack drill. However, when it came to attacking other dogs, I would guess that nothing short of a radioactive Cerberus gave him pause. Didn't see many of them in London's parks.

I am also a cat whisperer and have been since a child. I used to visit my aunt who had two cats and fights would break out as to who got my lap. My FFL swears I am the only person outside of his family to pet two of the cats in his house over the last few years. Funnier still, one of those is his daughter's cat and he claims he cannot get within six feet of it.

 

[Doug M.]

I held her, stroked her,and loved her until she expired. That was in 1977. Since then, I have not had another dog[ no one could replace her]and I cannot tell this tale without tearing up. Oh yeah, I'm a hard guy and have lost no sleep over killing enemy soldiers, but, that Tessie, well that's another story.God Bless that old gal, I loved her more than I loved myself.Let me go dry my eyes and blow my nose. NIck

*
BT,DT. Damned allergies.

Do yourself a favor. Adopt a successor. You are just the kind of person a dog needs, and I think that would be a two way street. There are good dogs, hard to place good dogs, in rescues and pounds. Without a guy like you, they will die too soon and without being the dog they could be.

 

[gm272gs]

...You are just the kind of person a dog needs...

I couldn't agree more. I hear a lot of stories about people "not wanting to go through that again" , but really they should think of the flip side. If you rescue a dog from the Humane Society, they will accept training so much easier than any other. They will also endeavor to pay you back for your kindness, and their better life. It starts out more for the dog than you, then you start to get that it's for you. When you start owing each other for a happier life, that's when it gets rewarding.

 

[vonn]

Dogs always give back more than they take and I believe can tell a good person from a bad one. Never met one I did not like.

 

[timn8er]

I've always loved dogs & miss having one in my life. Of all the dogs I've had as friends or I have met, I've only had a problem with three. And I feel it was an extreme coincidence that all three were Dobermans. All three had jerks for owners & pretty much grew up to be jerks. I have nothing against the breed & in fact like them a lot. But given my choice, it would have to be a Border Collie or an Australian Cattle Dog. A Malamute would be high on the list but for the fact that they seem to have a lot of health issues.

 

[arjay]

I think the longest I've gone without a dog was 1 1/2 years.A good dog is a gift.

 

[shouldazagged]

It starts out more for the dog than you, then you start to get that it's for you. When you start owing each other for a happier life, that's when it gets rewarding.

That's beautifully put, and very true.