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Post by zahada on Jan 19, 2014 0:51:22 GMT
Equally?  Is it possible? Or is there always one who just tugs at your heart strings more than the other one(s)? Or frustrates you less? Or is THE ONE IN A LIFETIME? |
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jan 19, 2014 8:59:45 GMT
I only have one dog currently, however am planning another in the summer. I feel Earl will always be that once in a lifetime dog - he has helped me in so many ways. Although I say this, I feel that it is important that you treat all your dogs equally to prevent jealousy. I am sure that all the dogs I have I will love. I will always love all my dogs i have in my lifetime. But Earl (being my first dog, the dog who has helped me in life, and just ben my best friend all the way through) will always be my once-in-a-lifetime dog.
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Post by Roo on Jan 19, 2014 9:02:33 GMT
I don't know, I don't think that people would like to believe that!
I love both Misty and Jools the same; despite Misty's social etiquette (or extreme lack of!) and Jools being a complete idiot at times, I still love them both the same.
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Post by smokeybear on Jan 19, 2014 9:16:47 GMT
I hate the term "once in a lifetime" dog, it implies that you will never have another dog which may be "as good" for want of another term.
I have loved ALL my dogs, but I have not been "in love" with them all.
Although I loathe the terms "fur babies" or "furkids" from the US, I quite like their term "heart dog" to express the special relationship some of us have with some of our dogs.
Love is not about equality in any case. It is expressed and felt in many different ways and as you grow older you will come to realise this; fraternal, paternal, filial, maternal etc are all different yet similar. I do not love all those I love "the same"......................
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jan 19, 2014 9:32:26 GMT
I hate the term "once in a lifetime" dog, it implies that you will never have another dog which may be "as good" for want of another term. I have loved ALL my dogs, but I have not been "in love" with them all. Although I loathe the terms "fur babies" or "furkids" from the US, I quite like their term "heart dog" to express the special relationship some of us have with some of our dogs. Love is not about equality in any case. It is expressed and felt in many different ways and as you grow older you will come to realise this; fraternal, paternal, filial, maternal etc are all different yet similar. I do not love all those I love "the same"...................... When I used the term 'once-in-a-lifetime' dog, I meant that I doubt a dog will ever help me grow in confidence etc as much as Earl has. This has a few reasons. One being that I will most likely not NEED any help in the future as I will grow older, and Earl has already helped me. You may think it sounds stupid 'a dog helping a human' but it happens. That is why I used the term. |
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Post by smokeybear on Jan 19, 2014 9:54:21 GMT
If I thought "'a dog helping a human' " was "stupid" I would hardly have joined Pets as Therapy, bothered to have my dog assessed as a PAT dog, made regular visits to a mentally handicapped home for several years or trained as PAT Temperament Assessor so that other teams could help humans.  |
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jan 19, 2014 10:09:56 GMT
If I thought "'a dog helping a human' " was "stupid" I would hardly have joined Pets as Therapy, bothered to have my dog assessed as a PAT dog, made regular visits to a mentally handicapped home for several years or trained as PAT Temperament Assessor so that other teams could help humans. Ah OK, I did not realise.  |
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Post by upsydaisyherewego on Jan 19, 2014 10:20:20 GMT
We have 5 dogs at home and I feel I have a better relationship with with Hoddy and Lance than any of the others as they are my dogs. I train them, walk them and they sleep with me. I love all of our dogs, but don't have the same bond with all of them.
Even with Hoddy and Lance, the bond between us differs between each of them.
Hoddy is more like my sidekick. She is clever, independant and (mostly) reliable.
Lancelot is more like my "baby". I hand reared him from being 10 days old, and so he is quite attached to me. I don't treat him any different to Hoddy, I just think it's in his nature to want more attention and affection.
All dogs are once in a lifetime dogs (IMO). Like people, they are unique. It makes your time with them so much more special and for that, I am grateful.
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Post by SarahHound on Jan 19, 2014 11:16:53 GMT
My dogs are treated the same but I love Lucy the most She's just lovely, and doesn't usually get much attention from people (because she's brindle I think), and also people pay attention to Todd because he's old and only has one eye, and Katy because she's young and blonde. Lucy is the most affectionate out of the bunch. |
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Post by charlottte on Jan 19, 2014 17:18:21 GMT
I'd like to say is love all my dogs the same, but as I only have Jasper I can't really say.
Don't get me wrong, I loved Buddy and I was absolutely devastated when he died but the bond I have with Jasper is so much deeper and when his time's up (can't even think about it) I know I'll be heartbroken.
He's made me realise a lot (about both myself and behaviour) and has helped me through a lot. He's also helped me kickstart my training career.
