Why do you have the dogs you have?

I like dog,he is my friend

Rosco: I had always wanted to get a dog in college, but knew it was not the right time in life. So the fall after I graduated, I was living in Boston in a first floor apartment and someone tried to break in to my apartment through my roommates bedroom window. When we reported it to the police we found out there was a rapist in the neighborhood, and coming through windows was his MO. Our bathroom window was broken and our landlord didn't care, leaving us totally vulnerable, and I said "that is it. It's time for me to finally get a dog." I didn't care if it was a small dog, big dog, etc, just something to bark at intruders, be a compainion, and go for long walks since BF was in school hundreds of miles away. My roomate and I started the search at shelters and My BF (now DH) and I did some breed research and the bully breeds appealed to us.

We were actually looking for a Boxer, when I saw Rosco. They let me take him for a walk and he jumped up to lick my face and the rest was history. H was listed as a "Beagle mix" and fully grown around 6 -8 months old. I got all the paperwork in order (lease agreement, contract, etc.) and took Rosco home a few days later. On his first trip to the vet, I learned he was actually a healthy Am Staff puppy, who would gain another 30 lbs, because he was closer to 4 months old. DH and I got every ounce of info we could on the breed, and socialized the wazoo out of Rosco. He went to the bakery, dry cleaners, post office, CVS, etc with me, met millions of other dogs, and I am really glad, because he is a great dog and a great example of what the breed can be. (He can be dog aggressive, but it's managed closely, and I am so proud of my little boy!)

Lexi: After DH and I got married, we were living in VA and found that Rosco was better with other dogs the more he was around them. We both worked a lot, and felt that he needed a buddy to spend the days with. I have always been a dog lover, so the breed didn't matter to me, just a dog that Rosco would like, and then we would provide whatever that dog needed in terms of training, socialization, excise. Rosco picked Lexi (then 4 months old), and they have always gotten along beautifully ever since. With Lexi I discovered clicker training, formal obedience and the fun of dog sports. She will work for food, but would always rather be sniffing and while she could be "competitive" I'd rather let her enjoy life they way she wants -- running and sniffing.

Luna: When DH and I had been living in NY a year, I was missing competitive animal sports (having shown horses when I was in younger and in college), so I started looking into getting a dog that would really be competitive in agility, would love to work, had lots of drive, would guard the house (since DH travels a lot) and was furry. (I grew up with Bouviers and really missed having a furry dog!) We finally owned our own house on a little over an acre, and I was working from home, so adding a third would work. We would have at least 3-4 years to establish the dog pack and train the puppy before any human children arrive, so it was great timing in the bigger picture of our lives as well.

I wanted a dog from a breeder, so I would know the temperament and health background, a puppy so I could socialize the wazoo out of her and help her build a foundation for lots of travel and crazy experiences, and a little sass because I've always had a mischievous twinkle in my eye myself. The Aussie kept coming up as a good fit, and I have to admit I was a bit scared considering their needs.

I started researching breeders and felt conformation lines were a better fit for me as a first-time Aussie person. Luna's breeder and I hit it off, and I fell in love with her mother's movement and temperament and her father's good looks and sense of humor. About 8 months later Luna came home, without her mother's movement or temperament. She is daddy's girl no doubt, with his huge ears, love of water, and zest for life. LOL and a good lesson that even in careful, thought-out breedings, there are no guarantees. Her breeder was able to see that she would be a great match for us and she was right.

Luna is a total nut, and somehow she is still exactly what I wanted/needed, my partner in crime, my teammate in sports, and DH is her person. She is devoted, smart, beautiful, and I feel lucky to be her guardian. She is beyond brilliant (hence her registered name Incandescent), and I have learned so much training her because of her intelligence.

So we have Rosco, my heart dog and couch potato, Lexi the hunting dog who would prefer to live outside hunting small critters, and Luna my competition dog and wild child.

Tomorrow, we bring in a foster, Jake, and I don't know much about him, except that he's an Aussie who needs a home, a diet, lots of love and training. So we'll begin the adventure all over again until he finds his forever home. Wish us luck!

Rory- I got her when DH and I were going through a spilt (before we were married). One of things we always fougth about was that he wouldnt let me get a dog. His reasons were that we didnt have time (meaning he didnt want to be responsible for a dog while I was at work),  since both of our families had multiple dogs we could always dog sit theirs (which we already did a LOT), and lastly he knew I wanted a pit bull and he didnt want one.

So 1 week after we seperated I got Rory. When I showed up at his house with a pit bull puppy (you know how cute they are) all he could do was shake his head. We didnt move back in together for about 8 more months and by then Rory and I had our routine down and he had already fallen in love with her.

Now she is "his sweet baby girl", he shares his fork with her and he sometimes falls asleep holding her, LOL.

