Why you're thankful for your dog

[LoveEcho]

I thought, in the spirit of the holidays, we could share what we're thankful for about having our dogs in our lives. I know our dogs are probably among the highest things on many of our "thankful" lists, but why? The laughs, companionship, protection? Specific stories?

For me, saying that Echo is my best friend sounds almost trivial. My marriage has been a little rocky in the last few months as we struggle with alcoholism, but that goofy dog never ever fails to bring my hubby and I back together. He provides the unconditional love and support and sticks to me like glue when I feel the most alone, and keeps me grounded because no matter how much I may not want to get out of bed, he still needs me. My husband is a very loving man, but he's not exactly skilled at showing it-- so he shows it through spoiling (my) dog. If we're arguing, we put it aside to cool off by taking the dog to play frisbee together, to the point that whenever we start, the Echo brings his disc/kong/ball into the room and puts it on the floor between us.

I grew up with dogs but never really understood how much they could be the glue in a family in crisis until now, and I am so overwhelmingly thankful to have him.

[Zisso]

I am thankful for the companionship first and foremost. I have learned so much from my pair. They keep me on my toes, keep me motivated, make me think outside the box so to speak and give me the unconditional love many people never know in the way we do with our dogs.

[PaddyD]

I am thankful for how my dog turned out, flaws included. You never know what you're going to get when you get a pup. She's not perfect but she is perfect for us. Also thankful that she adds to our lives, gives us something to care for (with the kids out of the nest) and gives us reasons to get more exercise than we might otherwise have.

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

Vprice,that was a very beautiful and touching story. Thank you for the thread. Hang in there.

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

Daisy and Luck have been companionship when my husband was on the road 5 days a week.They hang w/ me ,Lucky goes every where he can w/ me . Its so nice to see them when I come home from work especially when I was alone in the house. Both look out for me in their own ways. Daisy is my serious one who is always looking out for us and the Luck is the ball fiend who is a momma's boy.I am truly thankful for both of them.

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

I'm thankful for the love I see in her eyes. She never tells me I can't do something, or I'm never gonna make it. She just looks at me like the world spins by my command. I don't have that kind of unconditional support and trust from anyone else. I'm thankful for everything she's given me as I went through one of the most terrible years of my life. I'm most thankful for everything she's taught me about life: about priorities and love. She's not the dog I wanted, but she's the dog I needed, and I'm so grateful to have her by my side.

[CookieTN]

Treader's my little buddy. (In my avatar, he's the little fluffy guy on the right.) He's almost always cheerful, even when other people aren't, and he loves spending time with me. He doesn't get angry with me and never holds grudges.
I guess maybe I'm a bit emotionally detached, have a bit of a hard time telling friends and family that I care about them and other things too. I've bawled my eyes out over the death of a pet, mine or ones I've read about, but hardly shed a tear over the death of a human. (Though don't get me wrong, that makes me sad, too.) And maybe that's why I like dogs so much. It's easier for me to communicate emotionally with them.

[CookieTN]

Originally Posted by CookieTN

I guess maybe I'm a bit emotionally detached, have a bit of a hard time telling friends and family that I care about them and other things too. I've bawled my eyes out over the death of a pet, mine or ones I've read about, but hardly shed a tear over the death of a human. (Though don't get me wrong, that makes me sad, too.) And maybe that's why I like dogs so much. It's easier for me to communicate emotionally with them.

ETA: Moreso in the past than in the present, but I may still have a tendency to sympathize more with dogs than people.
I guess in the past my pets have maybe been like an escape from reality for me when things were bad? At any rate, they're much more cheerful to be around than some people.
Sorry for the double post, pheh.

Also wanted to mention Cookie. Back when I was growing up with her, I didn't have many friends to hang around with for a long time. The ones I did have I only got to see about once a month or so.
I can remember longing for a dog, then when my mom remarried stepdad just happened to have a dog. I think of Cookie as a gift from God. All my pets, really.

[LoveEcho]

Originally Posted by NewbieShepherdGirl

She's not the dog I wanted, but she's the dog I needed, and I'm so grateful to have her by my side.

I hear you- Echo and I found each other accidentally, and I've become convinced that we're soul mates. I think most people, while they love all of their pets tremendously, have one who touches them in a really special way. I'm sure I'll have many dogs after him, and I've had dogs before him, but he'll always have a special part of my heart. Maybe we're supposed to have canine soulmates instead of human ones?

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

Originally Posted by Vprice1030

Maybe we're supposed to have canine soulmates instead of human ones?

I don't believe in soulmates per say, but the idea of having a canine one does sound a lot easier lol!