Comments on: Love at First Sight . . . It is a Must!

By: Patzee

Patzee — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:16:39 +0000

After reading this post Susan, I now wonder if that is why I have 8 dogs- perhaps unknowingly searching for that missing piece of the puzzle, the connection to my heart? Hmmmm.

By: Ellen Kilpatrick

Ellen Kilpatrick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:01:18 +0000

I think love at first sight sometimes happens, and if it does then that’s great. the connection in these situations is almost instant. But love can grow from a caring heart, a chance taken, and through learning about each other. This is true in our human world and I believe it’s true in our interaction and relationship building with dogs who come into our lives. It takes a commitment from us, to learn about the dog who has come to us, whether he/she is a puppy or an older dog who has suffered from abuse. But, when faced with having to choose from a litter, or from the line of caged dogs at the shelter, the one you will likely (and should) pick is the one whom you connect with in that “moment”. The love may come later, but the bond or connection is usually instant.

By: Andrea Wohlhuter

Andrea Wohlhuter — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:56:58 +0000

How incredible when you read the stories of all of you. All different experiences. I have three bullterriers. The first one is a boy that is now 8 years old, he is my husband’s dog, and I really do not feel any connection with him. I like him dearly, but unfortunately there is nothing more. Then I got given this 12 week old puppy girl. She was an absolute devil and at first I thought, “What did I get myself into?”. However, she was the one! I knew right from the beginning, and no – there is no logic go it. She grew into a stunning dog and did very well in the show ring. But she also gave me the courage with her enthusiasm to work with me that I actually started working with her in obedience. We have now got our CCD title and have qualfiied in Novice. We have started in agility this year, and I am humbled every time I work with her. She is the one that teaches me everything – sorry Susan, you did contribute also! But ever since this year our relationship has grown deeper and deeper. I cannot imagine being without her – probably not very healthy. A spectator once said to me after we did an agility trial: “This dog absolutely idolises your!” and this was the best compliment I ever got. Now who says a Bully can’t?

By: Tiffany Z

Tiffany Z — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:50:26 +0000

Lovely post and I wholeheartedly agree. I especially agree with the part that the dogs we end up with come to us for a reason, even if we don’t quite know it at the time.

I recently went to purchase a Borzoi puppy…one primarily destined for the breed ring, but I also thought it would be fun to dabble in obedience and agility. After seeing pictures of the litter a 8 weeks I had my heart set on one of the puppies, he had beautiful structure and was a colour I adored. There was an equally beautiful puppy in the litter I had discounted early on because his head wasn’t my style and I disliked his colouring…well, as the fates would have it the breeder kept the puppy I wanted and I ended up with the one I didn’t particularly want.

He was still very well built so I couldn’t complain and I eagerly awaited his arrival at the airport. As soon as I saw his face I knew he was the one I was meant to have; definitely love at first sight. He has been a better dog that I could have ever asked for. Not only in structure but in temperament and personality. He has the strongest work ethic I’ve ever experienced with a Borzoi and is showing amazing aptitude for agility and obedience.

Now I look back and wonder why I wanted any other puppy but him.

By: Elise

Elise — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:02:07 +0000

I was the same but I’m a convert…

Dog 1 (a 1 yr old re-home Malinois, female)
The first time I met her, I refused to take her since she was psychotic… still is at age 5!!! My boyfriend wanted her and I caved. I fell in love with her months later and she truly picked me. She is my special girl now, my 1st sport dog who has excelled at everything she tried without batting an eye.

Dog 2 (a 3 month old deaf Cattle Dog from rescue, female)
I saw a picture and fell madly in love. I tried to resist and couldn’t. She is my Monkey and despite having gone through hell and back with her elbow dysplasia, I never considered that she wasn’t a good choice. Badly built and deaf, she was the most amazing sport dog until I retired her at age 2. Now we are facing 6 months of rehab from surgery to be able to take up tracking in soft soft grass.

Dog 3 (Malinois puppy that I waited over 2 years for)
Knowing that my oldest dog was going to slow down at some point and knowing that my second pup wasn’t going to be able to do anything competitively, I needed another dog to train! I desperately wanted another female Malinois but Cheryl Smith told me that was out of the question with my pack of stubborn females! Deep down, she was right unless I wanted to fight my pack constantly.

So I picked a bitch and a stud and told my breeder (and friend) to save me the dog that was most appropriate for me. I told her nothing else. We both knew that what I wanted (another psycho female) and what I should have were 2 different things. 4 pups were born (3 males, 1 female). I instantly fell in love with the small boy and the female. I met them at 6 weeks and kept loving the small boy and the girl. PSYCHO DOGS with lots of civil aggression and so much drive it was insane!!! But not the right dogs for me at this time. I was introduced to my pup, a fairly mellow boy. He came up to me for cuddles and we played tug and ball. I left dissapointed that she picked a “mellow” boy for me. 2 weeks later, I took him home. I learned to love my pup (now 10 months) for who he is and I realize now that he is exactly what I needed in my life. A boy that gets along with my girls, who has lots of drive but no civil aggression. I thank Brigita and Mike for picking my special boy for me. I would have never picked him but he is perfect for me. She spent 24h a day for 6 weeks with him before I met him and she knew those pups better than I ever would. I adore him.

