[shouldazagged]

I love big dogs, especially Labs, and thought I'd never have a little one. But in the seniors' apartment complex where I live we have a 25-pound size limit on pets. My first dog in MANY years is a little rat terrier mix who weighs all of fourteen pounds. He's a blast, 118% dawg, knows it, and likes it. Digs holes, chases squirrels, rolls in stuff, and if he can do it you can watch. Completely unlike all but one of the little dogs here, mostly a bunch of little yappy divas who think they are human. One woman has two tiny female Maltese. They have their own little pink and purple stroller with their cutesy names painted on it. The only other one I like here is a horny little Pomeranian who will hump architecture if you don't watch him. Bit of a PITA, but he knows he's a dog.

"Useful" dogs? Well, two doctors say my little Moose is keeping me alive, and my neighbors say I'm a different old wreck since I got him two years ago yesterday. Seems pretty useful to me, but yankee mike mike victor.

[winds-of-change]

Originally Posted by molonlabexx

so sorry to all the purse dogs. German shepherds,

Originally Posted by molonlabexx

Glad you were able to be a hero to them! Good job. I am basically saying, a dog that does not benefit you that you just feed and it does nothing, I really don't see the point. Now I believe in training them and companionizing them! Don't worry guys I love all dogs but just am biased towards the more worker type dogs. Either way, dogs are awesome

Originally Posted by shouldazagged

"Useful" dogs? Well, two doctors say my little Moose is keeping me alive, and my neighbors say I'm a different old wreck since I got him two years ago yesterday. Seems pretty useful to me, but yankee mike mike victor.

I have a medium sized dog (Border Collie) and two small dogs (Papillon and a Pug) and I can guarantee you my little dogs are very "useful". Pugs were bred as companion dogs. They don't hunt, guard, herd but they are the best companion dogs. I know my Pug serves a very useful purpose to me.

[srtolly1]

Originally Posted by molonlabexx

I absolutely love dogs. Only dogs that are useful so sorry to all the purse dogs. German shepherds, Huskies, labs are about the only dogs I would want. I just can't get over how such a companion they are. They will never leave your side. They are amazing creatures that we are truly blessed with. And to the people that abuse them, shame on you.

Many small dog breeds were bred to hunt. I had a toy poodle cross that would hunt with my big dogs. I saw them all around a brush pile one day. Fred, the toy, went into the rabbits lair and flushed the rabbits out to Peaches, a lab collie rescue, and Ali, a Springer rescue.

Peaches and Ali hunted for us, not themselves. The brought me 3 bunnies that day. All three are.gone now, Fred was hit by an idiot driving too fast, kind of ironic since we found him on a roadside. Ali died suddenly from a brain tumor. Peaches just got old.

I also thought little dogs weren't much use till then.

[shouldazagged]

Terriers (French for "earth dogs") were bred to go into holes in the ground and pull out pissed-off animals backward. Even with a bad hind leg from an old injury, mine is unbelievably strong in reverse when we play tug-o'-war, which he loves.

[ellis36]

Years ago, when we lived in the suburbs of Atlanta, sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and, before I dared open my eyes, would wonder if I was wakened by someone now standing over my bed.

After we got a terrier as a house dog… I NEVER worried about such stuff. When I woke at night, I could feel her sleeping beside us and knew that everything was good.

We’re now on a third generation Jack Russell and live a quarter-mile off the road in the country. Nothing comes across that cattle guard without her going into full alarm!

The little dogs do have their purpose….and, IMO, they definitely have a soul.

[Cinderocka1989]

Originally Posted by ellis36

Years ago, when we lived in the suburbs of Atlanta, sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and, before I dared open my eyes, would wonder if I was wakened by someone now standing over my bed.

After we got a terrier as a house dog… I NEVER worried about such stuff. When I woke at night, I could feel her sleeping beside us and knew that everything was good.

We’re now on a third generation Jack Russell and live a quarter-mile off the road in the country. Nothing comes across that cattle guard without her going into full alarm!

The little dogs do have their purpose….and, IMO, they definitely have a soul.

Maybe I'll take my dog next time I have to sleep in a shady hotel... Although I don't normally worry about that, the noise the for knob makes when it turns will wake me up if I'm sleeping alone...

[winds-of-change]

Originally Posted by Cinderocka1989

Maybe I'll take my dog next time I have to sleep in a shady hotel... Although I don't normally worry about that, the noise the for knob makes when it turns will wake me up if I'm sleeping alone...

If I took any of my dogs to a hotel for the night, I'm afraid they'd bark at every noise at all. Like people walking down the hallway, the heater or air conditioner turning on. People outside, etc. They don't know what is "okay" sounds and what are unusual sounds. Well, the Pug wouldn't bark but the Papillon and Border Collie would.

[ellis36]

Originally Posted by Cinderocka1989

Maybe I'll take my dog next time I have to sleep in a shady hotel... Although I don't normally worry about that, the noise the for knob makes when it turns will wake me up if I'm sleeping alone...

Speaking of shady h(m)otels, when my wife was on the AQHA circuit she always took our dog with her to be in her room at night. If someone even touched the window or door in passing she would growl. (In a motel with a good bar band that can result in a sleepless night)

[Cattledog]

Originally Posted by winds-of-change

If I took any of my dogs to a hotel for the night, I'm afraid they'd bark at every noise at all. Like people walking down the hallway, the heater or air conditioner turning on. People outside, etc. They don't know what is "okay" sounds and what are unusual sounds. Well, the Pug wouldn't bark but the Papillon and Border Collie would.

I take my dog, Ember everywhere I can. If we're staying the night someplace different she just doesn't sleep. I know because when we get home she makes a beeline for the living room and passes out. She gets better the longer we stay though. If we get to a third night in the same place she'll crash for a couple hours before going back to perimeter watch. She can't help herself bein a Heeler/shepherd mix. Always on the clock

[Cinderocka1989]

Originally Posted by winds-of-change

If I took any of my dogs to a hotel for the night, I'm afraid they'd bark at every noise at all. Like people walking down the hallway, the heater or air conditioner turning on. People outside, etc. They don't know what is "okay" sounds and what are unusual sounds. Well, the Pug wouldn't bark but the Papillon and Border Collie would.

My dog probably would too he doesn't bark so much anymore though.

Originally Posted by Cattledog

I take my dog, Ember everywhere I can. If we're staying the night someplace different she just doesn't sleep. I know because when we get home she makes a beeline for the living room and passes out. She gets better the longer we stay though. If we get to a third night in the same place she'll crash for a couple hours before going back to perimeter watch. She can't help herself bein a Heeler/shepherd mix. Always on the clock

Sounds like I'm a lot like your dog, I can't sleep in a strange place.