The Unconditional Love & Comfort of Pets
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- SherylM
- RhondaH_4
- Jausten
- Lynn
- Starstuff
- Jausten
- JacquelynK
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» SherylM - Sheryl Monroe I agree with you whole heartedly...I recently had
Sheryl MonroeI agree with you whole heartedly...I recently had to go lay down in the middle of the day which I never do. I have caught a terrible "bug" and have been coughing for two weeks and with the Fibromyalgia I'm totally wiped out physically. I just got into bed and immediately, 2 dogs and 2 of my 3 cats were in bed with me! They certainly do have a 6th sense or whatever you call it when you are ill.
My little Momma cat, I say little cause she is so light on her feet, you can barely feel her when she comes to cuddle. She's so sensitive to my pain it's hard to believe, because dogs are usually more in tune with you.
It does feel good to have their undying love and devotion..all we need give them in return is a saucer of milk and a little attention.
-- posted by SherylM
» RhondaH_4 - Rhonda Hunter.....I too agree whole heartily. I have 3 large do
Rhonda Hunter.....I too agree whole heartily. I have 3 large dogs, dobermans, that are so loving and just big babies. All have gone to obedience training but people see them as mean vicious animals. They love to run in a nearby field and rarely bark while they are there. I try to take them when no one else is around. They love to run and chase each other and I love to watch. When it is time to go home they wait at the entrance for me to put their leashes on for our return home. Some people get very angry when I leave them in my car (for just a few minutes) and they park by them. I told one woman that she should have parked somewhere else if they scare her.I too have fibromyalgia. My dogs know when I hurt and are always beside me watching and caring. They make sure they don't touch me when they lay beside me in times of awful pain looking at me like they would do anything in the world to help if they could. They help in their own way maybe without knowing. All are protective of me the male most of all. I didn't plan on having three but I have mom, son, and daughter. I wouldn't want to be without them.
-- posted by RhondaH_4
» Jausten - Thanks Sheryl. Your momma cat sounds like my male cat, Chewbacc
Thanks Sheryl. Your momma cat sounds like my male cat, Chewbacca who is the one who cuddles with me. He doesn't like to cuddle when the younger dog is around because Scully just wants to play with him.Having written this article before our cat, Balki died means that I now have 2 dogs and 2 cats, and although Balki is missed, I've noticed that the other cats are more affectionate towards everyone.
Thanks Rhonda. While out late last night letting my dogs run with my daughter, we were just putting them on their leashes when a couple of cops with a dog arrived in the field. They were looking for a hideout that apparently was used by teens. They had no problem with our dogs, but I was glad that we'd gotten the leashes on them when we did.
I had them running one other day this week up at the high school. I take them in the car, and just let them run on the field with me. Some kids were playing rugby, but my dogs tend to stay away during games. Well, Scully does try to play also, but she is harmless. On the way home, a lady was walking on the school grounds, and of course she got scared when Scully went up to her. I think that people need to learn that pets are important and always having them on a leash isn't always good for a dog. I used to be afraid of dogs when I was younger, but I knew enough to just stand still until the owner got the dog. Most dogs won't just attack, and people who yell at us because of our dogs probably should be put in kennels themselves...*g...
Cynthia
Jausten
Suite 101 Contributing Editor: Fibromyalgia
-- posted by Jausten
» Starstuff - Very eloquently put. I have a Yorkshire Terrier puppy and eve
Very eloquently put. I have a Yorkshire Terrier puppy and even at the tender age of 4 months he seems to know and understand that I can't move very fast and boy does he love to cuddle. I was only recently diagnosed - four months ago - and when my aunt offered me the puppy I wasn't sure I would be able to care for him properly. But he has managed to weedle his way into my heart and now I wouldn't be without him. I find that even though the walking and cleaning up after him is difficult, somehow it is made easier because he returns the love tenfold. Being single and having no kids, this kind of unconditional love takes some getting used to. BUT I LOVE IT.
As for the problem of a leash, my dog is only 4lbs (1.9 KG) and I use a cat leash on him. The neighbours all want to pet him so I don't get to walk very far without stopping. I have found that using an ExtendaLeash is perfect. He gets about 12 to 15 ft ahead of me and I don't have to run (he may be small but he's fast) to keep up.
An option you may want to try is to clicker train your big dogs. You don't have to shout and they respond almost instantly. It is very easy for them to learn and I have seen it do wonders where a person can't get to their companion animal before a stranger does. My aunt teaches obedience and has put her 4 year old dog into a clicker class. The dog, who is conviently deaf when she wants to be, loves it. Just a thought.
-- posted by Starstuff
» Jausten - Thanks Lynn, My male cat..well, actually my youngest son says
Thanks Lynn,My male cat..well, actually my youngest son says that he is his cat...is the affectionate one, when he wants to be..*g
Thanks Kris,
I've started having one of my kids walk with me and the two dogs to a field nearby. Then I let them run. Last nite, Scully decided to try and eat a dead rabbit or some other poor lost animal, and she turned deaf on me as I was screaming at her to drop it. She went on her leash after that. She doesn't pull like Pepper does, yet Pepper is much more obedient. I did take them to obedience training with my daughter, but we had them together and it wasn't exactly fun for me. I can handle Pepper on a leash when I don't have Scully with me. But they like to run together. And being big dogs, they do need to run.
As far as cleaning up after them, well......let's just say that I did some cleaning in the backyard today and my body is killing me now. A new rule is going to be that each day, someone is going to have to clean up after them so it doesn't get so overwhelming for me. Besides it isn't healthy for the dog poop to be lying around. I'm going to start beating 3 kids and one husband over the head soon..*g..
Cynthia
Jausten
Suite 101 Contributing Editor: Fibromyalgia
-- posted by Jausten
» JacquelynK - Jacquelyn Keller Once again, excellent article! We just had
Jacquelyn KellerOnce again, excellent article! We just had to put down a male cat who adopted us two years ago who had a medical problem we couldn't afford to continually treat for the rest of his life. That was a painful decision. We have also noticed the animals we still have (two chow chows and two cats, one a Himalayan, and all long haired and cuddly) have become even more affectionate since that time.
I cannot walk the chow chows because they constantly pull at the leash, but the youngest, Li Fu, is such a dear. She is extremely sensitive to my every mood. She knows immediately if I am even the slightest bit unhappy with something and is right there trying to get some "loving." 
One cannot stay upset when they are petting and loving a dog that is licking them and wagging its tail!!
Even though they create more housework and expense, I could not give up my animals for anything. I even have to give up my parents visitng as they used to, because my mother is allergic. But this is MY life and I need these animals on a day-to-day basis. I think they help relielve the ache of not having children, too. I cannot say enough good things about having pets.
One last comment, my husband and I have a little joke between us. We always say we are "suspicious" of people who are afraid of or don't like animals. We kind of use that as a barometer for measuring people, I'm afraid!
Jacque
-- posted by JacquelynK
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