<p>What wonderful stories. A real feel-good thread. My little chihuahua Billy considers himself Alpha, although there are no other dogs around. He is Aplha over the 3 cats, all of whom outweigh him by at least 10 lbs. He actually walks over to our large male cat—a 17 pounder—and gently takes food right out of his mouth as he is eating it! I think the cats humor him—if they were really annoyed they could easily kick his tiny butt. Billy sleeps with us in a queen sized bed. He takes almost no room, but it took awhile to get used to not rolling over on him. He’s too small to jump down off the bed by himself. He tried once and got hurt. So once he’s up there, he’s up for the night. I love his little chihuahua sighs, lol!</p>
<p>Both of my Australian Shepherds (40 pounds and 55 pounds, respectively) sleep on the queen-sized bed with H and me. And I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it. </p>
<p>Except for the fact that they don’t understand the concept of a weekend (which, for me, means sleeping later than 5:30 AM), I love it.</p>
<p>I love to watch them dream and chase squirrels in their sleep. Little paws thrashing.</p>
<p>^ Speaking of Australian shepherds, a friend two houses down has one. This dog I guess thinks I’m a sheep, since every time I am in his vicinity, he proceeds to “herd” me by turning circles around me and pressing his body against me to the point that he either nearly knocks me down or succeeds in getting me to move into the direction HE dictates.</p>
<p>This is the best thread! tanya - I also have one of those little alpha chihuahuas (Gwynnie) who is charge of a house full of cats…lol. And she has a weird food ritual as well. When I put her food down, she goes into the family area near the kitchen and lies in wait until the cats start sniffing around her bowl. Then she ambushes them. It’s pure drama everytime…fur flying, hissing, scuffling… As soon as she has properly ‘disciplined’ them, she settles down to eat. But she rarely digs in until she has fought for her food. I’ve tried putting the cats in the laundry room during her meals, but she sits for hours doing food bowl surveillance, so I gave up.</p>
<p>And she has a funny habit of getting a running start and ramming herself into the cats knocking them to the ground. They have at least 10 lbs on her, so I guess it’s the only way. Funny stuff to watch.</p>
<p>My least fave time of year with dogs is daylight savings time…they get so confused with meals, and naps, and walks…and morning time!!</p>
<p>Dogs, man o man…my Ds know they could never marry or be with a guy who had issues with dogs…having 4, well…</p>
<p>We have one brave cat…who the dogs mostly ignore, as the hissing is just not worth the drama to the old canines</p>
<p>I love seeing people with <mismatched> dogs- a really big one and a wee wee one…wee one is so brave, while the big ones are timid…heheh</mismatched></p>
<p>I confess, our 95 pound muttie sleeps with us in our king-size bed. Sometimes he has trouble getting up on it as he’s getting a bit older so we’re planning to get steps soon. I love the paws flying, the muzzle going up and down and the little woofs…those doggie dreams are wonderful!!</p>
<p>I agree with everyone who has posted on this thread on how much they are enjoying this topic. I’m sure every dog “partner” (we don’t “own” our furry friends, they are given to us by a benevolent God to be our partners in this crazy world) has his or her own wonderful stories about the quirky and endearing things our dogs do to amaze us and cheer us.</p>
<p>Now, why do our dogs tug at our heart strings so? IMHO it can be summed up in two words: unconditional love. They are always there to offer theirs. I’ve always heard how a having dog is similar to being the parent of a small child. Feed them, play with them, and just show the slightest affection, and their day is complete. And like a child, the things they do as they show their love for us makes our hearts melt. I know that I can have the worst day, and my two canine friends will be at my side, with the saddest look in their eyes, nudging my arm with their noses as if their asking, “What’s wrong daddy? Is their anything I can do to make you feel better?” </p>
<p>Let’s face it. My (our) kids grew up, got lives of their own , and are starting to spread their wings to fly away from our nest to go into this world on their own. My dogs have remained, and will always be my “young children”. As Pima mentioned, my border collie was my buddy, my running partner, my night-time blanket, my canine vacuum (never had to worry about leaving crumbs on the floor!), sometimes my pillow, my “fetch and catch” partner, and always there for me when I was feeling down. I felt priviliged to be his owner, and the day I had to put him down was one of the toughest of my life (and something I still tear over). </p>
