Pets in the home :)

[Oma]

We have never had pets for years we did have a dog when we were younger for a short while he was lovely but chewed everything and anything and had sepperation issues he was a rescue dog and just too much for a working couple with two small children so had to go back , then we had a bird who i loved dearly and was heart broken when he died suddenly . I vowed never to have another animal and i havent apart from the mess and smell we just couldnt cope with one now , Then Storm our GS`s dog came into our lives a few short weeks ago ,OMG im in love he is the best behaved beautiful funny puppy you could meet , my home is fast becoming a puppy play zone we see him about 3 times a week and love having him , DD Josh and Storm have been this morning and yet again i have snot and lick marks on my patio windows and wet paw prints on my dining room floor where he has been rolling in the leaves , As i was yet again washing and cleaning after him i realised i was smiling and i didnt mind the mess at all . My theory is i get to have the pleasure of a dog but he goes back home after a few hours i dont have doggy smells and vet bills and walking to do so thats a good deal , Brian adores him , Being a Husky he is very vocal and him and Brian talk to each other its so funny , I now have dog bowls ,treats ,toys ,blanket etc in my cupboard how they sneaked in i have no idea they just seem to have appeared in my shopping trolley each time we went shopping Between us Joshuas other Grandparents and DD house hold he is a very loved new addition to the family

[Plantaholic]

That is lovely Oma, husky dogs seem very popular at the moment. When we were on holiday this year my GD got very upset because we could hear howling coming from the cottage joining ours and was convinced someone had abandoned some dogs and was ready to call the RSPCA until I bumped into the neighbours and they said they were Huskies and that is what they do.

[Enfys]

It's the same for us, Oma! When DD decided to get a puppy a couple of years ago my first thoughts were...oh no! But once we met Dexter, a lovely English Springer Spainiel, that was it! He is so well behaved, hardly ever barks and hasn't chewed anything. He is such good company and I love having him over with us whilst DD is at work...a couple of afternoons a week. I now have a basket in the conservatory filled with toys, his blanket and chews. He knows exactly what you say to him and one look from those big brown eyes and I'm lost . It's like having another GC, we have the fun and then he goes home. . 🐾

[ZIZI]

Oh dear, I am afraid I so am not a doggy person, I am quite afraid of dogs to be honest. I honestly would not see anything bad happen to a dog but I would not welcome one in my home. My son and his wife used to bring their parsons Jack Russell in here and upset my dear old George, I would lock George in the bedroom and the flipping dog would scratch the door to get to him and also eat his food. Even left in the garden the dog would tear around and damage things AND leave poo everywhere. Sorry doggy lovers, you have far far more patience than me.

[Enfys]

Zizi, up until DD got Dexter I would have said the same. We always had cats and I still am more a cat person. I think we are lucky that Dex is so well behaved and very laid back, I could not have a dog who was noisy and boisterous but he knows what he can and can't do. He also gets on well with their two ginger toms . I still would not have one of our own but am happy for him to visit.

[MillieB]

We have spent a couple of hours today with our DDs German Shorthaired Pointer puppy. He is now seven months old and very lively. They had him at 9 weeks after losing their much loved 12year old rescue lab cross. They couldn't imagine family life without a dog but although they did a lot of research and preparation, I don't think they realised what a difference there is with a puppy to train after a very sedate older dog. My DD works from home so he is not left for long, but they had gone out for the day. We went over at 11.00 with our Labrador who is nearly five and let them play in the garden for an hour before we took them for a walk in nearby woods.
Our dog is our sixth in 44 years, all but one were rescue or had had previous owners. We were seven months without a dog after we lost our last and we thought long and hard before we got Millie. But I get up every morning to walk her whatever the weather and also walk every afternoon. I prefer this to the thought of going to the gymn and we are lucky to live on the edge of country with many rural walks. I do have to vacuum every day but would hate to walk into the house and not be greeted with a wagging tail when I open the kitchen door.

[Elisi]

I'm rather more a cat person, basically as I've never had time to really BE with a dog properly, to give it the attention it needs, due to working. We do have Bella an Irish Setter at DD's house who I adore although she can be very silly, and when she breaks wind, OMG you can smell it for hours We did have a little terrier once but he was overbred and quite poorly and also used to try to tackle very large dogs which scared me so much I almost stopped walking him. My sister and brother in law have a lovely King Charles and she is the light of their lives. Not sure I would even get a cat now, although it would be nice to give a rescue cat a home. Quite enjoy not having to go to the Vets and being able to just take off somewhere without thinking about who is going to look after them.

I envy you a Husky, Oma. I do think they are gorgeous and the photos you put up are lovely.

