Howdy all. Not staying pain is terrible right now.
Micro, glad you got your dog stitched up. Did you have an appt? Cant get into these here for at least a week.
Shrek, How many dogs have you had?
Granted, not many
but still.
We had a Golden as a kid who I barely remember but I know him and our other childhood dog, a yellow Lab, who I DO remember, fought badly (they were together briefly) and also he had some other issues like was TERRIFIED of water. Imagine a Golden terrified of water LOL the Lab was the opposite. Golden was great with kids though. The Lab was AMAZING too but he did have some behavioral issues. Like chewing things up and some other stuff but otherwise AWESOME dog and perfect family dog.
Then we had a Lab/Great Pyrenees who I did almost all the training with. He really got me into training and stuff because it took a while to find the right motivation for him but once I did, I was able to get him to do tricks and stuff most people wouldn’t because he was lazy. I loved him a lot but he was EXTREMELY protective, too much so, and LOTS of other issues behaviorally and health wise. I think he had a screw loose or something. He was backyard bred though and definitely an extremely impulsive purchase just because he was cute as a puppy soooo… he belonged on a farm. Not a family home. He also had an autoimmune disorder (we suspect) and was put down at only 6 1/2 years old.
And then we got Brewster 5 years ago. He is adopted. But he has never chewed on anything he shouldn’t, has never had an accident (he’s tried marking once or twice before being neutered but I’m talking legit accident), was easily crate trained and stayed in it willingly when needed like if I left when he was younger, etc. we had some growing pains during adolescence (but not many) but now he is the perfect dog and listens EXTREMELY well. And stays in the yard. Even at his current home. He is also my first dog that is actually my own and not a family dog and the first one I did a training class with (puppy class) so yeah.
Soooooooo…
I guess TECHNICALLY Brewster is only my 4th dog. And my first one that’s mine.
BUT!!!!!!!!
I also used to help raise my brother’s 3 and walk them as well as work on some training things. And dog sit occasionally.
So I’ve helped raise around 5 total from puppies because the Golden and Lab were both adults when I knew them. We actually didn’t get the Lab till he was 18 months old anyways and was a rehome. The Golden was a puppy but before I was born.
So raised 5, have had 7 in the family.
And then I also have known or helped with several friends dogs and my FIL’s dog. So like 8 or 9 more there because I had several clients and most had multiple dogs and others are just friends or family we see/saw regularly.
So I was extremely close/involved in around 15 or 16 dogs.
So it’s actually quite a bit.
All of them are or were (a few have passed) great dogs in their own right and very trainable (I trained and/or played with a lot of my client’s and/or friend’s dogs LOL) but Brewster still comes out on top and as number 1.
And that’s not even just me being biased or trying to pat myself on the back or anything.
He just… listens. And he’s extremely NON aggressive.
A lot of the others have selective hearing or will take off if given the chance LOL or are dog selective.
Now don’t get me wrong, Brew is NOT perfect. He gets into the trash VERY occasionally and he pulls HARD which we try to work on (although now I think he’s rarely leashed) BUT he also TRIES equally as hard. And even with the trash thing, he’ll never chew up the paper or anything. Just pull like one paper plate out and lick it clean then leave it LOL he’s an odd duck.
ANYWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, I know that was not really what you asked and kind of a VERY VERY long winded answer so…
Actually had in our household? 4. Actually owned BY ME? 1. Brew. But actually helped raise and/or train? Around 16.
I used to be really into training and wanted to go to dog training school so I used to help a lot of people or just have fun working with their dogs while dog sitting. So I have a decent amount of experience even without actually OWNING that many. Just because I would help train many.
Now I am still into training but no longer want to go to school for it.
Sorry… still rambling… I am done now. Apologies.
