What life lessons have your pets taught you?

I'm sorry it took so long for me to get around to this answer. Ritchie has taught me so much and my childhood wouldn't have been complete without him, nor would I be the person I am today. I remember when I was younger and my mum used to walk him to my school and we'd all walk home together. All of the kid's faces instantly lit up and he radiated such joy and hapiness to everyone. Pets bring out the best in people, no matter who they are.

The first thing that comes to mind is patience. When we got our two golden retrievers, my brother and I were encouraged to actively help with their obedience training. Goldy ran around like a wild-child and didn't want to learn a thing but it took determination and a lot of time for her to learn basic obedience. Ritchie was a bit less of a struggle but did teach us persistence. If you want a dog to behave, you must consistently teach him the right behaviour and persistently help train him. The same goes for life, if you want something you may have to try multiple times before it goes your way. But Ritchie has taught me a lot more than just this..

Ritchie has also taught me that actions speak louder than words. We can't communicate through words but small gestures mean a lot more. He knows when I'm upset and instantly comes to comfort me and I appreciate it. No amount of words could ever give me the joy and warmth that I have received from my four-legged-friend over the years.

On December 12th, 2008 my younger, lovely golden retriever passed away after being incredibly sick for a few months. Nothing can explain the heart-ache that I felt and I felt physically sick for weeks. It affected everyone, but no-one more than Ritchie. They had been best friends for years and years and suddenly Ritchie had no companion to share his days with. His behaviour changed and he aged, and still is aging extremely rapidly. However, this also taught me with tragedy that bonds tighten and become stronger than ever. We grieved together but I also learnt that life is incredibly short and can end suddenly. I began to treasure the memories that me and my pets shared more than I had before and I make every day with Ritchie count.

Your story is absoloutely lovely and I don't know if it makes me over-emotional or not but it honestl brought a tear to my eye. Him becoming a therapy dog is an amazing idea! Bowie is an incredibly awesome dog and I do believe that him and Ritchie were definately seperated at birth, or extended cousins or something. :) Hehe. Sorry for this half asleep little ramble. I really ought to head off to bed. But before I do that, here are some happy snaps that make me smile:

1.http://s785.photobucket.com/albums/yy131/Kirsty_19...

2.http://s785.photobucket.com/albums/yy131/Kirsty_19...

3.http://s785.photobucket.com/albums/yy131/Kirsty_19...

4.http://s785.photobucket.com/albums/yy131/Kirsty_19... (This one is my favourite I think)

As you can see, he is incredibly attached to his power-ranger towel. Haha

From Ritchie and I : ((((((((((((((Lark&Bowie))))))))))))))

Oxytocin is the 'love' hormone in the body which produces feelings of attachment and care. If the pathways are not properly developed, there can be severe consequences. As a neglected and abused child, I believe the only way I was able to keep some semblance of an oxytocin pathway open within was through the love of my kitties. I just thank God Almighty that I had an animal to love on, or I might have ended up lost!! The cat I have now is my absolute best friend and sleeps with his little nose nuzzled in my neck! My pets have not only meant comfort and companionship, but I believe in the ultimate scheme of things, literally life and love savers.

What a great question: My pal, Gracie, a beautiful Australian Shepard/Golden Retriever mix has taught me:

1. Find pleasure in simple things - she can play for hours with a stick

2. Stay in the moment - don't look back or ahead

3. Unconditional love

4. Loyalty

5. Dignity

6. Don't chase things you will never catch (like Deer and squirrels) She learned this one very fast!

7. Rest whenever you can because you don't know when all hell will break loose and you will need the energy.

8. Love of water

9. Don't mess with cats - they have sharp claws!!!!!

I'm sure there are many more but those came to mind.

It's amazing it's nearly always dogs that have taught us the most. In my culture we hold wolves as being the teachers of mankind. They showed us how to live in packs, it is also where we got a pecking orders and elitism from of a society being led and controlled by one or a few individuals. All things have their good and bad points, it's a balancing act.

If we have no control society falls apart in anarchy. Too much control and it ends up in a petty dictatorship. The many for the one, them. But in wolf society the leaders are constantly being challenged, this levels the playing field. Animals have much to teach us through observation, there is nothing that cannot be solved that nature has not already solved. ;)

Practicing Shaman... quantum physics rocks.

My dogs have been my only constant friends throughout my life, and I love them to death, back. So they've really been the ones to teach me friendship and love.

They've also taught me responsibility in caring for those you love. I've had them since I was small, so I grew up first watching my parents feed them and then taking over, myself, feeding them and bathing them. Most important, though, is attention. I spend so much time with them that I kind of sort of get doggy hair on my clothes, a lot.... not so attractive :p

They've taught me about character. Despite all the different human personalities I've seen, my dogs' personalities amaze me most, somehow. Animals at a distance seem as though they're machines. They do what they do and that's it. But my dogs have such clear-cut personalities, I've often wondered in my daydreams whether they're really humans under a spell. (An idea which was reinforced by Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones, haha.) I can tell you all about them. Snoopy, the yellow lab, is gentle and very Winnie the Pooh-like. He's kind of more mature, doesn't always like to play around, but loves getting his belly rubbed. Rover, the black lab, is crazy mazy. He just never grew up! He likes to play rough and has recently been trying to assert his dominance over Snoopy, who's been stepping aside because he's not the aggressive type. Rover can also be rather pushy. As you can see, they're very different.

