Flickr: Our dogs are Best in Show

By Eric Stover

My dog is an Irish setter-golden retriever mix, which gives him a fiery orange coat as well as the nicest attitude you could ever find. Tanner is large dog, but he thinks he can fit on your lap and despite his age—getting toward the double digits!—he's still down for wrestling. Not only is he playful, but he is also forgiving.

His favorite time of the day is treat time, and you could take his bone right out of his mouth, and he ... more 

By Eric Stover

My dog is an Irish setter-golden retriever mix, which gives him a fiery orange coat as well as the nicest attitude you could ever find. Tanner is large dog, but he thinks he can fit on your lap and despite his age—getting toward the double digits!—he's still down for wrestling. Not only is he playful, but he is also forgiving.

His favorite time of the day is treat time, and you could take his bone right out of his mouth, and he would just ask for it back with big brown eyes. This all may not be that super, but what really makes Tanner so great is that how he treats other dogs.

Our family has raised three services dogs so far, and he's been like a big brother to all of them. He's gentle and never too rough with them when they want to play. He's patient, able to put up with their high energy and playful bites. Over the years he's been helping us raise them to be amazing service animals, and all he asks in return is his rump scratched.

Seriously, it's all he wants. Well, that and his forelegs scratched, too. less