none

I get what you're saying about matching. And I think it's cute when people have dogs that look similar. One of my fosters got adopted with a female dog that looked like she could have been his sister! They were adopted in different states, and different ages, but they looked very good together.

That said - I'm glad I have a silly looking dog that compliments every dog I've brought home!! =]

Probably because I so support rescue, I actually appreciate seeing a mix of breeds together more. I do prefer to have dogs of the same general size but that's just because I'd worry about a small dog getting stomped on by a larger dog. If I was sure they'd be okay together though, I wouldn't hesitate.

I'm glad that a couple of you got what I'm saying about this quirky thing I have for matching. lol :) The other responses were really good for me to read too, because it helps me loosen up my ideals.

Callie- I'm a little hurt because I thought you knew me better than that. I know my dogs aren't stuffed animals or purses. I did choose them because they fit my lifestyle. If looks were my primary concern then I would have gotten a Shar Pei, but they don't suit my lifestyle or what I'm looking for in a dog, so I didn't. I've always thought that twins were neat. I've known identical twins Richard and Steven for years now and at first I couldn't tell them apart. Now, it's so strange to me that I couldn't, because they look SO different to me. And yeah, their personalities are as different as any other siblings. I definitely get that all dogs are individuals; I know there will never be another Gingerbread, not among all the Shih Tzu on the planet and no other Chihuahua that is like Peanut either. I just think it's really cute when there's a pair of the same breed. Like for instance, I looked out the window of my apartment a little while ago and a lady walked down the trail with 2 Huskies. I think it's adorable.

Amanda- That's funny that your same breed dogs don't pair off together. That had crossed my mind as a possiblity. That's probably what would end up happening too. lol

4HAND

With everything else I am a bit obsessive compulsive about things matching or being "even".I've given away perfectly good items because they did not fit in with the rest.Somehow with animals I feel it isn't ever possible to match them because each is so unique so I feel different is better if that makes any sense.

So for me, I like the variety.

I do have similar weird thought patterns. Mine's more of a "one of each" obsession. I've had smooth and rough coat Border Collies, tri color and black and white. The only thing I haven't "done" is one of the less-seen colors (red, sable, brindle, merle, dilute). There was a good chance Sam could have been red and I was sort of hoping that would happen. 

Once one has decided on a responsible course of obtaining a companion, I don't see anything wrong with pursuing one's fancy beyond that. There's zillions of dogs out there that need homes, and tons of good breeders. If I said, "I'd like another Chinese Crested, but this time I want a Powder Puff, so then I'd have the fun of having one of each," what's wrong with that? It would expand my knowledge of CCs and another rescue would get a home.

When I went looking for a pup a few years ago, I chose to put my name on the breeding that produced Ted because of the type of worker I felt it would produce. When I went looking for a pup last winter, I ended up with Sam's breeder because they were breeding dogs that would produce a totally different type of worker. It was just a fancy I had that I wanted to give a whirl to training and handling that style of worker.

My dogs "buddy up" in funny ways too. Zhi and Gus are double trouble (she likes to incite him to chase the ducks), while Lynn and Ted are BFFs. Cord ignores everyone, except he does try to play with Min occasionally, who ignores him, but she likes to play with Ted too (he's highly in demand - 15 year old Maggie has moments where she'll invite him to play, too). Lu and Tully are the only "pair" that sort of makes sense.

 When I first saw the question, I thought, What an odd question?!  Who on earth would worry about such a ....and then I thought...oh ya me. 

We got Crusher first.  When I got Onyx, I also got Keira.  Keira was an almost perfect match to Crusher, though female and slightly smaller.  Onyx...well she was just too cute to leave behind.  I think that perhaps alot of mushers use alot of symmetry in their teams too, because lots of times dogs run in tandem seem to match.  If not in looks, at least in size and strength.  They need  to compliment each other.  

Anyway, yes sometimes it bothers me that Crusher and Onyx don't match.  Not so much because I care about their looks now that I know them, but because Crusher is a gorgeous dogs by most peoples standards, and Onyx is...well... a medium sized long coated black dog.  She's pretty I think, but she gets overlooked when we meet people on the street.  I always want to shout at people when they comment on Crusher and don't even take a second look at poor homely Onny.  "She's pretty too!  Look at her shiny coat!  And she's friendlier, and much more gentle!  And the babies can crawl all over her and she doesn't care!  But HIM!  He's not above putting his teeth in a kid if they bug him too much!"  Course I never actually say that, but I feel like it.  So ya, it bugs me.

With everything else I am like 4hand I like things to match and be even exspecially when I had a fish tank I like to have at least 2 or more of each fish I had (except of course for the Beta for obvious reasons) But my dogs don't match in size or color and I like it that way.

brookcove

Once one has decided on a responsible course of obtaining a companion, I don't see anything wrong with pursuing one's fancy beyond that. There's zillions of dogs out there that need homes, and tons of good breeders.

