Canis Familiaris - Truly Man's Best Friend

[Dingo]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31573146&id=12001011

As I'm going through my deployment downrange in the Sandbox, I remember how much I miss Canis Familiaris, Man's Best Friend. (I got him in May of last year).

What species gives so much to mankind, undying affection, loyal following and just warmth other than Canis Familiaris? And what's more he does it for so little. All he wants is food, water, and some attention.

My folks are watching him now and he's gotten gigantic and not to mention become the biggest Mama's boy dog anyone's ever seen. This is him now (hard to believe he was an itsy bitsy Belgian Malinois puppy):



There's him sitting patiently in front of the pantry in response to the question Mom always asks him when she gets home: "Where's the cookie, Ninja?"

This promptly causes him to just sit there and look cute.

Sadly we as a species don't always treat man's best friend amicably. We breed him in puppy mills under conditions I'm convinced would cause Cardassian Ore Processing Managers to vomit. We use him in cruel and illegal dogfights. We judge him before we even meet him (think Breed Specific Legislation).

I frankly believe Breed Specific Legislation is, well, B.S. Why? If you look at the history of Pitbulls, they were bred to fight other dogs, NOT bite people. In fact if a dog bit its handler it was a one way ticket to getting culled. Pitbulls are actually among some of the more loyal and loving dog breeds imaginable (my friend has one and it absolutley adores her and her four month old baby). I watched my buddy's pit bull when he was deployed last year, and the dog wasn't vicious in the least.

Anyone else here own dogs of any kind? Feel free to post photos of your particular pooches on this thread.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I haven't owned a dof for several years and probably won't again because ill-health makes it difficult for me to walk a dog as much as I should.

The last dog I had was a staffordshire bull terrier. The dog before that was a blue heeler (Australian cattle dog).

If I ever get a dog again it would be a small dog such as a whippet or a Jack Russell.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I want a Lion cub.

 

[Dingo]

If I ever get a dog again it would be a small dog such as a whippet or a Jack Russell.

Warning. Jack Russell's can be just as energetic as a Blue Heeler or a Staffie. They have about similar exercise requirements. I'd get something with a lower energy level, like a Bassett Hound.

 

[SmoothieX]

I've got a one year old chocolate Lab who is pretty much the best dog ever. I'm an unabashed dog lover. I donate to charities and have volunteered my time for dog organizations in the past.

I'm new to this area but would like to find a group to join. The new pet store we started going to (mom and pop joint vs. big chain) seems to be pretty active locally.

What species gives so much to mankind, undying affection, loyal following and just warmth other than Canis Familiaris? And what's more he does it for so little. All he wants is food, water, and some attention.

I couldn't have said it any better. I could have a shitty day at work and my wife pissed at me and just found out I needed to pay $500 to fix my car, and all it takes to make the pooch happy is for me to rub his tummy and toss him a couple biscuits. Hard to be having a bad day after that.

Dogs are great, they know your mood and react in kind. When I don't feel good he just plops down at my feet, even though he's a hyper young Lab who'd rather be running around the park.

Here's my pal...

 

[iguana_tonante]

I prefer cats.

 

[SmoothieX]

^ The cat I currently own has made me anything but a cat person. I hate that thing.

I would never do anything to harm him, but wouldn't complain if he ran out one day when the door was open.

 

[Dingo]

My mother is spoiling my pooch rotten while I'm deployed. She actually tucks him in with a blanket at night when it's colder. He's become the greatest mama's boy K-9 that ever existed. One of the NCOs in my unit said, "You don't have a dog, you got a baby sibling on the cheap..."

 

[Marc]

I've got a one year old chocolate Lab who is pretty much the best dog ever. I'm an unabashed dog lover. I donate to charities and have volunteered my time for dog organizations in the past.

I'm new to this area but would like to find a group to join. The new pet store we started going to (mom and pop joint vs. big chain) seems to be pretty active locally.

What species gives so much to mankind, undying affection, loyal following and just warmth other than Canis Familiaris? And what's more he does it for so little. All he wants is food, water, and some attention.

I couldn't have said it any better. I could have a shitty day at work and my wife pissed at me and just found out I needed to pay $500 to fix my car, and all it takes to make the pooch happy is for me to rub his tummy and toss him a couple biscuits. Hard to be having a bad day after that.

Dogs are great, they know your mood and react in kind. When I don't feel good he just plops down at my feet, even though he's a hyper young Lab who'd rather be running around the park.

Here's my pal...

My Family has got a rottweiler who also like position, also with a rope in his mouth

 

[iguana_tonante]

^ The cat I currently own has made me anything but a cat person. I hate that thing.

I would never do anything to harm him, but wouldn't complain if he ran out one day when the door was open.

That's because you have the wrong attitude. You can't own a cat: you are there as its private support staff and personal human servant. Once you realize this, it will be much more easy to deal with it.

