What do YOU have your dog for?

[decoprincess]

We started with just one dog because I like dogs, then suddenly I ran into two rescues, so now I have three. Had to buy a Calif king bed so they all had a place to sleep.
No one comes near the house without a full alert, and I like it this way.
Lots of affection, protection and poop to pick-up.

[Mike'sbabyboy]

My babies have only been with me for one day now. I got them strictly for companionship. I also have my cat Jasmine. She is spoiled to the core and so will be my new additions. They are brothers from a litter os six and look like twins. I named them Orlando (left in signature) and Orion.

[Onedaycloser13]

I got my dog for a couple of reasons, as a family pet and to help my child who has Asperger's as a companion for him. She has been the best addition to our family, and has helped my son out tremendously.

[Daywalker]

We have two adorable, lovable Basset Hounds. I got my Chloe before I met my husband. My ex suggested I get a dog to inspire me to walk more, to help my disability, so we found and rescued Chloe. She is more or less my companion animal, when I hurt, she lays up next to me and the heat from her makes me feel better. A couple months ago, we got her a mate, his name is Gus. Gus is more "barky", but both dogs are very vocal if anyone comes near the door. I have yet to have either of them show anyone an ugly side, but I don't know that it would be a wise idea to come into the house while I am sleeping, or while we are out, I have no idea how they would react then. Gus is also a companion animal, he seems to have adapted to the rythms of life in this house, and to having a disabled "mama", so he sleeps on the bed with me too, and when I am sick, neither dog will leave me unless they need to go out.
So I guess they are pets for us both, and companion animals to me,although neither is a professional service dog.

[LilDude]

I own an American Staffordshire Terrier (belongs to the Pit Bull family). She is a family member. She got her Canine Good Citizenship last year and we are working to make her a Therapy Dog, so we can visit shelters for battered women and their children, who all too often have to leave their beloved pets behind.

I would love to own a Fila as a guard dog since "pit bulls" are usually not meant to guard or protection dogs.

[KevsWife7]

I've always been an animal lover, and when I turned 18 and moved out, I got my own dog within 6 months months. Her breeder got me hooked on showing(conformation). She is an American Pit Bull Terrier, and while she would NEVER bite a person, she is very intimidating, so there is the aspect of protection there.

After her I added Lilly, who was my next show project. I bred her, after finishing her Championship and health testing. I kept 2 of her pups, Dottie and Fate.

Cheyenne is my rescue, and really the protection dog. She's 76lbs, and has some behavior problems. So I have no doubt if someone came in the house, she wouldn't get very far.

And Chevy is the only boy, he was supposed to be hubby's dog, but he was arrested when Chev was only 4 months old. I'm doing a LOT of agility with him, and will show in very soon. He is also very protective of me.

So I do a lot with my dogs, and so does hubby. It's one of the main things we have in common-we love working them, spoiling them, traveling with them.

I work at an animal hospital, so they're a little bit of part of my job, since they're always there. Even though they literally run my life, I couldn't IMAGINE how boring my life would be without them. Lol!

[Stephen's girl]

Many reason, companion, protection, but most of all entertainment!! LOL!! My dog is such a goofball it's ENDLESS entertainment!! Who needs TV lol!

[crazy2010]

MY dog is the best of everything youd want in a pet. Taz was a rescue I got that was going to be put to sleep. shep & rotti mix. Sweet lovable mutt & she is just full of unconditional LOVE.(as long as she gets her way) LOL

[HisSister87]

my dogs are my kids my pets my four legged little monsters (one is 100+ lbs the other 8.5 lbs) one is a pet and my loyal gaurdian my protector my 15 year old rottie lab pit mix. my other is my 5 year old (next week) lil monster papillon he is my helper my gaurdian my reason i can live a normal life. he is my pet i call him my son his gear costs more than mine. he is my loyal hard working service dog. they are both my monsters my little and big demons the reason behind the dog hair that is every where. when my rottie sees me she gets that huge dumb lab smile and my little one is always wagging his tail. mention work or his back pack and he is ready ears perk up and he is heading to the door. do not try and sneek out the door without him. i tried going to a girls spa day without him he managed to escape the house and jump into the car twice.

