Definition of a 'Heart Dog'

I was blessed to have three heart dogs. My Harry From The Bronx, a bad hair terrier mix who had a terrible life before living with us. He'd follow me around from room to room and stare into my eyes with love and gratitude. Loved him! Died of kidney failure just three years after we adopted him and I suffered for three years after at his loss. But they were three great years spent with him.

Morgan, another bad haired terrier, who sits at my feet tonight at fourteen years old. She was a terror terrier in her youth but she and I made it through the test to become a certified therapy dog and did humane education programs in schools for years until she retired five years ago. Square peg in a round hole. Love, love, love her for what she became. And is (which is retired and not doing nothing).

And my little Maltese Lilly, who lived in a hoarder/breeder house with 82 other dogs before she was rescued. She and I actually spoke in our own way! She's been gone to the Bridge since April but my heart still breaks to think of my loss. And soars to think of our time spent together

Dogs are just the best gifts to our human hearts.

Apologies for the long post. Heart dogs deserve it :)

I had co-Heart Dogs. They were together with me for almost 10 years and I never think of one without the other: Max and Willow. Even after 14 years and 6 more dogs, I miss them so much.

I hold Sophie my little girl who's missing a back wheel (or leg) close to my heart all the time.
She's perfect...

I've had a few "heart dogs" in my life. I've shared life with 11 canines thus far. I hope to have at least a couple more......

For some reason I thought we'd have a lot more responses to this subject....

Sher

Bella....the one and only ....the most demanding little diva I have ever known and I loved her like no other...she adored me, and her happiest times where when we were alone...no dad, no pesky sisters...she would look at me with her big brown eyes and my heart would melt...my heart still aches from the loss of her. I think we that have had " heart dogs " are truly blessed. I love my other wees but there is not that very special bond that maybe happens only once in a life time.

You know, I never thought I could love a dog more than my old standard poodle, Minky. But we got a poor little traumatized, half-starved rescue dog from the pound 3 months ago and he has absolutely captured all our hearts. Tiki is so sweet, so loving. All he wants is to be with his people. He looks into our eyes as if to say, "Thank you! thank you for saving me!" The thing is, I think he saved ME. I was a bit depressed last winter and this little guy has so lifted my spirits. Sure, he's got his issues and we're working on them. But I've never had a dog who just seemed to live for my attention. He's a little Bichon with a little round head, round teddy-bear black eyes, fluffy fur. He looks like a stuffed toy!

LOL! It's good to see that not every dog is loved equally :-) Jack, our Cattle Dog, was originally Ike's pet; and I know Jack loves ME a lot more than I love him. But I'm good to him, and do appreciate him (most of the time). But he doesn't read my mind and my heart like Ike did.

But Ike didn't start out to be a soulmate, either - it sort of came on when he was around 4 yrs old - this deep level of understanding that goes beyond words. And Jimmy's that age now, and I'm seeing glimmers of it; but since Jimmy was basically trained by Ike - I guess it's no surprise.

It will be interesting to see if Jimmy can pass along that wisdom/ability, to the new pup? Who arrives on Sunday evening :-)

This is a great thread! We all have our special heart dogs, even though we love them all, somehow one gets deeper into our heart.

I occassionally see people who just do not like dogs, have decided these are people that I don't need in my life.

Thanx CA POPPY...
I have a tough time entering this forum section because I know the heart will be tugged on.

The reason I have the Dr. Seuss quote in my signature is because it was on a pet loss website.
I try to live by it, yet the loss can be so so difficult.

I guess we'll just have to keep loving those little ones back as much as they love us.
Pet people are truly blessed.

Take good care...