Primo- was J.R.'s cousins dog and the only dog that Rory didnt mind sharing her bed and family with. She has tons of playmates but not many she liked to share her stuff with.  When his cousin went to college Primo came with us.

 I've always had roommates, but finally got my own apartment which was nice but soon enough it felt kind of lonely so I went to the shelter just to look around and saw the goofiest little dachshund. I had no preference for a breed (had grown up with cocker spaniels) but he stood out to me right away. He stuck his nose through the side of the fence and let me just pet him. When I started to leave he hopped around and made funny pawing motions at the fence as if trying to get out. So I wanted him but wasn't sure so went home to think about it. I decided that night I wanted to adopt him, but went the next day and he was gone ! - someone had already adopted him. I called my friend and she said maybe it just wasn't meant to be, I was pretty bummed. Well a couple days later I looked at the city shelter website and there was his picture in their listings under a different name (from Longy to Schnitzel). He had been returned so I went down to see him, he was there with a big sign on his kennel that said "NO KIDS!!!!" I thought uh oh but he seemed so scared and was shaking like a leaf..so of course I took him home and that's how it came to be. he was very sweet right off the bat, and hopped right into my lap after sniffing out the new place although he had issues with resource guarding at first and with strangers but he's come a loooooong way. I feel very lucky to have him.

 Buster - I got Buster in 1994 from my dad as a Christmas gift, I was in 7th grade, I think.  When my dad got sick I took Buster off his hands (I was in college at the time).  My dad passed away in March of 2002 and Buster has lived with me ever since.  I was always Buster's person anyway so it worked out pretty well that I was able to take him while in college and working and all.

Max and Lady -  Max was bought by my MIL for the family in 2000.  Lady was bout in 1994 for my SIL, before she was my SIL.  My DH's mom passed away in 2003 and DH bought the house from his brother and sister and decided to keep the dogs himself.  His brother and sister were in no position to take dogs (his brother wouldn't have anyway, but lady did belong to his sister).  Buster and I also moved in less than a year after her passing, and so we had three dogs together.

Benny - Benny lived in a Petsmart Petshotel for an entire year knowing nothing of his owner or the outside world.  His owner finally decided to give him up and I brought him home with me.  I had been working there for about 8 months when I got to take him home, so I knew him pretty well.  It's not very often you get to know your dog for that long before bringing him home.  

I'm convinced Joey picked me.  I had been having a tough time dealing with the loss of my childhood dog Gretchen.  It was too quiet in my apartment, all by myself, and having a dog is as necessary as breathing to me.  I needed a new buddy.  On my way home from work one Friday, about a month after having Gretch PTS, I stopped at the local shelter.  About all I knew I wanted was something medium sized and male.  I was shown the room that held all the medium/large dogs and then had to pick.  Are you kidding?  I want all of them.  But after looking at all of them, the snotty-nosed boy who would barely pick up his head but had the energy to wag the tip of his tail just spoke to me.  We needed each other, I just knew it in my soul.

I had the tech let him out of his kennel so I could visit with him and pup perked up a little.  I would imagine he'd been through quite an ordeal though and having just been brought in that day, he guessed he was exhausted/scared/confused.  Didn't matter, I wanted him and him only.  So I took my form up to the front, was asked if I was sure I wanted this one - he hasn't seen the vet yet.  Yes, take my money and let me go home with my new boy!  Ha, I didn't have a clue what I was in for.

After a stop at Petsmart to get some goods (he was so good in the car and the store), we were home.  Immediately he started trying to pee on the carpet but unfortunately he had a UTI and was only peeing drops of blood.  He coughed and coughed, had that snotty nose and it was apprent he was a MESS.  I tried getting him to eat but that didnt happen.  I tried getting him to play and that didn't happen either.  I decided the day was just too much for him so decided it was bedtime.  He wasn't going to sleep with me on the bed, or so I thought.  It didn't take long before I caved and let him up, where I talked to him and cooed to him, saying he's going to be just fine.  The following morning we'd head over to my vet and get checked out.

Vet visit was fun.  "He's got an URI, UTI, kennel cough, hookworms and is a bit underweight."  Yikes, after just trying to nurse a sick Gretchen back to health and subsequently having to have her PTS, WHAT WAS I GETTING INTO?  Well, I did this to myself, we'd make it somehow.  After many trips to the vet over the course of a month, and having to all but shove food down his mouth, things were finally starting to look up.  I'm convinced peanut butter and TLC saved him.  That first month was rough, and the vet told me later that she really thought Joey was going to die and she didn't have the heart to tell me.  I couldn't let that happen, not so soon after losing Gretchen.  And all that time, he was so grateful, so sweet and calm and patient.  Little did I know that although he's quite capable of being all those things, it was probably more a result of being so dang sick.  Because after that month passed and he was feeling better, I started to see the real Joey.  All 30+ pounds of ADHD dog that was going to need lots of exercise and obedence classes!

