Sister and Bone Doctor have an aged dog, to the point where they can't plan too far in the future as Fuzzy Cocoa approaches the end of her life. She is some kind of poodle cross. Several years ago, after a severe fur trim.
Oldest Niece has Charlie, a smallish dog and it too is quite old.
Ex Sis in Law has two pugs. I'm afraid it is not a breed I like. I hate the noise they make when they pant. The noise they make is just horrible, and how anyone thinks they are attractive, I don't know. Sorry if you have one.
Mother's dogs were Socks and Pooch, medium sized dogs. Father's favourite dog was Cindy. There were other child hood dogs, Red, who was killed by a trailer behind a car. He was a tyre chaser. One dog was kill by wild dogs. Awful, but there was one dog permanently chained up as he would immediately rush off to chase cattle in a mindless way.
My grandparents had a Collie dog when I was just past toddler age called Joffey. He too was pretty well permanently chained up.
Our dogs were Toby, a medium sized mongrel bitzer mixed breed dog with cattle dog instincts. He was terrified of thunder and alerted us to when it was approaching, and fireworks. I vividly remember his last walk in Alma Park, as we lifted him out of the car for him to stagger around the park for a bit, Pretty well blind, with collapsed claws. From there we took him to the vet for the last time. We sobbed and the vestiary practice sent us flowers the next day.
Jessie was a pure bred West Highland White Terrier. She was a lovely dog, always so close to us but apparently she barked a lot when we weren't home. We didn't know as we weren't there. She had so many medical problems, from hip dysplasia to bowel problems. I can't remember why now but she went to our now late friend Arthur who lived at the foot of Victoria's Mount Elephant. At a youngish age for a small dog, she died of throat cancer a year or so later. What I already knew about pure bred dogs, proved to be true. Photo of Toby and Jessie from about 1990.
We had the privilege of looking after the small mixed breed white Jack E Boy, here in the apartment so many times, the dog of our friend who now lives in Tasmania. He was great and we loved him as our own. But he died of old age a couple of years ago.
And then there is Tradie Brother with his deaf dog, Dog. He has tried to let her off leash at contained parks and at the beach but it is quite hopeless as she doesn't hear calls back to her master. I admire him for taking on a deaf dog, but I think he was foolish. His last dog Cobber died at a premature age. Dog is is a big white dog and should she jump up onto you with affection, she could knock you over. But worse is she slobbers. No big deal on my shirts as they are only worn for three days, but I only wash my jeans every two months. Dog slobber means an immediate wash.
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Growing up we had LOTS of animals. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, guinea pigs, turtles...
ReplyDeleteThe dogs were German Shepherds. I learned to walk pulling myself up on Harris's tail and apparently teethed on his ears. He apparently just looked at me. He was an excellent dog. He was poisoned. Someone threw baited meat into his enclosure one night. Every dog in the block that was out that night died. The next Shepherd after him was Jedda. She went blind but it didn't stop her enjoying life - though not being able to see it she barrelled through the fly screen a few times.
Pulled up by a dog's tail is funny EC. Dog behaviour can be a problem but poisoning is a stupid and cruel way to deal with issues. Otherwise nice memories for you.
DeleteI knew a deaf weimaraner who responded to hand signals, even at a distance, so she was pretty good off the leash. But not every dog learns the skills.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Boud and TB has put a lot of effort into training her. I am not sure that she that she pays constant attention to him when off leash. It is a while since I have spoken to him about Dog.
DeleteI never had a dog... allergies and asthma put paid to that. Glad I missed all that slobber though.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that JayCee. They do make a difference to your life and I'm glad we had them, and the cats but it is history not to be repeated now.
DeleteMy friend Joel is a dog lover. He has gone through at least 15 dogs so far. I don't see how emotional anyone can cope with losses of so many dogs
ReplyDeleteFifteen dogs is a lot Roentare. It is truly sad when a pet dies, but I suppose with such a quantity might make it easier. Does Joel have a dog now?
DeleteStalker
ReplyDeleteAndrew
We had two of our beautiful doggies Gertrude and Wolfgang go to heaven in the last two years
Of course they were long haired haired standard dachshunds. Wolfgang had twelve months with Agatha Blossomfeather until he went last year. She is almost two now and we have been waiting for her bro or sis to come along this year. Hopefully June .
Our dogs are always inside dogs and of course they come into bed with us at 3 am every morning..People often say to us that we treat our dogs like human beings…. which we take as a compliment not a reprimand! Agatha is particularly well behaved and loves going out for a furchino to the same coffee shop once a week.
Good wishes to your sis and her partner, it’s a sad time when pupsters go to heaven.
p.s We met a woman at the beach one day and she was in tears because her dog had passed..of course we hugged her. She said losing her dog was worse than losing her sister!
Stalker, the friend who took on our Jess had two dachshunds and they were great dogs. Furchino, lol. Sister frequently walks along her local beach, so I expect a hug from a stranger if she is in tears would be so welcome.
DeleteWe have had dogs, Ozzo and Dengoso, and cats Sweetie, Scruffy, Voncie, Lady, Thomas, Squeaky, Spunky,MaxGoldberg, Tuxedo, Tallulah Belle, Consuelo, and Rosita; all rescues,all greats loves.
ReplyDeleteSadly, just Consuelo and Rosita remain.
That's a lot of cats Bob. Was Tuxedo the most special?
