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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:15:50 PM | | I know that many people, living alone, rely on pets for companionship. What does this say about us? Pets take a lot of time, tie us down when we could be doing other things with a potential partner,etc. And what does your choice of pets say? If you have a dog, as I do, you need to be there for him 2 or 3 times a day. Cats can be left alone for several days, and other "unfurred or unfeathered" pets require less in the way of maintainence. And, does the type or breed of your pet say something about your personality? | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:30:55 PM | Mine says I spend way too much time working, both at home and away. He goes with me where he can but enjoys going to the doggie motel when he must.
If the breed of pet says anything about me, it's probably that I don't mind wearing beige all the time to conceal the hair and that furballs in the corners are ok. I have a Sable Collie (yes, I've heard all the 'Timmies stuck in the well jokes' several times over
Oh, yea, and I'm glad he doesn't REALLY talk about me cause he'd probably tell tales out of school. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:34:41 PM | I have a dog, female. Been with me almost 12yrs now. Heck of a lot longer then any of my relationships.
She's there thru thick and thin, and provides me with complete unconditional love. In many ways she has taken on my personalities. goofy, playful, and VERY protective.
For all that, she is worth a tiny bit of enconvince at times. As far as leaving her behind while in a relationship, it isn't going to happen, you except me/you except her, if not.....I'll hold the door open for ya.
And knowone will ever rise their hand to her or mistreat her in any way, or they will find themselves on their ass quicker then they can blink.
LOL. Yes I love my dog, she has pulled me thru some really tuff times in our almost 12yrs together. Being with her makes it much easier being alone. People can be so full of crap and play such awful mind games, with her, it's what you see is what you get. I get hugs, and wet sloppy kisses and that look of thanks for keepping her safe and warm.................. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:46:44 PM | Thank you for your responses to my post! I have had "Snort", an English Bulldog, for eight years now. Ever since he was two years old, he has been so laid back, friendly, undemanding, excited to meet new people, and immaculately housebroken (all sort of like me). I'm wondering who taught who, here!
Before him, I've had several pitbulls...now most people will tell you that makes a statement right there, but I've never had a bad one. They were all loving and affectionate, great with all people, but if you knocked on the door, they'd sound off and scare most people away. Never hurt anyone, tho...never had to!
People used to say that I was expressing my agressive/masculine side by having pitbulls. Remember the Little Rascals, and Petey, around all the kids? Remember Buster Brown's dog? Remember the dog in the old RCA Victor logo...."His Master's Voice"?....No agression there.
They are an All-American breed, which is why I will love them forever. My current English Bully is the USMC mascot...ironic, right? but I've always had a love and respect for the USMC...maybe I'm answering my own question here! | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:57:48 PM | LOL Better - what kind of pet you have doesn't say a thing about you
- I got my first dog from a man who was going to put her down, she was 18 months, and he kept her locked in the basement all the time and said she was too much bother. When I got her she didn't know her own name and was not housebroken - with in 6 months I could walk her without a lease, she was housebroken, knew her name and knew it was a good thing when I called her (treats etc), loved everybody and travelled with me wherever I went.
I judge a person who has a pet, by how they respond to the pet, and how the pet responds to them. It had better be with love and affection.
My first dog Buttons was a spoodle and she died at the age of 19.5 yrs. My 2nd dog was a Jack Russell from the Humane Society - she taught me for 17.5 years. My vet asked me how I kept my dogs alive and healthy for so long, what was my secret? I told him it was no secret, it was just love. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 7:04:56 PM | There are no bad dogs, or bad breeds, ONLY bad owners!!!!!!!!
I've seen far more viscious chihuahuas in my 25 years of pretty much all aspects of animal care (from breeding and showing to being a vet assistant to owning a grooming shop) than I ever have American Pit, Bulldog or Bull Terriers. It all depends on how they're raised! (People let small dogs get away with murder and it drives me nuts.) I do a lot of animal rescue, and I have helped place rescued Pit fighters whose bodies bore scars telling of horrors in a past that few of us could comprehend, and 99% of them were teddy-bear dogs, that only wanted to love and please someone and went on to be very beloved family pets.
