Heart Dogs -- please share your stories and photos! - Page 1

A thread about dogs we love, or have loved, dearly ^_^
I'd love to hear other peoples' stories about their heart dogs.

Here's mine:

Raven (vom Nordosten haus) -- He was the oddball out of a litter of fiesty little working dogs I produced. He was the goofy, fuzzy one. The only long coat in the heap. While it made no sense from a logical standpoint to hold him back, I don't breed for longcoats and have no interest in starting a LC program, there was something about his funny little face that led me to keep him regardless.

He was the sweetest, gentlest little puppy. At the time I didn't realize how smart he would later be. He seemed simple then, but there was just something about him that brough joy into my life. I couldn't look at him, and not smile. Several years later, that hasn't changed.

When he came to IL he had his first encounter with my Terrier, and Lake Michigan. Uncertain of the water, he tried valiently to save the Mickey Finn from it. Mickey... knew how to swim and wanted to fetch his tennis ball.

Raven's the sort of dog, he does anything I ask of him. He helps me herd the ducks to the pond in the morning. Without him, the ducks split into two groups, run back on either side, and reuinte behind me. The ducks don't respect me. *eyeroll* He keeps me company. He babysits the puppies. He helps me dig out the puppies' dog-doors when we had that blizzard last season. He's very serious on the Sch field. He hits hard, but he doesn't lose his mind. He has traveled on many a road trip from IL to CT and back. He's shown himself to be remarkably intelligent, and a master at problem solving. He's a thinking dog. A strong dog. A loyal dog... And most importantly, when I'm having a bad day, something about simply being around him cheers me up like nothing else.

Raven. He makes me smile.

Very cute picture you have there of Raven! I love the one of him wrapped up in the little dog bed :)

I know what you mean by having a dog that will do ANYTHING you ask. My dog Cam will do anything to make me happy :) If I ask him to do something he thinks is crazy he will look at me as if to say "youre nuts, but whatever" and then he will around and carry out his dog duties! A true friend I must say!

 
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My story began with Dallas, my German Shepherd I got when I was 10 (I think). She was ultimately a Christmas present, from my dad, the year after he and my mom split. To say the least it was not an easy split.... things happened that I wouldn't wish on anyone. Anyway, my dad worked a lot and I was alone at home after school a lot. From the beginning, Dallas was my pal. $25 bucks from a farm, everything about her was textbook shepherd, aside from her ears, which sometimes were up, but most of the time hung out at that half-way mark. It didn't matter though... for the next year and nine months, she was my best friend. I brought her home at 6 weeks on New Years Day, my little black furball. From day 1, she was incredibly smart. By the end of that night, she'd whimper at the door to go outside. She slept in my room with me, originally in an old dresser drawer, until she just didn't fit anymore. She had always liked to climb under my bed, but got to the point where she'd get in, but couldn't get out, so I'd have to help. I remember her sheeping on her back next to me as a puppy, while I watched TV, and as she grew up, laying next to my chair with her toy.
When I would get off of the bus, she'd be standing with her paws on the fence waiting for me. During the summer, we'd go for walks around our neighborhood and neighboring neighborhoods, as well as through the creek and cornfields nearby. We'd race up and down the gravel roads, or just hang out on the porchswing.
She hated water... bathing her turned into a game. I'd grab the hose and she'd bolt, racing around the entire house... I'd spray her with water as she passed me, and when she'd disappear, I'd just wait for her on the other side. I lost count of how many hoses we ruined. :) She had her naughty streaks, but she was such a good dog, and she died much too young. I don't want to go into detail about that because it still hurts all these years later.



Dallas
November 18th, 2002 - August 16th, 2004

When I snapped that picture, she had her paw on my knee... it always makes me smile. :)

******

The day I lost my puppy, I got my cat. She had been rescued by my moms friends (call her my aunt but shes not) dog, a rottie named Sunny. Sunny had never had puppies, but found this little kitten in her yard, half-dead on a 90 degree day, brought her inside and tried to nurse her. The owner took her to the vet as soon as she found her. She had a nasty URI, and was skin and bones. They tried to talk me out of getting her, but I wouldn't hear it. I was depressed when I lost Dallas, and the little fuzzball kept me going. Little did I know, she would grow to be a one-and-a-million cat - the best of both worlds between dog and cat.
 
Cheyanne is so loyal... follows me everywhere, plus shes just absolutely adorable. She is scary smart, when I had my CD player set up she would turn it on and flip it to songs she likes (always the same ones). She has changed my browser to swedish (still not sure how I got it back, just started clicking random things). I had her trained to play blackjack. She will come to when called, sit, reach, jump and hi-5 are only a few of her commands. She'll play fetch with the best of 'em, walks better on leash then dads dog, she LOVES to go for rides in the car - she'll either sit on my lap and hold her head out the window or hang out in the back window. She is completely fearless - walks right up to the doggie daycare window in Petsmart, and when all the dogs rush over barking she'll just sit there like "what's up?" She's the first to greet visitors, and proceeds to dra

Dawulf, I love your cat story! My "heart cat" lived to be 18 years old...we had some great times together. It still tears me up that I couldn't be there when she had to be euthanized. Had to call the vet from three states away. Also, I would have wanted it done at home...my parents had their own ideas

Jack, my heart dog -



I've loved all of my dogs, but me and Jack have a really tight bond. He's got my back, I've got his ;-) and he's saved my butt a couple of times. He's a bit of a goofball, and vain. He'll pose for pictures anytime I get out my camera. It's the only time I can get him to stand still...

