Canines and therapy

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I'm the proud owner of two dogs .. Ivy the Belgian Shepherd and Badger the English Pointer, both large dogs. Badger is close to, if not more, than 30kg but he's like a kitten.

I've grown up around dogs my entire life and now wouldn't be without a dog or two.

If I've had a really bad day, I come home and just see their faces and their smiles and my pups dorky actions and I burst out laughing, with a big grin on my face.

If I'm having a meltdown, cuddling my Belgian on the couch, she helps me coem back to earth and being to function again. Also if I'm having a hard day at work, sometimes I leave work early, go home to my dogs and I feel like there was nothing wrong.

Clipping on their leads and going for a stroll around the block is really relaxing. I don't think I'd still be here if it weren't for my dogs

Horses do the same for me, but sadly I'm unable to own one at the moment. I just ride.

So, share about your dogs and how they help you cope with everyday life ..

Dogs are awesome!

I think I feel much the same way about our poodle mutt Bartosh that you feel about Ivy and Badger. It's a miracle what a dog can do for the emotional well-being of the humans living with them.

Another thing that should not be underestimated is that our dogs also have taught me how to take care of another living being and to organize myself. Quite a lot of time, I am the one who stays at home with Bartosh and takes care of him (even though he is a family dog) and I know that he is totally dependent on me for getting his excercise and his food and that has helped me to develop a sense of responsibility.

One the nicest things Bartosh has ever done for me was to notice that I was feeling unhappy and needed something to brighten up my day and then he went and got his favourite toy and gave it to me as if he wanted to say "Look, this always makes me feel happy, so give it a try and see if it helps you as well."

Dogs can say such an awful lot with their eyes and their ears and their tails.

This is my dog. We have a lot of animals which can make me feel overwhelmed sometimes. But I like her and animals a lot. She's a pit bull and l like pit bulls because they have a bad reputation, I believe misunderstood, and are basically throw away dogs. She was homeless and found living under a dumpster.

She's a good dog and always wants to sleep beside me. She can calm me down.

With all these animals I'm also learning to take care of others but it can be a bit much for me at times (I'm not the only one taking care of her, and them.). Also, dog walks get me out of the house and loves all people and wants attention so she's actually put me in situations where I was talking to people on the street.

I also like horses but I don't have one.

Jediscraps - I agree on you with the pitbull and their bad rep, which really is humans giving the breed a bad name! She's lovely! What is her name?

FluffyDog, Bartosh sounds great! My two do the same, they keep my mind on course as they both need me and having two is a lot of work but I love it. My Pointer drops hair all over the house but I don't care, it gives me something to do hehe.

I find when I'm out walking them both random people stop me and want to say Hi to the dogs, which in turn brings me out of my shell because being around my dogs relaxes me and I adore talking about them.

In the new year I'm going to start training with them, well probably just the Pointer. Good way to get out of the house and mingle! More for me then for my dogs hehe.

My sister has a pair of Boxers (sisters) and I love them more than people because there is nothing as open and honest as a dog.
I love the uncomplicated way they amble over to say hello - ears down, rear end wagging, and wearing that big smile which only a dog is capable of giving. Suddenly you know that everything's Ok again and the world sings.
Play is easy with a dog and and immensely rewarding - they're so responsive yet undemanding. Even when I stop that's Ok; they'll just cuddle up anyway and we'll play again some other time.
Sigh. Love dogs...