Are you a dog, cat, exotic or no pet person?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Dog person, Charley, the bestest doggo.

Charley is a handsome beast

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Dog person.  We have a mutt that is part pit, part chow, and part wiener dog named Popeye. My wife and I rescued him when we're engaged. He's a pain in the rear but we love him. Only downside is the cost. Adding a few hundred for dogsitting on top of the cost of a vacation is a pain. But worth it

[Scoop Snoop]

Dog person.  We have a mutt that is part pit, part chow, and part wiener dog named Popeye. My wife and I rescued him when we're engaged. He's a pain in the rear but we love him. Only downside is the cost. Adding a few hundred for dogsitting on top of the cost of a vacation is a pain. But worth it

Hah! My choice of a Great Dane was just that-my choice. In addition to the food expense, after a while I knew what to expect when paying for the prescriptions at the vet. Translated into 2025 dollars, I was once behind a woman in line who had a $28 bill for her little dog. My bill for my 160lb. pooch? $280. "Worth it" is spot on though.

[MU82]

Hah! My choice of a Great Dane was just that-my choice. In addition to the food expense, after a while I knew what to expect when paying for the prescriptions at the vet. Translated into 2025 dollars, I was once behind a woman in line who had a $28 bill for her little dog. My bill for my 160lb. pooch? $280. "Worth it" is spot on though.

Our next-door neighbor had TWO Great Danes. Really nice dogs. They were friendly to humans and they loved playing with our Lab mix - even though she literally ran circles around them. But my wife and I talked about how freakin' expensive they must have been to keep!

[muwarrior69]

Our next-door neighbor had TWO Great Danes. Really nice dogs. They were friendly to humans and they loved playing with our Lab mix - even though she literally ran circles around them. But my wife and I talked about how freakin' expensive they must have been to keep!

One of my co-workers had a Great Dane. It was toilet trained and had photos to prove it.

[warriorchick]

We had a beagle when I was a kid and it used to get loose frequently.  After many instances spending hours chasing the dog on foot and in the car, we found that getting its attention and running toward the house, usually meant we could get it back almost as soon as it escaped.  The dog thinks it's a game once you start running, so if you run in the direction of where you want it to go (and not at it), it will chase you.  You just need to make sure you are fast enough to get to the house before the dog does.

When I was a very little kid, we had a beagle.  One time it got out, and I managed to catch him by holding out the Tootsie Pop I happened to be eating and letting him follow it until we were both back inside the fence.  I recalled this memory recently and calculated how old I was at the time, and if I do say so myself, that was pretty effin' smart for a 4-year-old.

[muwarrior69]

When I was a very little kid, we had a beagle.  One time it got out, and I managed to catch him by holding out the Tootsie Pop I happened to be eating and letting him follow it until we were both back inside the fence.  I recalled this memory recently and calculated how old I was at the time, and if I do say so myself, that was pretty effin' smart for a 4-year-old.

A Tootsie Pop? Our two Goldens were the consummate water dogs. We could not keep them out of our pool during the summer. Labradors are also water loving dogs, but the two we have now we can't coax into the pool with a NY Strip steak and these guys love to eat. Go figure.

[MU82]

A Tootsie Pop? Our two Goldens were the consummate water dogs. We could not keep them out of our pool during the summer. Labradors are also water loving dogs, but the two we have now we can't coax into the pool with a NY Strip steak and these guys love to eat. Go figure.

Our yellow Lab mix hated the water. When we'd take him for a walk, if the grass was wet he'd stand with his feet on the sidewalk and lean his butt over the grass to do his business. It was pretty comical to see. (And yes, we always cleaned it up.) And we'd be like, "You're supposed to love the water, dammit!"

[dgies9156]

Dog, by a long shot.

Had a cocker spaniel that we adopted when our children were pre-teens. One of the harder things I ever had to do was to say goodbye to the dog after 15 years. He was a character. A pain in the ass but a lovable pain in the ass.