 

[SmoothieX]

My Family has got a rottweiler who also like position, also with a rope in his mouth

It's either a sign of submission or a sign that getting his tummy rubbed feels pretty darn good!

That's because you have the wrong attitude. You can't own a cat: you are there as its private support staff and personal human servant. Once you realize this, it will be much more easy to deal with it.

Dogs have owners; cats have staff.

I've had cats all my life and I know they can be pretty aloof and if you're really lucky maybe you can pet them for 2 minutes a wek. But this little bastard is just mean spirited. He bites and scratches for fun and totally unprovoked.

 

[Markas]

I currently don't have either a dog or a cat. I haven't been petless for this long, ever. My last cat died 5 years ago next month. It must be time for an adoption.

I want a Lion cub.

You could get one like this.

 

[Dingo]

My dog will go bonkers whenever the tennis ball comes out. One of my favorite low energy games is called 'I don't have it'. When he's not looking, I bounce the ball and hide it somewhere on my person. He'll come up, sniff me. I'll show my hands and say, "I don't have it."

He'll ignore me and keep sniffing around and then he'll find it and we play fetch as his reward for finding the thing.

What other dogs have you had, SmoothieX?

 

[SmoothieX]

We had a German Shepherd/Collie mix when I was a little kid (great dog), then a mutt from the pound when I was about 10 or so (worthless, untrustworthy, aggressive thing), we got a Golden when I was a senior in high school (sweet, lovable dog who is now 12 and slowwwwing down).

After I moved out I was in a place for 3 years where we could not have a dog. It was a great place otherwise, but the landlord just wouldn't agree to it. When we moved about a year ago we got our chocolate Lab. It was a birthday present for my wife. (Actually we were going to get one anyway and the timing worked.) I've been to expect a yellow one for my next birthday, the Big 30.

 

[Marc]

My Family has got a rottweiler who also like position, also with a rope in his mouth

It's either a sign of submission or a sign that getting his tummy rubbed feels pretty darn good!

Yes definitely that factor but it's also good for an old back scratch if no-one else will oblige him. Though I gather it's very big sign if the dog rolls over and exposed his tummy for a rub - that his's submitting and trusting.

And the clincher - our other dog (Shitzhuh Maltese-X) things she's a rottweiler and will imitate and lie on her back.

But he's also a bit of a clown. He doesn't have a collar just chain with registration tag where his leash connects. Now we've never seen how he does, but you'll look and there's Magus with the chain in his mouth and this big doofus look on his face.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I like dogs...

But I like my neighbor's dogs. That way I get to play with them when I encounter them out in the yard--but then I send them right back home before I run out of energy.

I'm more of a cat person. Low-maintenance, and a nap buddy rather than a play 24-7 buddy.

 

[Neeka Keet]

This is her Majesty Lilu K-9

She's a a Shih Tzu/Jack Russell mix. Obviously in fur length and coloring she favors her father the Jack but she's got a stumpy buddy like her mom. She's a spoiled brat that behaves more like a mute two year old child than a dog but she's also sweet, kind and would probably sacrifice herself to protect us. I love her.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I prefer cats.

Me too. All hail our feline masters!

 

[Finn]

I got a Beagle. Nothing beats a Beagle He plays hard and rests hard. He snifs and sniffs all day. He probably was already sniffing around in his mother's womb. He eats EVERYTHING! That includes rocks, pieces of metal and big bones. He must have a industrial strength stomach. He was a fun and a pain as a puppy. He's calmer these days (He's almost five). I'm looking forward to when I'm married to my fiancee with a house with a fenced in yard so he'd slumber all day as an old dog while we are at work.

 

[TrekkieMonster]

Dingo, your pup is a very handsome boy!

I'm new to this area but would like to find a group to join. The new pet store we started going to (mom and pop joint vs. big chain) seems to be pretty active locally.

As is yours, SmoothieX. We've chatted about our pooches before. We really should get together for a playdate with our respective 1 year old labs.

And, if you're looking for a worthwhile organization that's not too far from you, a dear friend I work with volunteers here:

http://saveadog.com

They're always looking for people who want to help.

As I mentioned last year, and in another thread today, we had a yellow lab who was the absolute light of our life; he was the best dog in the world ... except for all of yours, of course. Unfortunately, we lost him to cancer last year (way too young), and it just tore me up. But, after some time we decided to jump in again with both feet, and got littermates: a yellow and chocolate. The first couple months were hell, but even then we knew it would be worth it and we fell in love with them the moment we saw them. Now, at 1, they're great boys. Right now, in fact, I cannot wait to go home from work and take them to the park. We have absolutely no plans for the holiday weekend except to spend time with our boys, as much of it in the parks and arboretums and woods as possible; good for us and good for them.

Anyway, I guess that's a long way of saying, I agree with the OP wholeheartedly! I've had cats, and good cats that I cared for, but for me there's nothing like the connection with a dog (or dogs.)

And now this thread has really proven to me that I need to find a new webhost site where I can link to pictures of "my boys" to show off here.