Hero Dogs and more: We Rate Dogs Top Ten Dogs of the Year
December 30, 2024 4:48 PM Subscribe
I'm a lot more emotionally fragile than usual after this whole year so idk it's kinda dusty in here but these are all such good doggos. Thank you, y2karl.
posted by supermedusa at 5:14 PM on December 30 [8 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 5:14 PM on December 30 [8 favorites]
Behold the field in which I grow my squees. Lay thine eyes about it and you will see that it is barren because I spent the whole harvest on this post.
Something like that. I opened up the Contact Form to ask the breaks be added and got a page where one could hit a link entitled review that would send an email to -- get this -- a Matt Haughey. That name kind of rings a bell
posted by y2karl at 5:22 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
Something like that. I opened up the Contact Form to ask the breaks be added and got a page where one could hit a link entitled review that would send an email to -- get this -- a Matt Haughey. That name kind of rings a bell
posted by y2karl at 5:22 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
I watched this earlier today despite having watched all the weekly videos, seeing all these stories. I'll never get tired of the dogs being good this week.
posted by drewbage1847 at 5:38 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 5:38 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
The last 5 are the hero dogs
They're all hero dogs, korl.
posted by CynicalKnight at 5:39 PM on December 30 [27 favorites]
They're all hero dogs, korl.
posted by CynicalKnight at 5:39 PM on December 30 [27 favorites]
not me immediately replaying the story about Gita when I already watched it twice the first time I learned about her …
posted by Countess Elena at 5:40 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 5:40 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
one of the reasons I love dogs so much is that they're braver than humans
and likely just as wise.
posted by clavdivs at 5:48 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
and likely just as wise.
posted by clavdivs at 5:48 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
I basically instantly started ugly crying during the first pup and I didn't stop for the whole video.
They are all good boys and girls. No, let me correct that -- they're all the best boys and best girls.
(My dear friends said goodbye to their dear pup this year. She was old and it was her time. We were close -- my friends said she was my "step-daughter" and also my "soulmate" which was adorable. She was a weird, anxious dog but that was also what made her so sweet! I miss her!)
(There is another good elderly pup I know and she's still a goof when I see her but I know her family is weighing when the right time is.)
To keep this from being a complete downer (because dogs are good!), this is my newest buddy, Walnut, who I have sat for a couple of times now. He decided I was his new favorite person and showed off his squeaky toy to me (I did tell him it was very squeaky and I was impressed). I know he looks all dignified and gentlemanly there, but just know several minutes before that was taken, he was barking at me because I dared to stop petting him.
posted by edencosmic at 6:11 PM on December 30 [13 favorites]
They are all good boys and girls. No, let me correct that -- they're all the best boys and best girls.
(My dear friends said goodbye to their dear pup this year. She was old and it was her time. We were close -- my friends said she was my "step-daughter" and also my "soulmate" which was adorable. She was a weird, anxious dog but that was also what made her so sweet! I miss her!)
(There is another good elderly pup I know and she's still a goof when I see her but I know her family is weighing when the right time is.)
To keep this from being a complete downer (because dogs are good!), this is my newest buddy, Walnut, who I have sat for a couple of times now. He decided I was his new favorite person and showed off his squeaky toy to me (I did tell him it was very squeaky and I was impressed). I know he looks all dignified and gentlemanly there, but just know several minutes before that was taken, he was barking at me because I dared to stop petting him.
posted by edencosmic at 6:11 PM on December 30 [13 favorites]
Well, he does know how to genteely cross his front legs.
posted by y2karl at 7:23 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 7:23 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
Was not expecting the first dog to be a support dog for a schizophrenic. My dad was schizophrenic so that got me right in feels and I cried for the whole video. Dogs are just so good, man.
