Incorporating GSDs (and other K9 members) into your poersonal life..

[MustLoveGSDs]

I am straight edge so owning multiple dogs already works out in my favor because I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs and I don't care to party or spend money on it. I am young and don't make a lot of money so I don't really have the opportunity to travel, which again, works out in my favor as a dog owner. I am more of an independent, loner type of person since most people disappoint me and I don't care to be around them, this gives me a lot of time to spend with my dogs when I am not working. I don't want kids. My dogs come first in my life. I met my boyfriend at a dog park. Men know up front and head of time that if they want to be in a serious relationship with me, they will not fight with me about dogs or give me ultimatums. I love doing social things with my dogs and I take them everywhere with me, they are a HUGE part of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am just a true blue dog owner/fancier.

[wyoung2153]

Originally Posted by Shavy

I guess I'm the lone dissenter. I do love dogs, and having dogs, and I do enjoy taking them somewhere or spending time with them...but at the end of the day, they're pets and not a stand-in for a significant other, friends, or children. I think all have their place. I don't know how many of you have kids (and my experience has been that people who are really 'into' their dogs usually don't), but I have one and the level of devotion, love, and selflessness is absolutely no comparison. I have always loved my dogs, and before kids, related to them as 'fur kids', but after having a real kid, I see the difference.

That said, I DEFINITELY get out more with a dog in the house. You can't be lazy or sleep until noon with a dog. For the past decade I've worked mostly out of my home, and it has been a huge improvement to my life to actually get out and want to go somewhere, for a walk or to the park. I also think people relate to others with pets more than they would without that buffer; a person with a dog may be greeted by a dozen strangers, when that same person without dog would've gone unnoticed.

I also appreciate that having a dog gives me something to focus on and 'do', a goal to work towards, whether it's housebreaking or basic obedience or dog sport. Having a dog is a really easy way to set and achieve goals and feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride.

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

I don't think anyone was saying their dog took the place of a significant other/child?

So true. Not saying that without my pups, I wouldn't be out and about at all becasue I have a physical standard I HAVE to maintain or I lose my job.. It's just nice to have a furry buddy along that keeps me company and makes me more at ease if I run/walk in the later hours.

I also can see what you mean about kid/dogs. Like Chicago said, I don't think people were saying they replace those relationships with dogs, just that it's a different type of relationship. I don't have kids, I have dogs.. which to me at the moment is pretty dang close, lol. Just meaning your life revolves around them. Not that if I were to have kids I would ignore them and put my animals first, but they would be equally as important to me. You are right, they are just pets. And shouldn't at all me a replacement for those relationships. But in all honesty if they are to someone, then that's their lifestyle, they may just prefer to not interact with the crazy messed up world we live in..

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

Wow, a chicken! That sounds like fun! I usually watched mostly dogs and cats, and sometimes bunnies or smaller critters but less often. I think the pets I had were probably more exotic than any I petsat for (I had rats, mice, snakes, lizards, ferrets, etc...)
Two of the things I did not expect my dog to do for me was to make me friends and help me get over my shyness. The shyness part was mostly due to my doing animal-assisted therapy with my first dog, which I started because she was basically born to do it. The therapy work we did was involved physical/speech therapy type stuff, where at the beginning they match each dog and owner with patient who we then work with for the hour. So I had to be able to interact with strangers, and had to introduce myself and my dog to the group at the beginning of each session and also demonstrate what we'd been working at the end (they did a sort of 'show and tell' thing.) Before that I was really shy, like I would not even want to go up to someone I didn't know (even a store employee or someone like that) to ask a question. Well, I'm still shy but a lot less than I was before.

That's super awesome! I wanted to get Titan into a hospital Therapy program, but the training/certifications were going to be a few months where I was at and I was moving soon. So I got him involved in SAR instead. I love every minute of it! I'm glad it helped with your shyness I am a very extroverted person, so being in SAR actually helps me in the opposite way, I have to be quiet and concentrate on what he is doing, and pay attention to his demeanor change, etc. Interesting what our babies do for us!

Originally Posted by spidermilk

I do things without my dog- vacations, weekend getaways, nights out. Normally he does get a huge chunk of my free time. My family and friends are very understanding. When my parents invite me for dinner they always ask me to bring my pup and after dinner we spend time walking my dog and their dog.

I love my dog, and my dog is part of my family, but I would never say that he is more important or that I love him more than my human family.

Originally Posted by marshies

I love my pup and, as young and shiny new as she is, I spend a significant chunk of my day with her. However, there are other things in my life beyond Amaretto. I really miss having a bit more personal time, and bit more flexibility with my schedule, and a bit more time to relax and unwind. Right now, between her and school work, I am DYING. But I know this will get better, and she will be worth it.

My long-term boyfriend LOVES her. When I was overwhelmed and cried about sending her back to Robin, my boyfriend was just like "she's such a playful puppy," etc. Our dates used to orient around eating, european boardgames and movies. But now alot of the time we spend hanging out together involves playing with pupper.

