Your old dog is dying: Why we love them.

[Luc]

My old mate is getting old, he's nearly 14 and the Vet reckons he's got another few good years left yet.

 

It's a blessing but also a bit of a curse as the kids have left home but the damn dogs still here. We want to travel eventually but what can you do with an old dog?

 

He's spent his life inside waiting for my truck to turn up out the front and he sits  in behind the front door waiting for his boss to come home...done it for years and years and now  he's going deaf and a bit wobbly.

 

He likes to be next to me and I mean next to me; on my bed, on my pillow ffs, under my feet,on my face if I fall asleep on the couch(he can still jump up the little bugger) and he likes to lay in the man cave when I play music.

 

I came home late tonight(for me) and grabbed a beer and played some digital...no response after the initial welcome and a piece of bacon from the fridge(a little torn off chunk).

 

But when I ditched the beer for a glass and some Duriff and got down on creaky knees and flicked switches on and plugged things in...he knew the TT was firing up and I'd sit in my comfy chair and probably spend the next couple of hours on the net and playing music.

 

You can't get this from a pup, you can't get it from a young dog and only the beginnings from a mature dog..you can only get it from a very old dog.

They know you, they don't want to be anywhere else but as close to you as they can get... and don't you love them for it

 

 

Photo 1.

  I'll just hop in a go to sleep coz that's what I do now..sleep..eat...sleep..go outside/come back in...sleep...repeat...

 

 

 

Photo 2

I'm spinning around in my chair getting up changing records, flicking switches, changing stuff, we all do it. He's learnt to duck in underneath my Stessless chair.

 

And when I go: "What are you doing? Huh? Hmm?

 

He does this and only old doggies can pull it off. It's a kinda ; 'Your kidding right? What am I doing?

 

" What the hell do you think I'm doing? I'm getting as close to you as I can."

 

Photo 3.

 

 

 

 

(and isn't it a ripper) He's leaning on the base of the swivelling chair coz he knows I wont step on him when I swing around to do stuff ect.

 

 

 

You can't but love your dog can you.  I'll miss him when he goes not least because it takes such a long long time to get a dog to this stage of understanding. ............   he's me mate.

[frankn]

Spoken by and as only someone who loves his buddy can

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[steve u]

You're a lucky man Luc, cherish every minute.

[Luc]

Oh, and just to assure you I'm not seeing this all through rose coloured glasses...I just got up to get some ice cream outta the fridge and I have some John Mayal trying to do Hendrix(why does he bother?) so the Handbrakes decreed the door must remain closed.

I just walked back in and the little buggers farted...only dog owners now how cruel that is in an enclosed system :blink:

[Chopsus Maximus]

How old?

He's a dead ringer for mine, Eddie, and he's 10 years ... He's just had a lump removed from his ribs (benign) and a tooth out as the vet reckons he's getting to old for any more general anesthetics.

[Batty]

 

these are our babies

[Stump]

14 good years Luc.

 

 

I'm in the same boat Luc! Ive put travel on hold as I would not bear him to pass away alone.His legs will give way before his health.Knowing I have given him a Very Good Life will ease the day he goes!

 

P.S He has lasted nearly twice as long as my Ex-Wife and he puts a smile on anyone's face who sees him. :wub:

[Rob181]

You have not taught him to fish...what's' the go bro...

 

I have met him...beautiful dog...I agree...enjoy every moment...

[RockandorRoll]

Never owned a dog, always had allergic people in the family. Sad that i will never understand this

[Batty]

We chose our two after Buffy died at age 15. Coco is now 4 and the cat, meowth is 9 months.

[Luc]

We chose our two after Buffy died at age 15. Coco is now 4 and the cat, meowth is 9 months.

A good ten years then for the white furry fella if he pulls up ok through the stages of his life.

My fellas had about 30+ parasite ticks for instance, most times I've found em but a bout six or so I've missed and he's nearly gone but thanks to the vet and Gyrodec amounts of money he's hung in there.

 

@Stump     with ya brother , understand fully.

[Batty]

So easy to get attached

[Tony M]

Unconditional lifelong acceptance, trust, love and loyalty - what's so great about that?

[betty boop]

My old mate is getting old, he's nearly 14 and the Vet reckons he's got another few good years left yet.

 

It's a blessing but also a bit of a curse as the kids have left home but the damn dogs still here. We want to travel eventually but what can you do with an old dog?

 

He's spent his life inside waiting for my truck to turn up out the front and he sits  in behind the front door waiting for his boss to come home...done it for years and years and now  he's going deaf and a bit wobbly.

