I just love dogs

Nope...I don't bring my stuffed dinosaur to bed every night...;)

Funny Jafo!!! I like Racoons. They have opposable thumbs; even, though they don't use tools.

I have loved dogs for a long time. Have had 16 in my life time and all were great. 

I feel the same like you. Growing up with animals, while being repeatedly betrayed by people, made me trust and deeply love animals much more than people. We are cunning animals, who can be selfish with no reason except pride, animals make selfish decision as well, but they are always related to the basic survival instinct. Humans are just self-centered egoists. 

Oh, I guess I should have introduced my pal, Jaxon. AKA, Bubba.  Pit Bull and Aussie Sheperd mix. A rescue dog I got at the humane society rescue location in my town.

Jaxon is so smart, so good looking, and so loving.

We recently adopted a Greyhound as a friend to our other ageing canine friend. One of the most gentle (and lazy!) dogs I've ever had and both our young children absolutely adore her.

If you ever get a chance to rescue one a Greyhound, whether its an ex-racer or one that doesn't cut the grade, jump at the chance!

I had a great little guy up until a couple of years ago. My little Chihuahua named Spike (grrrrrrr).   

Due to health issues he is no longer with me, and I wish I could take care of and give a home to another dog, but unfortunately I could not take care of it any more.

Instead, I help the poor out both locally and wherever I can. I am not rich, but I survive just fine, and it's not just a time of year thing for me either.

Dogs have masters. Cats have staff.

I always love how some dogs are over-freaking-joyed to see you! Hello, my long-lost friend! It's been, like, So. Long. since I saw you last! (actually, no, it's been 45 minutes or so.) Just watch the tail wagging - never kneel in front of an enthusiastic dog, it'll turn it's bum to you and smack you....:)

Cats on the other hand: Meh, I'm not hungry so you're chopped liver to me until then....And if I deign to sit in your lap of course I'm going to use my claws to soften things up...Get a towel or two for protection.

I guess this thread wouldn't be right if I didn't share this.

This is an artist's rendition of a dog owned by none other than our own Stramp.

He recently lost his dog, Oreo, in a home accident. It about killed Stramp. I was seriously worried about him. He loved this dog soooooo much, as if it was his child, or brother, even.

Stramp disappeared for several months, adding to my worry. He has contacted me, and is ok, but has really been affected by losing his best pal, soulmate, Oreo.

I hope Stramp, aka John Burridge, is ok with my posting this.

I live out in the country and have 7 Lab\ Aussie Sheperd mixes for friends. We have Toasty, Crispy, Biscuit. Brindi, Chocolate, Notch and Pip. They all have their own personalities, which is awesome to observe. Biscuit is my oldest male and he is constantly by my side. When I play games, if someone rages, and he hears it he will sit up and growl at the speakers. He is always ready to be my bodyguard. I love running through the woods on my property with them. It's like being part of a Pack; primal and exhilarating. I, also, have cat friends and they all get along.

I have to agree that animals are more trustworthy than some people that I've interacted with in my life. My current fuzzy devotee is actually a cat that I bottle fed when she was a kitten less than 6 weeks old. She is near a year old now and is my shadow, where I go, she goes. If I leave the house for whatever reason, she will pace and meow and keep checking the door until I get home. She is the true definition of a codependent kitty hehe

Some people on the other hand, well, if I don't have what they want, then I don't exist. Pretty bad when a feline is more caring than humans lol

But to be honest, I think that I am better off with the cat.  

Four legged loyal animals Rock! Now I just have to teach her how to make coffee....

This is my little bloke.  His name is buddy and he's 18 months old.....

Buddy is the great black hunter.  Every night we go through the routine of his hunting for geckos, and believe me, it can sometimes be quite a performance.   When he was about 6 - 8 months old he spotted a gecko that had been squashed when the back door was closed, and before I could do anything about it he had snatched it and ate it.  Ever since then he has been a gecko hunter and not a lot deters him.

As for his breed, let's just say he's a Heinz 57 variety.   His mother is a fox terrier, poodle, chihuahua cross, and his father is a shi tsu, dachshund, Maltese cross.  Yeah, a bit of a mixture, though he looks mostly Maltese, but he's so cute and lovable that I can't imagine life without him.