I've only had her for about 6 weeks, but it's hard to remember what life was like before her. I miss having the great personal freedom to spend my day doing whatever, but I know that will come back once she's a bit older.

I will admit that I miss some aspects of life without a dog. I miss being able to do things without a second thought, go to BWW after work with some of the guys for a beer instead of go home first to let my dogs out. I miss spur of the moment road trips on the weekends with no second thought on what I would do with Titan. I miss my original career plan that would have me on the move A LOT and not stationary in one place for a good few years. BUT in the end I wouldn't change a thing. They are a part of my life and mean the world to me. I just had to find new hobbies, and actually plan things Not to mention it grounded me a bit and got me to start focusing on things like finances and future plans, and the type of people I was hanging around.

and I know how you feel with school and work... I have to get up at 0345 every morning and don't get home from school and work til about 7pm. Then that leaves me about an hour or so after I get home during the week to feed myself, my dogs, play with them, do homework, and relax for a second.. then it's bedtime and repeat. lol. Weekends are a bit better but I have SAR all day saturdays and Church stuff Sundays.. I'm slowly dying.. day by day. haha.. but my schedule will be much more manageable mid Feb so I just gotta make it a few more weeks!!!

Originally Posted by Konotashi

If it wasn't for flyball, I would have no social life, whatsoever. lol

Ha! That would be so much fun though! If I could get paid to do activities with my dogs, I would rather do that and would probably be in the same boat!

Originally Posted by MustLoveGSDs

I am straight edge so owning multiple dogs already works out in my favor because I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs and I don't care to party or spend money on it. I am young and don't make a lot of money so I don't really have the opportunity to travel, which again, works out in my favor as a dog owner. I am more of an independent, loner type of person since most people disappoint me and I don't care to be around them, this gives me a lot of time to spend with my dogs when I am not working. I don't want kids. My dogs come first in my life. I met my boyfriend at a dog park. Men know up front and head of time that if they want to be in a serious relationship with me, they will not fight with me about dogs or give me ultimatums. I love doing social things with my dogs and I take them everywhere with me, they are a HUGE part of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am just a true blue dog owner/fancier.

I know a lot of people who have met their significant others at a dog park.. I always thought that's probably where I would meet mine, or at SAR even.. but no such luck yet, Ha! Not too worried though.. I am not entirely sure I have time for that anyways.. though I'm sure I would figure something out, LOL. Out of all the guys that I have dated.. most of them didn't last more than a couple weeks if that. They can't handle the level of resposibility that comes with having a dog. And now that I have 2 as a few weeks ago, it will be even more important to me that who ever I hang out with at the very minimum respects that and doesn't give me a hard time about it.

[Chicagocanine]

Originally Posted by wyoung2153

So true. Not saying that without my pups, I wouldn't be out and about at all becasue I have a physical standard I HAVE to maintain or I lose my job.. It's just nice to have a furry buddy along that keeps me company and makes me more at ease if I run/walk in the later hours.

That's true, having a dog along definitely helps both with the late walks and also with actually getting me out and exercising more... Although when I was a kid I used to go walk to the park(s) pretty much every day anyway with or without a dog, it was more fun with a dog-- actually when I was a kid I even took my hamsters to the park a few times... There used to be a police officer in my neighborhood who rescued dogs, and I'd also often go pick up one of her fosters to walk to the park with me. Then when I got my own dog, I walked her to the parks... In fact we walked so often that if I took her out and just let her choose the direction, she would lead me directly to a specific park about half a mile from my house. If I let her choose the direction from there, she would lead me to another park that's a few minutes away from that park.
I guess since dogs have always been a part of my life, I just never really thought what it would be like without them. Since I don't like parties or care for drinking or any of that stuff I doubt it would change very much, except I might not go out to do as many things, and I probably would have less friends since as I said I met most of my friends through my dogs. Most likely though I'd just have another hobby that takes up nearly as much time, like geocaching which I have done a little bit (with my dogs of course.)

Originally Posted by wyoung2153

That's super awesome! I wanted to get Titan into a hospital Therapy program, but the training/certifications were going to be a few months where I was at and I was moving soon. So I got him involved in SAR instead.

That's cool! I always wanted to get involved with SAR, and I'm hoping to find a group to start training with sometime in the next few years, and then hopefully do SAR with my next GSD.

Originally Posted by wyoung2153

Ha! That would be so much fun though! If I could get paid to do activities with my dogs, I would rather do that and would probably be in the same boat!

Actually I did get paid once or twice to do activities with my previous dogs... I signed up for this animal actors registry with my dogs(and a few cats), and we did some auditions and things like that, and got a few paid "jobs" that way. One was for a dog toy packaging, they photographed my dog holding the toy. I don't know if they ever actually ended up being used for packages though because they photographed several different dogs.

