Advanced Search
Welcome to Omgili,
Omgili (Oh My God I Love It ;) is a search engine for discussions. With Omgili you can find answers and solutions, debates, discussions, personal experiences, opinions and more... To learn more about Omgili click here.

This is a complete preview of the discussion as it was indexed by Omgili crawlers. Use this preview if the original discussion is unavailable.
Click here to view the original discussion.

Old Dogs are the Best Dogs - Democratic Underground

Http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/just-dreaming/static... Author Gene Weingarten and photographer Michael S.

Williamson share stories and photographs from their book Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs. Old Dogs, published by Simon & Schuster, pays tribute to unforgettable older companions. “This is a tribute to old dogs, a celebration of their special virtues,” Weingarten writes in the book’s dedication.

“All dogs profiled in this book were at least 10 years old when their portraits were made.

If you ask us which of them are still alive, our answer is: They all are.

May old dogs live forever.” Written by: Gene Weingarten Skippy: Skippy is mostly blind, but he still sees shapes.

He’ll often walk up to a tree and sit expectantly at its base, a good boy as always, awaiting instructions.

“He thinks it’s me,” says owner Matt. As the owner of 2 14 year old dogs, I really enjoyed this.

He was nearly 15 when we had to put him down due to complications of incurable mouth polyps (may or may not have been cancerous - we opted not to do a biopsy on one that was removed because of his age and condition - if he had cancer, he certainly could not have undergone chemo or cancer treatments). Trooper, buddy, you'll always be my baby.

She was incredibly smart.

She thought she was a large dog, even though she was a shrimp.

She was the best of mutts and up until the last 6 months she was in amazing shape.

He knows he's a big dog!

Lived to be 15. he was the great love of my life -- came very shortly after i buried my partner -- he and i went through cancer treatments together when he was 11. he was a revelation as a senior dog -- i had never had one live so long. i miss my sporty boy every day.

....

{Click}

Old dogs are special.

I don't think there is a better dog in the world.

I'm hoping to keep her around for another couple of years, even though a Rottie's lifespan is about 11 to 12 years.

Just wondering. I know they tend to get relatively low affectionate/playfulness ratings but I've also heard owners say that they are sweet, playful, and affectionate--just not to an huge (maybe excessive) extent like a lot of labs and Goldens.

She doesn't care to be hugged and kissed.

Most of the time she will come to me when she wants affection, but otherwise, she is aloof.

He's laying here next to me waiting for his next walk and dinner.

I think he said "thanks!".

She suffered from Cushings' disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and discoid lupus.

She had torn ACLs in both back legs.

She went blind from cataracts in 2004, had her sight restored via surgery, and lost both eyes to glaucoma by Nov.

2006.

I'm so sorry about your losing her.

She was a beautiful dog though.

What a beauty!

It is so esp. lonely those first days, and months after they are gone.

Even though we still had one precious older dog still here when my girl passed, the silence of her absence was everywhere.

I lost my eski dog a year & a half ago at around 13 years old, she had kidney failure.

I miss her terribly but she did bring two pups into my home (pregnant when I adopted her), they remind me of her every day.

It's funny because they have a lot of the same traits that momma had. Angel.

I am a pushover for Golden Retrievers.

Had dogs all my life, the world stopped and the moon stayed hung when i got my first Golden. Cannot imagine life without them.

Just beautiful.

And Misha was 14.

I am now the proud owner of a 3 year old, very physically challenged Peke, Sammy Miami. Hoover and Misha were cremated and sit in lovely urns in a curio cabinet.

When it is time to go to bed at night, our Sarah goes into the bedroom and barks.

She wants one of us to lift her on to our bed.

She can't make the jump anymore.

She is on a prescription diet and more medication that either of us who are seniors as well.

We know we won't have her that much longer but cherish each minute.

Would that the old girl could live forever.

9 isn't so old but my Aja is one good dog (unless you're a squirrel).

She's really slow now, but she must have had one last spurt of speed left in her...that or the bird was really old! She had such a look of pride in her eyes, I couldn't scold her.

A stray, so we don't know his exact age He has severe arthritis, and has learned to bark to let us know he needs help with steps. He refuses to eat his dog food, but eats human food with enthusiasm And he still protects his yard against canine intruders

After her buddy Ruby went, she started going down hill.

My wife doesn't want to get another dog to give Rosie company. When Rosie goes, it will break my heart.

Lost my 14 year old boy last May.

Best friend I ever had and I still miss him every day. Spoon feeding Beau after surgery in 2007 (he was 13 in this pic):

I'm sorry you lost him.

I too, still miss my chocolate boy.

He's been gone over 5 yrs now and I still miss him so much.

He was about 13 1/2 when we lost him. We have another lab now, yellow, looks very much like your Beau. I like to think our dear old friends are running like the wind in doggy heaven.

I have another pup now and she's beautiful (she gets lots of compliments even though she's "just" a mutt) but I still have a soft spot for Labs.

I can't resist them at the dog park or in the stores - I have to touch them.

And kiss their face. I read your post below about wanting to adopt older dogs.

I struggled with that, too.

Really hate to see the old dogs who look so confused wondering what they did wrong to end up abandoned in their old age.

It breaks my heart.

I'd adopt them all if I could. Give a to your yellow Lab for me.

He just turned 6 and is already getting white in the face.

He still looks like a pup when there is a cookie involved!

Lots of love and trust in those eyes.

We'd been through a lot together.

Your post means a lot to me.

Thank you.

For the dog who becomes one of the special, once in a lifetime companions, there is simply never enough years to spend with them.

I know it is a true blessing to even have them this long, but sometimes the hurt from them leaving makes it seem like a curse to feel so deeply about a dog friend. My dh's best friend ever is still with us at 14, but we sense our time with him is limited.

And honestly, not a day goes by that we don't say to each other that old dogs are just precious and to be cherished for their long friendship and wisdom.

I don't know why I am finding old dogs even more precious than all those cute little pups I see everywhere.

Maybe because I am aging too.

Absolutely baffle me.

They don't know what they are missing.

All of my dogs who have lived to ripe old ages have merged with my own habits and personality to the point it felt like we could read each other's minds (and I think we did).

Such a wonderful experience in a furry package that is unconditional love at its best.

That activity level "peak" lasts for a long time.

The owners didn't realize their dog would have so much endless energy, and they are ill equipped to deal with the hyper dog. Some people shouldn't bother adopting a puppy at all.

Many people would be better off adopting a mature dog.

It's great for me because I have five other dogs & she is FORCING them to participate in her play activities.

I have never seen a dog with so much energy, its great for the older dogs to have another dog get them up & moving.

He's not doing too bad, all things considered.

My two year old chow-lab mix was the bestest friend I ever had.

I lost him to Katrina, and will always regret not getting to see him grow into one of those old dogs who just read your mind and are happy to just sit with you. I miss him so much, I still tear up, and can't bring myself to invite a new dog into the family.

Puppy. And you fall in love all over again.

A little at a time.

Well, maybe, just maybe it was sent there by an old friend. My sister's Cisco, yeah, it was like he fell from the sky.

And he was not so much like her beloved Liz, but he was old beyond his puppy age and devoted to her from the first second he saw her....

Just like her Liz. The dog who just shows up and says 'I love you' is one of the greatest joys in life. Cisco is getting on in years now.

I wonder who Liz will send next.

There some things about my rescue dog that has made dh and I say on more than one occasion that my old girl must have picked her out for us.

Things she has done that were so unique to my old girl, that when they happen now, we say that she is just channeling Chelsea And when I was looking for a new name for her, I googled her rescue given name only to find that many of the google sites said it meant "heaven", "gift from heaven", and stuff along those lines.

Maybe even the universe realizes that sometimes I am so dense that it apparently needed to be spelled out for me.

I've found I can't live without at least two dogs in my life.

There is a chow mix out there that needs you as much as you need him or her.

I just know it. I have had a chow, a chow mix and now have a chow and a chow mix.

All have been rescues.

There's just something about the chow personality that mixes well with me. I can *begin* to imagine your heartbreak. My chow came from this fine rescue: http://westtexaschowrescue.homestead.com / I hope your heart will open for a new furry friend.

But I understand the reluctance as well.

He's almost totally deaf, can't see too well anymore, and needs a little help with the porch steps, and is completely happy. I've had him since he was eight weeks old.

I don't know what I'll do without him. I've had to save his life twice in the last couple of years.

He snatched a chicken leg and got it stuck in his throat.

I tried to get it out, but his gag reflex took over and he clamped down on my hand.

After a struggle, he passed out because he couldn't breathe.

He relaxed, basically died, peed on me, and I got the chicken leg out, but he wasn't breathing.

I grabbed his nose and breathed air into him a couple of times and he came back, shaky but just fine. Last summer my wife and I were with him at a small river park.

I looked up just in time to see him float by!

I had to jump in the river to pull him out.

Seems the old boy can't swim anymore. Now we are inseparable. Old dogs are the best.

May Charlie make it through one more summer, and congrats on memories that will last your lifetime.

I have to laugh. My guy loves to swim!

I can just imagine what that was like!

They know that no bird, rabbit or squirrel used to be safe in their vicinity.

They remember running all day long chasing anything and everything.

When they get old you can see it in their eyes that they miss those things. Keep him close and keep him happy.

Take tons of pictures also.

You can see in their eyes that they miss those things.

The noblest of the beasts A part of the family As irreplaceable - or more so - as any other relative I am convinced some of them are long passed humans in dog suits.

How else do dogs just "know".

And they always "just know".

She is, she just is. Bless our furry friends!

Now we drink champagne when we thirst-ay...

To 17 or more years...I hope so. Great article...thanks for the Heads Up.. Tikki

So many people here are talking about their dogs.

I want to see pics!

I love dogs!

Nikki

I've looked at petfinders occasionally and see so many older dogs it breaks my heart.

Especially during these times when the economy is forcing people to give up their pets I bet there are more older dogs than ever. Thanks for this post.

I think old dogs are wonderful.

Well, Missy is kind of incontinent, so "great" is pushing it.

Beebs is a trooper.

Here's Missy, about five years ago: And, of course, the Beebs:

Too cute. And Beebs looks like she (he?) owns the place.

Very sweet.

I really do believe that the first ones to greet us will be our beloved dogs and our other loved ones.

The dogs will come running first.

Buddy is on the left, he is estimated to be 15 or 16 years old (I got him used ).

I enjoy his company.

Cute picture.

Buddy is closer to the camera in this one.

The comments about some of the dogs are priceless... Lucy: As a pup, Lucy would consume things that were not technically food: shoes, sofa cushions, drapery and so forth.

Exasperated, Linda bought a popular obedience-training book titled Why Good Dogs Do Bad Things.

Lucy ate it.

Jessie, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was adopted in January 2003.

We couldn't tell then how old she was, but the gray chin hairs have been coming in for several years. We found a large lump on her rear leg a couple of days ago and took her in to have it looked at.

The vet will call back about the biopsy tomorrow. I've had several dogs over my life, but this girl has been special.

Good wishes appreciated.

You have my good wishes.

Been there, with Portia, Greatest Dog Ever in the World.

"Greatest Dog in the World": words that every dog owner knows means his or her pet.

Best of luck to you and her.

Give her a pat on the head from us here.

Lots of good wishes!!

Older dogs get lots of lumps - most of them are benign.

Sending lots of good vibes your way.

Our Short-hair had to be put down several years ago because of a spinal tumor that was causing her terrible pain.

My lab had numerous fatty deposits and one large tumor that was successfully removed.

It was malignant but they got it all and it never grew back.

Best of luck. (And post an update when you hear.

)

The tumor that she survived was a mast cell tumor, a very nasty malignant one, but cleanly removed with good margins.

She was full speed ahead and living life large until the last week of her life - most people who saw how active she was underestimated her age by years.

If you have to pass from this life, you are indeed lucky if you can be as active, sharp witted and good humored as she was until the last possible moment. I'll put my tribute to her here on this post - I was lucky to have had 13 great years with the best dog I'll likely ever know.

The 13 years with you went by so fast, while this last year without you here has gone so slow.

Miss you still, Chelsea, and will always love you best of all, old girl.

That was the name on her tag at the pound, but I hadn't planned on calling her that at first.

On the drive home, though, she curled up in a ball on the floor of the truck and looked positively morose, after displaying such enthusiasm for being taken out of her cage.

I said "Chelsea" and she popped up her head and gave me a look and a tail wag that erased any doubts on the right name!

And a shorthair too!

That really made me smile So your dogs have been rescues?

I'd always raised mine from pups, but after Chelsea passed away, I found myself drawn to rescue a dog instead. I found an extremely thin English Pointer via PetFinder online, whose name was Celine.

Sent dh to a neighboring state to pick her up (where the first thing she tried to do was leap up into dh's arms, followed by trying to leap into his truck), we got her weight back to normal, worked on putting her at ease and fine tuning some issues. But it was the opposite of your story - she didn't seem too keen on being called Celine, and it didn't fit her personality.

She is a 6-8 year old who is a total couch potato who makes cuddling and affection an extreme sport, but then promptly ditches the Ms.

Mellow routine to do an enthusiastic series of leaps in the air complete with roo roo'ing howls when she knows it is time to go for a walk - where she becomes nothing but a working nose on a pair of sprinting legs powered by rocket fuel.

I ended up naming her Becca just because it was short, and snappy and very much "her"!

While the biopsy in our case was not positive, the good news was that they got this one in enough time for her to live another 3 years.

My most positive thoughts for you and Jessie.

I'm glad you and your girl got another 3 years together.

I think Jessie has a few more to come if everything turns out well.

Tony's just a young kid of 4 years.

He came from a local breeder. Here's hoping that everything's okay with Jessie.

Our old dog has so many fatty benign tumors we have started calling him Lumpy.

We also have two six month pups and an approx.

Three year old doxie that just showed up a year ago and despite using every avenue available were not able to find his owner.

I will never forget you.

He was a handsome fellow.

We had 5,575 days together.

Http://srdogs.com / When my dogs go, they'll be replaced by old ones

I miss him so much.

He was not quite 13.

I'd had him since I was 20 and he was 8 wks.

He'd had a splenic tumor we didn't know about, we were told the lump was just a fatty deposit, about a year prior.

He collapsed while being dog-sat by my parents.

He barely made the night and I took him home the next day.

The day after that, we had him put down, he'd never survive a surgery.

He was so weak. And yet, even though he couldn't walk without falling down, he was determined to stay right by my side and wouldn't lay in our bed if I got up.

He was *MY* dog. I've never felt such unconditional love before or since.

I miss him doing his 'potty' dance.

I miss his shaking his stuffed elephant all over the house.

I miss him sucking on the stuffed elephant on my bed at night.

I miss him jumping up on me no matter where in the house I sat down.

Yes, I even miss falling over him when he'd get tangled in my feet in the kitchen while I was making supper.

I doubt I'll ever find another dog like him, and I'm glad.

He was definitely one of a kind.

RIP Rosco.

Of an old dog is one of the greatest gifts of life. I didn't realize this until our family's old boy left us a few days ago. Practically half my life he was always there and when he reached elderly ages he was like the brother I never had.

Katherine Harris.

Discussion Title: Old Dogs are the Best Dogs
Title Keywords: Dogs  Best  Dogs  Democratic  Underground 



Omgili Home About FAQ Plugins Usenet