I can totally see how someone having visual hallucinations would believe an animal over a human. (My dad mostly had auditory hallucinations so I only had to try to deal with him having visual hallucinations a few times.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:22 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
I can totally see how someone having visual hallucinations would believe an animal over a human. (My dad mostly had auditory hallucinations so I only had to try to deal with him having visual hallucinations a few times.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:22 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
Count me among those who basically cried the whole video.
posted by aubilenon at 8:27 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 8:27 PM on December 30 [6 favorites]
A++ will watch again.
posted by Glinn at 8:44 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 8:44 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
I always tear up watching these videos.
Our oldest is 14, blind and diabetic, which means that she pees a lot, even with insulin. She's also getting more fragile, so we've started talking about when to send her to the farm in the sky. It's never pleasant.
posted by Spike Glee at 9:20 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
Our oldest is 14, blind and diabetic, which means that she pees a lot, even with insulin. She's also getting more fragile, so we've started talking about when to send her to the farm in the sky. It's never pleasant.
posted by Spike Glee at 9:20 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
Never. But at.least it doesn't usually happen at the Vet's office much anymore. Nothing is as heart wrenching as holding a sick squalling cat dying in terror. My youngest niece is one of those vets who comes to your house to euthanize your pet. I wrote and told her that she was doing God's work as far as I was concerned.
posted by y2karl at 11:09 PM on December 30 [10 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 11:09 PM on December 30 [10 favorites]
I'm glad we rate dogs seems to have stopped changing the "forgeign" sounding names of dogs that owners submit to more western sounding ones do better metric-wise.
posted by ShawnStruck at 12:46 AM on December 31
posted by ShawnStruck at 12:46 AM on December 31
Mod note: [Oh my goodness, I love them so much! 🥲 We've added these wonderful creatures to the sidebar and the Best Of blog!]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:51 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:51 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
This list can't be correct because my good boy isn't on there!
posted by nofundy at 5:41 AM on December 31 [2 favorites]
posted by nofundy at 5:41 AM on December 31 [2 favorites]
We Rate Dogs is one of those bright spots in my day. I prefer the goofy 'this is not a dog, this is a moon bear' style posts over the heart-rending ones, but I will take all the goodest boys and girls.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:26 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 6:26 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
Awwwwww. Really nice post.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:36 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
posted by warriorqueen at 6:36 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
Yay!
Also, more dogs coming: The traditional year-end video, this time The Dogs of 2024, drops at noon EST.
posted by martin q blank at 7:11 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
Also, more dogs coming: The traditional year-end video, this time The Dogs of 2024, drops at noon EST.
posted by martin q blank at 7:11 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
Dogs of 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKcQScxYdYM
posted by Spike Glee at 9:13 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKcQScxYdYM
posted by Spike Glee at 9:13 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
When we said goodbye to Herbert (cat) back in January, we had someone come to the house. it was soooooo worth it. he wasn't scared, he was in my arms the whole time. oh boy, I miss him. these dogs are all very good.
posted by supermedusa at 9:26 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 9:26 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
We had two dogs die this year, both around 12yo. One had a vet visit the house and she went to sleep out on the grass on the only bright, sunny day we had in April. The other dog died in my niece's lap after a very short illness that we expected him to recover from. That one was just a couple of weeks ago and was even more heartbreaking than the first. I love watching videos of all the best boys and girls.
posted by drossdragon at 9:50 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
posted by drossdragon at 9:50 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
I'm glad we rate dogs seems to have stopped changing the "forgeign" sounding names of dogs that owners submit to more western sounding ones do better metric-wise.
That was more than six years ago, when (IIRC) the account-runner was still college age. I’m willing to harsh a mellow, but have a good reason, dude.
posted by praemunire at 10:51 AM on December 31 [2 favorites]
That was more than six years ago, when (IIRC) the account-runner was still college age. I’m willing to harsh a mellow, but have a good reason, dude.
posted by praemunire at 10:51 AM on December 31 [2 favorites]
Aw, man, I’ve been waiting to post the Dogs of 2024 video for months now, as soon as it went up. I’ve done that the last four years! After watching this last night I thought I’d post them together—what’s wrong with more tears and smiles? Now I have to figure out something else to do at chemo so I don’t spend the whole time bawling and rewatching these best doggos.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:51 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:51 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
WeRateDogs gives every dog 11s and 12s. It doesn't even make any sense.
posted by neuron at 11:14 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
posted by neuron at 11:14 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]
We Rate Dogs is one of the happiest corners of the Interwebz for me. Definitely helped saved my sanity at the beginning of Covid.
