dogs.

In my late teens, my family had an unruly GS bitch. One day, early(ish) in the morning, after Dad had gone to work and my sisters to school, she scaled a six foot gate and galloped off down the middle of one of Scotland's busier roads, Mum and I sprinting after her in our nighties. After that, she was spayed which took some of the wind out of her sails.

When we acquired our German Shepherd, Rex, he was already 19months old, used to children but didn`t get on with other animals. He would let anyone into the house, but just let them try and leave! I was out walking him late one night, and at the bottom of our street there was a mill lodge, the large pond that every cotton mill seems to have, surrounded by a large area of grassy ground, and I used to let him off the lead whenever we arrived on there. One particular night, I`d just let him off, and a car came slowly past on the road, it was a police car, and he took off after it like a bullet! I shouted him, but to no avail, the car stopped, 2 coppers got out, and Rex ran off, back to me, by now I was lying in a cowardly fashion in the long grass, and I held Rex down with me. After about 10 minutes of looking, the 2 policemen got back in their car and drove off. When I got back home, hubby was on the step, because I was later back than usual. He said that a police car had stopped, and they asked him if he was looking for an Alsatian, he said yes, that his wife was out with it, and they told him that the dog had chased their car. I was dreading them coming back and me getting into trouble, but they never did, this was round about 1968.

Tricia, I had a rescue border collie before downsizing to Cavaliers. He took a year to civilise (I'll never have another rescue dog) and was crazy to chase motorbikes but was amazingly clever. He'd been badly injured, probably chasing things, and was very lame but one night I heard him struggling up the stairs and he lay down beside my bed. He slept there for the rest of his life.
I so wished I'd had him from a pup, to care for him and train him as he deserved.

I hope she didn't meant dogging stories.

Merlot, same old same old , come on then vanish !
Cannot quite get my head round it !
Hmm

Where is Silverlady67? She can't be that keen to swap doggie stories.

I liked merlotgrans idea of the perfect pair of dogs being a jack russell and a retriever. My family had Lancashire Heelers, great little dogs, similar to the smaller jacks, and with the same confidence/arrogance and amusement value. I was told yesterday that heelers are on the list of endangered british dogs, along with skye terriers, otter hounds and so on. It made me feel a bit guilty for choosing poodle crosses, but we can't add a third to our pack …. yet (don't tell Mr Iam)

I never had interest or patience with dogs when I was working. But when we retired and came to France we acquired 2 border collies and now I'm addicted.
The male, sadly , was very difficult - chased vehicles and eventually got hit by one and died. We tried everything to train him out of the habit, but it was the herding instinct.
The female is a little sweetheart, almost human. She's 11 now, and still full of spirit. I hope she lives as long as me but they rarely do.
My Mum had a Jack Russel, and he kept her going until he was 17, she was 83.

I was never allowed a dog as a child so as soon as I married we got a dog and have had two since then. The second dog we had was a cross breed that was the most gentle and well behaved creature. The dog had always ignored my mum knowing she wasn't an animal lover. The night my dad died the dog sat with his chin on my mum's lap and seemed to know she was sad.
My DD has a long haired GS that will lay on the floor and let the children lay next to him and cuddle him, under supervision of course. He is a real softly and runs away from toy cars !

We have a lovely daft dog we found at Dogs Trust. The only problem is that we still like having holidays so she has had to go to kennels until recently. However, at the local vets my husband spotted a brochure for a company called Holidays4Dogs. Its an agency for a whole network of dog lovers who take in a paying guest (dog) so that you know they are being looked after in a loving home. They match you to a home that suits your dog We have already used it once and Poppy had a wonderful time making friends with the lady's other dogs.
I mention this because some of the people who provide the holidays do not have a dog themselves, they just get their fix of dog by looking after other peoples'.

We are very much a doggie family and have always had a dog or (dogs) in the house,from the big daft boxer who taught the boys to walk to the mongrel found in a bin near our home who came to stay for a while,we have had all shapes and sizes and fostered dogs for many years whilst they where waiting for new homes,needless to say some never got rehomed and just stayed with us
We have the lovely Poppy now (pics on profile) and she has been here 6 weeks she has settled in very well and has taken over as mistress of the house,she give's affection for free and is always happy to see you The more people I meet the more I love my dog rings true to me sometimes.