DeleteTyre-chasers! That takes me back to a time when far more dogs were allowed to roam free than is today the case. At my first primary school we even had a "school dog," Fred, who came to school every day from somewhere nearby. A new broom headmaster was unpopular for decreeing that Fred was not welcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a dog fan. What most irritates is the unattended dog, which is often also under-exercised. The covid increase in household dogs and hence barkers has been a pain in the neck. The dachsund next door has calmed down now but for the first year or so after its arrival it broke into separation-anxiety howling/crying the moment parents and children departed for school/work at about 8am. With luck it would exhaust itself by about noon. On the other side we have a little white yapper. It is worst when its owners go away for a weekend and leave it Home Alone.
MC, not welcoming a dog who students were fond of sounds bad.
DeleteResponsible pet ownership has changed a lot for the better in our lifetimes but dogs are still dogs and they are not meant to be alone for extended periods in the natural world, nor as a pet.
I admire sniffer dogs, mountain rescue dogs, guide dogs for the blind and sheep dogs. I'm not much bothered about the rest. My sister-in-law's dog Alfie died at the age of seventeen this very week. This means that her house will soon stop smelling of dog and she will be able to visit us!
ReplyDeleteYP, dog smell in a house is not good. What was your SiL doing wrong?
DeleteI never could quite see the attraction of big drooly animals, myself. Pugs always sounds asthmatic to me, and that is an alarming noise. I will never have another dog. Tim and I have strong disagreements on what constitutes proper dog ownership. He doesn't believe in having a dog in the house. I don't believe in having a dog that can't come in the house. What is the point?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this Debby. Dogs simply don't like to be left alone. If they don't have the dog pack they need a human pack substitute.
DeleteNone of those brachycephalic dogs appeal. My ex vet brother always said they should ban the breeds as they suffer too much. There was a group of French Bulldogs that would meet at a local park in Langy. You can imagine the sound as they ran around trying to breathe!
ReplyDeleteI love the retreiver breeds - they always seem so happy but Himself is a German Shepherd or nothing person so we are now on our 5th and 6th. They are great animals and the drool factor is quite low.
Merlot, I think your brother is quite right. As you describe in the park sounds awful. Nephew lives in Torquay and has a golden retriever and I am not sure if he began the fad, but there are so many of the same breed in Torquay. Yep, Kevin doesn't drool and is great with the kids and in spite of his size, he is quite careful about knocking over things.
DeleteI've had many dogs, as well as cats, in my life. You can become as close to a pet as you can to any person. Often more so.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I think the difference between grief about a pet and grief about a person is the pet grief comes immediately, while the person grief lingers longer.
DeleteThey are all getting old, sad to see out pets age.
ReplyDeleteOur two dogs expired the year my Mother did, so that's a long time ago.
Margaret, it is good to have pets but at some point, it is good to not have them.
DeleteJeans should be washed a bit more often than that. Once a month would be better. In my entire life I have had only five dogs, the first being the family dog, a german shepherd named Ace who went with mum and the siblings when they left because my brother was so attached to him. :ater dogs were also shepherds or shepherd mixes and all were named Mad Max, though we only used the Max part of the name. My current dog is a terrier, a stuffed toy named Jacko who sits on the shelf gathering dust and causing no trouble at all.
ReplyDeleteRiver, a very easy care dog now for you, Jacko.
Delete"Later dogs..."
ReplyDeleteI've had dogs all my adult life and quite a lot of my childhood, all remembered with love and affection. I count myself fortunate in having had the good sense to marry a man who feels the same way about animals.
ReplyDeleteJB, that's a bit interesting to think about, that is compatibility between a couple about pets. We were always in agreement about pets and then agreement about no longer having pets.
DeleteI didn't grow up with house dogs, and didn't really enjoy them, until my sister's dog, Blitz the Wonder Dog, he died a couple of years ago, and she is raising a puppy.
ReplyDeleteA new generation of dogs TP. Nice.
DeleteI grew up with a terrier who was like a brother to me. I still remember the sadness when he died at 14 and I was 16. I took a couple of days off school. We have had more dogs since then and after the last one passed several years ago I don't think I could take the loss of another dear doggie friend. Instead I just enjoy other's dogs.
ReplyDeletePat, so many of us remember that special dog of our childhood. I know what you mean about the loss and it should never be underestimated.
DeletePlease let there be a special place in hell for anyone who abuses, let alone kills, either children or animals. Grrr... I used to watch a show called "Animal Cops" and had to stop; the rage wasn't good for me. lol Otherwise, I really enjoyed this post. It brought back some fond memories.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, dear Andrew!
Darla, I can watch the most awful grizzly stories of human abuse, but if an animal cruelty story comes on the tv, I have to turn my head away, at the least.
DeleteWe had a dog growing up. My father was a trekkie and named her Spock. We got her at the dog pound. She was just a teen and we had no idea she was pregnant. But shortly after we got her, she had puppies. She got so nervous in car rides, she'd pee and do this high pitched yipping that was eardrum busting. If we let her out, when going to the beach, she invariably found something dead to roll in. But we all loved her and she lived to a ripe old age.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, I think Spock might have been a very popular name back then. Oh yes, dogs and dead things...and cow manure. I remember it all well.
DeleteEvery two months?! I think you're pushing the envelope, there. I wash mine every three or four wearings, but then, I'm often walking the dog, which is a potentially dirty task.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that white dogs are often deaf. Apparently it's a thing.
I had a whole bunch of dogs growing up -- too many to name!
I know of people who never wash their jeans. I make an effort to not spill things onto myself, so really, I don't feel they get dirty. Yes, I too have heard the same about white dogs.
DeleteI hate yappy dogs! We always had dogs growing up but I never could be bothered with anything I would have to walk. We've had cats but we like to travel so it is too much trouble.
ReplyDeleteJackie, we too dislike yappers. Just looking after someone's dog as we used to do convinced us we did not want another.
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