Successfully Adopting a Rescue Dog. Can anyone around here speak dog?

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9. Excellent post. I have a shelter dog. She's the best dog I've ever had...

I actually have two dogs, and two cats. I have a Golden Retriever (Bella) from a breeder in San Luis Obispo who's as white as the driven snow. She's the oldest of the dogs. When we got her she was 16 weeks old and the most beautiful dog I'd ever seen. Well natured, smart, and potty trained in less than a week. The cats didn't like her though. All she wanted to do was play, and the cats avoided her like the plague. So we decided Bella needed a companion... a pet of her own if you will.

We looked a a website for a rescue kennel down the hill from where I live. The first picture I saw was of a Chihuahua mix that was six weeks old and available for the first time that very day. The next day I called the kennel and claimed her. Her name is Luna and if the need ever arose, I'd put myself between her and a car without hesitation.

The funny thing is that when my Wife and I first started talking about getting a dog I told her in no uncertain terms that I HATED little dogs. I guess that's because the last dogs I had when living with my parents were Teacup Poodles that would bark at the wind, the leaves, the Sun, and the Moon. Fuckers...

Luna is the most wonderful dog I've ever encountered. All I have to do is smile at her and she leaps into my arms. If I'm sitting, she's in my lap and when I go to the little boys room she follows me and lays outside the door. Ever heard of a chihuahua that almost NEVER barks? That's Luna. When I say "treat" she instantly SITS, no matter where she is. Then when I have it in my hand she crawls to me on her belly (with her tail wagging a thousand miles an hour) and takes it from between my fingers so gently it makes me howl with laughter. She greets me at the door standing on her hind lets with her front paws in the air.

Dogs live with the intent to please. All you have to do is foster it. Neither of my dogs have ever been hit nor have they been yelled at. The best part? They're BEST friends. When Bella lays down, Luna goes to her and curls up in her chest. Bella sometimes grabs Luna's little tennis ball and rolls over on her back, and Luna literally sticks her head in Bella's mouth to get it. Then she puts it back. Luna grabs Bella's ear and just shakes it. Luna picks up Bella's big piece of rope and takes it to her and they play tug-o-war. To see a Chihuahua play tug-o-war with a dog ten times her size is enough to make you laugh so hard you'll cry.

Long story short... Rescue dogs are every bit as loving, smart, and loyal as the most expensive breeder dogs. They'll make you laugh, then make you cry, and then lick away your tears. They will look at you with the same love in THEIR hearts that you have in YOUR heart for THEM.

Cats on the other hand... don't even get me started.

Someone told me once about what makes cats different from dogs. Dogs think to themselves "Master feeds me. Master buys me toys. Master plays with me. Master must be GOD". Cats think to themselves "He feeds me. He buys me toys. He plays with me. I MUST BE GOD".