Best dog I ver had was a pedigree German Shepherd. Pardon me, but her father was the Count of Something or Other and her mother was--by all that's sacred--the prettiest most intelligent-looking animal I have ever seen in my life.

Then there was Ginger. (We had a string of dogs named Ginger.) This Ginger just showed up one day and decided to stay. He had his own habits by then--he was about three when he attached himself to my sister's leg and began that boom ba da boom. Eventually we broke him of that habit with humans. The arm of the chair was another matter. Anyway, he'd take off on occasion for two or three days. First few times we thought he'd got lost or been killed. Then he'd show up smelling of dead fish. He musta rolled in it. Craziest damned dog I ever met! Then the ado when he had to be washed. JAYSUS. Like trying to grab a greased pig. It always seemed to take three of us to actually get him into the tub. He had a definite sense of humour otherwise.

Animals that enter our lives and take up residence in our hearts have personalities we come to know and cherish. I had a dog that overcame her greatest fear because she saw I needed help in the water. That was the pedigree. The mutt took on two dogs that were threatening me (I was about 13 at the time). He got a few tooth gashes on him, but he put the run on them. I can't recall if he smelled of fish.

I love to read of people's experiences with the animals that share their lives. This is a neat thread. Thank you.