What a difference a dog makes

[Gabriele Kennedy]

Hi Doodle lovers
I am relatively new here still but this has been such a nice space... Thought I would share.

If you have a story about your family life with your doodle that made you realize how significant he/she has been to your family please share....

I have a business meeting out of state tomorrow So I had to board my goldendoodle, Chili Pepper this morning. He is at his favorite place the Doggie Daycare he has gone to since he was 6 months old.

Even with all the running around for this trip ...I really notice he is not here.
The house feels strange..he does not make any noise but there is a quiet...
I even thought to myself " It is getting dark soon I need to walk the dog" ...It took me a second to remember he is not here. The cat was looking for him a dinner. My African Grey keeps calling him.
With such a full house... I am amazed at the emptiness for a dog that is not there...2 short years ago this was my life...
A dog becomes such a part of the family you forget what life was like without one.. I lived nearly 20 years without a dog and now it is hard to imagine a time without him .. ..

I need to remember this when he wants to walk in the pouring rain or wants play when it is 4 degrees outside.... he lays in the mud 1 hour after a 2 hr bath/blow dry ... ;-)

Having a dog's love and championship really is an amazing gift.

Good Night All
Gabriele.... good night Chili...

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha goes to work with me everyday. Several weeks ago it was a monsoon outside so I left her home with her DD. All day long, every time I moved my chair, I looked down to make sure I wasn't going to run over her tail. My staff, both administrative and field workers, kept asking why she wasn't at the office - they wanted to know if she was sick. They all made me fell so guilty that I don't leave her home anymore.

I work with an RN that has never had a dog in her life. She never played with one - she was scared of them. Then she started working for us. Every morning, she puts her briefcase down, sits down at her desk and waits for Samantha to come in to say good morning and bring her Moo to play together.
Her children cannot believe that at their dinner table she talks about Samantha and the antics that she pulls with everyone in the office. Samantha has changed my nurses life - she is no longer afraid.

[Gabriele Kennedy]

That is Terrific. I am always sad for people who don't grow up with animals.. It would be like not seeing flowers.. a part of the world missing.

You are sooo lucky to get to take your Sam to work with you.
You have your know dog ambassador.

Off to Cleveland in the morning.. I hear it "rocks"

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Fly safe! Have a good trip! How long will you be away? Taking your laptop so you won't be far from us here in DK??
I am waiting for the day my nurse asks me to help her find a Doodle.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Awwww what a nice post to read after I was just thinking 'why on earth did I get another dog'?!!! LOL!! (ya its just been one of those days...)

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Tomorrow will be better. Hang in there.

[Gabriele Kennedy]

My neighbor told me "the best thing about puppies is they turn in to Dogs"
Puppies are crazy and sooo much work but you get a lifetime to reap the rewards,,,
I am not sure I would have survived puppy hood without Kevin and the rest of the staff at Doggie DayCare
With between 6 months and 15 months... They made a lot of $$ on me ;-)

At 15 months I started to see what a great dog he would growing into...he still has his minutes... but 90% of time.... best dog ever...

It gets BETTER.... promise

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

On Nov. 1, of 2008 we had just moved (Holly my 2nd Rottweiler and my son/girlfriend/an myself) into a new home. My Rottie was use to being raised in an Apartment, walked several times a day, and not use to any other home than her own. She was abused as a pup and I adopted her at 7 mos. of age, so she only knew she was safe with me, or how she felt, she always had a hard time adapting to "New" things and was not aggressive to anyone, but not trustwothy either. We were living in the new house about a week, when she passed away that morning from a massive heart attack because she actually could not deal with moving and adjusting to a new home, that fear of abuse from when she was a pup came back, and although I knew someday death would come, (because of her age, 10 1/2), I didn't expect it to be that soon, and all of a sudden being without a dog was so devestating since I have always had 2 dogs at a time together. I lost my first Rottie (Magic my Service and Therapy dog) to old age-- at the age of 13, and did not rush out to get another dog because of Holly!
I also had just been diagnosed with some other health problems, so having a dog around and one that would be good because of the health issues was a factor in looking for a new dog, and was for several months before Holly passed away. My friend and I looked all around at Doodles, and we were very lucky to find Hannah, and her parents had all the testing done for eyes/hips and so on which I recieved copies of when I purchased Hannah. Hannah always seems to get along and more active with other dogs around her, so when we got Honey, there was a lot of things considered before she was purchased. So once again the pitter patter of 8 feet have fallen upon my door steps. I use to feel guilty for getting Hannah so close to loosing Holly, but as a dear friend told me, Holly wouldn't mind that you made room in your heart and home to give another dog a great home with lots of care, love, and one less to be stuck in a shelter or rescue, and my friend was so right! It's hard when we are so attached to our dogs and loose them, or do not have them by our sides for any reason's, and I think it's even 10xs harder when dealing with a disability and use to having a dog helping you.

[Kyoko]

I worked with a little boy who loved the dog, but his mom hated animals. ( I am a mental health Therapist/ social worker)
He had ADHD, and was in trouble all of the time, had very poor self-esteem, eventually, unrealted to ADHD, he lost hearing as well. He could not connect to anyone, never succeeded with anything. I started to take him to the animal shelter where I volunteered with me. This became something that he can be proud of, ( I brushed 5 dogs today! ) also the dogs gave him unconditional love regardless of his ADHD or hearing loss. His mom still hated animals, but learn to accept his furry and smelly shirt!

[Krista, Angel, and Toby]

I wonder what it was that she hated about the animals. If it was just the fur/shedding and smell, a doodle might have been a good option for them... maybe. Glad to hear that child found something to cling to. =0)

[Kyoko]

She just hated any and every thing about them...
When I closed his case, his comment was " So, who is going to take me to the shelter now?"

[Gabriele Kennedy]

I have to admit I have a hard time with people whom don't like animals.. I currently work with a few people like that and it affects my interactions with them.. If I know someone has had a frightening experience that is one thing (like a Dog attack) but general"I don't like animals" (dirty, smelly, should live outdoors, just don't like them).. I just don't trust them.

I have always found animals a great judge of character

I had a " pound puppy" ( new foundland mix) once that loved EVERY one... a joyous happy boy and one day he growl at some one in the hall of our apartment building as we passed a neighbor.. I was shocked. He loved everyone.. I could not imagine what was wrong with this person. Seemed normal enough. Not super friendly but nothing scary I saw....... Satin hated this man and always put himself between me and this man... This went on for a few weeks and than this man dissappeared.

I come to find out later this man was wanted for several attacks on women..He left town when the police tracked him to our apartment building

True Story...From them on.. I am a believer.. Dogs are a good judge of people. there must have been something my dog saw in this man that I missed..

Now if my dog doesn't like someone ... If I can't see it ... I still pay attention

[Gabriele Kennedy]

Chili is HOME!! and the family is whole again
I had a hell of a day getting back from Cleveland and missed pick up at the Boarders (by 5 minutes) yesterday..
All is right with the world again ;-)

Bought a new (used) car today (scary). It had been on order for a few weeks
FIRST thing I did was see if it worked for Chili

2 paws up for the AWF VIBE!... good head room and good amount of room for the 73 lbs puppy..
He really seemed to like it.
We have been riding in a 4x4 truck and the headroom was not high enough for him and he couldn't jump in without help... It was comical...

I am curious what other folks find the BEST DOG CAR? I had started looking at a Forester ( a bit too pricey) and an Element (surprised I didn't like the drive).. ended up with a 05 AWD VIBE..?

Thanks for sharing your puppy stories.... Aren't we lucky to share our lives with this pups.