Death of an old dog....
Discussion
Today was your last day, Over fourteen years ago you arrived, a standard poodle puppy...you were called Lola. You were the most serious of puppies, and grew up to be a serious dog...smart as a whip, easy to train, and for your entire life you never had a health problem. Your life was overshadowed by a revolving cadre of Great Danes who hogged the limelight when people saw you.
Maybe you should have been called U2, because people were drawn to the Danes, and would say, "beautiful dog" about the Dane and then add apologetically. "and you too" when you say politely in the shadow. Yet, as you aged you got wiser, and staked out your pwn patch. You never once needed to be corrected, never had a fight, never ran away. You knew immediately when it was time for a walk or for food.
In your last two months you declined, unable to climb stairs, and on your last day you stopped walking. You left with as little trouble as you had ever been in all of those years, when you traversed tens of thousand of mile in the SUV on Route 66, sniffing and greeting people all the way, and in your senior years you avoided the Canadian winters, relaxing in the sunshine.
In your quiet way you were a presence, and as you got older you were more assertive to be scratched or patted. You knew everyone in the neighborhood
who had treats and charmed every one of them, you scrounger. Your vet who had looked after you for your whole life and who had given you your puppy shots also helped you in your final journey.
Happy trails, Lola...the thousands of miles and thousands of days were wonderful.....
Maybe you should have been called U2, because people were drawn to the Danes, and would say, "beautiful dog" about the Dane and then add apologetically. "and you too" when you say politely in the shadow. Yet, as you aged you got wiser, and staked out your pwn patch. You never once needed to be corrected, never had a fight, never ran away. You knew immediately when it was time for a walk or for food.
In your last two months you declined, unable to climb stairs, and on your last day you stopped walking. You left with as little trouble as you had ever been in all of those years, when you traversed tens of thousand of mile in the SUV on Route 66, sniffing and greeting people all the way, and in your senior years you avoided the Canadian winters, relaxing in the sunshine.
In your quiet way you were a presence, and as you got older you were more assertive to be scratched or patted. You knew everyone in the neighborhood
who had treats and charmed every one of them, you scrounger. Your vet who had looked after you for your whole life and who had given you your puppy shots also helped you in your final journey.
Happy trails, Lola...the thousands of miles and thousands of days were wonderful.....
Edited by RDMcG on Thursday 13th July 23:21
Poodles are very under-rated nowadays with all the new-fangled -oodle dogs and yet they are such a fantastic breed. Lola sounds like she was a lovely example of one.
My condolences OP, the hurt at losing them may never truly go away but the upside is neither do the memories of our time with them
My condolences OP, the hurt at losing them may never truly go away but the upside is neither do the memories of our time with them
In a way I envy those who have no desire to own a dog. Big dogs in particular are ruinous;y expensive...vet bills, food, and then the kennel or daycare costs, and grooming. Cheaper to have a small car.
And what do you get?..that carpet-peeing, table -leg chewing ,shoe shredding ball of furry energy will break your heart in the end. The house has a history of dogs...the long grooves in the 120 year old pine from a boxer doing burnouts to get to the stairs, the water stains on the wallpaper from a dog shaking itself madly from having been in the rain, the hair fest in the car and the nose marks on the window. I am convinced there is an undiscovered malady called canine lung as I have probably inhaled a mattress full of dog hair. The kitchen cupboards often have blood marks from insanely powerful Great Dane tail wagging. Then there is the responsibility...walks in all weather. I recall a boxer who would drop a ball on my lap and fix me with an unblinking stare.."Come on COME ON you lazy bugger...play time, play time". Or the shamefaced Dane who had eaten a large watermelon , and that certainty that the road would be pebble dashed next day. Or many a dog sitting proudly on a pile a stuffing from shredding toys all over the room.
Why do it?...well...these furry parasites will eventually own you. They will worm there way into your affection, every time you come in from an hour's or a week's absence you will get the pure joy of greeting, the mad helicoptering, rolling on the back for tummy rubs. They are uncritical, you are their favourite person. I once read that dogs only have two emotions: - My Favourite Thing!!....or bummer
. Still, having a dog lying across your feet as you read in the evening gives a special sense of companionship. Each of our dogs ,large or small, is special, unique, and meaningful to us.
