Why do you have the dog(s) you have?

The breed- because we love Labs.    Caleb, because when we were looking at his litter, I heard "This one, Mom", and turned around to see this:

Then, a couple of minutes late, I saw this, and my husband nodding his head:

Kenya - had wanted a GSD since I was a little kid.  We never had dogs growing up b/c of money and space issues.  In college I didn't have the time or space but I spent a few years looking at a few breeds and various breeders.  Eventually I decided not to get a puppy.  I looked in shelters but could never apply because of rules about fencing and owning the home (I have a huge yard but it's not fully fenced and I don't own the property).  I applied with the Michigan GSD Rescue.  The person who received my application did not have any appropriate dogs in the rescue, but knew of an adult that had been brought back to her breeder that might be a better match for me so she put me in contact with the breeder.  After learning more about the dog and giving more info about my lifestyle, I decided to adopt Kenya.  That was in April 2007.  However we lived in an apartment and the management company would not budge on the no-dog rule (the manager himself didn't care) so I spent a few months finding a good place to live that had a good yard and would allow dogs.  I picked up Kenya in July 2007, she was 3.5 years old.

Coke - Once Kenya settled in, we wanted a second dog but one with a different personality, more outgoing and playful.  Kenya is very intense, perfect for me but not on the same wavelength with DH.  He wanted a dog that would just goof off and play fetch, not be really intense as far as mental stimulation.  So first we looked at a 10 month old GSD mix from a shelter.  We were going to adopt him until we took Kenya to meet him and they did not get along.  He was absolutely crazy around other animals and they also let on he had separation anxiety.  We decided not to adopt him because he was so much a puppy.  He was adopted by a friend of mine who had no other dogs and her husband was home during the day.  We went on PetFinder and I remembered a rescue where one of my cats is from.  We saw Coke's picture and fell in love, so we sent in an application that night.  Two days later we took Kenya to meet him and everything was fine so we took Coke home! (he's sitting on my lap licking my face, the big oaf!)

Nikon - After having Kenya for a while and getting into lots of dog events with her I figured out what exactly I was looking for and what "type" of GSD suited me best.  I was not planning on getting a puppy, but I fell in love with a certain bitch.  Not looks-wise, but her temperament and work ethic.  When the breeder took her to Germany and bred her to a dog that I also liked, I asked to be considered for the litter.  This breeder does not take deposits, you simply express interest and she gets to know you.  Then when the pups are born, she can asses whether one is a match for you.  She always has way more demand than supply so she does not need deposits to ensure the pups have homes.  So I was never 100% sure I was getting a puppy until they were about 4 weeks and we went to visit the litter (I did not go earlier b/c we had a parvo outbreak in town and because I go to dog clubs and such it was too much risk, she has plenty other people come and handle puppies that aren't exposed to lots of dogs).  I didn't know which pup was mine until the day they went home.  Their personalities can change by the hour until they are 7 or 8 weeks old.  It was narrowed down to three and she also wanted to keep one for herself so we played with them for hours until the pick was final.

The thing I love most about my dogs is they are all totally different from each other.  They get along great and I really like the dynamics of three dogs.

 Both my dogs were strays I found(at different times) roaming the streets. We tried to find a home for Hammer when we firt got him but black LAbs are just not in demand anywhere so we decided to keep him. 

Jack was roaming with a pack of stray mutts that came to my property one day and left when they were frightened off by me. However Jack was left behind. He was so scared he pee'd anytime someone talked to him, looked at him, ect. Now he isa  social butterfly that will cuddle with strangers and play with dogs at teh dog park. A big improvement from the worm infested, starving puppy I adopted months ago.

Someday I plan to buy a breeder puppy but thats a long time from now.