I have had so many pets in my life. Right now I have three dogs. Dogs are true companions and they are so funny to watch in the mornings while I eat breakfast and they roam around like they're on a mission. One thing they have definitely taught me is patience when I train them from puppies. Also they show unconditional love, something humans should use more towards each other! They seem to always wake up before me too.

I have (had until recently) 4 pets each which taught me very different but valuable things. A dog (border collie - rox and a samoyed rocky), a tortoise little foot and a rabbit called Bunnikins.

Kins to my utter sadness died 2 days ago now, i feel like i will never smile again i loved her so much. She just had such a cool energy about her and was so adamant and stubborn (i admire a strong woman-even if they are just a rabbit). She was just lovely to have around, the night before she died i had her in my room and i had a horrible feeling she wouldn't be with me much longer she was acting different and being over friendly. We both sat me stroking her - i like to think she was saying good buy. Even though she is gone i am happy to have known her and for her to of liked me best - she always jumped on my lap rather than anyone else's when she was nervous or worried, and i am sure wherever she is she is happy, and i hope her energy has gone elsewhere. She helped me more compassiote about life and enjoy the small things- she had really cute ways about her, i know look for the beauty in everything, even the British weather (if i can see the beauty in that then wow i am a changed girl).

I also have a dog Rix who is amazing and in my eyes the most amazing dog to ever of lived. We adore each other, he is one of my best friends (silly as it may sound to some). I honestly believe a pet is not just an animal but someone who probably can understand you best and be there when at times you feel like no one else is. He is now 10 years old but still acts like a pup, i remember finding the article for dogs for sale in the papers- i was 12, the man we bought him off was a farmer and any that wasn't sold he was going to shoot as they were working dogs-how awful is that so we saved him in a way. Anyway i have grown up with him pretty much and taught him all the tricks he knows. He is incredibly intuitive if i cry or am mad he instantly knows, sometimes i go to him and just sit next to him and he nuzzles me to make me feel better, even if i am fake crying to get attention off him! We play hide and seek, run in the garden and i just love everything we do.

He is honestly probably one of the only people who can make me feel instantly happy, playful i am so proud to have him as my dog and loyal friend. He is protective towards out family, and is a real good judge of character. He as well as my other pets have taught me to be more free spirited and do what feels good and right, have less cares about serious unimportant issues and just overall have fun and care about those close to you. He has often jumped in to protect our other dog during fights with other meany dogs. As most dogs he is also very adventurous - even at a risk...he has hurt himself so many times and had to have the old lampshade around his head before a number of times.

Here are some pictures of my good animal friends:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29000310@N05/42484544...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29000310@N05/42484598...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29000310@N05/32206381...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29000310@N05/42477159...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29000310@N05/42484646...

Give your bowie a cuddle for me he sounds gorgeous.

Yes. I have found there is total trust but also dependency. Much like we are to be as children of God. They make me think of all the things I think I need, yet they are happy and content with such few things. They are an example to me of what is really needed. They also seem to have a forgiving heart always seeking to love and be loved.

I have two dogs, one little puppy and one very large dog.

My dog, Bentley, is nearly 7 years old, and since we got him, at 7 weeks old, he's been a carefree, happy-go-lucky, troublesome, chewing addicted, attention hog yellow lab puppy. Often he'd keep us up all night taking things off of shelves and playing keep-away with something. And he was always rough when we'd play with him. Sometimes he'd jump on us and knock us over, and whenever we'd play tug-of-war with him, he'd drag us on the ground. So when we got our little one, who is currently 10 weeks old, we were SO worried about them.

And then, when Nutmeg, the puppy, jumped on Bentley's back and started chewing on his ear, you can imagine our surprise when he ignored her. When she tried to play tug-of-war with him, and she won, we were utterly shocked.

Bentley turned out to be the perfect gentleman. Bentley taught me that even the most tough of people can have a soft caring side.

....And Nutmeg taught me that you should fear sheltie-border collie mixes....

I had a maltese cross poodle named Shelby growing up, and she was exactly like your dog! Especially the part when I am sick or upset.

When I was 15 we had to get her put down (she was 18), and the day she was put down she was just as weak as anything, she couldn't stand up, and she didn't want to eat or do anything but sleep. When I got home from school I was sitting there on the couch holding her and crying and she looked up at me and tried to lick me. She couldn't even lick me, but she tried to. It made me cry even more because it just showed what a great dog she was, and how much she loved us and we loved her. I don't think I will ever forget that moment.

She loved us so much that one time my dad took her for a walk to the football oval around the corner at night, and she couldn't find him, and he couldn't find her. Dad came home to tell us that he couldn't find Shelby and she was sitting at front door. It just shows how much she wanted to be with us!

Just another little story about her is one night when I was little (around 8?) I couldn't get to sleep and I went and told my parents and I was upset but they just told me to go back to bed. Shelby came into my room just after I hopped back into bed to comfort me. The next morning I asked mum if she told Shelby to go and see me, and she said no? So Shelby knew that I was upset and she came to see me and make me feel better!

She taught me to love my family and friends, even when times are tough and your not in any mood to show your love for them.

:)