I'm so sad...dog story

calmom
Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:17:08 +0000

EK #17:

I want another black labrador- but our doggie was 60-70 lbs when she was healthy ( old style bred for hunting) and if we had another dog who lasted 15+ years, I know there isn’t any way I could get an old dog that size in and out of my Jeep when I am 67yrs old



I had the same feelings – I lost my 65 lb. Aussie mix last September — and I already was painfully aware that I was not strong enough to lift her in an emergency.



But in the back of my head- I am thinking about two dogs- but a little smaller.

I couldn’t last two weeks in my empty house – so I went to the local shelter just to see what was there… and of course I fell in love. I got a small bichon/terrier mix, about 14lb. I had never owned a small breed dog before – (before the Aussie mix, I had a Rottie) But my little dog is extremely loving and cuddly and a perfect match for middle-aged me. She is also very high energy – so yes, I do have to still take her for daily walks (good exercise for me) – but she also gets plenty of energy running around the back yard, or just racing back and forth along the hallway in my house.

Of course she was lonely and I didn’t want to spend my entire day playing doggie tug (her favorite game) … so I adopted a 2nd pound dog as a companion – even smaller. The 2nd dog is a very sturdy terrier mix, but only 7lb. – also very active – but the dogs spend all day playing with each other so I don’t have to worry too much about entertaining them. (As I write this post the are happily engaged in dog-wrestling)

So – don’t be afraid to take the plunge with a small breed dog. I always hated little “yappy” dogs – but when I went to the shelter I simply avoided the dogs in kennels who barked a lot when I walked by, in favor of the ones who just acted friendly and looked at me with eager eyes. Neither of my dogs barks inappropriately – just the normal level of barking when something happens that’s worth barking about.