Inquiring Minds Want to Know.. Why did you get a dog?

[Jennifer and Jack]

I have been thinking about this for a while.... I see people get dogs and then give them back because they decided it was not what they were looking for, more then they can handle etc.

 

What makes a person get a dog??? If I can be gut honest, which I can if I want, Thank you USA. I was never a dog person, I did not have any respect for a dog as a living creature, I was one of those that I now feel sorry for because they have no idea what they are missing out on.

 

I am a people pleaser to a fault. Some friends of mine had two dogs, I was able to see the bond that they had with them, though I didn't understand it. I thought they were "a bit much" to have a basket of toys for a dog but whatever.

 

Fast forward, I was at one of my doctors appointment, a doctor I don't see anymore but I had just started going there. She had two Goldendoodles. She was head over heels in love with them. I ended up being admitted into the hospital... and for my follow up appointment, my mom and I went to see her.

 

We were flabbergasted when she walked in the room and sat down and cried. Neither both my mom or I were dog people. Unfortunately for my poor doctor, her two dogs were involved in a horrible freak accident, one fell off of a sun roof and the other jumped off after him. One of the dogs had to be put down, and the other required extensive surgery but survived.

 

The poor doctor, had to do clinic that day and she sat down and cried and cried and cried and showed us pictures.. I am a total bleeding heart so I cried too. My mom she was sad for her but thinking we just drove almost three hours and she wanted to discuss my hospital stay and coming off the IV antibiotics.. We were not able to discuss anything that day, We were just a friend to her.

 

We both got in the car, (my mom and I) we had no idea what to say, We could not imagine someone being so upset about a dog. Not because we were cold hearted but because we just didn't know.

 

My heart was so broke for her that I ended up sending her dog a get well basket..Thank Goodness for google, I googled what to do for someone when their dog dies or is hurt.

 

So we sent out a basket for the dog that lived and a condolence thing for the one that passed.

 

We became friends and she was still my doctor. My health at the time was horrible and I needed to stop working but was depressed about it....I started talking to my friend a lot about her dogs and I actually was just thinking about getting one.. I was not totally sold out on it but as a gift, Jack was purchased for me, or a good part of him was.

 

The next thing I knew, I was going to be a puppy mom. I didn't know the first thing about it. I didn't even know how I was going to let a dog in my house, NO ONE comes in my house with shoes on. I would challenge people to find one speck of dust anywhere.

 

In walks Jack to my life, I never knew what I was missing, I didn't know the hole in my heart that needed to be filled.

 

How about you, what made you decide to get a dog? Was it empty nest syndrome? Was it because you grew up with dogs and always had one? Did you fall in love with a rescue? What made you get a dog???

[Susan and Sasha]

Sandy...

Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your life with us.

Dustin was a fine young man...who served his country with honor.

As we celebrate our Independance today...I thank him for making it possible to be a Free Country! 

I am so very sorry  for all that has happened...and am thankful that Hattie has come into your life...at the perfect time...to provide you with love and companionship!

I'm so happy that you are part of the DK family Sandy...and we are here to support you...

Hugs and Love...from Sasha and Susan

 

 

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Nothing really helps when such enormous tragedy strikes. I hope Hattie brings joy where some deep emptiness prevailed. Please know we are grateful to hear your story and to walk with you through this medium of communication. Hoping your older son heals and comes back into relationship with you. It has been a privilege to begin to know you here. Thank you, Sandy. 

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm happy to know that Hattie has brought you good things Sandy.  I'm weeping for your loss....as Jane said so perfectly - you are not alone.   Thank you for raising a wonderful young man and he has my heartfelt thanks for his unselfish service sacrifice to our country.  You'll be in my thoughts and prayers tonite.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Your story brought tears to my eyes, Losing your son, burying a child is something a parent should never have to do, Today and every day we have people like your son to thank.

 

Life is not fair, it is hard, an sometimes impossible. People who don't experience that deep pain can not know, I have lost a lot in my life but I have never buried a child I have several friends who have. Each cope and deal in their own way.

 

This time of year must be incredibly hard for you.  I pray you feel the love that your son had for you and that all of us on DKes has for you, I hope you have comfort in his memories and I am so grateful you have Hattie to love on you.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sandy, You just never know about the life experiences of some of our friends on DK. I am so sorry for your loss. Dustin sounds like he was a wonderful person and I love that he sat with the girl at lunch. What a kind son you raised! I am also glad you found your Hattie.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Dearest Sandy, it is amazing how our lives are intertwined by our wonderful and adorable doodles. We all live our lives and have many trials and tribulations but our dogs bring us together with for the most part much happiness and joyful story telling.Your very story reminds us that we are all human and live with great tragedy, it also for me brings me to a place of friendship.

I am glad you have Hattie, she found you and you found her. May your life have the joy and peace you deserve friend.

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm so sorry about your son.  I'm glad you and Hattie have each other now.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I grew up with a dog...a crazy Boxer, but I loved her.  Throughout our whole marriage, DH and I have had dogs.....we actually got our Irish Setter as a wedding present. Our "friends" presented Clancy to us right at the wedding.  We spent the first night of our "honeymoon" taking this puppy out to potty every two hours.  That's when I knew that DH was a keeper.  We always had two or three dogs, so our kids also grew up loving them.  When our Dalmatian died, and we were "almost" empty nesters we thought "no more dogs".  We missed them so much, we had to start again....and that's when we got our Guinness.  The rest is history.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

I have always had and loved dogs, a gift from my parents,
I bought my own dog virtually with my first pay check at 18,
When I married my husband i bought him his first dog. - a Tibetan spaniel,
( when we married my husband placed me on a pre-nup of 4 dogs at any one time)
I had three dogs not long after we were married( a dalmation joined our family), our Tibetan spaniel died of foot cancer about six years later.
I then had 2 babies and 2 dogs (=4 ).
Now my children are 10 & 13, and I want the challenge and company of another dog.
I decided on our a Groodle, love the size, no shedding, so gentle and the intelligence.
My children love dogs and already have chosen their favorite breeds... My daughter has changed her ideal to a Groodle. What can I say. I LOVE DOGS.. They're wonderful..

[Doris]

I grew up with dogs, needed daily exercise and that unconditional love I get from Bodi is priceless!

[Adina P]

I wasn't a dog person either.  But I was single and liked to jog/run and it seemed like it might be fun to have a doggy companion to keep me safe and join me on runs.  I was drawn to boxers but really was clueless about breeds.  It took me forever, after I'd started dating Clark, to remember that his Cass was a 'border collie' -- I'd always forget "WHAT was the name of that breed?" and could never remember to tell people.  She also didn't have the typical border collie black-white long hair so others couldn't guess.

 

But even when I started dating Clark, I found it mostly kind of icky when he'd bring her into my apartment where dogs were NOT allowed.  For some reason I was constantly afraid she'd poo or pee (as if that's all dogs did...lol).  Then one day, after I'd moved into a house sans roommate, I had to dog sit for Clark and decided it was pretty cool to come home to this creature that was SO happy to see you.  Cass was also the definition of "good dog" -- she really was as obedient and well mannered as a dog could be.  No issues, no aggression, a good alert dog but friendly otherwise.  Walked off leash, came when called, didn't counter surf, etc.  So she was quite the example I had before me! 

I didn't know what I wanted but once I had a yard I was excited to start looking and after Clark suggested I Google "Labradoodle" the rest is history. 

 

But yeah, at first I had NO clue what I was getting myself into -- not the joys not the frustrations.  I just thought it was a good idea to have a dog and it sounded cool.  And at that point my dog would have lived outdoors too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is all a good reminder.