Summer is my girl.  I got her after I moved into an apartment that only allowed dogs 25 lbs and smaller.  I thought of a sheltie but I already had Nikki.  There were only two 'small' breeds I was interested in- shelties and papillons.  So I decided on a male 2 year old or so papillon.  Well, contacted rescue and breeders and had a hard time getting people to even email me back.  (College student + apartment = we don't want you to have a dog, unfortunately).   Found out my other dogs' breeder was thinking about selling a four year old I adore.  So she knew I was looking for a dog and called me up and offered her for a really cheap price.  I decided to take Summer.  She's been wonderful and everything I could have wanted.

Lilly - mini schnauzer - Relinquished to our shelter as a 6 wk old pup. We always wanted a mini schnauzer, so we adopted her ASAP.

Jamie - belgian malinois - adopted and returned to our shelter five times before she was 15 months old. Fostered her in the interim of adoptions. Faced certain euthanasia if I didn't take her after her 5th return.

So, only one dog out of three was really planned. Lexi has fit in since day one; to be honest, if Jamie wasn't so damaged, I wouldn't have adopted her. She is not a good fit for our household, but we make it work because we have to.

Gingerbread- I absolutely love Shih Tzus! I wanted a small dog that would be calm, have an innate reserve, be friendly with people and other animals, be a companion and watchdog and basically best friend for me.

Peanut- I wanted an even smaller dog so that I could take him places with me. I also wanted one that needed minimal grooming, wanted lots of attention and would be very devoted.

stormyknight

if Jamie wasn't so damaged, I wouldn't have adopted her. She is not a good fit for our household, but we make it work because we have to.

I think this is so fantastic.  Your heart is certainly in the right place and though not every one is capable of doing this, I really commend you for making the commitment to this dog.  It's easy to keep and love the easy ones who fit right in with only a few little bumps in the road.  I hope things get better as time goes on.

Sam, my dog had died the same day a friend of the family found him beside a busy road. They were living in a 3b/r house with 4people, plus one coming home from Iraq, and a full grown Lab. So, after a month with them, my Mom and Dad got him for me as a suprise. I didnt want him(it'd only been a month sence Tuck died) but couldnt say no. So, here he is.

Taz, I wanted a little dog that I could tote to the mall, ect, and persuded Mom and Dad to let me get a little dog. Well, Taz was sapposed to be 5 - 10 lbs, he's 20. And, within a week I could tell he was not going to be 'my' dog, but my mom and dads dog.

Fenton- Just after Graciela was born and settled into our home, we decided to get a dog. I had quit my job and became a stay at home mom, so we knew that'd we have the time for a dog and we certainly have the space. I saw Fenton on the computer and fell in love with him. He had been a stray found in the woods. His gold eyes, facial wrinkles and handsome being had me at a glance. We went to go see him at his foster mom's and simply had to take him home. Fenton's been here ever since and is just the most wonderful, laid back and easy going dog.

Harmony- I notcied how much Fen would father and nuture the other dogs at the dog park, so I decided that maybe it was time to get a friend for him. This was about 6 months after getting Fen. I wanted to get a smaller dog, a little girl of my own. I found Harmony on the same site that I found Fenton (and Av) on. When we went to go see her, she was just a scared and sad little thing. DH wasn't sure at first, he wanted to make sure I could handle a small dog that obviously needed to be worked with. After 3 visits to her foster home, we took her home. Harmony was about 10 months old at that time. She's never left our side. While she is more reserved and shy than my other dogs, I think that's just part of her personality. She's very loveable and friendly with us, though. Harmony is my "car dog." I take her everywhere with me, it's nice to have one small dog in the house.

Avery- I wanted a dog that I could do "stuff" with. A more ruff and tuff dog that I could play with. I thought an Australian Cattle Dog would be perfect for that. However, shortly after taking Av home, I realized that she wasn't that at all. She's quite a petite ACD (about 22lbs) and prefers to sleep on the couch than rough house. Av is my heart dog. She sticks to me like glue and has bonded to me the closest. Av may not be a herder or an agility star, but man, she sure is a sweetie. She's my personal babysitter for Gracie- she LOVES Gracie! She's also the most obedient and loyal of my crew. I'd do anything for her and she'd do anything me. We just have that special bond. I wouldn't have her any other way.