[BlueEyedEllie]

I have a golden retriever who i got as a family pet.He has 1/4 collie in him(father was purebred golden,mother 3/4 golden and 1/4 collie) and is very protective.He tends to be very snappy when walking on a leash so we have to be very careful.He does not like men,except my dad and marc,so if a repairman comes i have to lock him up or he would bite,no question.I never thought goldens would act this way,but someone mentioned to me it's the collie in him,so i don't know??!!

[LittleWing13]

I've only had one dog...BabyGirl. She was a beautiful red nose Pit. I aquired her because my ex husband was fighting her with his other dogs, and I couldn't let that happen cause she really was such a good girl. She was a watch dog, and a friend. When she was good she was SUCH a good dog, but I couldn't keep her because when she was bad she was really dangerous. If she would've gotten ahold of another dog it would be over...quick. She got out one time and went to the neigbors fields and killed one of his cows, so I knew if it happened again or if he saw her in his field he would shoot her. If I left her inside while I was gone she would destroy everything, and I just couldn't bring myself to lock her in a kennel all day long. She was great with kids, but not so great with other dogs or strangers.

[JPrasil]

My dog was adopted because I needed a puppy to fill the hole after I had my abortion. She was perfect, a puppy, beautiful, and young. She did take the place but the hole never closed as it could. 4 years later she's my baby literally and I love her very much. Now I have two, I adopted my foster because she was happy to have company and no one and no animal should be alone.

[Mrs.sanchez2010]

Originally Posted by boudica

Seeing that people have dogs as their baby's and all (pitbull would you own one?)

My question is this:
* do you have your dog for protection?
* do you have your dog to be your pet (so no protection just a family dog)
* do you have your dog for your job?
* do you have your dog for other reasons? (because the dog is from your honey family etc...)


Where does your dog stand in your family?

Mine dogs are
1. for the protection
2. one is of my daughter as her own pet
3. Can't live without a dog
4. work with dogs also
5. and one dog is of a special friend where i take care for.

Thanks for your answers and opinions, just curious where dogs stand with other family's and all

well my dogs are ONLY FAMILY DOGS!! they will protect us if ever neccessary by their free will, since they are familymembers ( and sleep in my bed )...plus the "big" one is my hubbys dog, i took him with me , when my husband got arrested... AND ACTUALLY IM crazy for dogs, i can`t be without them... i kind of dedicated my life to them.. to make it very simple, if i would have to choose between my dogs and a human- i would ALWAYS choose the dog!(fullstop!!)

[MrsCetina]

Originally Posted by boudica

Seeing that people have dogs as their baby's and all (pitbull would you own one?)

My question is this:
* do you have your dog for protection?
* do you have your dog to be your pet (so no protection just a family dog)
* do you have your dog for your job?
* do you have your dog for other reasons? (because the dog is from your honey family etc...)


Where does your dog stand in your family?

Mine dogs are
1. for the protection
2. one is of my daughter as her own pet
3. Can't live without a dog
4. work with dogs also
5. and one dog is of a special friend where i take care for.

Thanks for your answers and opinions, just curious where dogs stand with other family's and all

Our pitbull is a family dog and our best friend. He is so goofy and lovable im not sure he even knows how to protect us from other people.. He would probably try to play with them. Pitbulls arent meant to be guard dogs or show aggression towards humans.

[countryzgirl]

Sol is family, not a family dog. He's a damn good guardsman, too.

[Abraann]

Companionship! It doesn't hurt the fact that they always have my back either. I never worry about the fact that I'm a single woman living alone. But then again 2 mastiffs would scare the bejesus out of anyone lol.

[The Hug Thief]

My dog is a trained service dog, but I didn't register her. She's mostly for companionship, but she'll sometimes try to help even when I don't need her to.

[Mzkelley09]

mi ex bought her for me before he got locked up because he promised he would buy me one and he did well i was gonna get rid of her and mi mom has mentally disabilites and got attached to her so I had to keep her and we love her like a family member