As the shadows get longer there is the sweet sadness off the days of grace of an old dog...like old soldiers, they do not die, but fade away. How often have I seen the time when the dog can no longer leap into the car, but needs to be helped, when the sleep grows longer, the steps shorter, and the frantic joy of youth replaced by an affectionate calm. How often have I seen other dog owners, often old themselves with their greying old companions gamely and slowly taking their little strolls.
There have been dogs in my life since birth. Every one of them has left a paw print, my childhood face was licked a thousand times, I smuggled any boyhood boxer into the bed ( strictly forbidden), and all of those days then and since they have been a delight.
No,don't get an expensive,useless creature like a dog. Unless you're a dog person of course, and then it all makes the most perfect sense.
Many thanks for the very nice words of sympathy.
And what do you get?..that carpet-peeing, table -leg chewing ,shoe shredding ball of furry energy will break your heart in the end. The house has a history of dogs...the long grooves in the 120 year old pine from a boxer doing burnouts to get to the stairs, the water stains on the wallpaper from a dog shaking itself madly from having been in the rain, the hair fest in the car and the nose marks on the window. I am convinced there is an undiscovered malady called canine lung as I have probably inhaled a mattress full of dog hair. The kitchen cupboards often have blood marks from insanely powerful Great Dane tail wagging. Then there is the responsibility...walks in all weather. I recall a boxer who would drop a ball on my lap and fix me with an unblinking stare.."Come on COME ON you lazy bugger...play time, play time". Or the shamefaced Dane who had eaten a large watermelon , and that certainty that the road would be pebble dashed next day. Or many a dog sitting proudly on a pile a stuffing from shredding toys all over the room.
Why do it?...well...these furry parasites will eventually own you. They will worm there way into your affection, every time you come in from an hour's or a week's absence you will get the pure joy of greeting, the mad helicoptering, rolling on the back for tummy rubs. They are uncritical, you are their favourite person. I once read that dogs only have two emotions: - My Favourite Thing!!....or bummer
. Still, having a dog lying across your feet as you read in the evening gives a special sense of companionship. Each of our dogs ,large or small, is special, unique, and meaningful to us. As the shadows get longer there is the sweet sadness off the days of grace of an old dog...like old soldiers, they do not die, but fade away. How often have I seen the time when the dog can no longer leap into the car, but needs to be helped, when the sleep grows longer, the steps shorter, and the frantic joy of youth replaced by an affectionate calm. How often have I seen other dog owners, often old themselves with their greying old companions gamely and slowly taking their little strolls.
There have been dogs in my life since birth. Every one of them has left a paw print, my childhood face was licked a thousand times, I smuggled any boyhood boxer into the bed ( strictly forbidden), and all of those days then and since they have been a delight.
No,don't get an expensive,useless creature like a dog. Unless you're a dog person of course, and then it all makes the most perfect sense.
Many thanks for the very nice words of sympathy.
Edited by RDMcG on Friday 14th July 12:46
RDMcG said:
In a way I envy those who have no desire to own a dog. Big dogs in particular are ruinous;y expensive...vet bills, food, and then the kennel or daycare costs, and grooming. Cheaper to have a small car.
And what do you get?..that carpet-peeing, table -leg chewing ,show shredding ball of furry energy will break your heart in the end. The house has a history of dogs...the long grooves in the 120 year old pine from a boxer doing burnouts to get to the stairs, the water stains on the wallpaper from a dog shaking itself madly from having been in the rain, the hair fest in the car and the nose marks on the window. I am convinced there is an undiscovered malady called canine lung as I have probably inhaled a mattress full of dog hair. The kitchen cupboards often have blood marks from insanely powerful Great Dane tail wagging. Then there is the responsibility...walks in all weather. I recall a boxer who would drop a ball on my lap and fix me with an unblinking stare.."Come on COME ON you lazy bugger...play time, play time". Or the shamefaced Dane who had eaten a large watermelon , and that certainty that the road would be pebble dashed next day. Or many a dog sitting proudly on a pile a stuffing from shredding toys all over the room.
