Did you pick your dog

GonzoAston

Or did your dog pick you.

Currently I am seriously thinking about getting another dog.

I had looked around a couple of shelters when I lived in Manchester and when I saw Gonzo he came running over wanting to play and ended up sitting on my head:rotfl: (he was only 5 months then) and I knew he was the one.

I now live in London and have been looking at Battersea web page (as thats the only one I can access at work ) but I dont think you can get an idea of a dog from any website really. So hopefully will find some shelters closer to Ealing, London (no car).

So, just got me wondering, did you pick your dog, or did they pick you in some weird and wonderful way :A

UKTigerlily

Sadly I have no exciting story of how mine picked me, I called up the rescue & she was the only one good with cats & I went to meet her specifically & said yes! However I do believe she was meant for me as amonth after bringing her home we bumped into her previous owner's Sister (who had my dogs littermate) & found out all about her. She didn't even go missing (she was a stray) from where I bumped into this woman & she said she hardly ever was in the village so I really think it was meant to be somehow. Well done on considering a rescue!

Mupette

Perry was the last one there, of course he was waiting for me.

adouglasmhor

Rudi was picked for us to take for a walk, he fitted with us we fitted with him.

antw23uk

I turned up at a farm and in the plucking shed where six border collie puppies (through a friend of a friend i went to Agility with) All black and white except one tri coloured girly.

I picked a black and white boy and visited every Sunday from when they were three weeks old to 9 weeks old. The little boy i had chosen had had a small paw sprain and on the advise of a friend she told me to look again ... (because i wanted a dog for agility classes etc)
Every week i went the tri coloured girl was always the first to greet people, always the most playful and confident .... I was the only person interested that had put a deposit down so i had the pick of the litter. I chose her and named her Fly (I can type the rest of this without crying i know i can ....) I had her for eleven years and she was my best friend and companion. We competed obedience, agility, flyball and trials very successfully. I miss her so much, even after nearly 7 years. .. I can't believe its been that long ..... And if i had one wish it would be to have her back again.

System

We got our current dog from Battersea. Because we wanted a young dog they wouldn't allow us into that area. We had an in depth interview about our home life, facilities for the dog where we lived, working patterns etc. they then brought a dog out. A loopy lab/staffie cross of about 7 months that was found on the streets.

He is still loopy but showing his age a bit now 10 years on.

pulliptears

Bob (The Westie) definitely picked us. The breeder mostly bred Minature Schnauzers and both myself and OH wanted one. We got to her home and there was a beautiful litter of schnauzers, but sat on his own in a pen next to them was a very sad looking Westie pup. He came wandering over in his own time, very laid back, and gave a bit of a tail wag. Neither me nor OH looked at the schnauzers again and came home with the (much cheaper) runt of the Westie litter.

Jack (The Scottie) was an adventure. The breeder lived out in the middle of nowhere, it was a sunday afternoon and dusk, the house had poor gas lighting at best. Charging around it was half a dozen black Scottie pups. 'Pick one' she says....well, we did (although they all looked the same!) but OH made the mistake of putting him down again so to this day we aren't sure which we got, all we know is the one who followed us to the door came home.

Have to say writing that down I can see their personalities shone through then, our lovely Westie has always been quite sorrowful, very very laid back to the point where he sleeps more than anything. The Scottie has been mad as a box of frogs from day one, has to be everywhere yesterday and will follow you to the ends of the earth.

winterwhite11

more please , i,m enjoying reading this thread.

Chakani

Most of ours over the years ended up with us by accident or default. In fact the only one we picked as a pup, turned out to be completely unhinged. I'm certain there was something wrong in her brain. She was never trusted with anyone she didn't know, and she was lucky that my family lived in the middle of nowhere and she could live her own way, in peace. She certainly would have bitten someone if she'd lived in a busier place. She was with my mum for 17 years, and was never mistreated a day in her life, but sadly was always neurotic and aggressive.

I'm seriously hoping that the pup we've just picked turns out to be an easier prospect to handle! I chose her because she wasn't the one launching herself at her brothers and sisters, but she was holding her own in the little puppy brawls. She seems well-balanced and sweet natured so far, but time will tell

Winky,_The_House_Elf

We decided we wanted a dog that needed little exercise, and that wasn't too noisey as we lived in a town house. We were still weighing up whether it was too big a commitment, and visted a local shelter to get some advice.

As soon as we met the chap there, and chatted about what we thought would suit our lifestyle, he said I know which dog your going to fall in love with, shes a whippet cross, 6 months old.

We walked into the kennels, and all the dogs were barking frantically, jumping up and down, and there she was up on her rear legs like a meer cat, silent & wagging her tail, with huge chocolate eyes that melted my heart! The moment she poked her nose through the gap and licked my hand my DB (Now DH) said she's the one isn't she?

Now whippets are lazy, so we were told 2 x 10 minutes of the leash a day would be more than enough exercise, but they hadn't taken into consideration shes also half smooth colly- so she has the speed and the stamina! She really needs 2 long walks a day, and gets depressed if its less than 20 minutes a time! Wouldn't change her for the world though!

Her sister is also a rescue dog, this time a puppy. Again her mother was a whippet, father unknown, so we assumed a simular temprement (Perfect house dog, affectionate, sleeps lots, lots of fun outside) However it turns out she is some kind of staffy/pitbull cross and a nightmare with other dogs! Mad as a box of frogs! Again I wouldn't have chosen her as she didn't fit what we were looking for, but she is the sweetest most adoring dog ever, always wanting cuddles, just have to keep her on the lead around other dogs (Except our first dog, who can put her in her place with a look!)

So both dogs were not what were looking for initally, but 9 & 8 years on respectively we wouldn't change them for all the tea in China.

KxMx

My Nan and Grandad visited a shelter and Katie came walking up to them as if to say "are we going home now?". The staff offered to show them her sister but they said no