Without any shade of doubt at all the two biggest loves in my life are Golden Retrievers and long hair. By miles and miles ! I simply adore Goldies (and could talk about them for ever !!) mainly because for me theirs is the most unselfish love I have ever known and why I’m one of those really odd ones who much prefers them to most humans ! And long hair just goes so deep and still brings so much unconditional pleasure that I’m now pretty convinced that without them……heavens I daren't even think of the consequences !

Does this make any sense or strike a similar chord in anyone else ?  :)

yes,it does!  I feel the same way about my bichon!

I have a Golden Retriever. Yes, they are the most affectionate and loyal dogs. Their loyalty to you is unconditional. This is my 2nd (Lacey) and she's approaching 13. My first one (Amanda)lived to be 13 before moving on to doggie heaven. When it's time for Lacey to go home, I'll get a third affectionate and loyal Golden Retriever.

I also have a toy Fox Terrier. You may remember when I wrote when she was attacked. Well Sunday, the retriever was attacked by the same dog. Lucky the attacker only got a mouthful of hair.

I will also be married 25 years next month. I guess she isn't kicking me out of the house after all this time.  ;D

Yep, Golden's are wonderful pets.  Yellow labs are right up there as well when it comes to unconditional commitment to their master.  I've had an Irish Setter (fantastic hunter, very hyper but loving dog.  I cried when we lost him); English Setter (also a great hunter, but not easily controlled); German Shorthairs (wonderful hunters and good pets, but not good house dogs); Weimenauer (my favorite; a nose that would not quit, the best bird dog; a loyal pet to her master and extremely protective of me when I was injured; I still miss her after 5 years); and a beagle-mix (great dog if you like small/medium breeds that need lots of attention).  Our neighbor has a yellow lab that we take care of regularly.  She is a doll now that she has settled down and is out of puppy-hood, but not as good a hunter as everyone hoped.  She is a fantastic family dog.

Sir Rat - congrats on your upcoming 25th anniversary.  I'm sure the two of you have a very special love that will carry you thru another 25 years.

I'm a rabbit person- since childhood I have almost all the time had rabbit/s as my companion. I really like them and couldn't imagine living without one. My life would be so boring.
Rabbits are social and loving, but independent (in the sense that they don't obey people without question and have a need to feel they are respected). They are curious and bright, funny and many times braver than their reputation suggests. Of course, they move by hopping, have HUUUGE yawns, long ears and are super soft.
   Right now I have an adolescent doe, to whom we are trying to teach manners (and self-preservation). I hope we'll have many, many years of happiness together ahead of us.

I too, like my pet better than most humans.

Congratulations for your anniversary, Sir Rat!

Hmm, Maybe there's something about long hair and animal adoration... I too am one who prefers her pet to almost all people. Mine's a cat, though. 1 year old april fools day, and has a calico jester's personality(catality?) I've always liked dogs too, but I had to leave mine with my parents when I moved to Louisiana. We don't have a big enough house to keep a large (Rottie X German shephard) mix indoors, and I wouldn't want to put him through the stress of living outdoors in a kennel.

I love long hair on ladies but my favorite dogs are pugs and rottwielers (sp?) 8-)

I have noticed that golden retrievers are one of the most friendliest breeds.  One day I was walking and all of a sudden a golden retriever seemed to be charging at me like it was going to attack and bite me :o
But, it stopped and just wagged its tail and from that day I petted it every time I went by that house :)

Jerry

Not "catality" Kiraela, it sounds too much like "fatality."  "Catsonality", maybe?  

I miss my kitties so much!  They probably have forgotten me after four months.  We will hopefully have the money to pay the pet deposit and have them with us by September.

I am attempting to reconcile my kitties' presence with my decision to stick with air mattresses for the time being.  Anybody got suggestions?

well, as long as you keep kitties' claws clipped short, they shouldn't be too much of a problem. I've had cats sleep with me on air matresses with long sharp claws, even, and not had problems. I guess it depends on how likely your cats are to try to sharpen their claws on it.