I work in healthcare and the We Rate Dogs page a day desk calendar is the BEST calendar we have ever had at our office (which is saying a lot, because we have a lot of, er, interesting calendars.) It makes the staff happy; patients love it; even one of our FedEx drivers always stops long enough to look at the dog of the day. Plus we can use the backs for scrap paper! A shopping or to-do list is always better with a dog on the back.
I give them as gifts to my pharmacy (who already have an Employee of the Month display which is always someone’s pet) and to my favorite doctors’ offices every year.
I rate this post 14/10!
posted by kyraU2 at 11:47 AM on December 31 [8 favorites]
I work in healthcare and the We Rate Dogs page a day desk calendar is the BEST calendar we have ever had at our office (which is saying a lot, because we have a lot of, er, interesting calendars.) It makes the staff happy; patients love it; even one of our FedEx drivers always stops long enough to look at the dog of the day. Plus we can use the backs for scrap paper! A shopping or to-do list is always better with a dog on the back.
I give them as gifts to my pharmacy (who already have an Employee of the Month display which is always someone’s pet) and to my favorite doctors’ offices every year.
I rate this post 14/10!
posted by kyraU2 at 11:47 AM on December 31 [8 favorites]
Mod note:[Oh my goodness, I love them so much! 🥲 We've added these wonderful creatures to the sidebar and the Best Of blog!]
In the word of Goofy: Gawrsh! Boy, that's a first for me.
posted by y2karl at 12:07 PM on December 31
In the word of Goofy: Gawrsh! Boy, that's a first for me.
posted by y2karl at 12:07 PM on December 31
WeRateDogs gives every dog 11s and 12s. It doesn't even make any sense.
I’m guessing you don’t have a dog.
posted by Lemkin at 12:40 PM on December 31 [5 favorites]
I’m guessing you don’t have a dog.
posted by Lemkin at 12:40 PM on December 31 [5 favorites]
WeRateDogs gives every dog 11s and 12s. It doesn't even make any sense.They're good dogs, neuron.
posted by drewbage1847 at 12:47 PM on December 31 [8 favorites]
i needed a good cry, thank you
what splendid, luminous beings we get to share our world with
we truly do not deserve them
(some people certainly do, though)
posted by The Adventure Begins at 2:44 PM on December 31
what splendid, luminous beings we get to share our world with
we truly do not deserve them
(some people certainly do, though)
posted by The Adventure Begins at 2:44 PM on December 31
I said goodbye to Lipsy on Labor Day this year.
She was a good girl. I miss her so much.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:02 PM on December 31 [6 favorites]
She was a good girl. I miss her so much.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:02 PM on December 31 [6 favorites]
My only complaint is that the top ten dogs list should clearly have fourteen dogs on it. Or at least twelve…
posted by nat at 11:45 PM on December 31 [1 favorite]
posted by nat at 11:45 PM on December 31 [1 favorite]
I’m guessing you don’t have a dog.
Lemkin, Neuron was making an in joke, and drewbage1847 gave the traditional response as immortalised by WeRateDogs.
They're all good dogs 🙂
posted by Zumbador at 1:29 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
Lemkin, Neuron was making an in joke, and drewbage1847 gave the traditional response as immortalised by WeRateDogs.