He had/has some issues but they're things we're working on and I wouldn't change him for the world.
However I don't think you ever get two the same and for that reason I can't say whether I will love every dog I'll own the same. I'd like to think I would as I don't like the idea of favourites, but who knows.
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Post by Avansa on Jan 19, 2014 17:27:17 GMT
I love both of my dogs equally, but in totally different ways and for different reasons. Milo was my first dog and he taught me A LOT. He's fun, always up for a game of something or other, but he will lay down and relax for the day/night if you're not feeling up for a play. However, he isn't the easiest dog to own (won't go into that too much!) He doesn't generally like too much physical attention. He's never been one for fuss and cuddles, although he does like a good bum scratch. Finn on the other hand, is the total opposite. He wants your constant attention, and he is very much a (huge) lap dog. He loves cuddles and fuss. He is a MASSIVE baby, and that alone makes you more protective over him and see him in a different way to Milo who is very independent. Especially after his noise phobia developed, I just want to protect him from everything. But because I know I can't, we do A LOT of work together to try and get him over his fears and that has brought us closer together The only time he will settle down is if he's asleep or you're stroking him or cuddling him so sometimes he drives me mad because I just want a rest and to not have to think about him  . That is partly our fault for giving in to him, but a lot of it is just who he is as a personality. |
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Post by Rubyroo11 on Jan 19, 2014 18:19:49 GMT
I do love all my dogs, but what I love about them is different for each individual. I do believe you can have favouritism and a better bond with one dog over another.
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Post by miloooox on Jan 19, 2014 18:59:51 GMT
I love both my dogs but feel so much closer with Milo.
He is my dog (and it took me 7 years of begging and a broken ankle to get him!!) so I feel more responsible over him than I do Molly.
Milo is more of my baby as I reared him from 4 weeks and have literally done everything for him since, he constantly makes me laugh and is just the goofiest thing. He's been there for me through many distressing times and at some points if it wasn't for him I don't know what I would have done.
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Post by teegiebear on Jan 21, 2014 19:13:59 GMT
Id love to say both my dogs are equal and althou I spend time with them both and treat them exactly the same one I'd say I've got a stronger bond with. Enzo is officially mines an dexter my sisters but she takes nothing to do with him so we always say he's my other halfs since he trains and walks and feeds him. My mum and sister don't have enough patience for Enzo when he's having a crazy time so I feel like I'm forever sticking up for him and fighting his corner coz he's so hyper and daft. Untill the past six -eight months or so he's not really even went to anyone else for a cuddle, he will if you call him but never really just wander up and lie beside but my other half has been working a lot with him to help this. At the same time I've been doing more myself with dexter and taking him out so Enzo has one on one time with other half or my mum (even though it just means they're in the house together) Dexter gets so much more attention when were out and compliments on his shiney coat and Enzo for a while wasn't helping himself as he was being overprotective of me so warning others off. I think I have a great bond with both dogs and in different ways but with various training using myself and other half were fighting Enzos corner so everyone else loves him as much as I do. My sister likes dexter coz she's his but not enough to walk him....  |
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Post by miloooox on Jan 27, 2014 21:25:27 GMT
Id love to say both my dogs are equal and althou I spend time with them both and treat them exactly the same one I'd say I've got a stronger bond with. Enzo is officially mines an dexter my sisters but she takes nothing to do with him so we always say he's my other halfs since he trains and walks and feeds him. My mum and sister don't have enough patience for Enzo when he's having a crazy time so I feel like I'm forever sticking up for him and fighting his corner coz he's so hyper and daft. Untill the past six -eight months or so he's not really even went to anyone else for a cuddle, he will if you call him but never really just wander up and lie beside but my other half has been working a lot with him to help this. At the same time I've been doing more myself with dexter and taking him out so Enzo has one on one time with other half or my mum (even though it just means they're in the house together) Dexter gets so much more attention when were out and compliments on his shiney coat and Enzo for a while wasn't helping himself as he was being overprotective of me so warning others off. I think I have a great bond with both dogs and in different ways but with various training using myself and other half were fighting Enzos corner so everyone else loves him as much as I do. My sister likes dexter coz she's his but not enough to walk him.... I know EXACTLY how you feel, when we were planning and researching on getting a dog my mum was like 'although he's your dog he's still the family pet so everyone gets to walk/feed/train him' that lasted for a short while when he was a tiny puppy and then the charm wore off and he was left to me, I don't mind as I love my boy and love looking after him but still. |
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. That is partly our fault for giving in to him, but a lot of it is just who he is as a personality.
