How do you describe your relationship with your dog?

Well, I'm the mom.  With all that that implies.  Yep, as Cita said, boundaries, etc, and unconditional love.  And  I do have grown human kids.

But, also friends, also partners....just not always EQUAL partners, snuggle buddies...the list is long.  And, once in awhile, they are my protectors, in that their presence seems to scare off snakes better than does mine!

Billy the Venturin English cocker spanYELL -- he is MY **kid**.  I'm the 'mom' he's the ebullent, full of fun, but I've ALWAYS got time ta CUDDLE my MOM!!   However, it's the perfect 'mom/child' relationship in that he never wants to leave ME to go play with the 'kids', he's ALWAYS got time for cuddles and that answers a deep need in me.

Luna -- she's 'daddy's girl' in a BIG way.  Right now, he's playing with his OQO on the futon laying down (and he'll be asleep in a while) and she's curled in this teeny tiny basset/beagle ball behind his knees.  (and she'd tell you it's where SHE belongs!! *sniff*!!!)  She obeys me,  but is more the 'nurse-dog' to everyone.  If someone is sick, Luna comes and tells me, if someone's done something wrong (including herself) she comes and tells me.

Kee -- I'm the Food Lady!  I'm also good for a pet now and then but ... she relies on no human (she goes to no human for comfort either).  But in Kee's mind "food lady" is the most important person in the whole wide world so that ain't ... a small job!!

 Mother/daughter for Tootsie and I. I set the rules, she obeys or not, love her no matter what, she loves to be with me.

This really good. Makes you think.

As for Max and I , as weird as it may sound I sorta feel like we have a brother/sister relationship. Him being the big brother. He's my protecter and my helper when ever I need him. If we are in diffrent rooms (which is rare) he will make special trips to check up on me, and then go back to whatever he was doing.

He is my best friend, a great companion. 

Good thread idea! :)

With Cadie, I'm her friend. Sometimes she wants me to pet her, other times she doesn't. She likes to receive affection mostly on her own terms. When I come home from school (I'm the first one home), it's usually a 50/50 chance that she'll greet me, lol. Right as I'm typing this, she's climbing up on the computer chair with and has the front half of her body on my lap. But other times she doesn't need my attention. She can also be quite moody. But she's also my protector. She's very protective of me.

With Riley, it's definitely more of a mother-child relationship. I take care of him. He loves for me to baby him and snuggle 24/7. In fact, we just got back from the dog park and 90% of the time he played fetch with his ball with me. We're really close. Cadie and I are close too, just in a different way. Riley also is protective of me.