I am a hound dog lover. I have hounds all my life and have been sick for lack of one. My basset which I will soon bring into my home will be named 'Angus Hadrian IV' >>> ! 

Yes I agree with you. My daughter and sons are my love,  but the devotion you get from being greeted at the door by your dog is simply amazing! 

Funny thing:  I did an online search for "it's me or the dog.".  On the men's forums, there is this expectation that you love the people in your family more than your dog, I.e. if your kids can't allow you to have the dog, you have to re-home him.   But you go to the women's forums, it's pretty unanimous:  " if my husband ever told me it's me or the dog, I'd tell him to get lost.".  Nope, no double standard there.

As for me, family is family.  

Luckily for me, that's not a situation in this household.  I live with my ex-wife... yes my ex-wife, and she loves my little bloke as much as I do.  In fact, Buddy was breach and wouldn't have been born if she hadn't been there to help him.  He was first, so his mother and the other two pups wouldn't have survived, either.  He was also the runt of the litter and the mother wouldn't feed him, so we took turns throughout the day and night to flip her on her side away from the other pups to ensure he got fed.  Apart from being the best looking pup, I think that's why I chose him out of the three, because I got so close and involved.

Oh, and he's definitely my dog.  He suffers with separation anxiety and whines if I have to go out without him, and when I get back he's so happy to see me, jumping up my legs and wanting to be picked up.  Shaunna and I take him for walks, and sometimes we'll need to pop into the local supermarket to get something.  If Shaunna goes into the store while I mind him, not a problem, but if I go into the store while Shaunna minds him, he yelps with separation anxiety and wants to come with me.  Like I said MY dog.

If anybody knows of an effective remedy for constant itching/scratching please PM me with it.  TIA.  Yeah, the poor little bloke is suffering with it badly right now.  I've tried various anti-itch treatments and anti-histamines without a lot of success, so I'd be most grateful for a solution.

Where is the itching?   The ears are commonly a problem.   Sadly, for small dogs, so is the liver.   If it's a generalized itching with no visible irritation beyond the dog's scratching itself causing it, you need to look into possible liver issues.   Milk Thistle is one of the more awesome herbs out there, even if the root cause is allergic.   I've taken it for decades, and look how I turned out.   Don't answer that.

It's a more general itching all over, though he's biting and scratching mostly on the legs and underside, his rear end.  anti-histamines seem to work up to a point, which suggests it may be an allergic reaction.  Thing is, I've spent a lot of money trying to help the little bloke find some relief, and we've even put down a bag of garden line in the hope of controlling fleas, but nothing thus far seems to work.

Hopefully it's not liver issues and I can find a not-too-expensive fix.

I like nice dogs. I don't own a dog.

Would you like dogs if they were a lot smarter than you?

I think you had better check for liver shunt.  It's not a death sentence.

I have 2 little Dachshunds and love them to pieces just loyal little pups!!

always loved Dogs they are just such great little or big things...LOL

Yeah, I'll take him to the vet.  I have pet insurance so it shouldn't cost too much to have him checked over.

yeah your Dog but MY baby lol  

Yeah, you helped bring him into the world, so I'll give you that.  Luckily you were there at the right time, otherwise we wouldn't have him.... the gecko hunter that he is.  Tonight he was with me in the computer room and was convinced that he could get a gecko on the other side of the window pane. 

Nothing I tried, including putting him right up to it was going to change his mind.  Oh well, he's still a pup yet, so maybe he'll grow out of it over time.  Well I hope so.  As lovable as he is, he can sure be a distraction when you're busy and least need it.

As for the constant itching and scratching, his mother suffered with it as well, so maybe it's hereditary and she has passed on to him.  The other two pups aren't afflicted, though.  Anyway, I shall get him to the vet in the next couple of days and see if she can treat him for it.

I do like the Milk Thistle.  Even if the root cause is allergic, I found that my allergies are better with it.   It's like the liver better processes "foreign agents" if it functions better, and that includes false enemies, like ragweed, cats...yourself... (autoimmune).   Also works for hangovers (which for dogs is when they eat too much bread).

I'm glad I wasn't in Melbourne when that freak storm happened, and all those allergy deaths.

That's cruel!  You used them and now you've abandoned them?