*getting down off of soapbox, could someone give me a hand?*
I have far too many pets. Acquired during a time when the negativity around me was almost deafening, and they provided a barrier against the world with their innocence. I have a horse, a cow (raised her on a bottle, she thinks she's a dog), a field full of pet goats, a house rabbit that now has her own house and yard, four dogs (left over from the years of exhibition, now "just" pets), a cat and several birds. And gerbils. And fish. And....whatever is next in line. "It followed me home, can I keep it?"
Not sure what all that says about me...but I'm never "alone."
Sapph | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 7:42:33 PM | Great post op and other posters.
I know I have lost a lot of men who where interested in dating me until they found out that I have 2 Rottweilers, and for 11 years, a German Shepherd Dog.
All that tells me is that so many people haven't got a clue when it comes to dog breeds, and often dogs period.
I first rescued a small dog when I was nine years old. I walked upon 3 large men tying to use sticks to get a frightened dog out from under a car. People are so clueless. Less see, I want to get this dog from under this car. I will scare him badly, that will cause him to come out of his hiding place.Clueless! I guess in a way it is lucky that people aren't often as smart as a dog. I crawled under the car, retrieved the dog, and gave the men a piece of my mind. (See I have been acting like I do on pof since I was a kid - nothing new there
)
Even when I was involved in non pet related industries, I have always ended up doing rescue, either with organization or privately.
I won't bore you with what I am and was involved with to fight the Ontario goverment regarding their pitbull ban. My vehicle has a bumper sticker that says "My Ontario includes PITBULLS". My best friends owns my favourite pitter. Every time I go to her place, Riley screams until I go and lie in his four poster bed with him and cuddle.
As I got older my breed preference changed to bigger and bigger dogs. I am a tiny person, and my dogs have out weighed me for years now.
Rottweilers have different body language than most breeds. Most people don't realize that rotts are a herding/carting breed. They bump people, or lean of people because they are herders. People misread the behaviour as aggression. They are one of the few breeds that naturally stare into people's eyes. Most breeds won't do this, and have to be trained to do it. Most people read a rotties staring into eyes as aggression - 99% of the time it isn't.
I started working with rottie rescue because I know the breed, and can handle them, whether most people can, especially when they have an abusive background. I have come to respect and enjoy everything about the breed.
One of my rotties, Titan is just a happy boy. He takes great pride in being a fool just like the current popular comedy movie stars. Over the years, he has been attacked repeatedly by small dogs and cats. He just looks at me as if to say, "Can you please remove the mosquito that is bugging me."
My other rottie, Teddy Bear is very different. He was on death row at the age of 4. He came from a puppy mill that was trying to breed miniture rottweilers by starving and abusing them. He was 40 lbs. when I first saw him. He had serious upper respitory problems, kidney infection, and was suffering from sever malnutriton. He drank his own urine, because that is what he was used to doing to survive. It took me 1 year to nurse him back to health, and two years to cure his spirit. He is a happy dog now, who is thrilled with my world. He can't however, leave my property. It is just too scary for him. He pancakes on the ground and refuses to go from a walk off property.
What would me dogs tell people about me? That I am God. That I serve the best dog meals on the plant. That they gladly take all the medicine I give them. That they try their best never to take their eyes off me because they might disappear.
When a clueless person asks if my dogs bite, I always say "They are protective of their things, and I am their favourite toy". | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 7:55:42 PM | Moraima - my last dog was a rottie too and I loved him dearly, as I did with all my dogs. Now I manage to get my 'dog fix' by babysitting my 'grand-dog' from time to time.
Of all the things I miss about living in a house, having a dog is the prime void.