Becca, you are my new hero. lol I can relate to your entire post.

My assortment is kind of odd, I guess. A pit, a pointer and an Aussie. They all tend to have overlapping characteristics that DH and I love and that fit different parts of our lives.

We'll always have an Aussie, but I'm back to researching Dobies for the future, and DH and I plan to have a Frenchie when we are old and can't keep up with the active dogs any more.

I kind of always see us with a variety. It kind of fits us, like me never having matching clothes on. LOL

I'm a cattle dog addict so I knew the next dog would be speckly, but I was hoping for a red because I like the coloring and it's something different.  Laddy's not gotten the go-ahead to stay from DH yet, but if he does I'll be thrilled to have one red and one blue speckly dog and will have done it kind of on purpose.

calliecritturs

Dogs and humans aren't accessories. 

Of course, you are right, but just once, I think I would like to be an "accessory".  Now, would the highest bidder please step forward???? 

It doesn't bother me to have dogs that don't match, but I do like having ones that do. In the past we had a Bichon Frise, a Rottweiler, a Dalmatian, and a Dachshund together. Completely, 100% different from one another, but it didn't bother me at all. And now we have two Tollers (whom while match in the fact that they're the same breed, don't really look a lot a like) and one Doberman, soon to be two... who also won't really match as one is black and the other is red. We don't have matching dogs now because we wanted them to look good together, but because those are the favourite breeds in my family and the only ones we want to own at this point. :)

Luvntzus

Callie- I'm a little hurt because I thought you knew me better than that. I know my dogs aren't stuffed animals or purses. I did choose them because they fit my lifestyle. If looks were my primary concern then I would have gotten a Shar Pei, but they don't suit my lifestyle or what I'm looking for in a dog, so I didn't. I've always thought that twins were neat. I've known identical twins Richard and Steven for years now and at first I couldn't tell them apart. Now, it's so strange to me that I couldn't, because they look SO different to me. And yeah, their personalities are as different as any other siblings. I definitely get that all dogs are individuals; I know there will never be another Gingerbread, not among all the Shih Tzu on the planet and no other Chihuahua that is like Peanut either. I just think it's really cute when there's a pair of the same breed. Like for instance, I looked out the window of my apartment a little while ago and a lady walked down the trail with 2 Huskies. I think it's adorable.

I do know you better than that -- which is one of the reasons I was blatantly honest -- simply because sometimes we all find ourselves doing or thinking things that ... well, just aren't consistent with how WE really feel deep inside.  And sometimes we have to stop and really *think* about how that appears, or sounds or ... gee, am I really THAT way???

There have been times when I've really had to shake MYself hard -- not exactly the same thing but every bit as ... demeaning to my animal friends.

Case in point (*sigh*) -- when we first got Billy we were SO careful to pick a dog we thought would be good for pet therapy.  And then *sigh* after we got him adopted and home and took him out the first time .... DISASTER STRIKES.

As it happens, Billy was abused in foster care.  We had seen him WITH a little boy the day we adopted him -- a little boy IN a walker and Billy was absolutely awesome with him.  A natural 'sit' before petting -- it was as if he did it inately.

whoa -- it all fell apart in front of ... "little blonde girls".  The she-cat who hurt him had to be about 4-5 years old -- the foster mother had (we found out later) like 18 emotionally-disturbed children in her house -- PLUS she was trying to foster dogs.  These kids were left with these dogs UNATTENDED -- and Billy had majorly sore infected ears. 

All he had to do was SEE a little blonde girl and he would begin to shake in absolute terror.  He would literally explode in anger ... snarling and ... oh my gosh.

My world almost crashed apart.  I had lost THREE therapy DOGS in six months.  (Billy, Pollyanna the handicapped pup, and Socks - another therapy dog) and NOW the dog we had picked turns out to be completely unsatisfactory for pet therapy (at the time).

And he adored me. 

*huge sigh*

When we have expectations like "liking things to match" or satisfying this or that criteria those are things that may be "huge" or they may simply be "I'd kinda like that".  And sometimes those things are more important to us than we wish they were.

I can remember a couple of weeks where I truly had to think long and hard ... because I was SO CRUSHED ... I quite literally saw the end of "pet therapy" for us (and for me that's all totally wound up in the fact that I'm unable to have children -- so pet therapy has been MY way of dealing with that in a way that helps others and is positive for me as well).

But I began to see Billy uniquely satisfied a need in ME ... that he was truly sent to help heal my heart that had been so battered in losing not just 3 dogs but that the little handicapped pup, Pollyanna, was the handicapped child I had always hoped to adopt someday (and could never financially do).  So in many ways, altho Billy wasn't what I thot I wanted, he was what I NEEDED ... and I had to expose that to myself and MAKE MYSELF **ACCEPT IT**. 

I had to get beyond the superficial "we wanted a therapy dog NOW" and see him for the blessing he was.