Squirrel invading the yard:

From Left to right Rex is my PATIENCE, He is a dog with alot of issues and requires special attention but look he can do agility!  Middle my border collie True is my HEART Dog.  She has captured my heart from the day I brought her home.  She is very intelligent and makes me smile everyday.  She is my up and coming partner in agility and she amazes me everytime we train, she just gets better and better.  Right Ceira my DREAM dog.  She is full of drive and energy loved to train, could work all day and always wanted more She was going to be my OTCH dog, but sadly her body had other ideas and she had to be retired at the ge of 4 1/2 due to many health issues that prevented her from continuuing, she broke my heart.  I to this day have no interest in going back into obedience with out her.  Nala not pictured was my SOUL dog.  Sadly she passed last May at the age of 131/2 she was my teacher.  I learned so much from her, she always respected me and would listen however she still always thought she knew better and was probably right:) Miss you gilr.



Ceria and True                                                         True


I even made a necklace out of charms for my heart dog True:)

Commander...  Here he is at nine, a little over his fighting weight of 117 pounds.  When I got him at 12 weeks, he was so kind and loving until he saw my then fiance, he would give a low growl and get in between me and him every single time he walked in the room, a dog that later would prove to be fearless and courageous, that would never be backed down by anything or anyone, but that was so quiet and stable that people refused to believe he would bite..until (those were they the bad guys...like a carjacker).  The fiance had never been alone with him and Commander met us both the same day, so there was never a chance for him to have mistreated Commander.  That low growl told me the war hero with medals for bravery, that teacher, that coach, was evil.  Yes I broke the engagement and then found out he had molested a child and perhaps even killed someone (other than those he killed on active duty, I mean).  That dog knew..he just knew evil and he was never wrong.  Commander watched over me during my pregnancy, loved the baby like no other, allowed children to climb on him and never even stepped on their toe, he layed with me patiently when I went through chemo and could not excercise him, he warned me when the cougar or bear was on our path, he climbed ladders and jumped over fences and into car windows.  Commander would have given his life for mine, without a thought and when I had to feed him by hand when DM took his legs away he knew that I loved him the same way when I hand fed him and brought him the water he could not get himself...but he was still happy just to have me there.  Cancer was what killed him at 13, though...he told me it was time.  The hardest thing I had to do in my life.  That dog was and is everything I ever hope to be, a good friend, kind, generous, a great protector, he gave unconditional love...more than I ever could and more than my own children do, and I love my children.  One day our ashes will be together...my dearest Commander. 

Wow Commander Sounds wonderful.  What a Dog.  Molly and Jack  Jack is oo handsome:)

Commander sounds awesome!!!

And JC, I meant to say that I love that picture of Raven in the snow - what a cutie!

I love reading everyone's tales and seeing their beloved dogs, and cat :D

Love the story of Commander.  Reminds me so much of my 3 yr old Tucker, a German Showline.  I had the same situation with an ex of mine.  Tucker was friendly to the man, just always watchful, and he was only a puppy at the time.  He loves all people (good of course) and especially has patience for children and whatever they may do to him.  A day came when Tucker was 7 months old and the man came over with a few beers in him.. and started threatening me.  I had never seen this from him as he always had been very nice to me, but he started yelling and threatening me.  Tucker sprung up and stood in front of me.. still a 7 month old puppy, and started growling and showing his teeth.  The guy raised his voice more since Tucker was there, and laughed, then tried to hit me.  Tucker jumped up and bit his arm, taking the guy down, and would not back off. When the guy backed off, Tucker let go, and just growled, warning him... needless to say the guy is gone.  I later found out that he had been arrested and jailed for violence, which you would never expect from such a man, having so much class.  He has since then caught a man in the middle of a break in at my parents house.. someone breaking into one of their cars.  When I went outside, Tucker kept going in front of me and blocking me from going towards the cars to see what was going on. In the morning everyone's car had been raided except my parents cars.  He's also saved me from a robbery in a parking lot, where in broad daylight, a man tried to get into my car, demanding money.  He was banging on my window, and Tucker sprung up hanging his head out the window, tail straight up.  Needless to say the man ran away.  Tucker was bought as my first schutzhund dog... which he's not much for sport as he's lazy.  He still works, just not a thing that thrills him much.  BUT I feel very safe with him and can always count on him in a bad situation.  At the same time, the children next door borrow him here and there to play a game of ball, and he's so good with them.  Heres Tucker on the right and my youngest female, Shelby