I have a little plaque that says it all:
'LET ME BE THE KIND OF PERSON MY DOG THINKS I AM'. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 8:03:27 PM | Moriama, I respect you and thank you for your efforts for these critters! Anyone who can love an animal (or many animals) is a good and righteous person in my book.
I was intrigued with the comments about Rotties...esp the eye to eye contact. Yes, they are one of the few dogs that do not see, or intend eye contact as aggression, and that is so misunderstood with them.
People are taught to not make eye contact with a strange dog, and in most cases this is true but they are one exception to that rule.
My best friend, one of the guys in my band, has a young male Rotty, a rather long and lanky one, that is a "lap dog". If you sit on the sofa, "Moe" is across your lap and asleep within seconds.
This friend of mine mentioned above, is one of those people who has a natural communication with dogs. I was there when he brought "Moe" home from the SPCA, and within minutes, that dog, who had been mistreated, abused, and ignored, was his shadow. He can let Moe loose in the back yard, Moe will see a rabbit and start to go to investigate...all Mike has to say is "leave it alone, Moe", and the dog is right back at his side.
I wish I had that kind of relationship with my dogs...mine have not been bad, but never had that kind of communication.
Mike is in the same kind of personal situation as I am....divorced, living alone, no dates....I often think, what if he had that kind of Rapport with the ladies....not necessarily the "in command" part, just the communication! Wow, would he be one lucky guy! | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/5/2006 9:17:14 PM | I have friends who can truly communicate with animals. It is almost spookie. I am not into hookie things, but have to believe what I have seen with my own eyes. These people have offered to teach me how to do it. I am not yet ready for that as my plate is too full already.
I do have an ability to instantly communicate with most dogs that I am simply one of them, mean them no harm, will nurse them if necessary, and protect them. I can sense injuries or fears, and many forms of internal damage. Sometimes, they tell me thing about themselves that I am compeled to tell their owners. These messages makes sense of most owners, but some owners don't want to hear the messages.
I have had people in a third world country watch what I do, and ask me to tell them the words to use, so that they can do it too. I tell them that the words don't matter. It is the form of contact that matters.
All the things that I have just shared make many people think I am a little crazy which amuses me. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 12:23:31 AM | Don't have a pet right now, but if I could have one I always thought it would be a cat. I've had many cats in my life, they just suit me. A cat mirrors me, very independent, mellow, soft, mysterious and we both purrrrrr loud and clear when we're happy! !
Lately I've taken to thinking I'd like to have a little dog, he/she would get me out to walk more often and I hear the 'dog parks' are a great place to meet someone. At least you'd have one thing in common right away, right?
Peace and love to all animal caretakers!
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 2:41:11 AM | I love animals - always have - always will ...... BUT
The animals I have now were not by choice at first but later became my choice.
I like ALL DOGS - except the few that the owners have turned mean .... BUT
A Toy Poodle would have been the VERY LAST bread on my list if I had been looking to get a dog. My first wife’s brother got his wife a Toy Poodle and was the kind of guy that ALWAYS conned me into getting what ever he just got - a boat - a car - and this time ......
He bought the dog’s brother - gave it to his sister (my wife at the time) and she gave it to me for Valentine’s Day. She was such a neat freak she would NEVER have let me get a dog but .......... her brother did it backhanded. The little chit dog was about 1.5 pounds - had ear mites and was sick (crappy breaders) - I fell head over heals for the little guy. He lived 14 years and I was hooked on Poodles. So now I have a female Toy Poodle she is 9 yo.
Don’t get the wrong idea here - they are not FOO FOO dogs and mine look more like little junk yard dogs lol. She is in my profile for you dog lovers.
FISH ................
One of the daughters was changing colleges and had this little bitty fish “dad will you baby sit this fish for me for a couple of months” - she was on her way to CA. FIVE YEARS LATER that fish was 14 inches long - it was an Oscar Tiger - the wife had stuck a little Pleco in the tank - that fish was 12 inches long.
Well I got hooked on fish .......... ugg so now I have FISH also.