Quinton- DH and I decided that our last dog would be a puppy and from the humane society. We went one day, just to browse and met this fellow. He wasn't as young as I had planned (about 5 months at the time), but he fit in perfectly. So we took him for a walk, or run more like. Hubby fell in love right away and so did I. He's just a perfect dog- friendly, playful, energetic and handsome to boot. We filled out the adoption papers and took him home, with his tongue flapping out the window the whole way! Quin has been a wonderful addition to the family and is just a happy go lucky dog that everyone loves. He's like my parents' second grandchild. They love him to bits and he loves to go to their farm to play with their Cattle dog, Mikey.

I got Shailer when I was 12, I believe. My uncle knows how much I love Rotties and he tried to get me one but only found 1/2. Imagine a 12yrs old doing everything to her dog? He got stronger and out of control for 2 yrs and than when I got him neutered and started to learn more about canines I fell for them. He has been with me now for 7yrs and I could not imagine a day without him. How I wish he could be an indoor dog but hopefully that momment won't be too far of.

Pudding is my foster pup and waiting for her forever home. How I wish somebody could see how great of a dog she is. She deserves to be with somebody at all times she just loves attention.  

Originally we got Billy for pet therapy - long story, but we discovered AFTER we had him that he'd been abused in foster care (and was terrified beyond belief - fear/agression - of 3-7 year old blonde girls).  Foxy actually picked him -- I was too shut down (we'd lost 3 dogs in 6 months -- a *very* difficult time for me).  It's been 4 years of huge health issues, but he's bonded unbelievably well with ME. 

We got Luna to help Foxy with Pet Therapy since Billy couldn't do Give Kids the World (he goes other places actually).  We honestly got her because A) we'd never had a hound before and wanted to learn more, B) we wanted a dog relatively healthy for once and C) she got along incredibly well with the other two (taking orders from a *HUMAN* was a completely alien concept however *grin*)

Kee -- 3 Christmas' ago one of the bag boys at Publix chased me down the parking lot "Hey -- YOU HAVE ***THREE*** dogs -- want another???"  His brother had come "home" (a 45 yr old man) after breaking up with his s.o. but unfortunately couldn't stay sober enough to keep a roof over his head and was living in his car with this peke at his parents' condo.  The cops confiscated the dog (a 45 year old man sleeping in his car just wasn't gonna fly) and we wound up with her.  Foxy was in LOVE (for the first time in his almost 19 year old life he *liked* a female dog and she followed him everywhere).  She loves Give Kids the World ... and is the sweetest peke I've ever known.  Imagine -- a peke who loves *** babies***!!!!

Tinkerbell -- a friend emailed me in June.  Rita does pug rescue in Austin, TX and she had this little abuse case with mega demodex they'd taken in (see her pics in my photos) that they were afraid wouldn't survive.  David and I have done demodex many times -- we're good at stuff like this.  So ..... *shrugs* we flew to Austin, rented a car and drove her home.  to Orlando.  Nothing odd in that, huh??

The first time I got the Tinkerbell scowl I just KNEW the name had to have meaning.  I just didn't think THEN about the ramifications of all that fairy dust around the house!!

I didn't know your dogs do Give Kids the World Callie!  We stayed there several years ago for a Make a Wish trip, we have wonderful (bittersweet) memories of that place!

With Sophie, we were finally ready for a dog. We had bought our first house about a year before, our kids were older, and we just felt the time was right. We spent ENDLESS hours researching breeds. Just when we had thought we decided on one, we'd change our minds. We finally just started looking for mutts. We found Sophie on Craigslist, she was in a home with several dogs and little kids. I didn't want to consider her, DH was convinced she was "the one" and the rest is history!

