She is lovely @SuePJ and also your Cocker @JohnBoy but aside from the fact that I have always preferred older dogs, and don’t please think me critical, but why have you both gone for puppies when you are of ‘an age’. Do you not worry about them outliving you and have you got a backup plan if the worst should happen?
My two, who are both of course not mine but belong to their respective associations, are 10 and 14 but I have still made arrangements for them to be collected and taken to an agreed place if I should be found dead one morning.
As regards being too old, I don’t think I could ever be that, I must have at least one, and almost always have had 2, here all the time.
I come from a family of long livers (that sounds strange, but you know what I mean) well into their 90s, which gives me more than the average life of an Airedale (which is 12 years) and I believe having another dog (especially an Airedale) will help keep us fit and happy (important for a long life).
Over the years I have nursed our dogs through their final stages and not begrudged them at all - Clara, heart trouble, Smudge tick fever followed by resurgent toxoplasmosis (agony), Vita (two types of tick fever, flaring high temperatures monthly through the months of covid, driving at night on deserted roads taking her yet again to the vets for antibiotics) then other illnesses on top, Bertie, heart, liver, kidneys (the heart treatment impacts the kidneys). I am anxious mother (thank heavens I didn’t have children) and for me the final stages of a dog’s life are agony - I wake in the night worrying. Am I keeping them alive too long? What other treatments can the vet offer? How can I cope day in day out with “accidents” ? How long should the walks be as they re panting?
I am being selfish - I want the joyous early years that mean I will give of my best when the end comes.
I certainly hope no one is dropping dead any time soon!
Thing is, loving dogs that need us are what keep us (me) going. Giving us lots of happy days and getting us out walking. Each little furry soul is a blessing both to and from us. Why would we ever say no to more of that? 🩶
Thanks Susannah. I think I’ve cracked it. It’s helpful if we use the same initial as vets then know her age - all pedigree dogs born in the same year have the same initial. They always got confused about Evita because we called her Vita.
Walking our “newbie” along the towpath yesterday I was trying the names of our previous dogs in my head and realised they were usually two strong syllables: Cla-ra, Ro-sie, Vi-ta, Ber-tie. I just needed to make Viliane (which is an elision) into something similar and stronger- so now we say Vil-yan to her - that works. I just hope the vet’s receptionist can decipher what I am talking about. OH promises he’ll get used to it.
When we adopted, I wanted an adult cat but Madame wanted a kitten. When we first saw him - a rangy almost-three-year-old, black as the ace of spades - she capitulated. I’d always prefer an adult cat: bags of character, and much easier to train than a kitten.
If we got a dog, however, I wouldn’t know where to start if it were an adult. I don’t have the experience that @David_Spardo has, or indeed any.
I know that’s what people say, and that cats are aloof. It’s not my experience, though the “training” element is about observing what the cat does naturally, and what it’s averse to, and working with that.
Apart from the trick where he gets on his hind legs, puts his paws on my hand and takes a treat. That’s definitely one he taught me!
Little Galys died this evening at just over 14 years of age, she began bringing up her food a few days ago, always outside bless her, and then after 10 minutes, re-eating it. Whether it was to do with her various cancers I have no idea. This evening she refused her food altogether and went outside. A short time later she came back in and lay on the kitchen floor. At 9pm I checked on her and she was no longer breathing. 10 happy months here and I was so pleased that we 3 spent it together.
I have a rdv tomorrow with the vet and will keep it but to leave her there for cremation then bring her back in a week or 2 to rest with the others.
This is Galys with Jules soon after she arrived back in July last year.
We were all 3 lucky. She was a joyfull dog and even the last walk yesterday was no different. She is lying by my side on the blanket I managed to move her on to. It is surprising how hard it is to lift a lifeless body even one so svelte as her at 23 kgs. I have stroked the soft and smooth coat this morning, but the body beneath it is hard and rigid. I am hoping that Eddie will come soon to help me lift her into the car and will then ring the vet to ask if I can bring her sooner than this afternoon’s rdv.
As a devoted lover of older dogs, I am no stranger to this experience and it doesn’t get easier but I know that we both benefit from the time we spend together, however short. And they have all been rescue dogs, except for the puppy our parents bought for my brother and I one Christmas.
I too know rescue dogs David - one, an Airedale, Smudge who had been appallingly treated, then Bertie, our mutt, who came to us at only 18 months or so. They give so much love it’s just amazing after what they’ve been through. We were very privileged to have them in our lives.
Message from Phoenix Presidente Tiff just now to say that if it is not too soon there is a 4 year old Beauceronne girl who needs a home, owner willing to have her spayed.
My answer:
She is a bit younger than my normal intake but, as long as the current owner is willing to get her spayed before she comes I am willing to give her a test with Jules. I don’t want the pantomime we had with Galys and further back a Phoenix male Lurcher, Lurch, was nearly killed because he wasn’t interested in a Boxer girl on heat. Galys was not that threatening but there is no doubt that it upset the equilibrium here.
So yes, with the above condition.
Delivered Galys to the vet this morning and her ashes should be back next week. I am paying for that myself as an association like Phoenix would not want the returns.
Unlike the last dog I had cremated, the young man this morning took her out of the car carefully and with respect, placing her in a special bag after I had kissed her goodbye wishing her bon voyage.
Let me know about whatshername, I am warming to the idea already.
Yes, she looks like a Beaucie to me, just like Jules, Xd with a Dobie of course, but I could do without her having a few chasse genes in her background like Jules. Walking down the forest this morning he suddenly started yelping and the long line in my (fortunately gloved) hand started paying out like a shark on a hook. I clamped it tight, tripped over the first root and was saved by my outstretched other hand which luckily found a sturdy branch. No idea what it was, squirrel, rat or bunny, makes no difference to him.
We’re aware that we have taken on a risk with our new Airedale teenager - full grown she could pull either of us to the ground, which at our age could be a major problem. So she HAS to know now that pulling on a lead is a no no - she has one of these pull out leads - not as long as yours I know, but still quite a way from us. We stop if she pulls and wait. She turns round and comes back a bit and then we walk forward again and usually the lead remains slack. It’s true that all bets may be off if she sees a cat, squirrel or deer. Time will tell.
🩶
OH promises he’ll get used to it.