Why do it?...well...these furry parasites will eventually own you. The will worm there way into you affection, every time you come in from an hour's or as week's absence you will get the pure joy of greeting, the mad helicoptering, rolling on tieback for tummy rubs. They are uncritical, you are their favourite person. I once read that dogs only have two emotions: - My Favourite Thing!!....or bummer. Still, having a dog lying across your feet as you read in the evening gives a special sense of companionship. Each of our dogs ,large or small, is special, unique, and meaningful to us.
As the shadows get longer there is the sweet sadness off the days of grace of an old dog...like old soldiers, they do not die, but fade away. How often have I seen the time when the dog can no longer leap into the car, but needs to be helped, when the sleep grows longer, the steps shorter, and the frantic joy of youth replaced by an affectionate calm. How often have I seen other dog owners, often old themselves with their greying old companions gamely and slowly taking their little strolls.
There have been dogs in my life since birth. Every one of them has left a paw print, my childhood face was licked a thousand times, I smuggled any boyhood boxer into the bed ( strictly forbidden), and all of those days then and since they have been a delight.
No,don't get an expensive,useless creature like a dog. Unless you're a dog person of course, and then it all makes the most perfect sense.
Many thanks for the very nice words of sympathy.
Written by a true 'dog person'!And what do you get?..that carpet-peeing, table -leg chewing ,show shredding ball of furry energy will break your heart in the end. The house has a history of dogs...the long grooves in the 120 year old pine from a boxer doing burnouts to get to the stairs, the water stains on the wallpaper from a dog shaking itself madly from having been in the rain, the hair fest in the car and the nose marks on the window. I am convinced there is an undiscovered malady called canine lung as I have probably inhaled a mattress full of dog hair. The kitchen cupboards often have blood marks from insanely powerful Great Dane tail wagging. Then there is the responsibility...walks in all weather. I recall a boxer who would drop a ball on my lap and fix me with an unblinking stare.."Come on COME ON you lazy bugger...play time, play time". Or the shamefaced Dane who had eaten a large watermelon , and that certainty that the road would be pebble dashed next day. Or many a dog sitting proudly on a pile a stuffing from shredding toys all over the room.
Why do it?...well...these furry parasites will eventually own you. The will worm there way into you affection, every time you come in from an hour's or as week's absence you will get the pure joy of greeting, the mad helicoptering, rolling on tieback for tummy rubs. They are uncritical, you are their favourite person. I once read that dogs only have two emotions: - My Favourite Thing!!....or bummer
. Still, having a dog lying across your feet as you read in the evening gives a special sense of companionship. Each of our dogs ,large or small, is special, unique, and meaningful to us. As the shadows get longer there is the sweet sadness off the days of grace of an old dog...like old soldiers, they do not die, but fade away. How often have I seen the time when the dog can no longer leap into the car, but needs to be helped, when the sleep grows longer, the steps shorter, and the frantic joy of youth replaced by an affectionate calm. How often have I seen other dog owners, often old themselves with their greying old companions gamely and slowly taking their little strolls.
There have been dogs in my life since birth. Every one of them has left a paw print, my childhood face was licked a thousand times, I smuggled any boyhood boxer into the bed ( strictly forbidden), and all of those days then and since they have been a delight.
No,don't get an expensive,useless creature like a dog. Unless you're a dog person of course, and then it all makes the most perfect sense.
Many thanks for the very nice words of sympathy.
Thank you.
bexVN said:
Is there an emoji for a wry smile because that is what I have on my face now after reading your eloquently written post and understanding it completely. (hope you don't mind me saying but your writings remind me of DMN who sadly passed away but used to post/comment on PH a fair bit)
I thought DMN was the most extraordinary person, and would not even begin to compare, but I do thank you for that. You're a pretty good person yourself
.RDMcG said:
As the shadows get longer there is the sweet sadness off the days of grace of an old dog...like old soldiers, they do not die, but fade away. How often have I seen the time when the dog can no longer leap into the car, but needs to be helped, when the sleep grows longer, the steps shorter, and the frantic joy of youth replaced by an affectionate calm. How often have I seen other dog owners, often old themselves with their greying old companions gamely and slowly taking their little strolls
This was the paragraph that finally started the tears!Edited by RDMcG on Friday 14th July 12:46
OP. Thanks for taking the time to write this, especially at this time.
Dogs are simply fantatstic
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