When I was growing up, I was scared of dogs. Actually, I was scared of all animals (including humans), but dogs really bothered me because how energetic they get.
Now, as an adult with autism living alone, I am so grateful to have ended up with a pet dog (long story). I've been living alone (with my Toby) for just over one year now, and we're both the happiest we've ever been. Toby is 3 and I am 27.
I don't think I would be nearly as happy as I am now if I didn't have a dog to keep me company. Dogs are great: All they want is to be your best friend, they love to cuddle and play, they don't talk, they listen, you can train them not to bark often (easier with puppies!), they do what they're told without resentment, and if you're good to them, they'll grow up to be calm and loving.
My Toby likes to lay on my tummy with his head on my chest when I'm on my back, and it is the single most comforting thing I have ever experienced.
Note: I wouldn't tolerate any physical contact (from dogs or humans) growing up, so I didn't understood the power of a cuddle until adulthood. <3
this is such an awesome story
i share my life with a rescued greyhound named zami . she is a truly amazing ,smart,sensitiv an special person who has so much love to give . i cant imagine life without her. unlike humans ,she has no hiden agendas, an she doesnt find me weird or rude or inadequate . she always wants to be with me,an with her i dont feel lik an outsider anymor wherever i am
we humans could learn so much about how to treat one another with respect if we were humble enough to folow the xamples of our fellow animals mor often .
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she had blue skin /and so did he . / he kept it hid / and so did she / they searched for blue / their whole life through /then passed right by - and never knew . (shel silverstein , 'Masks')
I'm not sure what I'd do without my dog either, now that I have one. To be honest, she's pretty much my reason for getting up in the morning, leaving the house, trying harder to keep myself together for her. She's my main reason for not trying to kill myself again - there wouldn't be anyone to look after her, and I can't imagine how she would adjust.
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Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly...
I like most dogs more than I like most people.
I'm partial to Keeshonden, but I have a terrier now. My step-daughter wanted a small dog to help her get through chemo for ALL (step-daughter is out of the woods now, thankfully).
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Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 145 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 72 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)
"In theory, theory is the same as practice; but in practice it isn't." -- Anonymous Bosch
I've had dogs around almost my entire life. Each one is a person to me too. Right now, I'm going through a rough time. Lady is 16 now. She came into my life when she was 7. I love her so much and am so grateful for the companion she's been. It's hard to see your companion grow old, though. I don't want to put her to sleep, but she's getting very week and it's even getting hard to get her to eat. I thinks it's close to the end and when I think about I get choked up. She was so athletic. She's amazing. She would catch the racket ball and retrieve the frisbee. I'm glad you guys are blessed to have wonderful companions, like Lady is to me. It is an amazing feeling to lay with her on my chest. It calms both of us. Here's a link to a video that really touched me. It's the story of a dog and a deer who have ended up falling in love and live together.
http://theilovedogssite.com/a-deer-walk ... the-world/
CockneyRebel
Veteran
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age:40
Posts: 92,303
Location: In a quiet and peaceful garden, where gentle Mick Avory-like Sweet Peas grow.
I'm also a dog person and I go and visit Chico at my parents place at least twice a month. He started out being mine and than he became the family dog when I moved out, because they don't allow pets where I live. I got him when he was two months old. He's now 11 in dog years which means he's 60 in human years. He's been slowing down a little.
That was a sweet video by the way. Thank you for sharing that with us. :O)
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The darling, unworldly Mick Avory with hands like shovels, who wouldn't dare choose to hurt a soul: I'm the cuddly, adorable Kink. Sweet Peas: http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j37/C ... 20Smileys/ Blog: http://ramblingsofasuccessfula
I like this, because I'm the exact opposite. I hated dogs and couldn't be near them when I was younger. All that energy made me freak out, and I grew up as a definite cat person. I still love cats. But I'm definitely now also a dog person.
I think dogs serve a different purpose than cats, though, because dogs are pack animals, which means that they form stronger bonds with their human families than cats do. Also, my Toby never hides from me or hisses when I want to snuggle. This is really important to me.
I wouldn't mind having a dog except for one small problem: the landlord says no pets (even though he has a min-pin, that he brings with him when he comes up to the house until very recently, when he moved from Bawlmore to Clearwater, FL. Even if he were to allow pets, I don't think he'd want a bloodhound or a basset hound living here, considering how difficult it is to clean dried slobber off the walls. Bloodhound and basset hound slobber dries as hard as concrete.
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EQ: 19 AQ: 43 BAPS--Rigid:107 Aloof: 115 Pragmatic: 99 Diagnosis: 10 SQ: 23 Reading Minds Eye: 15
Your Aspie score: 137 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 79 of 200
Never teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
I've been a dog person for a long time. My family has had dogs since before I was born, with a few periods with cats or no pets at all. The cats kept running away (even the indoor ones), but the dogs never did. Today, when I see a dog, especially a larger dog, I have the urge to go over to it and scratch its back, find something for it to fetch, or play tug-of-war with one of its toys.
Unfortunately, my current situation does not allow for me to have a dog. I live alone in a small condo and am at work all day, and having it locked up inside all day would not be good for it. My parents have a few though.
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"Tongue tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I" - Pink Floyd
(and then the tower cleared me for take off)
Actually, there are certain breeds of dog I DON'T like. In no particular order
1. Dachshunds (I have yet to meet one that didn't try to tear me to shreds)
2. Terriers of any kind (most of them have nasty dispositions)
3. Pekingese (ditto)
4. Papillons (ditto)
5. Pomeranians (ditto)
6. Chihuahuas (ditto)
7. Labrador Retrievers (the elevator doesn't quite go to the top in the brains department)
8. Golden Retrievers (ditto)
As for cats, in the fictional words of a basset hound and her owner that frequent the Daily Drool, two words suffice: CROCK POT!! !! !! !! !! !!
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EQ: 19 AQ: 43 BAPS--Rigid:107 Aloof: 115 Pragmatic: 99 Diagnosis: 10 SQ: 23 Reading Minds Eye: 15
Your Aspie score: 137 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 79 of 200
Never teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
I am also a dog person.
My current doggy is a rescue. We were going to get 2 before we realised how badly she'd been treated - and we put in a lot of time to rehabilitate her and make her comfortable with us. By then , it became clear that she was better as a solo dog. She is now often one of my main reasons for keeping going - if I have a crap day I console myself that my dog will be witing for me.
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