They're all good dogs 🙂
posted by Zumbador at 1:29 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
Question: what's up with the dog who administered CPR? I find it hard to fathom both the idea that the dog did this out of some instinctual drive, but also that if the dog were trained to do that, it wouldn't be mentioned. Is this a known thing that dogs do? (I'm off to search for info on this, but thought I would ask as well.)
posted by neuromodulator at 7:08 PM on January 3
posted by neuromodulator at 7:08 PM on January 3
Hmm, I found an interview with Bear's owners where they state explicitly that he had no training, but is the son of two former service dogs.
posted by neuromodulator at 7:11 PM on January 3
posted by neuromodulator at 7:11 PM on January 3
Thank you, neuromodulator for your comments. I wondered myself how Bear happened to do that to save his master Darren. That was one of the stories that most made me cry.
The other was the last where Gita saved her master Keith Johnson, who had fallen and broken his hip. When Keith told Gita to go get help, she went and stood in the road until a deputy sheriff on patrol saw her sitting in the road and tried to coax her into his car. She instead led him to Keith. Talk about rising to the occasion. But how did she know what to do?
Dogs are supposedly the mental equivalents to toddlers. And I know there are hero toddlers. But how many hero toddlers are there in comparison to hero dogs? I seriously wonder. You know the cliche To dogs we are gods, to cats we are staff? That Gita instantly figured out what to do to save her god made me cry as much as I did for Bear and Darren.
Oh and CynicalKnight, good catch. The original clip on YouTube had been of five dogs but had been replaced to ten dogs while I was putting the post. And I didn't check closely enough to see all ten were hero dogs. Yore pal Korl;
posted by y2karl at 8:40 AM on January 4 [1 favorite]
The other was the last where Gita saved her master Keith Johnson, who had fallen and broken his hip. When Keith told Gita to go get help, she went and stood in the road until a deputy sheriff on patrol saw her sitting in the road and tried to coax her into his car. She instead led him to Keith. Talk about rising to the occasion. But how did she know what to do?
Dogs are supposedly the mental equivalents to toddlers. And I know there are hero toddlers. But how many hero toddlers are there in comparison to hero dogs? I seriously wonder. You know the cliche To dogs we are gods, to cats we are staff? That Gita instantly figured out what to do to save her god made me cry as much as I did for Bear and Darren.
Oh and CynicalKnight, good catch. The original clip on YouTube had been of five dogs but had been replaced to ten dogs while I was putting the post. And I didn't check closely enough to see all ten were hero dogs. Yore pal Korl;
posted by y2karl at 8:40 AM on January 4 [1 favorite]
Dogs are supposedly the mental equivalents to toddlers.
I don't think dogs have the capacity of human toddlers in anything other than a very superficial sense. It's not really a useful analogy?
Dogs learn from experience, and they mature much faster than humans do. A dog who has lived with an old man for many years might have a very different understanding of a particular situation than a dog who hasn't, "my human is lying on the ground for some reasons, maybe he's being playful?" vs "my human has fallen and is in pain, he can't get up".
It's quite normal for a dog to know it can ask a human for help with something it can't do itself ("my ball is stuck under the couch!" or "open the door I need to go pee!") but not all dogs would realise that their human needs help from another human, or figure out how best to get that help like this dog did.
posted by Zumbador at 12:16 PM on January 4
I don't think dogs have the capacity of human toddlers in anything other than a very superficial sense. It's not really a useful analogy?
Dogs learn from experience, and they mature much faster than humans do. A dog who has lived with an old man for many years might have a very different understanding of a particular situation than a dog who hasn't, "my human is lying on the ground for some reasons, maybe he's being playful?" vs "my human has fallen and is in pain, he can't get up".
It's quite normal for a dog to know it can ask a human for help with something it can't do itself ("my ball is stuck under the couch!" or "open the door I need to go pee!") but not all dogs would realise that their human needs help from another human, or figure out how best to get that help like this dog did.
posted by Zumbador at 12:16 PM on January 4
I had read that somewhere. But your point is well taken. The famous sci-fi story Poppa Needs Shorts also came to my mind in regards to this matter.
posted by y2karl at 1:06 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
posted by y2karl at 1:06 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
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posted by Sauce Trough at 5:12 PM on December 30 [9 favorites]