I truly think that if you love the parents (or what they produce) and you trust the breeder, they can often pick the best pup for you.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:58:37 +0000

Sometimes I wonder if its possible to always fall in love at first sight. Suzzi, my german shepherd mix, was a rescue I took home because she was in such a bad situation. Although I loved certain things about her neither of us could seem to connect when training. I lost Suzzi to cancer 2 yrs back and I still love her like mad but I certainly didn’t love her at first. My newest dog is a rescue border collie, Rose, who horrified me at the shelter with her behavior and the fact that she is almost pure white. Anyone who’s into borders knows to “avoid the white ones” so I wasn’t sure about taking her home. I took Rose home because she needed someone who knew how to work with her issues and I’d just lost Suzzi. Rose and I get along well but didn’t have that instant connection, in fact Rose and I didn’t snuggle together until I’d had her nearly a year because Rose didn’t trust anyone and I wasn’t too sure I liked her. I’ve had Rose almost 2 yrs now and we are doing fun matches now. I adore Rose now but I realize I still don’t have the connection that I have with Motion, a 5 yr old bc, which is pure adoration. When I’m having a bad day just spending 2 minutes with Motion makes life wonderful again. So will Rose and I ever have that special connection? Can it grow or is it immediate?
This is a good question for me since I’ve got a puppy coming in a few months. . .

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:04:41 +0000

I’m normally a luker, but I’d have to disagree. All of my pets are rescues, in one way or another, and almost none of them were love at first sight. While my 11-yr old mutt is definately the dog of my heart, my 2nd dog (a BC mix which I’ve had a whole 7 weeks) and I are still getting to know each other. She’s nearly 4 and her arrival at my home was a HUGE transition for her, for me and for my 11-yr old dog. As a result, her personality keeps blossoming every day, and every day I like her a little bit more and more. While I will never find another dog that will have a connection with me like my 11-yr old does, this new dog and I are definately growing to love each other. We’ll see where it takes us over time

By: Rosie Ison

Rosie Ison — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:15:52 +0000

Oh how I could connect with your post.

4 years ago I wanted a new puppy who was related to my other boys. I went to see the litter at 5 wks old and I liked 2 puppies, but one more so. I went back at 8 wks to have my final choose and planned to collect 3 days later after a show I was doing. I took my best friend along and she steered me away from the pup I originally fell in love with and convinced me the other one was the better choice.

I didn’t bond with Chip at all. He didn’t show me any affection at all,so it was hard for me to give it back. I liked him as he was a good sweet puppy but there was no love. I mourned the loss of the other puppy(even though it hadn’t died) and 3 wks later phoned the breeder to tell her how I felt, If the other baby had still been there I think I would have taken Chip back & swapped him, but the other puppy had been sold. So I kept Chip.
It took 2 years for me to say I loved him, and even now there is not the all consuming love I have for my other dogs. Chip however always gives me 100% in his work.

When I got my last puppy a year ago, I chose him at 5 wks old, and although my daughter wanted another from the litter I stuck to my choice. Fozzie is the naughtiest puppy ever but I love him totally, however he isn’t showing the work potential of Chip as yet.

In the future I will always go with my heart.

By: joyce

joyce — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:41:01 +0000

this post really meant alot to me. i just finished helping my whippet raise a litter of puppies…nine of them! i thought from the start i knew which one i would keep…a very pretty, nicely put together parti colored boy. for the first two weeks, he was the one..or so i thought. but something happened during week 3. this silver boy, the smallest of the bunch, chose me. everytime i would enter the whelping box, he’d crawl/stumble/run to me, throwing himself at me and stare deeply into my eyes. there was no denying what he was trying to tell me…i am the one that is meant to stay. the others “liked”me….this one “loved” me. he would leave his mothers side to come to me…and i could not deny the bond that was there. if i was looking at choosing a dog for agility only, i probably wouldn’t have chosen this particular puppy. i worried that he was “needy” and perhaps sensitive. luckily, it turns out he is not sensitive, although he is a bit needy. a trainer that i admire pointed out that that attribute could work in my favor. his structure is nice and he is lovely to look at. at 14 weeks old today, he is really into playing Crate Games and races to his crate, flips around in midair, and lands facing the door. won’t move till released. i realize the value in this game now that i have a puppy who does this so willingly and happily. i plan to get back to crate games this afternoon with this puppys mother, who is just beginning her agility career. let the games begin!

By: Lois

Lois — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:26:53 +0000

Dear Susan,

Thank you so much for your “Love at First Sight” post. I have been feeling terribly guilty because I don’t just don’t seem to love one of my dogs like I do the other 3. Two of them I found on Petfinders.com and their pictures “spoke” to me. People think I’m crazy when I tell them that but I think you probably understand. The 4th dog into our family seemed to grab my husband. I even bought a book on bonding with your pet but the truth is I don’t think I’d miss her if she was gone. My husband would miss her so we have her for life. I think now, though, I can stop feeling like there is something wrong with me.