Fifth Avenue Forum

No, you will get just as attached. But I do think it will be slightly different when you lose her. Just had a related conversation last weekend because a friend lost his dog earlier that week. I might be presumptive, but I am guessing that Cadence was your first dog that was your dog. Not a family dog, but your first pet dog that brought home and raised. The bond that is in movie plots, but as kids we never really did that, because when we were kids, I assume, at least for me and people I know, we were never really the ones taking care of the dogs. But anyway, losing that first dog is going to crush you, and you can never prep for that.

Your assumptions are exactly right. We had dogs growing up but they came and went because we moved so much. When I joined the Marines I adopted Cadence as a puppy about a month after getting to my first duty station. Raised her all the way through to her teens when she got sick.
I think we got Cadence for us, and the three of us had a great time. We got Ava for Ava's sake, and I hope we have a great time. Those relationships are different. But I think you might end up being correct in that it may end up being a distinction without a difference.

My Dad's dog was older when he adopted her, and she has been slipping lately. Some kind of doggie dementia. We picked up Ava on Friday and I called him Tuesday to ask if he liked the vet that he goes to. Turns out he had to put her down on Thursday afternoon and he spent the weekend crying. So, yeah, it may not matter.

Good stuff @dodint

Really sorry to hear that skully. I'm dreading those decisions and can't imagine how hard they are

To keep with the up and down nature of this thread, I’ve had my 13 yo GSP at the emergency vet since 5 am for a possible stroke.

To keep with the up and down nature of this thread, I’ve had my 13 yo GSP at the emergency vet since 5 am for a possible stroke.

Hope all goes well @meow

Idk why we do this to ourselves. I was 22 when I got Reggie, he's been there for every one of my adult milestones. He's about to be 12, every time I read these conversations I mist up thinking about how he's probably only got a couple years left. He might have to take me with him when he goes

Also adopting a senior dog is unreal. What a move

Idk why we do this to ourselves. I was 22 when I got Reggie, he's been there for every one of my adult milestones. He's about to be 12, every time I read these conversations I mist up thinking about how he's probably only got a couple years left. He might have to take me with him when he goes

It is indeed something. I think the only times I ever feel full sadness is when I think about Mac passing, and he's only 5. And expanding on that prior post, my friend explained the entire ordeal he went through with the culmination of his dog being put down. Saying goodbye, watching the first shot go in, seeing the panic his little guy is feeling after the injection. It's honestly more than anyone should have to bear. Those of us in that discussion all really agreed that losing your dog is harder than losing a parent, it's akin to losing a child.

For me the problem was, and I think you kind of alluded to it, is that the dog has no idea that it's the end. So regardless of how well-considered, compassionate, and ultimately painful of a decision it is for the owner it is impossible (at least at first) to shake the nagging sense of betrayal. The ability to convey to the dog what's going on just isn't there.
Losing my parents will be really difficult, but at least they are an active participant in their end game.

Good luck, meow. Hope it's much ado about nothing.

For me the problem was, and I think you kind of alluded to it, is that the dog has no idea that it's the end. So regardless of how well-considered, compassionate, and ultimately painful of a decision it is for the owner it is impossible (at least at first) to shake the nagging sense of betrayal. The ability to convey to the dog what's going on just isn't there.

I couldn't have articulated it any better.
The actual process is extremely quick, under 5 seconds I think. They don't really tell you that (or at least didn't tell me that), I had this fantasy about her falling asleep and then her breathing stopping a minute or so later. It's peaceful, but very quick so be prepared. I'm still broken that the last thing she probably heard was me telling her to lay back down instead of how much I loved her.

It's honestly more than anyone should have to bear. Those of us in that discussion all really agreed that losing your dog is harder than losing a parent, it's akin to losing a child.

Extremely well said, and I agree. Pales in comparison to losing a child, no doubt, but I already know that saying goodbye to Molly is going to be tougher than saying goodbye to my stepfather, who I was close with.

Not to mention the fact that we spend hours each day with our pet. By the time my stepdad passed, I had moved away and was seeing him every 3-4 months. Ugh.

@meow best of luck man.

So 13 hours at the animal hospital, an X-ray, a MRI, a spinal fluid tap, full blood work up, several exams by specialist vets and $4k later, our result is….

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

No signs of a stroke. No abnormalities in any test result. No nothing. Just a “it was probably a seizure. Try to video it if it happens again.”

Much ado about nothing has a steep pricetag.

Congrats, then.

WTF!?!? $4k

Emergency vets are crazy expensive. That seems about right.

Ouch, well glad to hear there are no complications meow.

I will hopefully soon be joining the pet owners in this thread! I am likely bringing a puppy home in January, all going well. I previously had dogs, but never was the primary care giver.

What were your best resources when bringing a puppy home to prepare?

I bought a book about Jack Russell Terriers when we got our first puppy. She ate it.

What I'm saying is you can't mess up too badly.

Socialize it when it's young so it's comfortable around other dogs from an early start. That's was one of our few missteps.

I see myself as a dog owner in the not too distant future as well. Sorry, cats.

depending on the size of its eventual adult self - keep it off the furniture. no matter how tempting it is to let your 9 lb puppy sleep on you. because eventually it's a 90 lb doberman that still claims the couch and it's too late to say no

RE: dogs on furniture.

Male vs female, has anyone notices any difference on their dog's behavior there? What I've noticed is that the lady is deadweight, if she's on the couch or bed and you need her to move, you have to pick her ass up. The male just needs a nudge to get him to move. My brief study uncovered 2 other deadweight women and one other dude that moves with a nudge.

Boy dogs are superior in this cat’s opinion

No furniture
All four paws must be on the ground to get attention
Socialize socialize socialize
Leave it and a reliable recall are the two most important commands

RE: dogs on furniture.

Male vs female, has anyone notices any difference on their dog's behavior there? What I've noticed is that the lady is deadweight, if she's on the couch or bed and you need her to move, you have to pick her ass up. The male just needs a nudge to get him to move. My brief study uncovered 2 other deadweight women and one other dude that moves with a nudge.

Can confirm x2.

Male mini-aussie does not agree. He can jump on the bed when I'm in it, nuzzle right against my back and you literally have to shovel him up and off to get him to just relocate on the bed.