I have rarely been dogless and currently have a 11month GSD and a 10 year old staffie love them both to bits, they crack me up, especially when they swap beds, so Jess the GSD is squashed into a tiny ball with her tail over her nose, and Ella the staffie is stretched out like a princess

I really enjoy obedience training with them both, and they love it too, they do synchronis
ed commands, which is very cute.

When we were younger and fitter we always had gun dogs. We lived on a farm so I also wanted a dog for the stable yard. Jack Russells and retrievers are a perfect combination. We don't have a large dog any more but I would never want to be without a JR. They are full of character, loyal, hardy in terms of good health, long living and good fun. If they are bred from good parents and introduced to children as puppies they make wonderful family pets.

The only big dog we have owned that wasn't a retriever was a Rhodesian Ridgeback. She was the best dog I have ever had and I still miss her.

I'd never be without a dog in my life. We always had two as we both worked full time and they were company for each other. Luckily we had lovely neighbours who were happy to come in during the day and spoil sit with the dogs for an hour or so.

Usually had bigger dogs but the last few years have graduated to Lhasa Apsos and I love the breed. They don't shed, are great sentinels, wonderful with children and such funny little characters. They're getting on a bit now (11 and 12) but still very fit and daft as brushes.

I love dogs, have almost always shared my life with them. JessM, I got a hyper cross breed when I was 59, and a slightly smaller, but equally dotty cross breed at 63. They are poodle crosses, so very bright, a bit stubborn, easily distracted and full of energy. The one with standard poodle in her background was born to chase prey, and has taught me so much about how to help her get on top of these dna driven tendencies. The one with miniature poodle in his background, swaggers about, brimming with confidence, until something totally unthreatening terrifies him, and he runs for the hills. I suspect that my choice of dogs at my "time of life" confirms I'm a lost cause on the dog front. The up side is, I'm learning every day about being a better handler, and I'm fitter than I was before they arrived. all those long walks and training sessions.
What are your dogs silver?

I love dogs, all of them, but although we don`t have one anymore, sticking to cats from now on, I`d prefer to have a big dog if I had one. My family think I`m crackers, but I`ve always fancied having a Rottweiller. In the past we`ve had a German Shepherd, soft and daft as a brush, a German Shepherd/ mongrel cross, and a lurcher, she was gorgeous, we had her for 15 years. Silverlady, you haven`t come back, what dogs do you have?

I have loved dogs from being a tot and they have grown up with me and then my children. I have a basset hound now. She is fabulous with my grandchildren and joins in their games. My daughter went into parents' evening a couple of weeks ago and had to laugh to see drawings of my dog pinned up on the wall with little stories. Seems my grandson claims she is his dog!

We are thinking of having a dog-share with our DD & Sil.
We go away for 12 weeks of the year , so we thought that if he stays with us on weekdays when they are at work.
Then they have him at weekends , so when we are away for our sojourns they can look after him and he won"t have to go in kennels and he will be used to them !, and more to the point will be happy !


Cannot wait actually , I just love dogs and would love one of my own.
[Mr N can have a Little share ]
we used to look after my son and DIL"S , but sadly he passed

I like dogs. But can anyone explain why people in their 60s and 70s buy puppies from hyper breeds (you know the ones) ??
My son has a mastiff. A very big boy. Somewhere I have a photo of him the day he spotted a decrepit hedgehog through the window and ended up completely distmantleing a cat flap. he looked pretty silly wearing it around his neck.

Hi silverlady67. I am a dog-lover too. Had two dogs until our older one died just over two years ago. Still haven't got over losing him, but we have a miniature poodle rescue dog who is a lovely boy. He is suffering at the moment with ear mites and it is really difficult trying to clean them out and get the medication in. It is obviously really painful for him but it has to be done. What dogs do you have?

I have Cavaliers and love them greatly. They give me so much and never mind if I'm too busy to play, too ill for walks or just cross. I'm cross with my boy every day, he's stubborn, disobedient, noisy, over-excitable but he doesn't care, his tail never stops wagging. My little girl is very good and adores me.
What dog(s) have you got, silverlady?