<p>We all love our dogs (and heaven help the person I ever see mis-treating one! They’ll have to answer to a very angry dog lover. I’m looking at you Michael Vick!), and I thank God ever day for partnering us with “man’s (and woman’s) best friend”.</p>
<p>Top that cat lovers!</p>
<p>I got my dog from the animal shelter. We had lost our family pet of 16 years and my h gave me a “get a dog from the shelter” gift for my b’day. He expected me to get a small dog who did not shed…I came home with this sweet pup who met none of those criteria. But I had fallen in love with her in a huge way. We ended up spending more than if she had been a pure bred pup from a breeder as she was very, very sick. We almost lost her.</p>
<p>There was SO much I did not understand about her breed! About the need for a “job”; her high energy levels; her intelligence. When I was faced with some major surgery (several years ago) that would leave me a bit unsteady and vulnerable to injury for a time, I even looked into giving her away (the frisbee dog trainer at Seaworld in Orlando was interested!). We (obviously) got through it, though.</p>
<p>I am so thankful for my doggie companion! She is a wonderful friend, comfort and company during what would otherwise be long and quiet days.</p>
<p>Churchmusicmom, we as a family have dediced that we will be BC rescue people- they indeed are different…I have to get up at 630 tomorrow to walk them for an hour BEFORE I go training for my half marathon…yeah, walking in the park in the dark…</p>
<p>ever read jon katz book A Dog Year…OMG…I laughed and cried</p>
<p>CGM, I have not yet read A Dog Year but I did read what apparently is the sequel to it: The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, about his experiences with his Border Collies and 16 sheep on a farm in upstate New York. </p>
<p>I am afraid I am not as dilligent a BC owner as you…which is why I considered trying to find a place better suited to her before I had my surgery. However, we have struck a happy medium, I think, though we have no sheep nor any other small beasties for Reese to heard.</p>
<p>I often think it would be good to get a companion dog for her (and us), but dh is not too keen on that idea…</p>
<p>Joh Katz’s books are wonderful – and enjoy the irony that his name is “Katz,” yet he writes about dogs –</p>
<p>Our Australian Shepherds are very similar to BCs, and we do have two. We got the first right before S1 went to college, and we got the second when S2 went to college. Can’t stand being empty nesters, I guess. Dog1 was getting kind of bored and sleepy, but when we brought home Dog2 she perked up, became playful, and really seems to enjoy the company. I highly recommend two doggies. </p>
<p>My plan (although I haven’t discussed this with H yet) is to continually replace the older one with a new one as the years progress.</p>
<p>having two dogs was actually easier for us…they kept each other company, and if we were late or whatever, we felt lest guilty knowing they weren’t alone</p>
<p>and somehow they were less neurotic!!! the $ was minimal…and they do amuse each other!!</p>
<p>let ME talk to your H!!!</p>
<p>We have only “bought” one dog (our cocker spaniel). Our other two were adopted. I will now only go to rescue societies…our next dog which I hope will be as soon as we settle in our new home (hint, hint honey) will come from the basset hound society…I have always wanted one my entire life, they just look so darn cute 
Even at 42 I should be able to catch it if it is runner. Seriously, how fast can 2 inch legs move 
Bullet calls bassets …logs, or ottomans!</p>
<p>BTW we have had 2 dogs for the last 8 yrs, they do keep each other company, our cocker was very depressed and would stay at my leg after out border died…he now is back to his old self and I think even younger because of the 2 yr old</p>
<p>^ It’s so true dogs can feel such grief when their companion dies. I had two setters, an Irish and an English. The Irish was adopted when she was 6 years old, and became very close to my English. Actually, she became the “boss”, the alpha of the two and my English didn’t mind one bit. When she became sick at 12 though, Zoe, the English sensed it and “cared” for her, curling up with her and licking her face. When it was time, it was as devastating for me as for Zoe who wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t go for walks without her, whined when she still smelled her on the couch… took months and months to heal.
I’ve since also lost Zoe, who lived till 18, and miss them both so much.</p>