Playing favorites?

Rosco is my heart dog. For me, it doesn't mean I love him more, it just means that he and I click on a different level than I do with my other dogs.

My relationship with each of my dog's is totally unique, so I feel like it's comparing apples to oranges. Does that make sense? 

I don't think of a heart animal being so much as a favorite but an animal you get an unbelievably deep bound with.  There is no rhythm or reason to it.  Not something you can decide on or force, it just is.  I have had many animals throughout my life, and though I loved them all, there have been two in particular I've considered heart animals because the bonds we shared were so deep.  It was like we were made to be together, kindred spirits that were born speaking the same tongue.  At the same time however the other animals I had weren't any less loved.  Our relationships were different but no less important or cherished.

 I always liked the saying that when you bring a new member into the family it is not that you have to tear apart and divide the love you already have but that your heart grows to meet the new need.
 

Oh I don't think it happens intentionally. Nor is it so much as favorite as a connection.

For example I got Rory as a pup when I lived alone, was going through hard times, and even lived in a hotel for a couple of months because she was a Pit Bull and we couldnt find a place. We've worked through seperation anxiety, some bad boyfriends, my marriage to my husband and now my first baby. She KNOWS me.

Primo-we've only had for a year, he is a laid back kinda dog who does his own thing and  could typically care less of what I'm doing.

Rory is my velcro dog, she sleeps on my bed and even comes running across the house if she hears me sigh. When we walk just her and I she needs littel correction and I dont even need to talk to her.

Its not that Primo has had less bonding time with me or less training but he is a male dog with more drive and requires more direction from me.

Ok so maybe she is my favorite but Primo feels no love loss because of it, LOL.

I don't think "heart dog" means favorite, at least not to me. I call Coke my "heart dog" because we connect more on an emotional level.  Kenya is just not a touchy-feely, affectionate dog like he is.  It's hard to explain without making it sound like one is "better" than the other.  I definitely do not prefer one over the other or love one over the other.  I could never say one was a favorite or choose between them.  I may talk about Kenya more because she is far more involved in training and dog activities than Coke, not because I favor her but because that is her temperament, serious, work work work.  Coke has no interest in most of the activities Kenya is involved in, some are even stressful to him.

It's sort of like my relationships with people.  I definitely connect more with my sis than my brother.  Do I like my brother less? No.  Same with my aunts.  One of my aunt's is like my second mother, but it doesn't mean I love my other aunties less or compare those relationships to my relationship with my other aunt. 

yeah, that makes sense to me. i feel the same way. my dogs are very different. they both appeal to different sides of me...

anyhow, i dont call either one my heart dog. i love them both equally.

it was kinda weird to me in the beginning having two dogs. i had a hard time giving "equal" attention, in my mind. when i gave attention to one, i always felt bad for the other.

i also believe that some people honestly just do better with one dog. i think i am one of those people. i enjoy going on walks and doing stuff with my dogs when i just take them seperately. i dont regret having both, but i dont think i would ever have 2 again.

ok, i realize now i just babbled and i have nothing to say about the whole "heart dog" thing. lol. i'll just shut up now. sorry....

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

Rosco is my heart dog. For me, it doesn't mean I love him more, it just means that he and I click on a different level than I do with my other dogs.

My relationship with each of my dog's is totally unique, so I feel like it's comparing apples to oranges. Does that make sense? 

This says it best for me. None of my dogs are less loved. They are each different and my relationship with each is different. Dakota is my rock. She's been there forever and life would not be the same without her. Lily is my sweet gentle girl. Her and Abbie are the ones that I turn to when I want to cuddle. I have high hopes for Abbie as far as future performance is concerned. Neiko, otoh, just has a special bond with me. It's hard to explain but he knows me so well and I know him equally well. We seem to have a mutual understanding/respect that is different from the other dogs. He is uncomplicated and a peace maker. This is one of the best things about him. With each of my females, they have their quirks but Neiko is a what you see is what you get dog.

I'm not going to lie though. I did have a hard time when I first got Lily. I didn't think that I could open my heart to her because she would push out Neiko and Dakota. So, I can understand your concern. However, I made room for all 4 dogs in my life and heart and they each hold their own place for their own reasons.