My wife and I are now like Chick and Glow. We're retired and travel too much to be fair to a dog. And, my daughter has a wonderful chocolate lab granddog.

Final thought: Why did God make cats?

A: Dog food.

[PBRme]

I have a Newfoundland now and have had Newfies and Bernese in the past.  I go by the anything under 40 pounds still a member of the cat Genus

[Hards Alumni]

@dgies9156 Damn, I couldn't think of a less funny joke if I tried.

[dgies9156]

@dgies9156 Damn, I couldn't think of a less funny joke if I tried.

Thanks Brother Hards. I'm sure if you work at it, you could do it!

As for a more interesting dog story, when I was a child, we had a mutt that rather looked like a cocker spaniel. Several months after we adopted her, it was Memorial Day. We lived in Nashville at the time, just past the northwest boundary of the National Cemetery. The dog was in heat and our instructions were never to let the dog outside.

Well, my brother didn't listen and our dog got out. Nashville's leash laws at the time were non-existent and, in short order, 15+ neighborhood dogs were looking for afternoon delight. All five of us along with 15 dogs headed for the cemetery and the Memorial Day  ceremony headed by Tennessee's General in Charge of the National Guard. As he spoke of the troops who gave their lives, 15 very loud dogs, our dog and my brothers, sisters and I rolled through that part off the cemetery.

If looks could have killed, Brother Hards would not be moaning about my jokes.

The worst part was my Dad knew the general, so he called him the next morning to apologize. The general just laughed and said, "oh hell,we fought the war so more people could have moments like that. It made my day!"

[CTWarrior]

I was one of seven kids and we always had a dog (two German Shepherds, consecutively) and several cats.  Occasionally fish, gerbils, rabbits. 
I am horribly allergic to animals of all kinds ("you're just one of seven kids, we can't deny everyone else just because of you").  I remember when I first got to MU being amazed at how much better I could breathe.  At any rate, because of allergies never ended up with pets as an adult and feel sorry for my kid as a result, but from my childhood experience I'd take a dog over any other pet by a mile.

[MU82]

@dgies9156 Damn, I couldn't think of a less funny joke if I tried.

Back when he was funny, Steve Martin had a couple of hilarious bits about his cat - one about bathing it; the other about, well, use your imagination.

[Hards Alumni]

Thanks Brother Hards. I'm sure if you work at it, you could do it!

As for a more interesting dog story, when I was a child, we had a mutt that rather looked like a cocker spaniel. Several months after we adopted her, it was Memorial Day. We lived in Nashville at the time, just past the northwest boundary of the National Cemetery. The dog was in heat and our instructions were never to let the dog outside.

Well, my brother didn't listen and our dog got out. Nashville's leash laws at the time were non-existent and, in short order, 15+ neighborhood dogs were looking for afternoon delight. All five of us along with 15 dogs headed for the cemetery and the Memorial Day  ceremony headed by Tennessee's General in Charge of the National Guard. As he spoke of the troops who gave their lives, 15 very loud dogs, our dog and my brothers, sisters and I rolled through that part off the cemetery.

If looks could have killed, Brother Hards would not be moaning about my jokes.

The worst part was my Dad knew the general, so he called him the next morning to apologize. The general just laughed and said, "oh hell,we fought the war so more people could have moments like that. It made my day!"

Doubt it, suggesting that someone's pet be food for another's is lacking in the humor department.

It'd be like me making a joke about your cocker spaniel being a good way to slow down a runaway semi.  Crass, and unfunny.

[BM1090]

Beagles are idiots.  I would never want one. 

I had a beagle/lab/pit mix. Smartest dog I've had by far.

[Scoop Snoop]

Dgies' dog in in heat story reminded me of my Great Dane Tristan. Not all males know how to handle a hot girl right away, and he blew his big chance on his first opportunity. A woman was walking her dog off leash in a park as was I, and from a distance she shouted "Is your dog a male? Mine is a female in heat." Her dog ran to sexually ignorant Tristan and was very excited. I leashed Tristan and the woman leashed her dog while Tristan seemed to be thinking "What? What? I don't understand. What do you want?"