 

He likes to be next to me and I mean next to me; on my bed, on my pillow ffs, under my feet,on my face if I fall asleep on the couch(he can still jump up the little bugger) and he likes to lay in the man cave when I play music.

 

I came home late tonight(for me) and grabbed a beer and played some digital...no response after the initial welcome and a piece of bacon from the fridge(a little torn off chunk).

 

But when I ditched the beer for a glass and some Duriff and got down on creaky knees and flicked switches on and plugged things in...he knew the TT was firing up and I'd sit in my comfy chair and probably spend the next couple of hours on the net and playing music.

 

You can't get this from a pup, you can't get it from a young dog and only the beginnings from a mature dog..you can only get it from a very old dog.

They know you, they don't want to be anywhere else but as close to you as they can get... and don't you love them for it

 

 

Photo 1.

  I'll just hop in a go to sleep coz that's what I do now..sleep..eat...sleep..go outside/come back in...sleep...repeat...

 

~

 

 

Photo 2

I'm spinning around in my chair getting up changing records, flicking switches, changing stuff, we all do it. He's learnt to duck in underneath my Stessless chair.

~

 

And when I go: "What are you doing? Huh? Hmm?

 

He does this and only old doggies can pull it off. It's a kinda ; 'Your kidding right? What am I doing?

 

" What the hell do you think I'm doing? I'm getting as close to you as I can."

 

Photo 3.

 

 

 

 

(and isn't it a ripper) He's leaning on the base of the swivelling chair coz he knows I wont step on him when I swing around to do stuff ect.

 

~

 

 

You can't but love your dog can you.  I'll miss him when he goes not least because it takes such a long long time to get a dog to this stage of understanding. ............   he's me mate.

 

reading this post at times was confusing whether your talking about yourself there luc or an old dog

 

oh yeah know what you mean.... yep cant but love your old dog

[Luc]

al. I think your the confused one if you don't understand the post. Old dog, no new tricks, just lying around hanging out coz that's what an old dog does

[Batty]

Unconditional lifelong acceptance, trust, love and loyalty - what's so great about that?

Everything

[wolster]

We had an almost identical dog, Luc. Ours died at 15. Never replaced her. Couldn't.

[Luc]

Yeah it's a funny thing isn't it when your pet goes just how much it hurts. I've been to funerals of people and that kind of loss doesn't hit you in most cases like the death of your pet does.

[betty boop]

Funerals tend to be very healing process, a kind of release. A release you don't get when a pet passes. Have in my life time only experienced the loss if two pets. And only been to two funerals ever. So take with your own perspective and experience...

[Benje]

Shadow left us in late March - he was nearly 14 so it was expected.  The day of departure was horrible, and we miss him, but we are fine with it. My wife and I talked at length about his decline and then departure.  It will be a year or more before we get our next one. 

 

Shadow was a great woofer - many on SNA in SA will remember him.

 

My avatar is Shadow - I expect I'll have to update it soon.

[Guest]

I don't like seeing this thread title every time I look at the forum now....

And now that i replied to it, it will show up even more.

FAIL

Edited September 18, 2014 by Dirty_vinylpusher

[Catostylus]

We had an almost identical dog, Luc. Ours died at 15. Never replaced her. Couldn't.

 

Get a puppy. It's the only loss therapy that works.

[Luc]

Shadow left us in late March - he was nearly 14 so it was expected.  The day of departure was horrible, and we miss him, but we are fine with it. My wife and I talked at length about his decline and then departure.  It will be a year or more before we get our next one. 

 

Shadow was a great woofer - many on SNA in SA will remember him.

 

My avatar is Shadow - I expect I'll have to update it soon.

 

 

No keep it as a reminder of the good times,I'm sure it brings a smile to your face looking at him. I know I've started to take a few pics like the above just for that purpose.

[Benje]

Luc

 

this next part is really morbid, and I apologise for it.

 

My wife thought carefully about what she wanted to do with her dogs - each dog has been cremated.  Each dog is in their own jar, in a wooden box at home.  My wife is still with them.  We may move house and the dogs go with her.  This is important to her - she is with them when she needs to be with them.

 

Make sure you understand what you want to do - if they are buried or scattered in the backyard, will that affect you in a year's time if you need to move?

 

Benje

 

ps  My wife was very strong in knowing that some life prolonging is more about us not being able to let go and less about extending the dog's valuable life.  She could make hard but good decisions when she has to.

[buddyev]

I've had Buddy's ashes in my wardrobe for the past 5 years. I intended to sprinkle them in the river at the local park but wasn't able to go there for ages without cracking up, so they are by default in with my socks. Perfect final resting place, actually, because he spent a good part of his life either scheming to get at my socks or tearing them to pieces. Little b*gger.