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!

[Wendy and Myla]

What a story - I can just imagine how you felt going door to door to see if someone lost your Trixie!  And Bear coming over when the snow was high enough - that's hilarious!  Right now we have snow piles so high that lots of our neighbours dogs are in other yards!!! You are definitely a dog person :)

[Sheila & Finnley]

Thanks Wendy! If one of those dogs going over the fence, goes to your house....  let him in !!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Love hearing about your childhood dog experiences, Sheila. How wonderful.

[Richard Crowe]

I was also "born" into a dog family and was a "dog person" from before I could walk!  I have pictures of me as a young child with our flat-coated retriever called Blackie.  Unfortunately they are prints which I would need to scan before posting.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Like Karen, I was born a dog person, but I didn't really inherit it from anyone. When I was little I constantly badgered my parents for a puppy. At least every Saturday I would wake them up and remind them that I wanted a dog. Finally, when I was 7, I spent the night at my grandparents house. My parents came to pick me up in the late morning, but they came out of the truck and were holding a yellow lab puppy. At first I thought we had to puppy sit for someone and I asked them, but they handed her to me and said she was mine. We still have pictures of the process of my realization that she was my dog which are pretty funny. 

Trying to put into words how much I loved my Bonny is futile. She got me through my whole childhood. She was my best friend. I was bullied in school, but she made everyday better when I got home. Having Asperger's, dogs are my preferred choice of company. 

I would just say that there are only 3 people in this world that I would have a comparable reaction to their death as I did with Bonny's. I could not stop crying and I didn't think I ever would. All I really remember in the days leading up to her death was loving on her as much as I could (we had to euthanize her), and being almost constantly curled up in my fiancee's arms crying. And I still do cry from time to time when she is brought up in conversation. 

Because of this reaction I had, when she was finally gone, I swore off dogs for a few months. I then realized that even though that pain was unlike anything I felt before, it was more than worth it for what she gave me. I started becoming as obsessed with dogs as I was when I had her (I am constantly researching, love watching/going to dog shows, etc.) Since I am still living at home for the time being, the nagging process started again. I went back and forth between breeds. I wanted a huge dog, but that clearly wasn't going to work with my parents in the house. I do remember the first time I became a HUGE dog person. When we took Bonny to puppy class, the trainer had an Irish Wolfhound. At first I was a little nervous because the dog's head came up to my shoulder when I was 7 years old. But he eventually came up to me and said hello. I was in love with that breed ever since. I still intend on getting one someday. 

Having a size constraint, I went from German Shorthaired Pointers, to Irish Setters, to Smooth Collies, to Border Collies, etc. Then this labradoodle litter my high school English teacher had came up. I inquired early on, but he told me the waitlist was already full. I continued on my search, and I was nagging my parents for a Border Collie... but a lot of people fell through on that waitlist for the labradoodles. I ended up being the third to go pick. I wasn't even set on getting one unless I bonded with one. Bonding proved to not be difficult in any way shape or form. Orwell came up to me right away and curled up in my lap when I sat down. We tried to look inconspicuous, but his brothers and sisters eventually caught on and trampled him trying to get my attention so he left to go see his mother. When things died down, he came over again and did the same thing and gave me kisses. I knew I wanted him. He has always for some reason preferred me over everyone... even when he first came home and met new people. He didn't have the same cuddly reaction to them. He was a very cautious young pup, but for some reason he came to me right away. He was also the only puppy to escort me to the door when I left after picking him out. 

I have to say that I love him as much as I love Bonny. I didn't think it would be possible, but he proved me wrong. AND I got my larger dog (obviously not an Irish Wolfhound), but he is tall nevertheless. Already taller at 6.5 months than what was allowed by my parents in their house. He was not supposed to be as big as he is now. When I first brought him home my mother actually thought I pulled one over on them and actually brought home an Irish Wolfhound instead of a Labradoodle. :P His face does look like it could belong to an Irish Wolfhound and in retrospect, he was a huge puppy. Much bigger than Bonny was. I didn't really notice he was by far the largest of the pups when I picked him out because I was just in love with him. He also had this greying mask on him I thought was interesting, and I thought he would probably be the least best looking out of the group when grown but I was definitely wrong about that. I didn't care about his appearance, but he is a head turner. I've had cars stop, roll down their windows, and tell me so. You know you have a good looking dog when that happens. I feel like I inadvertently got the complete package.

My parents did forgive me for his size and are okay with it now. They realize that I really didn't mean to pull one over on them.

That being said though, I definitely look at dogs differently than them. I look at them similarly to Karen. They are not only family members to me, but the BEST family members. They are far more reliable than people. Heck, I'd sooner trust Orwell for support than my own mother (and my mother isn't a distant person). I don't value their life any less than mine. In fact, I probably value Orwell's life more than my own. I would do anything to save him in a dangerous situation. My mother can't fathom that, and I can't fathom how my mother would not do anything for a dog even if it was a slightly dangerous situation. I also remind her that Orwell is her granddog because she is not getting a grandchild from me. I just don't have patience for little humans. I'd just rather be studying, researching, or doing something else other than raising a child. She can't love her granddog as much as she might her human grandchildren she may or may not get from my little brother. I can't fathom that. I'd sooner love a dog more than a human. 

And like Karen, I found out I can't live without a dog. I did not do well for the three quarters of a year I was dogless. I love dog kisses, naps, etc. 

And last, but not least: 

DOGS > CATS

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Orwell was very smart in picking you, Katie.  He knew exactly what he was doing!

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Here is my boy hugging me while napping. Sometimes he makes me want to squeal because of how precious he is, but I don't want to wake him. :P 

And thank you all for the kind comments. Though, perhaps he chose wrongly because I'm obsessed with him. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

He chose absolutely correctly, Katie!  Our Ned chose us so I do know.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Kaitee,

Orwell is a very lucky pup for choosing you.  It seems he knew from the very start that you would be as special to him as he would be to you.

[Deeann Roesser]

What a sweet story. I've never considered myself anything but a dog person. Dogs have always been an important part of my life. My golden doodle, Ginger, is the sweetest dog I have ever had.

[Adina P]

Love these stories!

[F, Calla & Luca]

MeToo. You started a great topic.