We had an old hair bag witch cat - she was a real WITCH - she lived to about 22 years old and we all miss the old hair bag. | |
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mizbex
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Joined: 7/14/2006
Msg: 14 | |
| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 5:48:01 AM | My motto is "I may not always have a man, but I will always have a dog."
Now I have one dog (Gracie) and a cat (Bacard). In June, my beloved Boxer, Bexie, was diagonosed with a massive brain tumor, I would not allow her to suffer, after intensive testing, I had her put down shortly after the diagonosis, she was 9 and that was pushing it for a Boxer, they only live until about 7, but what a breed. She was my best friend for a long time and had been through everything with me. She actually was the ex's dog, but he left her with me, which I could not understand, but glad he did. He would have never given her the care I did.
Over the years, I have had several dogs Boxers, Shepards, Rottweilers and mixed breeds. I prefer a larger dog, but the truth is I love all dogs. Gracie is a shepard/collie mix and she was severely abused by a man and she is doesn't really like men now. I like to think I have made up for some of the suffering she has experienced, she has a very good life, I wish I had her life, LOL.
I live in a "dog friendly" community, all the friends I have made here have come from meeting each other's dogs and the human friendships have followed. Dogs give us so much and require (in my opinion) so little, I will never be without one. I think humans can learn a lot from dogs, one day, I hope to be as good a person as my dog is. | |
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mizbex
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Joined: 7/14/2006
Msg: 15 | |
| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 5:51:52 AM | My motto is "I may not always have a man, but I will always have a dog."
Now I have one dog (Gracie) and a cat (Bacard). In June, my beloved Boxer, Bexie, was diagonosed with a massive brain tumor, I would not allow her to suffer, after intensive testing, I had her put down shortly after the diagonosis, she was 9 and that was pushing it for a Boxer, they only live until about 7, but what a breed. She was my best friend for a long time and had been through everything with me. She actually was the ex's dog, but he left her with me, which I could not understand, but glad he did. He would have never given her the care I did.
Over the years, I have had several dogs Boxers, Shepards, Rottweilers and mixed breeds. I prefer a larger dog, but the truth is I love all dogs. Gracie is a shepard/collie mix and she was severely abused by a man and she is doesn't really like men now. I like to think I have made up for some of the suffering she has experienced, she has a very good life, I wish I had her life, LOL.
I live in a "dog friendly" community, all the friends I have made here have come from meeting each other's dogs and the human friendships have followed. Dogs give us so much and require (in my opinion) so little, I will never be without one. I think humans can learn a lot from dogs, one day, I hope to be as good a person as my dog is. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 7:08:50 AM | | Hmmmm I have a dashund, and she is 2 years old, and i named her (LIMO), because just like the car, they have the longest body. She is now a therapy dog, with the St. Johns , and she gets to visit the elderly 2 times a week, and takes her unconditional love , and gives it to them as well. I do agree that, any dog is fine, as long as the owner treats the dog properly, and shows it love. Cats are good too, and i have had two of them, that would come when i whistled, so its really how you treat your animals....because they can only be as good as the owner treats them.........so show them lots of love, and you will never regret it. | |
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mizbex
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Joined: 7/14/2006
Msg: 17 | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 7:40:15 AM | | I have a chihuahau named Teka who weighs 7.5 lbs. I have a cat, Dodge, who weighs 15 lbs. I have two hamsters, Hammy and Hamtarro, a rabbit named Mr. Bunny and a chinese fighter fish. What does this say about me? Says I am nuts to let the kid bring home everything from soupt to nuts! I boitch about the mess they all make, kids included, but to be honest? I love the life it puts in my house. I luv Teka's kisses, and when she spoons me in bed! She may be tiny but she is the family's protector! Dodge the cat, is just that. He makes a dodge for the door every chance he gets! Overall, I love my pets! They give me love any time, day or nite and for that I am very thankful! | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 7:54:10 AM | Three dogs; all rescues; small, medium, large. Four cats; all rescues. Used to have a pig named Jean-Luc; also a rescue. Yes, I think the implications about this are obvious! I'm a sucker for a rescue! Why, why, why does this have to apply to men, too?!
