I love Dogs me...

Walking across Dunes is never easy M, for a 90+ yr old it's fantastic, I share your hopes re me getting to 90

Yes I saw your pic Dave, Cassie is one happy Dog Mucker, what a joy to be out with them too

I am a Dog lover, more importantly I'm a Dog respecter. I share my life with my two Dogs & they enhance my life massively. I deeply believe Dogs have made me a better Human being. Without my love of Dogs I would be a much more shallow person for it. Dogs are a species that are unique on this Planet of ours, over 10,000yrs+ they've evolved to see us as a positive enhancement to their lives. Without us they'd be a lesser species, their evolution has gone hand in glove with ours. Within a Human family they feel whole, without a Human family they suffer. It's because of this, every Dog I've shared my life with has been loved, in fact I'll go further in saying that I've actively ensured their short time on this Planet has been as good as I can possibly make it. It is in a small way that I've ensured I've showed thanks for the gift they've bestowed upon me by being there. I'm someone who deeply believes that 'every Dog deserves to be trained & every Dog owner deserves a trained Dog'. Dogs need boundaries, it's their basic needs, get it wrong & they  suffer, get it right & you have a friend for life who would quite literally lay down their life for you. A Dog doesn't care if it's at the top of the food chain or the bottom, what they do care about is knowing where they stand, that is the important thing as it governs their whole life. I have Grandchildren, my Dogs know my Grandchildren are above them in my affections & they act accordingly. They don't growl or snap at my Grandchildren(2&3yrs old) my Grandchildren are learning about Dogs, my Dogs already know about small Humans. They treat each other with love & respect. The Grandchildren let themselves down more than the Dogs do. But it has never ended in tears-from either side. My older Grandchild lays with my Dogs & enjoys the licks & affection, the younger one is still learning under the close supervision of Grandpa, but boy has She got potential. Every morning I come down I'm greeted by two Dogs that don't care if I'm not happy or if I'm a little quiet all they care about is. . . .I'm there & their life is complete. That gives me a daily lift that no drug could ever deliver. Nothing can prepare us for their loss, the pain is deep & traumatic, it is after all the loss of a loved family member. My post is to say-don't ever take your Dogs for granted, because before you want it, they'll be leaving you to suffer the pain of loss. If it doesn't then you never were a Dog lover. Enjoy your Dogs, enjoy your day.

Mrs N here. Just to say what a lovely caring & thoughtful post.

R2B - what a lovely post - as usual! I know exactly what you mean about the relationship with little children and I think it's a feature of the Cockapoo breed.  Meg was born into a family with three little ones and almost from day one, the three of them were in her cage with her - along with the other seven puppies so she is more than used to their playfulness. Every time I take her on the beach - if she hears little squeeky voices, she's off like a shot to go and play and show them lots of affection and just adores being around little people.  Although I always keep a close eye on her - because she is a dog after all - I have never had cause to doubt her genuine affection for children and her fascination with them.  It's so lovely to see and to share.

What a great post Rocky So much truth in your written word except I don't go down to be greeted by her. I just open my eyes and their sitting on the floor beside the bed is my dog watching and waiting for a waking movement from me, then her body shakes with excitement from an overdose of tail wagging, and a good day starts all over again.

Mrs N, Rich & Dave, thankyou it's a pleasure to share inner thoughts with like minded folk. You either get it or you don't. If you get the love of Dogs it opens your heart to a fascinating world of unconditional love & loyalty from a 'giving machine', no guille, falseness, evil intent, just joy. To share our lives with these wonderful creatures makes us better people-of that I'm convinced. We're not owners in my mind, we're guardians of a bundle of love that spends too short a time enhancing our lives immeasurably.

I read a story the other day about a six year old boy and his dog an Irish wolfhound. The dog had terminal cancer and had to be put to sleep. After he was put to sleep wondering aloud how sad it is that animals lives are much shorter than humans.the boy listening quietly spoke I know why people are born so that they can lern how to live a good life like loving everybody all the time and being nice right . He continued well dogs already know how to do that ,so they don't have to stay as long I could not tell all the story tears in my eyes. 

The sun was just rising as we set off, nothing can beat being out in our beautiful countryside like a crisp Winters day with Dogs, Both Young un & Her Mum were full of energy, bounding over the meadow in contentment. My breath as it was exhaled was misting as I walked. I decided on heading Nor'Easterly to the coast to visit a big copse near the actual coast. I've done Tree work there in the past & know I'm welcome to wander among the Trees. The frost covered grasses crunching underfoot is always a joy, some Winters are quite mild but here we've had some corking frosts, today was one. Both Dogs were alongside me as we got to the outer limits of the copse, I clicked them to me as we entered the copse. I got a few metres in then we stopped. I acclimatised myself to the change in light levels. The 3 of us just stood. Within the copse/small wood it's a different world, having to pick thru tight growing Trees & bushes so much different than a commercial plantation with it's linear lines of Trees planted for growth. Young un & Her Mum didn't need to be told to stay close, they did it naturally to ensure we didn't become separated. I found a stump of a Tree I remembered felling a few years ago. I sat to enjoy the atmosphere of the copse. The Dogs thought-'He's sat down, so we'll jump up' we 3 just enjoyed the serenity of our surroundings. To my left, deeper to the centre of the copse I heard movement, it was probably Deer moving away from perceived danger. A single grey Squirrel appeared above our heads some 6 metres in the top branches of a large Ash Tree, looking down at us swishing His tail, we are after all trespassers in His home range. That's a rare sight around here, I've not seen many Squirrels, He must have been hungry. I gently put the Dogs down to move on, that Squirrel had little enough to eat at this time of the year without burning energy being angry at us spoiling His day. It was a total joy just slowly moving thru the copse, the Dogs making little forays to the left & right following scent trails before returning after a few metres. The musty smell of the fallen leaves evoking memories of the spectacular Autumn. It was over too soon, I found the Eastern edge of the copse, skirted its boundary & headed West for home. The feelings of relaxation as we ambled home made me realise just how lucky I am. Young un & Her Mum just behind me stroking their faces periodically on my legs had me smiling like a fool. Enjoy your day.

Rocky I hope you are keeping all your stories to be saved for publishing!  You really bring your walks alive.