There have been past topics regarding why we chose the breed we have, and even what breed we would choose if our first preference wasnt available -but what made you choose to bring a dog into the household in the first place ?
For me , it was probably the fact that I was brought up with a dog in the family- although we never had a Staffy in the family when I lived at home. When I moved into my own house it just didnt feel like home without a dog :)
And over the years I have also acquired a cat ( lovely sweet little stray who I just couldnt abandon) , a mouse and a hamster ( not my choices but I'm such a pushover )
What about you ?
lel

I wanted a reason to get out of the house. A dog did it the cats didn't!
Bec

because ive always been around dogs of some kind and wanted another one

simple as that

Z

yep same here has always had dogs around, its also go for the Kids to have a pet

Natalie

I was a widow with children of 11 and 9. One day my son brought home a gerbil he had bought in the market! I was horrified as I hate rodents since we had been over-run with mice when we lived in a flat in Hackney, so I made him return it. He was upset - naturally - and said how he so much wanted a pet. (We had a cat but she had been acquired to deal with the mice in the first house we had lived in - so she was a "working cat!") I reflected for a while and we decided to get a dog. To cut a long story short, we ended up with two Cavaliers - litter brothers - with whom I was very quickly besotted. They lived to 11 and !4. By this time I had been remarried for 11 years. We had said that when the oldest one died, we wouldn't have another dog.....but we were bereft. I kept going to parks and looking at other people's dogs!!So we had Fred, a collie-cross rescue. Sadly he died in 2001, and since by then we had grand-children ( one of whom belongs to the little boy who started this whole saga off......) we felt we couldn't risk another rescue dog, so we have waited until this summer, when I retire....and our puppy is now conceived, and due at the end of June!!! :) :) :) It's a kind of addiction, really, isn't it - and once you're hooked, I think it's for life!!!
Cathy.

I think it's just knowing that there's someone who loves you no matter what you look like in the morning, who adores you even if you're a grumpy old bag sometimes, who listens to you moaning and groaning about how the kids drive you nuts, who always wants a cuddle and who spends his life trying to please you and make you laugh.....like someone rightly said, a house is not a home without a wagging tail and a wet nose to greet you.....obviously, if you're really lucky , you'll also have a partner to do the same...(maybe not the wagging tail....) and if you have kids, seeing them growing up loving and respecting their animals(and hopefully, all animals as a result) and just having fun with them is priceless....xx

Totally agree bobo !! :)
Although I also prefer my partner without the wet nose too !! :D

<<<if you're really lucky , you'll also have a partner to do the same...(maybe not the wagging tail....)>>>

...or the wet nose! :p :D

Unconditional love, marvellous thing.

However, I got mine partly because I grew up with dogs and couldn't bear to be without one, but the family grew because I got fed up with losing kills into the bushes & undergrowth.

Julia & hooligans

FOR ME IT WAS WHEN I WATCHED THE DISNEY FILM LADY AND THE TRAMP AS A CHILD! IV ALWAYS BEEN HOOKED ON DOGS AND BEGGED MY MUM FOR A DOG FROM ABOUT THE AGE OF 4! THOUGH I DIDN'T GET MY LADY UNTIL I WAS IN MY TEENS WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE DOGS NEVER ACT LIKE THEY DO IN THE FILMS! I THINK ITS INNATE I'M DEFINATELY A DOGGY PERSON AND FIND THAT DOGS NEVER STOP GIVING. THEYRE ALWAYS WILLING TO PLEASE AND I FIND MYSELF DEPENDING ON MY DOG FOR COMFORT AS MUCH AS SHE DEPENDS ON ME. GOSH! JUST REALISED HOW BATTY I SOUND BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE MYSELF WITHOUT A DOG! :)
LIZ

Sssssshhhh dont shout Lizzy :D
I know what you mean though - couldnt imagine life without one :)
Lel

A house isn't a home without a dog and a walk isn't a proper walk..... without a dog. They remind us to enjoy the simple things in life. :)

Yeah, like husbands

:D

LOL :)

Don't get me started on husbands LOL :)

iv just read in another post that using capitals is considered rude as you are supposedly shouting! how can someone be rude just by using capitals! in this case i wasn't shouting just forgot to switch the caps lock off! hehe! :)

Hi Lizzy,
It's just "internetiquette" I suppose!! :D

(Caps are very difficult to read, as well!)
:)

ill keep that in mind and make sure i don't use capitals again unless i am actually shouting to avoid confusion- id never thought about 'internetiquette' b4 very funny! :)
Liz

Lizzy
that was me. I know when i first started posting and people told me off for this . Just wanted you to know . :D
DONT DO IT AGAIN- lol-
just joking by the way !!!! :D

thanks! im a novice when it comes to computers- iv only just learnt how to do smily faces! :) i will definately not touch the caps lock again promise!
Liz

I've always had dogs and always wanted my children to be raised with dogs since I think it teaches them so much but the end factor was 'me time'.Its the bit of my life that is done for me-I'm a mother/housewife/office worker/wife etc etc ....but looking after and showing my dogs is for ME!!!
Archer

Snap, it is the thing that is mine!

Brainless-we have so much in common!!
My dogs keep me sane...well almost!! people who don't know me think I'm mad-4 DOGS..I must live in a zoo !LOL
Nikki.

I chose a dog as they are happy to see me when I come in. They dont care where I take them when we go out, and they dont answer back.

I think for me, it was because both my parents were bought up on farms where they had plenty of animals & because of their experiences with farm/feral/working dogs who were not tamed & lived outside - we were never allowed them as kids.

As soon as I bought my own house the first thing I did was acquire two cats. When we moved to a bigger house, we bought it especially with dogs in mind, went for a cheaper area so we could afford to have a big garden, a big kitchen & an open fire for them on cold nights.

And so they arrived, two pups of different breeds, bought on the same day after months of planning & research - I was ecstatic. Desperately wanting to get it right so they could be happy dogs, I even felt like I didn't deserve them, they were so perfect.

I couldn't be without dogs now, my entire life revolves around them & their needs. Such simple devotion & unconditional love - you don't find that anywhere else these days. To see their frantically wagging tails when you walk thru the door. When they get scared & come running to you for protection. When they're poorly or injured & they look at you with sad, trusting faces - knowing you'll be able to make it all better.

Lady G

When they pee on your freshly planted flowers despite knowing they're not allowed. When they repeatedly take their beds outside & get them muddy just to annoy you. When they bark all night at hedgehogs so you have to go to work having had 3 hours sleep. When they're complete gits in public & make you look like a fool. When you can't go on holiday cos you know you'll pine for 2 weeks wondering if they're ok in the kennels. When your clothes always stink of 'dog' & are covered in muddy paw prints. When your furniture stinks & is ripped to shreds...

Why choose a dog again?!

I chose a dog over a cat for company as im on my own in the evenings and feel a bit of a pratt going for a walk on my own. ive also had dogs around since i was very young and seem to attract dogs. (shame i don't have the same effect on men) he he.
em