Now if my pets could actually talk, I think they'd say: My god, Ruth! Get a man, so you can stop forcing us to snuggle with you all the time! | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 11:33:03 AM | | I have been around dogs, all my life- grew up with****r spaniels but for some reason I got attached to larger dogs when I got my first german shephard- she was really smart and wonderful with the children- loved to go swimming with me in the local lake. Now I have my second doberman, very, very smart, friendly and a wonderful companion. My other dobie was a male, did not bark as much as the female that I have now and loved to go swimming with me but this female, forget it, hates the water but does like getting a bath- she will not go swimming with me but it's nice to have someone waiting for me when I am out and about and to depend on me as I am a very loving person. I would not even want to be around people who don't like animals because I think they are selfish and don't want to be bothererd with the extra work and money that they require- in return you get unconditional love. Of course, having a two legged companion would be wonderful so I will keep fishing and hope for the best. Thank God there are many of us who realize what great company our furry friends are to us. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 11:38:50 AM | | Well I've got 2 cats "Dusty" & "Cloudy" - they are my "boys" & I love them to death. They have been inside cats all their lives & I've just let them have a taste of the outdoors which was a big mistake because now all they do is meow to get out. So they would say that I'm mean because I did that to them. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 11:58:29 AM | I have 1 dog and 1 cat. And as I stated in another Thread, I'm not sure I could sleep without being sandwiched between the two at night. Isn't that pathetic?
As to breeds, the dog is a mini dachshund and she ended up with me the same way most do -I went into the pet store to get some supplies and walked out with a dog. I prefer a dog I can bathe in the kitchen sink - LOL.
The cat, yet another rescue. One of 4 siblings that I bottle fed from 2 weeks of age due to their stray mom getting hit by a car. | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 1:59:49 PM | | West coast gal.......I hear ya on losing a pet. It is so scary. I have had numerous pets thru my own life. The most notble one was our cat Fluffy. She was 18 when she died, and my daughter was 19. My daughter cried so hard, she couldn't breath. We all did. After that I gradually had my pets go one after another and in the end I decided not to get anymore. I just didn't have the heart to fall in love with one more pet....for to me they are the same as my children. I just love them. They do require the same care, and can't be left alone as far as I am concerned. Right now we do have a cat, named Rusty. My daughter rescued him from the adoption hotline hee for felines. He was 1.5 and declawed and neutered when we got him. He's a big golden short hair and a real character. So we are back in the poet business again I guess. Wouldn't you know it..he took to me right off and bonded well. Sleeps right above my head most nights. Anyone is in trouble he's right there to give love and support. Can't really beat that. I've had fish, hampster, bird, cats, and dogs..big ones.....as in Labs and German Shepherds, and 1 Husky/Malamute who thought she was a lap dog. That was fun! LOL! We named her Timber, and my son-in-law still owns her to-day. She is one big sweet-heart too. I think a life without pets is pretty blah! | |
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| People, of our age, alone...what do our pets say about us?
Posted: 8/6/2006 2:05:54 PM | Two dogs here and I hope they say good things about me. I sure do love them. One I got from a breeder who was only in in for the money and didn't think my little cutie pie could get the $200 they were asking because she doesn't look or act like the breed they can fit on their patio and I rather suspect something snuck up on her mama. The other is a beagle and he was at work one morning because one of the women I worked with was going to take him to the pound - short story he didn't get there. I am sure he'd been abused because if I used the hose or the broom he would scurry off. Well he now knows that the hose, the broom and his owner have no intention of being hurtful and he is a pretty sharp little fella, but no one had ever worked with him.
I also dog sat for some friends recently and that was great fun. These two living teddy bears were dearly loved and I adored getting to give them the attention they desired and deserved. | |
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