I'm going to miss Callie's 10 birthday party, because I'll be in the U.S. that day. It's less than two weeks from now, and Callie will (already) be 10 years old. That makes her 70 in "dog years" — older than I am now. Some days you can tell she has slowed down, but other days she runs and romps around like a puppy. Her appetite is good, as are her teeth.
It seems like yesterday that we went and picked her up from the farm where she was born, three hours southwest of Saint-Aignan, near Vichy. That was in May of 2007, when she was 10 or 12 weeks old. We're seriously thinking about bringing another puppy into the household this spring, as company for Callie and us in her senior years.
What a beautiful girl Callie is.
ReplyDeleteDo take care though. When we had our second dog - an eight week old pup, our older dog was six years old and pulled a couple of muscles in his legs running to play and keep up with the youngster. He nearly wore us out too, and to begin with it was like having a new baby in the house. We were exhausted, and needed eyes in the back of our heads ! These days, due to our advancing years, we go for older dogs who won't wear us, or our existing dogs, out !
Puppies can be a real pain. We've been through the process twice over the past 25 years, with Callie and another collie-type dog that we called Collette. Both puppies chewed up a lot of stuff at the beginning, so we have to expect that. I hadn't thought about injuries Callie might suffer trying to keep up with a younger dog.
DeleteThey make chondroitin for pets .. easily gotten from a vet. Call yours and ask about it.
DeleteWe have spent a fortune on chrondroitin, and other, similar related medication, on our dogs over the years, but they don't help when the dog is older and loses muscle power. We have just had to have our beloved Labrador put to sleep because she had gone "off" her back legs and no amount of medication would help. When we finally had to accept the inevitable, we were spending over 100 euros a month on drugs for her.
DeleteThis is a lovely photo of Callie!
ReplyDeleteTest of getting older. Should we get a new dog only to abandon it to the kindness of strangers when we die, or, we will see another one out. Two of you, Walt a little younger. You are good for another pup.
ReplyDeleteDepending on if you have 10 years or so to go ... you can always set up something with a family member or friend that you totally trust and put it in your will that they get custody of the pup.
DeleteI have done that with my cats !
I'll have a better chance of living for another 10 years with a dog than without. The dog keeps me active... moving... walking. As long as my hips and knees can take the stress.
DeleteOh, my, this is exciting news!
ReplyDeletei remember when y'all got her too...wow cant believe it's been 10 yrs.....yay for puppies
ReplyDeleteA new baby is a great idea. I have done that with dogs and cats and it always works so well and so sweet.
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