So why do I have Joey?  Because I was so fortunate to grab him up before he absolutely would have been euthed.  I saved his life and he mended my soul.  He's my heart dog, I know this for a fact.

I got Isabelle after getting to know my son's Westie.  I loved little Oliver and decided I would love to have a Westie of my own.  My daughter got her for Christmas for me. 

The family that had Gracie (my Golden) got her when she was a puppy.  Their youngest child was terrified of her and they decided to no longer keep her, so I decided to take her as I have always loved Goldens

 I got my two youngest Westies, Treasure and Olivia, shortly after my Sophie went to the Bridge.  I missed her so much and got them from the same breeder that I got Sophie from. 

Westies are my breed because of their spunky personalities and their size (among other things).

I volunteered at the Dobe rescue for a few years, finally decided I was ready to find a new apartment (one that would allow dogs.)  A (rare) litter of puppies had been born at the shelter.  A suggestion from a BF at the time, a consult with the Dobe trainer whose enthusiasm over the suggestion surprised me.  More consideration, and coordination on living arrangements....

 I picked her up on my birthday - 5 years ago next Monday.

Jada was BF's dog - a neighbor dumped her, pregant w/10 pups, before moving out of state.  BF kept her as a companion to Achilles.

Achilles was a 3-4 month old stray picked up and dropped off at a vet where BF's step-sister was taking her dogs.  She called BF, knowing he was a cattle dog fan, and he decided he wanted him.

I had ALWAYS wanted a dog.  My dad's g/f's (at the time) kids, my brother and I asked for a dog.  Eventually we got Taz, a little beagle pup.  My brother and I ended up moving to MS to live w/ my uncle for awhile and while there my uncle descided that Taz was Jimmy's dog, not mine.....

After I moved back home w/ dad (g/f and her kids were now gone) I started begging for a dog.  And begging, and begging, and begging.  Finally in 1999 for my 15th birthday my dad agreed to let me get a puppy.  He found an add in the paper for puppies and his aunt came w/ us to pick one.  The woman was saying that for $50 she'd keep the puppy till Christmas (my B-day is in Nov) but other than that I don't think she was charging for them, or it wasn't much.  I had picked out a little black (maybe dark brown) pup that I wanted, but my aunt said not to take that one b/c it was crying and that meant it would be sick later on (? ok.... .  So dad picked out Blaze.  Turns out he made a good choice.  He actually named her.  She was named for the ver distinct blaze of white on her chest....now that she's older it's not as distinct so most people question her name.

Less than a year later we had to move.  Dad tried to find a dog friendly place but didn't have much luck.  My grandfather agreed that Blaze could live on his farm, in the barn.  I didn't like the idea, but it was better than taking her to the shelter.  I went out to visit her some, but not as much as I should have.  While she was living there some one dropped off a Lhasa Apsa.  She hung around Pap's farm for awhile and becuase he was worried she'd get hit (just uphill from the farm was a pretty main road) so he tied her up at the barn.  He put an ad in the paper looking for her owner.  No one turned up.  So he put an add out for a home and even offered to pay for her spay (we figure she was dropped off b/c she'd had a litter and they kept the puppies, several reasons to think that), still no one showed up for her.  He would refer to her as the 'pooch' as in, "oh I gotta go feed the pooch",  "gotta get the pooch in out of the rain", etc.  She eventually learned Pooch as her name.  Blaze ended up getting ear infections and needed meds 2x a day.  DH's (bf at the time) gradfather (who we rented from) agreed that Blaze could come for the 2 weeks that she needed treatment.   When I picked Blaze up I felt really bad leaving Pooch there alone.  DH picked up Pooch and she put a paw on each shoulder and gave him a hug.  He melted and she came w/ us that day.  His grandfather also fell for Pooch and at the end of the 2 weeks he descided it was too cold for them to go back to the barn, so they never moved back out   This was fall 2003 (I think).

Fall 2004 DH (still bf) started telling me he was going to get me a puppy for Christmas.  I told him he was full of it.  He'd insist and I just said, "uh huh, sure you are".  This went on and one till it was practically Christmas.  Well, he figured he'd been saying it for awhile so it was time to 'put up or shut up' so he went to the shelter to find a pup.  He said he'd found one but it got sick and they wouldn't let him take it (I admit I'm not entirely sure I believe this) so Dec 28 he saw an add in the paper for free puppies.  We called the woman and got directions to her house.  She gave horrible directions and we got lost.  When we finally got there I picked out a little golden colored pup but was told that one had already been chosen by someone else.  I really wanted a girl and there was only 2 girls left.  I picked Co-Co.  When we got home (after a lot more drama that was almost unbelievable) she proceeded to walk into the house and puke, undigested Kibbles ~n~ Bits, everywhere. 