I also signed up for this gig once called K9 Billboards, with my Golden Retriever. It was an advertising company where they had (friendly, well-trained) dogs advertise the products or companies. It's like those sandwich boards people wear, except it's an ad on a dog harness thing, they give you a specific time and place and you walk your dog around and pass out flyers or sample. I never actually ended up signing up for any of the jobs though.
I just did a search to see if they're still around, seems not but I found an interesting article about them:
Arf! A message from your client.

Originally Posted by wyoung2153

I know a lot of people who have met their significant others at a dog park.. I always thought that's probably where I would meet mine, or at SAR even.. but no such luck yet, Ha!

I don't have a SO and haven't dated anyone I've met at any dog-related thing, mostly people I meet through friends or group activities...but I did meet a guy because he liked my dog-related nickname (chicagok9), so we started talking (it turned out he had worked with the police dogs in the area some, so he thought my handle was referring to that kind of K9), and we hit it off pretty well. He and Bianca get along very well too...
Most of the people I've dated were not "dog people" but they liked dogs ok. What I usually had trouble with dating is them accepting that school is a priority right now so sometimes (like around finals) I have very little free time.

[wyoung2153]

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

I guess since dogs have always been a part of my life, I just never really thought what it would be like without them. Since I don't like parties or care for drinking or any of that stuff I doubt it would change very much, except I might not go out to do as many things, and I probably would have less friends since as I said I met most of my friends through my dogs. Most likely though I'd just have another hobby that takes up nearly as much time, like geocaching which I have done a little bit (with my dogs of course.)

Yeah I grew up with dogs. Always. There was never a time where there wasn't one in my life. When I joined the military and got stationed in Germany.. I lived in the dorms and definitely no dogs allowed.. I lived that way for 1 1/2 years then finally ranked up and moved off base, I bought a puppy before I even had a house! HA. My first ever GSD. Without him, sure I had other things to do, traveled a lot but it just wasn't the same. So I knew that was going to be my first purchase! lol.

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

That's cool! I always wanted to get involved with SAR, and I'm hoping to find a group to start training with sometime in the next few years, and then hopefully do SAR with my next GSD.

It seriously is the best thing I've done with him. He has so much fun doing it and I love being out there with him. You get to know your dog on a whole different level. And this time it's on their terms not yours. It's really awesome to see. If you plan on getting involved with SAR eventually, you should see if you can start volunteering with a local group just to check it out.

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

I also signed up for this gig once called K9 Billboards, with my Golden Retriever. It was an advertising company where they had (friendly, well-trained) dogs advertise the products or companies. It's like those sandwich boards people wear, except it's an ad on a dog harness thing, they give you a specific time and place and you walk your dog around and pass out flyers or sample. I never actually ended up signing up for any of the jobs though.
I just did a search to see if they're still around, seems not but I found an interesting article about them:
Arf! A message from your client.

That's pretty awesome I didn't even know you could do that!

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

I don't have a SO and haven't dated anyone I've met at any dog-related thing, mostly people I meet through friends or group activities...but I did meet a guy because he liked my dog-related nickname (chicagok9), so we started talking (it turned out he had worked with the police dogs in the area some, so he thought my handle was referring to that kind of K9), and we hit it off pretty well. He and Bianca get along very well too...
Most of the people I've dated were not "dog people" but they liked dogs ok. What I usually had trouble with dating is them accepting that school is a priority right now so sometimes (like around finals) I have very little free time.

Yeah that can be a pain too.. just started to fit some classes into my schedule.. it's already draining me! Lol. My biggest problem I think, isn't my dogs, it's more that I don't like to go out very much. I work full time, have 2 dogs, SAR training on saturday and church on sunday. I get pretty exhausted M-F so my weekends are time for me to recuperate. I pretty much just decided that whoever I date next is going to have to accept the fact that I have A LOT on my plate and come up with creative ways to spend time together; on a normal work day, I get up at 0445 to get ready, walk the dogs, feed them, then leave my house at 0630 and get home at 1730 on a good day. I tend to go to bed around 2100/2130 because of my long days. On the weekends I don't even sleep in.. I have SAR Saturday mornings at 7 (45 minutes away) and I don't usually get back til about 1300 or 1330. Then I have homework and I try to do something with the dogs, hike, long walk, run, dog park, etc. Sunday is Church and getting things ready for the next crazy week along with some training exercises with the kids Saturday night is about the only night I can even attempt to go out. And even then I tend to be too tired from SAR and Work to stay out late with me getting up early for church. SO my jam packed schedule has always been the BIG thing that guys tend to object to. The dogs get thrown into there too because they feel any free time I have should be spent with them not my dogs.. Which I can understand to some extent but they never make an effort to meet in the middle because often times I'm dating an A-hole who wants to party and get smashed all the time.. my mistake, I know. LOL.

Sorry for the rant.. apparently I had to get that out, haha.