Do you have the best dog ever?

Question

I was talking to a bunch of people at the dog park today and it seems like everyone thinks they have the best dog in the world. They all agree that most people get one... maybe two super special dogs in their life that they really connect to and understand. Have you ever had that special pal? What makes them special? Is it a certain breed or sex? Is it a rescue or a thousand dollar designer dog? Was it love at first sight or a dog that grew on you as you got to know it? Was your dog easy to train or stubborn? Does your dog do a specific job for you (e.g. herding, service dog, therapy) or is it the unconditional love?

Serious answers from dog lovers only please. More details the better. I am studying anthropology and I am really interested in canine/human dynamic. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

I think my dogs are great. Who doesn't? I have four. One, a German Shepherd, is very special to me. I spent months researching breeders. I finally found a breeder that the whole family was satified with. We then spent the next year and a half on the waiting list. By the time I got my puppy I felt like I had been bonded with him for about two years. I was 17 and a junior in high school when he finally came home. I did everything right with this dog. I socialized him like it was my full time job. He and I started classes together almost immediately. He was, for the most part, a dream to train. I went to a very small, private, college prep high school. I was actually able to convince them to let me bring him to school with me during part of my senior year. He was so good, he would just lay next to my chair. As he started maturing into an adult we dabbled in many dog activities. Agility, herding, search and rescue, therapy dogs and of course obedience. He and I have such a bond as a team that I understand him better than I do a lot of people in my life. He is now, at 11, considered old for a GSD. I've become ultra paranoid about him. He is in fantastic health. Other than he is quite grey in the muzzle you'd never think he was older than 8 years. I'm always wondering how he is doing medically. He has blood work done twice a year and I have an ultrasound done then too. I jokingly tell people that I should probably go on antidepressants now, so that I will be better prepared if something were to happen to him. But it's really not a joke. Even though I have other pets that are a huge part of my heart, when he goes he will be taking the majority of my heart with him. I will always have a strong bond with dogs, but I'm a bit worried that I will never bond like this again. In a nutshell this dog has been the definition of man's best friend.

Answer 2

Yes I have the best dog ever. Her name is Tess she is a wolfhound x mastiff female. I paid $50 for her because she was the last one left and she had a small hernia on her belly. She was huge for a puppy when we got her and she had long clumsy legs. She was pretty easy to train. Her job is to protect our yard as we have trucks. She is the most loving, loyal, placid dog we have ever had. She is funny when she has a crazy fit ( as we call it.) She needs a lap cuddle at least once a day (she is big). She is great with our children. She doesn't bark unnecessarily but always when something is not right. She looks scary and sounds scary. I believe she would protect every member of our family if need be (hasn't had to yet) I take her mountain walking and she is the best company and I feel safe with her around. So yeah I reckon she is the best.

Answer 3

Every single dog I have had was the best one ever. That is because, just like people they are individuals with their own characteristics and personalities. Dogs definitely think, they learn by watching others, by encouragement, and by being treated well and loved. They also learn fear from abuse. I have now had the pleasure of adopting rescued animals that have come from neglect, abuse, and breeding mills, and even though they are not the healthiest nor most long-lived dogs in the world, they each react well with love and care, and they are each and every one well worth knowing. It is not the "breed" of dogs (and I believe that designer dogs are mutts) that makes the difference, although some are naturally more agressive, or more athletic, or more sensitive, or even smarter than others, that makes the difference. It is whether you love and bond with your particular dog.

Answer 4

I have a newfoundland/golden retreiver mix male...7 yrs old. It was love at first sight...I got him when he was 5 weeks old (his mam had 15 pups 1st litter and abandoned them). He was my 24 hr companion for 5 yrs until I changed jobs and went to work at a place I couldn't bring him. He was the easiest dog I ever trained-one scolding is all it took. He understands everything you tell him and knows over 200 commands. He even knows left,right,forward and behind you commands. At the age of 6 months he jumped into a pool and rescued a little girl. I immediately began training him as a water rescue dog for our local vol fire dept. He loves it. He also visits nursing homes and gives demonstrations of all his tricks. I have another dog, 5 cats and a guinea pig-he is their big brother and they all snuggle up together in a huge pile...the guinea pig claims the area between his front legs up against his chest. He lets me know when my nieces and nephews are doing something he feels is dangerous-better than a babysitter(doesn't talk on the phone all night! LOL). He goes to their sports games dressed as a mascot and he has also been to the schools for show and tell demonstrations about pet care and training. He is my best friend.

Answer 5

I've had more than 2 super special dogs. One helped me with laundry by putting clothes in the washer.Another made sure my kids did'nt leave the yard by grabbing their clothes and pulling them away from the boundary line.And yet another nursed kittens who'd lost their mother and raised them as her own.I have 1 now who keeps our other dog in line.I've never had to punish our younger dog.All I have to say is his name and our older dog doles out punishment. The younger dog has a special purpose too he's here to keep the older one from being lonely. They are both here to protect me and our home and both do an excellant job.The older one also refuses to allow me to walk to our mailbox alone and has taught the younger one to accompany us to get the mail.
I feel that every dog is special in their own way.I've had dogs from the shelter,homeless dogs I've found roaming on the street and dogs I've bought from a breeder as well as the occasional dog dumped purposely on my doorstep.I
i've had dogs that were easily trained and some who who took a little longer.I can't call them stubborn because I realize that like children dogs seem to learn at a different pace than others.Does'nt matter what size,shape or color- I've had them all.None has shown a lack of intelligence.
I've had dogs who others said were viscious and uncontrollable who others insisted should be put down yet I helped turn them into the most calm gentle house dogs who would actually allow my children to teeth on their ears without complaint and play in their food dishes while they ate.No one ever got bit.
Then I've had dogs who would do nothing but bark at the mailman or when someone knocked on the door.Alerting us to an intruder coming toward the house or someone at the door is a job in their little minds and they'll do it to the best of their ability to please and protect us.It makes me mad when people yell at their dogs for doing it.
I've only met one dog in my entire life I did not like and it was solely due to the owners incompetance and negligence.No one in their right mind would allow a dog to jump on the table and raise it's leg on a visitors purse or allow it to do so on someones leg and not bat an eye.This dog was just evil and it did'nt have to be.

Answer 6

best dog ever?.. no.. not by a long shot.. all three dogs have some serious.. and not so serious quirks that need to be worked out.. but.. I love all of them.. I've never had an animal I didn't love.

My one.. the one that I may like slightly more than the other 2 is baby.. he was the schnauzer from a breeder.. I am his person.. my mother bought him for herself.. and he choose to be mine.. for years he was my alarm clock.. (now he's too tired most of the time to wake me up) But.. he's nowhere near the title Best Dog Ever.. despite the fact that he's smart.. he is fairly anti social.. (I moved out of the house, and my mother stopped getting them out)

Answer 7

People always think thier dog is the best dog ever, no matter what breed, because they just love thier dogs so much - kind of like a parent thinks thier child is the best kid ever! I have two very sweet lab-husky mixes that are the best!

Answer 8

A dog is as good as the work you put into it. Simple as. every single dog I have had is the best one ever. You want a good dog. treat it well, make it feel secure, be fair and give it lots of attention and you'll have the best dog ever too.

Answer 9

No, this never take place to Redcorn.. and me grateful it never did.. Me have constantly had huge canines, and for some reason they do no longer seem to run off as much as little canines... no particular why.. i desire your canines Skippy got here decrease back!

Answer 10

I have a dog and a cat, if I could talk about my cat I could answer you