[ZIZI]

After my lovely old George died we agreed we would not have another cat. We had both always had cats and when we moved in together the children were delighted to be together, they were not delighted that I was there (the voice of discipline), and the cats, one of mine and four of his were, well, cat fighting. As the years went by and our situation changed and we were able to go away, and as Georgie got older, I found it very worrying to leave him ever knowing if he was still gong to be here when we got home. He was very old (and frankly gaga) to go to a cattery so downstairs neighbour's used to come in to him but I worried constantly about him when we were away so I know what you mean Elisi.

[Oma]

Enfys im the same i wouldnt have one of my own but i adore Storms visits , hes a very laid back dog , today the heating man was hear and he was in and out of the house and not once did Storm get up and follow or pester him , Hes happy to have a silly half hour but then he lays down and just chills , never jumps up when your eating and if you tell him go lie on his blanket he does no bother . He loves there cats Tally is fine with him she lets him lick and follow her but Buzz beats him up although Storm still tries to get close

[Nanto2girls]

I'm more of a cat person.We had one for 18½ years, but when we had to let her go, we said no more pets. About 12/13 years ago, we had the in laws dog for about a month, when both parents were ill. loved having him, but we were pleased when he went back home. I did feel sad when he died about 5 years ago.

[Daisy]

Oma - dogs have a way of worming themselves into your affections. I find it hard to imagine life without a dog in the family, and today we had DS2's dog (oh, and their daughters) for the day, and it was lovely to see how it energised our Clyde having another doggy to 'talk to' . Clyde really is getting quite frail and I dread the inevitable, which can't be too far away, but today it brought a lump to my throat to watch GD2 (a boisterous nearly 2 year old), say 'hello' to Clyde and gently talking to him and stroking him. He was quite relaxed and clearly enjoyed her attention. By the way, if you get a sled Storm will take you for a walk - or run. The photo below was takens some years ago at a sled dog race.

Millie - I really miss the long walks - Clyde can do about 2 km these days, but very slowly with lots of rests for sniffing around. When he and his brother were younger you could never tire them out. I certainly can't remember our last Lab ever getting tired either, or our BC. In fact, I think most dogs are tireless until they get to a certain age. Even DS2's Bitsa (bits of this, bits of that!) who must be about 13 will keep going, even if he then sleeps for 48 hours!

Elisi, it's a breed requirement for Irish Setters to be scatty - it's part of their charm. Although I don't know that her other problem is quite so charming! DS2's dog had the same problem and they tried lots of different food, eventually settling on a fish kibble which doggo loves and doesn't require you to keep all the windows open whatever the weather!

Zizi - that's the only problem with all cats and dogs. What to do with them when you go on holiday. We've never kenneled Clyde and he certainly couldn't cope with being in kennels. We're lucky we have a wonderful friend who comes and stays at our house and loves him as much as we do. But it does mean we have to plan ahead, and I don't like to ask her too often. When he and Rusty were younger we used to take them with us within the UK.

[mamma-mia]

I have always had a cat and a dog. I have a long haired german shepherd, she is five years old now; and a black and white moggy who is now 14 years old. I have to hoover every day (so many hairs) but it is a small price to pay. They are always so pleased to see me, and don't hold grudges. My daughter has rehomed a rescue dog. He is such a dear little thing, but has had such a bad start in life. He has been bought over from Bulgaria where he was a street dog. Quite a common thing in these countries. He had been shot and a bullet lodged in his spine, and had no reflexes in his back right leg. Today we have been and collected him from a fantastic vet who speciallises in neurological problems. He has removed the bullet which was lodged in his spinal canal. We are so happy to now know that he cannot get any worse due to the bullet not now being able to move. It is going to take a while to get him completely recovered from this operation, but every day will see him getting just a bit better.He is only 5 years old and now has a family that love him to bits.

[Grauntie Mag]

Lovely story mamma-Mia.
Our dog goes to a retired lady who lives alone and now her dog has gone, doesn't want the responsibility of another. She and her neighbour both dog sit in their own homes. They are always busy. It suits us very well as M-the-C has never been in kennels. I know she would fret.
I do worry about the cat, she is very old. I am lucky enough to have a friend a few doors up who also has a cat and we do reciprocal holiday cat feeding.
We say no more pets when these go, but it's funny how they find you......

[Daisy]

Mamma-miaa - well done to your DD and family for taking on a rescue doy many people would have turned away from. His luck has finally changed, and I hope he makes a really good recovery.

[Gemini]

Oma you have the best of both worlds there! A pet on a part time basis with no vets bills or having to arrange care when you go on holiday

If we didnt have our 3 cats ( 4 until recently ) there would be far less housework to do! The sofas wouldn't have scratch marks, and we wouldn't have a large cat food bill.
I would not be without them for the world however.