If you could explain to someone why they should adopt a doggie, what would you say to them?

[Noodle]

I like to use my very favorite quote by an anonymous author because I think it speaks for what a human/dog relationship can really be and that every dog and human have the right to experience such love in their lifetime. 

"A dog is your friend, your partner, your defender. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

[Ginny Nightingale]

There are many studies done that indicate that owning a dog will lengthen your life by lowering your heart rate, increasing your exercise level and lowering stress. Anyone who wants to be healthier can help themselves out by getting a dog---or any pet for that matter--but especially a dog, as they get you outdoors and walking!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I think that having a dog love you is as close as we will get on earth to understanding God's love for us.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Great quote! Having Lucy has really opened our hearts in ways we could have never imagined.

[Pat and Traveler]

Lovely quote!  In addition, Trav makes me laugh every day, and that's good for the soul.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think there are lots of wonderful reasons to adopt a dog, but I would never try to talk someone into it because if they needed to be talked into it, they might be iffy on dogs in the first place and therefore would not reap the benefits of dog ownership. Some people are just not dog people.

Your quote is wonderful by the way, just not to convince others but to reaffirm what we dog lovers already know.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, you said exactly what I was thinking. The quote is wonderful, but nobody should ever tell anyone "why they should" adopt or purchase a dog; that's how dogs end up homeless, when people who are not really dog people and are not sure they want a dog are sold on the idea by a well-meaning friend or acquaintance. It's better to explain why you choose to have a dog, and leave it at that.

[Adina P]

It's like anything else that one person finds amazing and full of joy.  Even though there are wonderful blessings with marriage and children, nobody should get married and/or have kids. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep.

[Noodle]

That is very true and I agree :) I was taking a more positive stance on the comment because I have faith that for the most part, dog lovers can see if another might be good or bad with dogs (for example I know exactly who I would leave my dog with and who I would not, and I think every dog owner does as well). However, I was talked into adopting my doodle because the people who suggested that to me could tell I would be a great dog owner but being a full time graduate student, the time was never "right". I took a risk based on the circumstances and their advice and would never regret this decision, I truly feel like I have missed out on the greatest love in my life by insisting that I would wait for the "right" time. Since then, I've explained this to several other people and they followed my lead. That is several more dogs out of the pound that went to loving families and great dog owners such I as assumed.

So I was definitely not making an uneducated suggestion by my comment and I apologize if it came through that way. It is as honest as I feel :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Everyone is not like you, though, and I speak from many years of experience in dog rescue. I have personally been involved in the rehoming of hundreds of doodles, many of whom were acquired by people who were talked into getting them originally. It's not about what a person might be "missing out" on, it's about what's best for the dog, and not increasing the chances of a dog's being rehomed by talking someone into adopting when it's not the ideal time or situation for them.