As we walked away, the woman spoke to her dog. "I know, I know. You really wanted him. He's tall, strong, and handsome."

[JWags85]

Speaking of beagles, obviously these are isolated personal experiences, but still interesting.  Every pure beagle I know has been noisy, somewhat annoying, and dense. However...

I lived near a beagle mix that was a fantastic charming little dog and my dad had a mutt that was majority beagle that was an amazing dog right up until his faculties gave way in his late teens.

Further, I knew two mini/pocket beagles when I lived in Chicago, including the dog of a longer term GF of mine.  Normally I abhor designer mini dogs and they normally have a host of issues, but both of these dogs were incredible.  Obedient, loving, quirky, and super smart.  It was beyond strange.  The GF beagle was basically a beagle that was Jack Russell sized.  Quiet as can be, knew 10-15 commands, and save from some mild separation anxiety which was easily cured with a special toy, just a joy to be around.

[jutaw22mu]

Speaking of dogs, my parents just put down their 15-year old lab yesterday.  It's definitely the end of an era and the last family dog.  My dad was having a hard time with it when I spoke to him yesterday.  I remember he made a comment to me about a year ago that he was worried he was going to lose the dog and then my mom (to a memory care facility when he can no longer care for her).  Maybe this is why he was so upset.
 Hopefully the latter doesn't happen any time soon.

[Hards Alumni]

Speaking of dogs, my parents just put down their 15-year old lab yesterday.  It's definitely the end of an era and the last family dog.  My dad was having a hard time with it when I spoke to him yesterday.  I remember he made a comment to me about a year ago that he was worried he was going to lose the dog and then my mom (to a memory care facility when he can no longer care for her).  Maybe this is why he was so upset.
 Hopefully the latter doesn't happen any time soon.

Do all you can to get your father and mother in home health care if they can afford it. 

[Pakuni]

I had a beagle/lab/pit mix. Smartest dog I've had by far.

I have a beagle/lab mix and he's smarter than the purebred labs and golden retrievers I've owned.

[PBRme]

I have a beagle/lab mix and he's smarter than the purebred labs and golden retrievers I've owned.

Every dog i'v had is smarter than the last one

OR

Maybe I'm just getting dumber

[MU82]

As a Haitian from Springfield, Ohio, I'm a big fan of dogs, cats and geese.

[Billy Hoyle]

I have a Newfoundland now and have had Newfies and Bernese in the past.  I go by the anything under 40 pounds still a member of the cat Genus

My wife and I have the rule that if we ever get a dog, it has to be bigger than a cat (Our current cat is 17 pounds so the standard has been set at a higher bar now).

Her sister has a 5-pound Italian Greyhound. That's not a dog; it's a giant rat that shakes like it's had one too many double espressos. My wife's niece was over and playing with our last cat and said "I wish I had a pet I could do something with like your cat. My dog is boring."

I saw a Newfie when I was out last week and my cousins had a Bernese so I know they are excellent dogs.

[Scoop Snoop]

My wife and I have the rule that if we ever get a dog, it has to be bigger than a cat (Our current cat is 17 pounds so the standard has been set at a higher bar now).

Her sister has a 5-pound Italian Greyhound. That's not a dog; it's a giant rat that shakes like it's had one too many double espressos. My wife's niece was over and playing with our last cat and said "I wish I had a pet I could do something with like your cat. My dog is boring."

I saw a Newfie when I was out last week and my cousins had a Bernese so I know they are excellent dogs.

Your local SPCA shelter will probably confirm this, but I think big dogs often remain in a shelter quite a bit longer than smaller ones. Also, there are breed specific rescue organizations. Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League is one I am familiar with. Of course, I have made it plain that I love the breed, but just to see how such an organization works, check out their website. It is quite impressive as well as very thorough. No doubt there are Newfie and Bernese orgs out there.

https://www.magdrl.org