Senior Doggies!

[iris lily]

Let's see if this photo works:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb111/kprp/008.jpg

Here is DH with a bunch of Frenchies. The two fat piglets in his lap are elderly seniors. We are calling them "The Grannies" and we will be keeping them.

French Bulldog Rescue is really helping me a lot with this crew. It turned out that we took 6 Frenchies rather than 5. Two of them are sick. Amy from FBR is a fountain of knowledge and she is dedcated to getting this crew the best homes they can have. She came to our house yesteday to evaluate them.

The Grannies are a bonded pair at 8 and 10 years old. French Bulldog rescue representative told me that it will be practically impossible to place both of them together at their advanced age. So, we are keeping them. And the really ironic thing is that these are the best of the lot--funny, affectionate, well behaved, good bathroom habits. They are both AKC Champions although that is neither here nor there.

[treehugger]

DH has expressed some trepidation about adopting a senior since he has a hard time parting with his animal friends. I think I am a little less sensitive about pet death, maybe from having had many more pets in the course of my life, and so while it's never pleasant, I am less afraid of it than he is.

This is a valid worry about adopting a senior, but I do think that the joy and love you get from them helps outweigh this. You are truly giving a senior pet a second chance at a great forever home, and even if the time with them is short, it's worth it.

Our greyhound rescue group adopts out ex-racers who are usually age 2 to 5, but sometimes we get brood matrons who are anywhere from 6 to 12 years old. The average life span of a racing greyhound is 12 to 14 years. Anyway, those who have been lucky enough to adopt a "broodie" (we almost never get senior males, since the kennels don't keep males around [they just keep their sperm!]), enjoy the pleasure of an extra-sweet, extra-calm dog for a few wonderful years. These dogs are destroyed if not adopted, so being able to give them a few years of lovely retirement feels like a bonus rather than a limit.

Kara

[SRP]

Yes, if I adopt another pet, it will definitely be a mature one, though I won't limit it to "senior" only. My dog is 13 now, and very definitely showing her age. We've been through a lot lately, but I think we've achieved a new balance. Thank goodness. I'm not ready to lose her yet. I adopted her from a humane society when she was 4. She'd lived her first four yeas there after being left on their doorstep as a puppy. She is a wonderful dog.

My cat just died - she was 18, and for an outdoor cat, that's pretty ancient. It was heartbreaking to come home and find her dead in the yard. But she'd been healthy right up to the end and showed no signs of struggle or injury. I hope that I'm right that she simply knew it was her time to go.

I also have a senior horse who is 22. So far, so good... she's old and a bit arthritic, but doing all right. She was born right in front of our barn and has never had another home. She's had a pretty cushy life, that's for sure.

Having older animals can be a challenge, but it also can be a very rewarding experience, to know that you are able to give them the very best home possible, so that they can live their lives in comfort.

[fidgiegirl]

The Grannies are a bonded pair at 8 and 10 years old. French Bulldog rescue representative told me that it will be practically impossible to place both of them together at their advanced age. So, we are keeping them. And the really ironic thing is that these are the best of the lot--funny, affectionate, well behaved, good bathroom habits. They are both AKC Champions although that is neither here nor there.

Oh!! If only I could take them!! Actually, next time we adopt, I have it in my mind that I want to get two at the same time. Bryce thinks it would be too hard to introduce another dog onto Corky's turf, and I think he is right about that. So I'd want to get two that live together in our house from the minute they arrive here.

What is it about bulldogs that you love, iris?

[iris lily]

Oh!! If only I could take them!! Actually, next time we adopt, I have it in my mind that I want to get two at the same time. Bryce thinks it would be too hard to introduce another dog onto Corky's turf, and I think he is right about that. So I'd want to get two that live together in our house from the minute they arrive here.

What is it about bulldogs that you love, iris?

Oh, I love the bulldogs because they are so silly and fat and useless.

Now, do not tell my Frenchies, but after a 3 year experiment with owning Frenchies I have to confess that they do not move me the way the English bulldogs do. I love the big bulldogs and that's why I do bulldog rescue. Someday I will have a very nice English again.

[HappyHiker]

Our dog, Mr. Regal, is around 14..he's mostly deaf, mostly blind, but still eats with great gusto and manages pretty well...he's a cool doggie and we've been lucky to have him around so long...

[iris lily]

Today was a bittersweet day.

We had someone come here today, driving four hours to pick up the "problem" dog from our pack of 6 dogs. He had great references. He's had French Bulldogs for 20 years. He likes taking the difficult ones and turning them around.

His verdict on her was: she is agressive. Underneath the fear biting is agression.
He is taking her, but only for evauluation. I think he is her only hope. Her chances are probably 50/50.

However, he fell in love with the feisty red headed "Gem" who is a little snappy and standoffish with humans, who beats up other dogs, but who is a beautiful red rotund Frenchy. She loves car rides and going on walks. He thinks she needs a strong leader and she will stop trying to beat up all other dogs (except for her big black boyfriend who she adores.)

ANYWAY--the guy ended up taking three dogs. yay! We said "Gem can't go without her boyfriend King" and since King is a dude, a big easy going clown dog, he's easy to love so they took him.

I am down to 4 Frenchies now--one of which we will be placing in another home when she gets better, she's been emaciated and full of worms and we are fixing that.

[fidgiegirl]

One of my students told me the other day that his dog is EIGHTEEN!!! I didn't ask what breed, but I've never heard of such an old dog.

[iris lily]

One of my students told me the other day that his dog is EIGHTEEN!!! I didn't ask what breed, but I've never heard of such an old dog.

He's probably some tiny little yapper!

[Wildflower]

Iris Lily, good to hear the Frenchies are going to a good home with someone that can deal with their issues. Will the aggressive one be coming back to you if he can't change her behavior?

Fidgiegirl, from what I've heard and seen myself, mutts live the longest lives. They just don't have the high number of health problems that purebred dogs often have....