This is why I LOVE dogs

[nadine_mn]

I am unemployed (still) and becoming more and more of a recluse. I am home all day every day. Our 2 dogs (a german shepherd and a lab/chesapeake bay retriever mix) are my constant companions. The cat tolerates us.

Last night hubby took the dogs for a brief 15-20 min walk while I took a shower and got ready to go to the Y (its so nice to take a shower without little noses poking around the shower curtain). Afterwards, I stepped outside to take out the trash and warm up the car and I can see my husband and our dogs walking back up the street towards the house.

They started getting all excited - I yelled at hubby to drop the leashes and let them run home. He did and they ran to me like its been days since we last saw each other. Snow flew up from behind their paws and they came running to me all happy, tails wagging and big sloppy dog kisses.

They are with me 24 hrs a day most of the time, yet they were still so excited to see me. Made me feel like a super star.

I love dogs!

[FredStembottom]

1. With each passing year, I love dogs more.

Liked them all my life - but now, they seem to "speak" to me more than ever.
Dogs really can communicate.

[pacalo]

2. They sure can. They're just like little toddlers who, thankfully, can't talk.

They know how to get their messages across to their humans. And they're full of love.

[FredStembottom]

9. LOL!

Dog talk would probably be pretty inane.

[baldguy]

10. .

[FredStembottom]

12. Never saw that one.

Hilarious!

[kimi]

3. That's a great example

of just why we need other sentient beings in our lives. Takes us out of ourselves and provides perspective. It doesn't make the situation necessarily better, but it gives a different outlook on life.

And IMO, you ARE a superstar - that you can appreciate something like this in the midst of your own troubles . . . THAT is the definition of strength and resilience. You're gonna be okay.

(P.S. Don't listen to the cat. )

[nadine_mn]

6. Aww thanks, kimi!

(The cat is reading over my shoulder as I type this - lol)

Thanks for the encouragement - sometimes are better than others, and days when you have your own furry cheerleaders are the best!

[Suich]

4. What a great post, nadine_mn!

[TorchTheWitch]

5. why is it they don't like you using the tubby on your own?

I never understood that and always thought it was just my dippy dogs. I thought that I'd enjoy being able to have a bath or shower by myself after Boo passed away and before I got Yoshi but it was just lonely... I actually missed a big hairy beastie being all indignant that I was in the tubby without them and trying to join me in there.

Coming home even if you've just been out for a few minutes and having the dog greet you with such shear joy like you've been away for a year is just the most wonderful thing there is. It's what I live for.

Doggies are the bestest!

[nadine_mn]

7. The worst was when my dog Lienie used to drop his tennis ball in shower

He would usually wait until my eyes were closed, my hair full of shampoo and then drop it, I don't know how many time I almost sprained an ankle stepping on that soggy thing.

The cure for that was I started dragging him in the shower with me - not easy to drag an 80+lb lab into the tub/shower with you. A few of those unscheduled baths stopped him from dropping stuff in the tub. He still would lay outside the door (a safe distance away) and wait for me.

I miss him so much, he died in 2010 and took a huge part of my heart with him.

[Scuba]

8. K&R

[bigwillq]

11. Awesome story.

So sweet.

Dogs are indeed awesome.

[Major Nikon]

13. The major difference between dogs and cats

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. LOL

[Arugula Latte]

18. I have to say, my kitties greet me at the door.

I've had many very affectionate cats. I love the kitties more and more every year.

[grasswire]

15. I was thinking about that just the other day.

How funny it is that a dog will jump, and while, and bark and generally go nuts when a person comes home. My border collie makes a huge fool of himself every time!

Wouldn't it be funny if we people did that to our friends and family when we see them? Jumpin' all 'round and hoo-hawing and twirling and hopping?

[surrealAmerican]

16. Even when it's not directed at me ...

... it just feels good to be near that much joy. People (except for very young children) are rarely unreservedly happy. Dogs get that happy every day!

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Interestingly, our dog will do that with Mr. Dixie

but not with me.
Dog does not see me all day, I get a friendly but calm greeting.
Dog does not see Mr. Dixie for 10 minutes, dog greets him like it has been a day.
But, we have one friend whom the dog goes completely crazy over whenever she drops by.
whining and wiggling and will not leave her side the whole time she is here.
Weird.