[WePow]

My friend and I were just talking about how I personally think it is wonderful that I have a T who has dogs. I am a dog person (2 Cairns) and it is good to go to a T who also loves puppies. I think it also helps because he doesn't mind if I am sometimes needy and email him when I need to reach out and make sure he is there. I think it is something about the pack mentality that dogs have that make it "ok" for me to be like this with my T.

I was wondering if other people with a T know if their T has pets? And do you think it matches your personality style?

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my t has a lab.

she had dogs while growing up but her husband never did so we talk sometimes about how goofy he is with the dog.

i have 2 rescued basset hounds, and when i first started seeing her also a rescued chesapeake bay retriever. i am very involved in basset rescue. i also have no "real" family so the dogs are it for me...as well as my online/and real rescue family.

t bought her dog from a pet store (can you say puppy mill????)...makes me crazy..okay it was a long time before i began seeing her...and it was her hubby who dragged the kids into the store while babysitting them one day...etc. i have had the rescue chat with her and she won't ever do that again.

basset rescue has a very strong social network...with some well attended events (one such event has over 610 bassets marching in a parade each spring). basset people are some of the most giving you'll ever find.

i think t was a little taken back by how strong this network is...when i was unable to care for myself...they swooped in and cared for me...same for the folks at my dog park. they have sent me $$$, food, meds for the dogs, toys etc. i buy her gifts and most of the time they come from rescue groups.

we spend alot of time talking about dogs and how important they are...as well as the people that come with them. my first t did not have pets and the bond was not as strong (okay and she was evil and unethical too).

she understands too when sometimes i have to be the one swooping for other people and might have to miss a session (like when i had to help a friend put down her rottie)...or when i bring in endless pix of the boys.

pack mentality? don't know about that with her...just know that it is a common bond we have...one of several. i have helped her find boarding facilities, foods, etc for her dog..which is funny..she helps me with my head...me with her dog.

stumpy

[velcro003]

My T also has cats. She actually goes to the same vet as me (not that i've seen her). I don't think it has influenced how I feel about her, though.

[jexa]

I don't know if my T has pets but CAIRNS!! I LOVE Cairn Terriers! I don't have one anymore but I did when I was little. Her name was Kyla. They are so smart and wonderful and brave! I miss having dogs!

My t has a black lab named Rocky. He talks about him a lot. I'm also a dog person. Terribly allergic to cats.

[hangingon]

My T has horses and at least one dog lol but she doesn't know that I know this. I found this out accidentally because I used to ride by her house all the time and didn't even know it was her house until I started seeing her and noticed that she had the same SUV with the same stickers on it! Small world lol....I might bring this up to her one day, if feels so weird knowing this for almost a year and not sharing it with her.

[splitimage]

My T has 3 cats, we sometimes talk about them. One of her cats Annie - knows exactly when patients are going in and out of her building (T works out of her home) and will often be waiting for me when I leave so that I can let her in. Annie is a complete baby and loves being petted and played with, so I usually get about 5 minutes of pet therapy every time I let her in. Joey is the therapy cat - he sits in on therapy sessions with me, obviously T doesn't do this with all her clients just ones who like cats. I get to pat Joey and he purrs, and it's really funny seeing him trying to jump up onto T's lap for a nap while she's trying to take notes of our session. It's not super professional, but I've been seeing her for years, and I think it makes her more human.

--splitimage

[Brightheart]

My former therapist has two dogs. He brought them both in while he was trying to get my daughter to talk to him. One was an Irish Wolfhound and was HUGE, the other was some type of mix. I liked watching him interact with them. The big dog followed him everywhere. He got up. The dog got up. He sat down. The dog sat down. He started walking. The dog started walking. It was cute. I don't know if he has any other pets, but it is always a quality I admire in a person. I'm a cat person myself, but love any and all creatures...except maybe snakes.

[mightaswelllive]

OldT has a dog. She has pictures of the dog in her office I you could really tell that she is such a dog person.

NewT is so tightlipped about personal things but I think if she has anything it would be a cat. She even kind of looks like a cat.

[sarahxxkristine]

MY T, she told me, has a shih tzu...after i told her i had a shih-tzu and she's one of those people that brings her dog everywhere such as on planes and such....so i think it shows shes super caring and lovable

[Elysium]

My T has two dogs and two cats!! She has a standard poodle as well, who is the therapy dog, so he comes to session with us every week and he snuggles and loves on me and helps me stay grounded.

I have a difficult time trusting folks who aren't capable of bonding with animals. If my dog or my cats are leery of someone...that's usually a red flag for me. And they're usually always right.