Cruiser- the kids were asking for a "weenie dog".  I actually got in touch with several breeders, we were going to get a miniature dachshund.  Sophie had just turned 1 and the idea of starting over with a puppy was just not something I wanted to do. I started looking on Petfinder.com, for either Dachshunds or Corgis, I found Cruiser and  "knew" he was the one. He was listed as corgi/border collie, but I think he's a Dachshund mix, I don't really see any BC.  He was in a foster home with West Tennesse Animal Rescue. I got in touch with the foster mom, applied for him, and was approved. A few weeks later he was transported up to NH and the rest is history!

Chyna: Boxer.  My older brother was on a waiting list with Chyna's breeder.  He is in the Army, & at the time, was stationed at Fort Knox.  When about 2 weeks after getting Chyna, he found out that he was being shipped to Germany.  I agreed to keep Chyna until he got back from Germany.  Two years later, he came home, & I told him to get his own dog because he couldn't have mine!

Bevo: Doberman Pinscher.  Shortly after meeting the person who was going to be "my breeder"  Bevo came into the vet clinic, where I was working, for euthanasia.  I convinced them to sign him over to me instead of euthanizing him.  He was a terrified puppy, who hadn't been given, what I considered, a fair chance at life.  His previous family had, admittedly, handled him quite roughly, & because of this, he was a bite first, ask questions later dog.  He has taught me so many things about how to handle dogs, & life in general.  He is my greatest accomplishment.  I have worked extremely hard to transform him from a biting, screaming, terrified puppy, into a confident, reliable dog who I would trust with my life.

Brinxx: Mutt.  She was dumped outside the vet clinic.  She had three hairs on her head, & was covered from head to toe with scabies mange.  I took her inside, & was preparing to euthanize her, when she climbed into my lap.  I was quite annoyed, but when I actually looked at her, she had incredibly sweet eyes.  I couldn't euthanize her, so I treated her at the clinic for over 2 months, & then took her home.

Shooter: Dachshund.  His "breeder" brought him into the vet clinic, & when he was diagnosed with parvo, she opted for euthanasia because "it's cheaper to put him down that it is to treat him."  She signed him over to the clinic, & I paid to have him treated.  I had planned on re-homing him because "I don't like dachshunds" but the little guy was too charming to re-home.

Schatzi: Dachshund.  She was given to my grandparents two days after my grandmother was released from the hospital.  She had a brain aneurysm, & was recovering from surgery to fix the bleed.  Unfortunately, my grandmother was hospitalized again four days after getting Schatzi.  We had agreed that Schatzi would stay with me while grandma was in the hospital.  It was 14 months before my grandmother came home, & by that time Schatzi was my dog.  I offered to return her to my grandparents, but they declined.

If it weren't for family, & working at a vet clinic for a while, I wouldn't have dogs!

Julian: My first Yorkie had died about a year before (I'd adopted him from a shelter at age 10 and had him for 5 years) and I wanted another. Jules was the largest pup and I thought he'd not be wanted because of his size. He was a bad puppy (biting, screeching) and I'm glad we both survived it But he grew into an incredibly loyal dog who can be a bit bossy with the other pets, but is otherwise a very good guy.

Ginger: I acquired through work. Her former owner surrendered her at the vet's request when her owner was going to take her to our very high kill shelter (owner surrenders are many times euthed right away) Ginger was 10 at the time. Another tech at work took her for a month, and then I adopted her. She's a sweet, sweet girl.

Aesop: I had wanted another Chow for quite some time and finally lived somewhere where I had the room to have a second. I found a breeder who focused on temperament and health, which were the two things I was most interested in, and met the pups he had available to a pet home. (not interested in conformation showing) Aesop came home with us and we've not regretted it for a second. He's the sweetest dog ever  to all that he meets.

Grimm: was signed over to the clinic I work at when his owners couldn't afford his Parvo treatment. He recovered and came home with us. He fit right in, and it's the first time Jules has ever played with another dog. Even as a puppy he was antisocial with other dogs..we said it was because he's secretly a small boy in disguise