I have a deeper connection to Morrison than Monroe although I love them both equally.  Monroe likes to be around but not to cuddle and he is very much attached to my husband even though I did all the training and work with him.  DH does reinforce what I teach but I do the teaching.

When Morrison came along he fell into my pattern and is very much my dog.  He is in my signature because DH is also a forum member, under the name Monroe Magee, and has Monroe in his signature.  I'm just here a lot more

While Morrison is my heart dog I would have a very difficult time choosing one over the other if, doG forbid, I had to rescue them from drowning or something. 

I definitely don't play favourites and I make sure that each dog gets his "Mommy time" alone with me.

Liesje

I call Coke my "heart dog" because we connect more on an emotional level.  Kenya is just not a touchy-feely, affectionate dog like he is.  It's hard to explain without making it sound like one is "better" than the other.

This is exactly what I mean when I call Teddi my heart dog. Maggie is very independent and not very touchy-feely either, only on her terms when she wants to be. I talk about Teddi alot on here because he's way more active and does alot more, whereas Maggie is content laying here at home all day. I love them both the same but I connect alot more with Teddi. But, if I had to choose one or the other, I know  I could never make that decision...

When I say "heart dog" I'm referring to Lucy (now @ the Bridge)  We had a once in a lifetime relationship.  In my present pack, I have no favorites.  I love them all the same.  Sure each dog has their strengths & their own personalities but I love them all for their uniqueness & how we relate to each other.

I call Emma "my best girl", all the time. I make no attempt to pretend otherwise. Any other dog that's in my life is second to her. Sorry. I adore Ena. She's a great, little girl, but nobody will ever be what Emma is. She's taught me more than I think any other being could.  

chelsea_b

So I'm just curious, since I only have one dog... when you say "heart dog", do you mean "favorite dog"? Do you love that dog "more" than your others? I guess I'm afraid that when I get a second dog, they will play second fiddle to Cherokee, and I really don't think that's okay with me. I'd rather only have one dog than have one "favorite" dog, and one "not so favorite" dog. What do you think?

I don't think it means favourite.... I mean, my DH could be my "sole mate" but he's not my "favourite" over other members of my family, close friends, my son..... we just in tune with one another, we compliment each other well and we can often guess what each other is thinking.  I think that's what people mean by "heart dog" - a special dog who is very in tune to you and with whom you have a very special relationship. You may have another dog that you "love" just as much, but don't gel with in quite the same way.... your personalities aren't quite as good a match.  Its not something you can help. 

 My next dog will be of a breed that really, I like more than Labs.  I love Ben but he's not the breed I wanted (compromise between me and DH) and therefore his personality/characteristics are not exactly what I would have chosen.  It's hard to explain what Maremmas do to me, the atmosphere changes when I'm in the presence of one.  It's a primal connection that I experience with no other breed.

But...Ben is my dog.  Actually, he's really DH's dog because the 2 of them have that connection that I have to Maremmas,  but the past 2 years with Ben as my one and only dog cannot be erased, their effect can't be lessened, the fact that I am even prepared for a Maremma is in a very large part Ben's doing.  So I don't think that it has anything to do with "favourites" in the conventional sense, it's just a connection, a deep relationship that just happens for one reason or another. 

Max is my *heart* dog. I try so hard not to play favorites but she has affected me so deeply. However each dog has it's spot. Belle with her willingness to do her best at agility makes me all gooey on the inside. And Teddi for all she has been through in her little life, she is a fighter.

I snuggle, walk, and play with them equally. I can't help that Max is the owner of my heart, she just is. I had Max when we lost Shadow, Max became my *heart* dog very quickly. However that did not stop me from being an emotional wreck when Shadow passed. I missed 2 days of work. All these dogs are my children. Max is probably just the most spoiled.

When Maxine had her first TPLO procedure the vet assistant was doing her paperwork. There is a standard question on the form, if something happens while operating do you want to sign a DNR. I said ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! I was amazed how quickly I answered that way.