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I can’t remember a time in my life when we didn’t have a dog. They are great pets- constant companions, the only one who is always happy to see you, they help teach kids responsibility, they reduce stress and anxiety and they definitely love to snuggle up with you whenever the opportunity presents itself! If you’re thinking of getting a puppy, here is a list of 10 breeds that are amazing for families.
We currently have two dogs. Darwin, our little Miniature Pinscher, is going on 14 years old. We got him as a puppy when the kids were little and he has been such a great boy! He’s definitely aging, can’t see out of one eye and acts like he can’t hear me, but he’s still a great dog who has been around through so much with our family. Here he is last week when he literally packed himself in the dog bag that holds their blankies, toys, food bowls, etc. and looked at me as if to say, “can we please leave Illinois now and go back to my lake house? I’ve had enough here. There is not nearly enough for me to pee on.”
Our other dog, Cooper, is a rescue that we got when I was recovering from some pretty big personal issues and that whole “who rescued who” saying totally applies to him. A few years ago I asked for, and received, a Wisdom Panel doggy DNA kit for Christmas because I had to know what the cutest dog in the world is “made of.” Turns out he is part Springer Spaniel, Poodle, Stafordshire Terrier and 25% “unknown.” If “Clingy Goofball” was a breed that would be his remaining 25% because he is a total nutcase who is *very* attached to me. He’s also a total water dog who loves to play fetch. I have no idea where the Poodle comes in, because he really does not look like one at all! Doesn’t he look like a vicious pit bull? We call him a “Pibble,” as he is a “more refined and less aggressive form of pit bull.” LOL! In reality, he’s a terrible watch dog who will first pee on your shoes and then lick you non-stop once you make it through our door.
We’ve had purebreds, shelter mutts and rescue dogs over the years and some have been better than others, some have aggravated allergies we didn’t even know we had, and some ended up not being great with kids. It’s always a gamble when you bring an older dog into an established family, so keep that in mind if you are looking at older rescue dogs. These two have been our best dogs by far and we got them as puppies. One other great dog was also a puppy, but his oily coat aggravated my breathing so badly we were forced to give him to a breed rescue. <weep> I’ve never reacted to dogs before, so this was definitely a breed-specific issue. So, research carefully because in a perfect world your new dog will be a family member for years to come!
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