When did you become a 'dog person'?

[Adina P]

Shoney's recent blog post about how smitten she is with her new pup Ruby and calling herself a 'dog lady' made me wonder... When did you first become or consider yourself a 'dog person'?   Was there a defining moment? 

I for one was NOT a dog person until I met my husband.  He had a border collie that was perfect in every way.  One day he left her with me for a day or weekend or something while he was out of town.  The whole idea of a dog INSIDE my house was still a little nerve wracking, but by then I had chilled out a wee bit.  One day while dog sitting Cass, I came home from work and realized it was so nice to have a living creature home to greet me.  I took her for a drive to a pet store just for fun.  I think that was the start.  Then I got Rosco...

Later our first Christmas card as a family...

Share your 'becoming a dog person' story!

[Melanie, Wookie and Dr. Watson]

This thread is so fun

[Diane Reader]

I have been a dog person since I visited my grandma's dog, Mackie when I was very young. We had 2 dogs, first a dalmation/boxer, then black lab while I was growing up.  When we had our own kids, we got a beautiful Golden Retriever, Ginger, who lived with us for 16 years. We then had 2 Maltese, Nipper and Scout, By this time the kids were grown. I currently have a Maltese, Miss Molly, a golden doodle, Sweet Bea and a labradoodle, Ziggy. The doodles were both rescues. I can't imagine not sharing my life with dogs. They are all here in the family room with me, 2 on the couch and 1 in her dog bed  by the fire. Miss Mollly is 9 years old and 5 lbs, but she is the top dog and the doods know it. She is very frisky and loves playing with 55 lb Bea, complete with play bows and chases!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What snugglers you have!

[DJ & Chance]

What a cute card!

I think I have always been a dog person. We had cats and dogs in the family when I was a child, and my sister was the keeper of the cats and I was the keeper of the dogs. My dad insisted that the cats and dogs live outside but I always snuck the dogs into my bed at night. My dad was a gentle soul and I think he knew and decided to ignore my transgression.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

What a fun discussion!  I was born a dog person, too, and I think inherited from my mom.  I’ve always loved dogs, and I wanted a dog as far back as I can remember.  My family got a poodle when I was 5, after what felt like years (ha!) spent pining for one, and she lived until I was in college.  I never thought there would be a better dog.

As an adult, I waited quite some time to get my own dog - partly until I knew I had the time to care for one, and partly because I felt like no dog could live up to the standard set by my first dog, Buffy.  Even after I finally decided to go on the waiting list for a puppy and I was very excited, I still felt a little off; it sounds odd, but it was almost like I was being disloyal to Buffy.  But the day I learned I’d be getting the puppy (who was to become Eloise) was Buffy’s birthday, and I took that as a good sign. :)  With Eloise, I officially became a crazy dog lady and I love her to the moon. Of course I love Beasley now, too, but there is a special connection that I have with Eloise – she can read me and I can read her. She is smart beyond belief and seems part human at times – and both are such sweet girls. I’m a dog person, indeed!

[Stella]

I was born an animal person! I've always preferred animals to people. But, I am allergic to fur, feathers, dust, dander, hay, straw etc etc!! I still managed to learn to horse ride and even worked in a stables despite sneezing and wheezing constantly! I wanted to be a vet, and did a coop placement in a vet office, but I was so sick with my allergy symptoms. I became a physiotherapist instead, and now I do 'dog physio'!! I got my first dog, an F1 LD, seven years ago. I was determined to have a dog and to keep him no matter what happened with my allergies. Luckily for me, even though he is a shedding F1, he doesn't affect my allergies too bad. Actually, my non-shedding multi-gen LD is worse for my allergies. I can't imagine life without dogs now, and I'm pretty sure I will always have a dog in the future.

[Julie and Max]

I always thought of myself as a cat person even though I had dogs in the past, I just loved cats. I got Max at a time in my life when I really needed him, he is such a good dog for me, and he's helped me so much that I can't imagine life without him. It amazes me how much a dog can make a difference in your life. He saved my life in many ways, helped me to get healthier, and happier, and I think he's made me a better person. I do still love my cats, but they aren't the same, they don't give you that same devotion and love.