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I have 3 older dogs, an 18 year old shih tzu, an 11 year old and 9 year old mutt. I made an appointment to euthanize my shih tzu this coming Friday. When I got her she was already 12 but very lively, despite having congestive heart failure. The last year or so, the hearing went, vision's almost gone, and it's gotten harder for her to get around or even interact with anyone. She still eats, still tries to take short walks outside but I think she also has some dementia so, it's time. My two other dogs have aged in the last 6 months--they are both larger dogs so, their timeline will be shorter. In the past I've never understood older people who were dog people all their lives but who, after putting their last dog down, refused to ever get another. I have always had dogs but am now beginning to understand. Losing an old dog reminds us not only of loss, but of our own mortality. I don't know if I want to experience this loss again in another 10 -14 years when I will be much older. I love having dogs and usually prefer their company to people's but, it is so difficult to watch them get old, to withdrawl from you and lose their zest for life. I wonder if its worth it to continue to go through it. Currently I have a house guest with a young dog (3 years old). When you have older dogs, you forget just how enthusiastic and happy young dogs are. Just wonder if in the future I would be better off volunteering with animals somewhere, rather than going through this loss again. Wondered if others out there elect to go dogless after losing a few to age and illness.
My girl friend have a Toy poodle that live little over 18 years,and die kidney failure last week,but all most all his life was pretty healthy,he been bite little by his ear by a pitbull years go but he survive miraculously,i treat his wound bite with honey and heal fast in 1 week was like new,but the poor guy was not so lucky with the kidney failure,he won't eat not drink and barely walk.Poodles have very friendly attitude and good personality,are also very intelligent dogs.If you lucky and are healthy they can live long,i personally i will adopt new one rather than buy it,but buy one from shelter or dog rescue missions you don't know how abused was and what are the health past issues,sadly my girl friend was to traumatized losing her dog and don't want have another dog.
I can't imagine a house without dogs anymore however it depends on my circumstances at the time. I lost a lab a few years ago (she was 7) but I still have her brother who is now 10. He could never be an "only dog". Fortunately my current housemate has a few little dogs so my big guy is happy. If, when I move (and if big guy is still healthy and happy), I am in a position to have dogs (not renting) then I definitely will. I will most likely take two of my sisters little guys who my dog loves.
I agree that fostering may be a good option if you are willing to see them leave when they get a "forever home".
Losing a dog is traumatic but I guess you just have to weigh that up against the love that they give you during their lives, and the fact that you can give a dog a good home. Plenty of dogs need one!
We decided our Basset will be the last. We got a kitten instead. Lately I've been seeing Labradors and miss my old yellow we PTS two years ago. I'd love to have another, but I'm not dealing with hair again. Maybe. Depending. I'd have to figure out a breed that fills that spot in my heart but doesn't shed. I don't know.
We decided our Basset will be the last. We got a kitten instead. Lately I've been seeing Labradors and miss my old yellow we PTS two years ago. I'd love to have another, but I'm not dealing with hair again. Maybe. Depending. I'd have to figure out a breed that fills that spot in my heart but doesn't shed. I don't know.
Ahh yes, the hair. My mother loves my big black lab and often remarks that she wants to steal him. In reality, it's all that hair that would stop her! Still, he is worth all that vacuuming to me.
Ahh yes, the hair. My mother loves my big black lab and often remarks that she wants to steal him. In reality, it's all that hair that would stop her! Still, he is worth all that vacuuming to me.
Our old yellow lab was worth the vacuuming too. He lived 17 years. Since we already had him, it was worth it because we loved him. Since I don't want to commit to another two decades of dog hair, I can have the foresight to not fall in love with another one that sheds. lol
My Basset doesn't shed as much. There aren't tumbleweeds rolling around on the floor like with the lab. But I still deal with dog hair on the upholstered furniture and my clothes. I'm tired of changing my clothes three times a day and buying clothes only in colors that match my dog.
Yeah, it will have to be a dog that doesn't shed. I just can't imagine which non-shedding bred would steal my heart.
There's some kind of saying about life being measured in the number of dogs one has loved and lost. It is heartbreaking but giving them a good home when they may otherwise not have quality of life or even life itself. Dogs are proven to bring many health benefits to people, lower blood pressure and stress along with other things.
It's always a good idea to get another dog if you have the room, the finances to feed and care for it and the time. The dog will care for you too and while you may lose it one day, your heart will stay warm for the rest of your life. Your own quality of life may well be improved if you do.
Hope you always adopt dogs too, shelters are full and lives lost every single day. Many dog breeds are there, pure breeds and mixed breeds, many talented and intelligent dogs come from shelters so DO check your local shelter if you start thinking about getting another dog.
I wrote something out and deleted it, thinking it's not my place, but I'm going to say it anyway. Looking back at my rescue days, I know I over-extended myself. I had always wanted a houseful of animals and I got it. I learned as I went along, and one thing I would pass on, is a warning not to spread yourself too thin. They all need individual attention and time devoted to them alone. Even Cesar Millan limits his household. Just keep that in mind, or you'll run yourself ragged, and that's not good for you or them.
Very true...I've worked in rescue and fostered on and off for 15 years and my pack has grown because I've had to adopt a couple who had no applications...because of their age. It broke my heart to stop fostering, knowing there are hundreds...thousands of dogs desperately needing a safe place to be but I know my limits.
But my own four dogs deserve my attention too, that one on one time, and it's getting harder and harder to do this. I'm in my early 60's...my dogs are 13, an old Lab mix we adopted as a pup, the two Boston Terrier girls who are now 10 and almost 9...then my sweet boy Wolfgang, a French Bulldog...he's 5 1/2. Then there's Sammy Davis...the perfect gentleman, Boston Terrier, who'd been sold multiple times, given away, abandoned yet he was potty trained, knew basic obedience, had wonderful social skills, good with other dogs and children...no one wanted him so we had to keep him. It's very hard having five dogs and I am spread too thin but I will honor my commitment to them.
Didn't mean to get off track. I'll close my post with this short piece that touched me many years ago.
"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?"
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dogs better company than humans