I told my friends about the new pup and a women who used to be my assistant manager said she wished she knew I was looking for a puppy b/c she was about to have some.  I knew better, but asked what kind anyway.  She told me she was gonna have beagle puppies.  Turns out her grandfather had bred his beagles but then past away and she somehow inherited the dogs.  DH wanted a hound, really bad.  Puppys were born Jan. 17 2005.  That winter I drove up to Pittsburgh and picked out a pup.  When they were old enough to go home my friend drove her down to us.  She came in and peed on DH, Liz, me, and the couch (and this was after going outside).  How she had that much liquid in her, I'll never know.  We said Dusty (If we had registered her, her registered name would have been Diamond Dust b/c of the little white diamond shape on the back of her had....which of course is all but gone now) was a wedding gift from Liz, we did give her some money, but it probably wasn't even enough to cover the gas she spent driving Dusty down to us.

Fall 2006 we went to a Mexican restuarant for dinner.  We had started a habit of after eating there going down the road to the pet store to play with the puppies.  Well this day I walked in and at first didn't see any puppies that I felt drawn to play with.  Then I saw that they had a gorgeous Akita pup.  The first dog I'd ever met in my life was my friend's akita, so they have a special place in my heart.  Immediately I walked over to DH and said that we had to leave.  He asked why and I said that there was an akita back there and I knew I would want her.  Well, we'd managed to resist quite a few other pups that we really wanted before and he figured this would be the same.  So instead of leaving he asked to see the akita and we played w/ her.  I asked about her and got her price and stuff.  Eventually we had them put her away and we left.  We talked about her the whole way home, including deciding that a good name for her would be Mystic.  Then we got home and were doing yard work, still talking about her.  DH ended up calling them back and telling them to hold her and that we were on our way back.  And the rest, as they say is history....

Now after all of that, I have realized that I didn't aquire most of my dogs for good sources, but I didn't know better at the time.  They have taught me that and so much more.  I don't regret any of them, although at times I do realize that it would be easier if we didn't have 5, I couldn't really imagine life w/o them.

 Great thread!  I love reading everyone's stories.

I got Lily back in January. My boyfriend and I were together almost 2 years at the time. We were finally living in a house large enough for a medium/large breed dog. I had begged him for a dog, no breed in paticular just a medium/large size. I finally decided on a lab (my brother has 2, aunt & uncle have alwas had labs, so they stuck on me). We looked at a local shelter and fell in love with a choclate lab puppy and an adult husky/german shepherd mix but both were adopted while our application was in the works. I was talking to my aunt at Christmas and she said that a girl she works with (good breeder all AKC) has 2 puppies left (my cousin already had one from the same litter) and was selling them for 400 each. I couldn't afford 400 at the time (car broke down, school bills were due etc...) so I decided to wait. She then called me at work about a month later (January) and said that she has one puppy left and is willing to drop the price to 300 (with papers) for me. I talked to my BF about it and he offered to put some money towards the dog but she would ultimatly be mine. OK with me!

I've been dying to have a companion with me. Something to keep me busy and keep my spirits up. I've always wanted a dog to take ice fishing, camping, swimming etc...with. We are an outgoing couple (my BF and I) and the other couple we hang out with have a dog too. We see them every weekend and Lily loves playing with their dog. I've been given the opportunity to raise a beautiful dog and give her a happy, loving home.

 Jaxon I have here because I picked him up from my vet after his co owner dropped him off...lol Seriously after about a month or so he will be leaving again, I miss him every time. There was 2 males in his litter and I planned to keep both, one here and one at co owner. Then I decided that I would rather keep only Jaxon (primarily residing at his co owners) and that way later I would have more room dog wise.  
 

Bouwho is Jaxon's half sister (they have the same sire) and I have her because it didn't work out for her other home with the way they were going, other dogs they were getting and things like that. I was actually very happy that it turned out she could be with us instead. She is just a spontaneous little thing full of life!
 

Zara the breeder had offered us a pup from this pairing, we talked it over and decided on it. She came planned out well in advance because the breeder had tried the breeding after offering us one and when that didn't work out I think skipped the next heat like a year later tried again. That is the litter our Zara was in. The breeder gave me a choice between 2 females, I loved Zara and DH liked her to. It was shortly after that her breeder passed away suddenly at one of the shows we were at. So she is extra special because of that, I hold her close to my heart. I found myself at times in the beginning thinking how I needed to tell her breeder this or that or how she'd want to hear Zara did this today, it was depressing. At least she got to see Zara at the show and take many pics, she was so delighted.