Loving my Oldies

The latest edition of Animal Sheltering arrived yesterday. Naturally this thread came to mind when I read about a reveiw for a book called "Beautiful Old Dogs" by Garry Gross. "Ultimately, Garry wanted to make people see the beauty, dignity, and character of these senior dogs."

I sure hope I can be posting as you are in 5 years time . I tell people that Tamar is my puppy at 10.

Go Nelsson !!!!

While I was driving yesterday, I heard on the news that a man had been sentenced to 2 years jail 18 months non parole for killing a puppy because he was angry with his girlfriend. Someone will probably be able to find an articule about. Good to see that incarceration is happening for these sorts of dreadful crimes.

This is just so awful for you, Rascal. Hoping with all our hearts that Astro pulls through and your other dogs are okay.

A happily tuckered out dog

Totally agree. Just let your dog be; why try to force her to be something she isn't?

I agree with this. It will do more harm if you are pressured into thinking you dog is a time bomb. I wouldn't have thought one incidence constitutes "a history". I agree with all the posters who say not to play ball with your girl in the park. We all have to remember that a dog is a dog is a dog, not matter how happy, well socialised, or trained. We can't always tell what is going to trigger an unwanted response. Athough a dog can be severely injured and even killed through just being shaken by another dog, if the poodle had been injured you would have heard by now. (I realise this is not the point though.) So I think you girl was just telling this dog off. You've had a big fright and I hope it can be resolved and your enjoyment of your dogs is not diminished.

Only if you're applying human psychology to what is, for a smaller dog, a natural and sensible caution, now heightened by a bad experience and you discplining her for doing it. What you've taught her with corrections for her fears is that meeting strange dogs makes you, her owner, cranky with her. Your dog, your choice. A dog that goes into serious reaction mode in a dog park is a dog that may well drawn the attention of a dog or dogs that will take issue with her. You have been warned. She would also be barking at large dogs (who she doesn't know) who are close to her not even saying hello. I am trying to teach her there is no need to bark as the dog near her is calm and passive. Would it be better just to move her away instead rather then telling her to stop barking because the other dog is ok? Yes :)

Canvassing ideas and opinions can be very helpful. It is like the old two columns on a page: pros and cons.

Oh dear, I didn't look at who posted them - silly me. They are so beautiful.

M United is looking for help, Haredown, not condemnation and warnings . You were sensible in your first post and then you had to ruin it.

Oh poor Bella and poor you. You both have been through the wars.

Not all dogs want to be the life of the party and love everyone and everything. Some dogs just want to do their own thing. I know I get envious when I see photos on DOL of dogs and their toys and playing up a storm, but I just have to accept that my dogs don't play with toys, are pretty quiet and a couple play with each other a few times a day. I agree with Haredown on both the points in her post. If you have a large yard, your dog would probably getting the exercise she needs, but she does need to go for walks for the interest. But I wouldn't be putting her in situations where she is anxious and unhappy. Sometimes phobias are here to stay and trying the eliminate them by placing the dog in phobic situations is just not the way to go. Sometimes acceptance and then avoidance is the best policy. Try to find times and places where you won't meet up with other dogs. I have a tiny dog who is hugely reactive so if I see other dogs being walked and approaching, I try to position my dogs out of sight (lots of cars parked in my streets) and I fee the dog tiny pieces of liver treats to keep their minds off the other dog/s until they have passed. The reactive dog sets the others off. Good luck. ETA: We were posting at the same time :) . Regarding your dog wanting to go to the park.... Dogs are very much creatures of habit. For instance, I am sure that the owners of older dogs will relate to this. The dogs get all excited because the leads come out, happy barking and racing to the gate, however, that's about it. Once the lead goes on and the gate is opened, the brakes are applied :laugh: :laugh: . That's enough mum, I'll have a little rest now. (That's just one of my dogs, the others are still up for their walks :laugh: :laugh: .)

Gosh, Bella is hardly out of puppyhood :laugh: :laugh: - Poodles are notoriously long lived. I adopted a toy poodle when he was just a few weeks shy of his 17th birthday. Lived for another 3 very happy years.

I'm not trying to influence you or anything :D :D , but have you seen the pugs in the "Growing Old" topic? Too gorgeous for words.

Having only ever had "toy" breeds, the idea of a 16kg puppy is hard to imagine :laugh: :laugh: . She is a knockout and you are in for years of wonderful times with your beautiful big girl.

I totally understand and empathise, but I can guarantee that if getting another dog is the right thing to do and it makes your dog happy, nothing will surpass your happiness at seeing your dog happy. :laugh: :laugh: I don't know if you've ever been involved in rescue or fostering, but the day you see a fostered or adopted dog finally at ease and playing with one of the other dogs is just the best. I stress that this is my experience - we are all different :) :)

I've been on DOL since 2003. I've seen so many cross the bridge as well as my own. I rarely visit the Rainbow Bridge thread. :laugh: :laugh: Trixie.

It is a bit like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" It depends so much on the dogs. Some dogs would love have a friend and some dogs wouldn't. You know your boy - if you think it would help him then search for a dog who would match. Good luck. And all the bet for your boy's recovery.

Great photos. Love the ones on Mt Coot-Tha. Who/what is Black Dog?

Great to hear. I'm glad that Georgia is okay again

If that is a real bbq snag, I cannot but be amazed, really amazed, at Miah's self control. Great photos everyone

Thanks Rosetta. Much better (she says through gritted teeth as waves of pain go through gut). Considering that a lot of medications dogs receive are the same as those given to humans, we can suppose that they suffer from the same illnesses that humans do, including reflux. I am one who has never given it much thought except to think from time to time that one dog or another might have an upset tummy. I will certainly be keeping a much closer eye on them in future, because reflux is just so painful . I will also be bringing it up at the vet to see if there is something to have on hand if or when it happens to any of them again. The only change I have made to my dogs' diet of late ( and one which I will be stopping) is to rinse out the Dine containers (for my cat) and pour the water into the dogs' food. It isn't much, obviously, but sometimes even a tiny bit of something is enough to tip the balance.

Thanks for all the considered responses. I'll update after I've taken the dogs walking. Unable to respond yesterday as I spent all afternoon in Hornsby Emergency ....... my very own reflux . All better and hard to recall that this time yesterday I was in great pain, sick as, wrapped in blankets on the couch with a bucket handy :laugh: :laugh: