tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post116779365700520646..comments2024-01-16T17:40:13.951-05:00Comments on Somewhere in NJ: My old man dogLauraHinNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1168109034869772452007-01-06T13:43:00.000-05:002007-01-06T13:43:00.000-05:00Robin: That's a great quote of FC's - I love it wh...Robin: That's a great quote of FC's - I love it when he writes about his dogs. I'll have to look for that post about your sister's Dane.<BR/><BR/>Laurie: Sounds like your two old dogs were friends to the end. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to lose both, but I hear that kind of tale pretty often about animals that share a home.<BR/><BR/>Cathy: Time is the key I think, and another dog or cat or bunny to help you remember why you opened yourself to such heartache in the first place.<BR/><BR/>Julie Z: lol!<BR/><BR/>Standing on the kitchen table is a bit much, but if 90 pound Buddy could manage it, I might just let him get away with it!<BR/><BR/>FC: I wish you'd write about them more often, but whenever you do I love that you capture that *Labness* about them. They are such clowns even in old age.<BR/><BR/>Michelle: I'm sure you've seen that line about it being a good thing that dogs live only for the short time they do, because if they had the lifespan of a person the heartbreak would be unbearable. So true for me (and you, I suspect).LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1168059416542306212007-01-05T23:56:00.000-05:002007-01-05T23:56:00.000-05:00This is all to close to home to comment on. My Ch...This is all to close to home to comment on. My Chandler Bear is 12. Have you seen the dog food commercial where they show all these "elder" dogs and state their ages? Makes me count what's left and I don't want to do that. Sniff.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09831072486479007970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167970977557745532007-01-04T23:22:00.000-05:002007-01-04T23:22:00.000-05:00kgmom: I went looking for that Updike poem you men...kgmom: I went looking for that Updike poem you mentioned - knocked the wind out of me also!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing the sweet story about your husband and Tipper - I'm just as sentimental. I often think that an animal finds its way to us with the help of one who has died, at least that's been my experience with bunnies.<BR/><BR/>Sharon: Thank you for sharing your experience. We're seeing a relatively new (to us) vet with Buddy and while I like her, she tends to not pay enough attention to the little comforts that I would like for him to have. I think she accepts a lot as just typical of his age and expcts that ought to also, but I'm sure there's things to do to keep him happy as well as healthy. We bought him a huge bed a few years ago that has special padding for older dogs - thanks for the idea of some type of warming too - I think Foster's and Smith offers something like that.<BR/><BR/>Jenn: Thanks, but it's not as easy as that! I don't use the flash at all - sometimes I think maybe Buddy is part Amish and is afraid the camera will steal his soul - he just refuses to face me. When he was younger he would bark madly at me whenever I pointed it at him. Just one of his (many) idiosyncracies!<BR/><BR/>Tim: That's true for a lot of people. Wasn't that way for me, and I've always found it much more difficult to cope with a pet's death than a person's.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167953520925172152007-01-04T18:32:00.000-05:002007-01-04T18:32:00.000-05:00Oh, you're killing me. Both our dogs (lab mixes)ar...Oh, you're killing me. Both our dogs (lab mixes)are older and slowing down. For years they were bouncing on coiled spring muscles and now they go up and down the porch steps carefully and slowly. <BR/>Buddy is a handsome boy.R.Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905593499136090763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167951829841287172007-01-04T18:03:00.000-05:002007-01-04T18:03:00.000-05:00Enjoying the in-between, I so appreciate your thou...Enjoying the in-between, I so appreciate your thoughts about Buddy. My favorite: "We let him (sleep on the furniture) because he thinks we don't know that he does it."<BR/>Yes.<BR/>I let Baker stand on the kitchen table for the same reason. This is very sweet.Julie Zickefoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167948046843985632007-01-04T17:00:00.000-05:002007-01-04T17:00:00.000-05:00Oh boy, Laura - your post is so tender its painful...Oh boy, Laura - your post is so tender its painful. Our recent dog history is just like Laurie's above - incredibly similar.<BR/><BR/>It's sometimes so tough for me to remember the good without being blind-sided by the sadness - guess we all process things in different ways. <BR/><BR/>I love your gentle, patient approach to Buddy's slowing down. He is one lucky fellow.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00548755592157386484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167901935340368132007-01-04T04:12:00.000-05:002007-01-04T04:12:00.000-05:00We lost two of our dogs nearly 2 years ago. Lucky...We lost two of our dogs nearly 2 years ago. Lucky, the Chesapeake, was 15 years old and Spotters, the Border Collie, was nearly 17. They were always best of friends, and died within a couple months of each other.<BR/><BR/>It was a very, very sad time for the whole family. They were very well loved and cared for and wanted for nothing. Now that some time has passed, I remember the wonderful times we had and it makes me smile. I still can't help missing them though.<BR/><BR/>I am so happy you still have your Buddy. May he live many more, happy, productive years.<BR/><BR/>Hugs,<BR/>Lauriedmmgmfmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872482306885344135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167885564115947812007-01-03T23:39:00.000-05:002007-01-03T23:39:00.000-05:00Pam: Fifteen years is a long time, but not long en...Pam: Fifteen years is a long time, but not long enough, right? Buddy will be 12, not so old by Lab standards, but all of a sudden he seems old.<BR/><BR/>Ruth: I won't use the flash because I expect that will bother him. Buddy is a Lab mix also - with Chow we think - his tongue has purple spots.<BR/><BR/>Pablo: Don't want you to be melancholy, but it is nice to remember them once in awhile.<BR/><BR/>Susan: Yep - the little ones and cats live a longer life. It's the same with bunnies - my big ones will pay for their generosity of form. ;-(<BR/><BR/>Jimmy: Thanks - they are special.<BR/><BR/>Dave: I don't know that song, but enjoyed the lyrics once I found them on the web.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167878567071431782007-01-03T21:42:00.000-05:002007-01-03T21:42:00.000-05:00Oh, this post makes me feel all weepy. They are su...Oh, this post makes me feel all weepy. They are such good friends to us, just by being so constant, and it's hard to imagine a time when they won't still be sleeping in that sunny spot. So the consolation is that he has such a good life with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167864077195732302007-01-03T17:41:00.000-05:002007-01-03T17:41:00.000-05:00He is handsome old guy. And so lucky to know so mu...He is handsome old guy. And so lucky to know so much love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167843874909309892007-01-03T12:04:00.000-05:002007-01-03T12:04:00.000-05:00He's a beautiful old man dog, Laura, and this is s...He's a beautiful old man dog, Laura, and this is such a lovely tribute to him. He's got a good home to continue growing old in, and lots of love to gently care for him in his dotage. When my sister lost her great dane last year I wrote about it on our blog, Floridacracker left us a comment that I will always remember: Every puppy is a potential heartbreak, but oh that inbetween.robin andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13390482190562312928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167843814607924762007-01-03T12:03:00.000-05:002007-01-03T12:03:00.000-05:00Give him a big kiss for me. Taking care of a swee...Give him a big kiss for me. Taking care of a sweet old dog is one of the blessings in our lives.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776482696203224923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167842781547213232007-01-03T11:46:00.000-05:002007-01-03T11:46:00.000-05:00For most of us, our first lessons in loss and deat...For most of us, our first lessons in loss and death come from beloved animals. You have eloquently captured that "predictably tragedy" and why we gladly risk love even and especially on impermanence.GreenmanTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03469571893477173508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167838581784201182007-01-03T10:36:00.000-05:002007-01-03T10:36:00.000-05:00My dogs hate the flash, too. I try to get them to...My dogs hate the flash, too. I try to get them to look up at a toy or crinkly thing I hold out at arm's length. You get a nice portrait feel to the image, and the dog retains his composure through the painful flash. If you ahve two people for the picture process it's easier, of course.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15597630887713954960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167837960684730522007-01-03T10:26:00.000-05:002007-01-03T10:26:00.000-05:00My life has been graced by many very elderly fur f...My life has been graced by many very elderly fur friends. Decades ago one of them in particular led me to my initial consideration of the possible benefits to geriatric wellbeing that can be found in homeopathy, acupuncture, and other traditional but non-conventional therapies. Today, 14 y/o BenBun has more spring in his steps and bounce in his gitalong thanks to Zeel, homeopathy's NSAID/COX2 without drug side effects. Many vets now extend their support for geriatric patients with such gentle, effective, healing therapies. Even conventional vets can sometimes help with range of motion exercizes. Buddy may appreciate gentle warmth beneath his bones these next few months. Allen Schoen and Martin Goldstein are vets whose texts offer beneficial guidance to those of us with elderbeasts. Love and belly rubs to Buddy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167835081989588612007-01-03T09:38:00.000-05:002007-01-03T09:38:00.000-05:00There are a couple of poems about dogs that knock ...There are a couple of poems about dogs that knock the wind out of me (I am thinking of Updike's poem "Good Dog").<BR/>Your musing on your old man dog made me think of when we got our current dog. Right after we got her, the friends we were with and I went in to a restaurant to eat, and my husband stayed outside with the dog. Looking through the window, I could see he was talking to the dog and wiping away tears. Afterwards, I asked--what were you saying. He said he told Tipper (the newly named dog) about all the other dogs we had had, and how we would take care of her until she too would join them.<BR/>Now, that brings a tear to the eye!KGMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05165941950953938943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167834512452333932007-01-03T09:28:00.000-05:002007-01-03T09:28:00.000-05:00Those are sweet words about your old friend. It's...Those are sweet words about your old friend. It's very clear that you love him alot.Lynne at Hasty Brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167828896577712712007-01-03T07:54:00.000-05:002007-01-03T07:54:00.000-05:00Ok - grabbing a Kleenex. He's lucky to own you. ...Ok - grabbing a Kleenex. He's lucky to own you. You write about him so beautifully.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167828718895792342007-01-03T07:51:00.000-05:002007-01-03T07:51:00.000-05:00Awww....what a sweetie pie.Awww....what a sweetie pie.Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14057094040409159429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167805384885949422007-01-03T01:23:00.000-05:002007-01-03T01:23:00.000-05:00There's an old Tom T Hall song called "Old dogs, c...There's an old Tom T Hall song called "Old dogs, children and watermelon wine". Look up the lyrics, they tell the truth. Your ol' dog looks like mine.Dave Dorseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07883772873840662336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167804354035126332007-01-03T01:05:00.000-05:002007-01-03T01:05:00.000-05:00Beautiful....My dog is getting old and I love him ...Beautiful....My dog is getting old and I love him alot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167802065338062482007-01-03T00:27:00.000-05:002007-01-03T00:27:00.000-05:00it's tough to let go. they are so special and with...it's tough to let go. they are so special and with us so short a time. But, only a dog loves you totally. they don't judge. four legged angels.silverlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849509928715939847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167797533075634522007-01-02T23:12:00.000-05:002007-01-02T23:12:00.000-05:00*lump in throat*I see Nellie in Buddy's face. Nel...*lump in throat*<BR/><BR/>I see Nellie in Buddy's face. Nellie is only 6, but the gray is coming in fast, and she has arthritis that had her vet shaking her head. She's too young to be this old.<BR/><BR/>The theory that "bigger dogs don't live as long as smaller ones" is pretty true, I think. Our big goofy labs just live so fast.<BR/><BR/>**Big kiss on the top of Buddy's head**Susan Gets Nativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167796027153257452007-01-02T22:47:00.000-05:002007-01-02T22:47:00.000-05:00Gee whiz! Now i'm melancholy. I've had to say good...Gee whiz! Now i'm melancholy. I've had to say good-bye to a few dogs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1167796002264227152007-01-02T22:46:00.000-05:002007-01-02T22:46:00.000-05:00There's something special and extra-comforting abo...There's something special and extra-comforting about an old pal. You're lucky to have each other.Ann (bunnygirl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04938134750150653386noreply@blogger.com