Now, that sounds like a far cry from "matching" dogs -- but I really had to shake myself when I finally caught myself having a little pity party for having picked a "wrong" dog.  When I realized how superficial that sounded -- wait a darned second -- he NEEDS us.  We need HIM. 

My point is -- I had to stop and see how it sounded.  Not just to me but to the Alpha of all Alphas (who did some pretty tight organizing to PUT Billy where we pretty much were convinced we HAD to say yes to him).  It wasn't that the "thing" I wanted was bad ... it wasn't.   It even had a good "motivation". 

It just wasn't as important as *I* wanted to think it was. 

As it turns out -- Billy has been one of the most demanding training jobs we've ever attempted. 

And tonight -- at the vet's office?  As I was leaving and had WAY more on my hands with bags of meds, a hyper pug, a husband who had just called b/c he had a flat and could I come get him ... and about 10 other things - I'm trying to hold both leashes and pay for the vet visit and what happens?

All of a sudden a woman comes out of the waiting room with a handicapped dog and  ....

a little blonde girl.

The little blonde girl came over, plopped down on the floor next to Billy and said "What'd they call him?? Tommy or ... ???"

My breath caught in my throat.  I said "Billy ... his name is Billy ... but"

My hand was on his collar ... he was totally calm.  And she leaned over and kissed his muzzle.  And said "Billy .... I like you ... you are such a nice dog.  Mom ... isn't he a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet dog???"

He was calm.  He knew ... oh boy I can feel this dog *think*.  He knew she was blonde ... he knew she was (in his eyes) high risk. 

But ... this felt nice.  She was giving him attention.  she was saying nice things.  MOM was saying nice things. 

He stayed chill ... he was absolutely PERFECT.

I was SO proud of him I could have burst. 

He didn't just tolerate her.  He ENJOYED it.  He enjoyed the attention. 

He'll never be bomb-proof.  But he's come SO far.

And me??  I had to learn when life hands you lemons you make lemonade.  Even if you had your heart set on Cherry Crush.  Neither are bad.  You may like how the one "looks" better than the other.  It may appeal on a lot of different levels.

But ... that lemonade you made because it was what needed to be done?  It's refreshing.

No Tamara .. I wasn't being mean.  I was just hoping you'd re-evaluate, because I know you didn't mean it to sound ... well, as shallow as it sounded.  Because you're NOT that way.  You are one of the most absolutely sweet people I have ever known ... and I am SO blessed to know you.  I didn't mean to make you feel bad ... only to try to motivate you to think.  And if I was heavy-handed I apologize profusely. 

Callie, I'm sorry, but I find your post INCREDIBLY condescending.

There is NOTHING wrong with admiting a dog is not a good fit for your household and your goals. Just because YOU chose to keep the dog and change your goals does not mean it is the only right solution, and to imply that anyone hwo does idfferently- which you HAVE just done- is lying to themselves, is just rude. 

I am in the process of findign Malcolm a pet home right now. I adore him. But he hates showing, he's not breeding quality, and I can only have a certain number of dogs. He can sit at home when I trial and show other dogs, or I can find ihm a family where he is the center of attention. He loves me, but dogs are adaptable. I'll miss him more than he misses me.

To imply that people who rehome dogs that do not fit into their household and goals are delusional or heartless is just mean. Dogs are not interchangable, neither are households.

Pwca

Callie, I'm sorry, but I find your post INCREDIBLY condescending.

There is NOTHING wrong with admiting a dog is not a good fit for your household and your goals.

Ooops -- Rein it in lady, and please re-read for you have monumentally completely and utterly misunderstood everything I said. It's YOU who are now condescending.  You obviously can NOT read or pixies have messed with technology because there is NOT ONE WORD -- absolutely not even ONE word above about me "re-homing" Billy.  Where on earth did you get that?

It never entered my mind.  Not then, not now, not ever.  ENTIRELY missed what I said.  Not about re-homing a dog that wasn't a good fit.  It's not even a tiny remote part of the subject.

It was about ME.  About my own change in my own perceptions.  About ME being **WRONG** in how I reacted to an unknown part of this dog's personality.

Is it wrong to decide a dog isn't right for you?  Absolutely NOT.  You obviously don't know me very well at all because I'm often the one who supports someone's decision to re-home when no one else does.   I mean come on -- people get divorced all the time (do we even call it an "oops" -- nope) because they can't get along (and sometimes they've been married for many years ... been there done THAT too!) WHY do we think dogs and people always have to be a perfect fit?  That's ludicrous.

IN this particular case I wasn't even thinking of re-homing him.  Not even for one small fleeting second. 

I'm talking about me forcing myself to simply admit I was being shallow.  It took me a couple of weeks to stop feeling selfish for WANTING him so badly.   Because he wasn't what we "planned" but he sure as heck was what **I** NEEDED.  To re-adjust how I saw him.