Exactly my point. Once they have the association with the punishment medium, which may only take a couple of discipline sessions, they make the association and then all they need is a reminder. They have the intelligence and memory to do that - why not use it?
About missing this passed dog, maybe I’m weird, but out of the 10 or so dogs that I’ve raised that later died, I just have fond memories of most, and it’s never sad to relive those and I don’t miss them. The only exception is 2 that died in bad circumstances due to my own inexperience in one case, and stupidity in another.
You give them the best life you can, you enjoy each other, and Golden’s especially don’t have a long life so they pass in 10 years or so. The last part comes from the Man upstairs and I’m not about to question it!
My previous Golden lived to 15 1/2 even though she had suffered an orthopedic accident at age 5 and always walked a little stiffly for her last 10 years. This (more recent) dog died at around 11, or 12 (not sure of his age, as he’d been found as a stray). So, I feel somewhat cheated. But, mainly I feel blind-sided by his illness (pancreatic cancer, discovered at the necropsy). I know that there is nothing that I could have done for him, but I still feel guilty that I didn’t do enough. He saw 2 different vets, and I think that the first one misdiagnosed his problem.
Mainly, he was a terrific dog. He accompanied me to work every day that we had him (10 years). He was the perfect office dog. He took over the corner office (my husband’s) and sat there behind a baby gate that wasn’t even attached. He could have pushed it over at any moment. People came by all day and he’d sit up hoping that they’d give him a treat out of the jar on the table outside the door. Never barked. Never whined. Just looked expectant with his big brown eyes. Worked every time.
Love my old golden- just turned 14! Santa left her under the Christmas Tree in 1999, and she’s been the best dog we ever have had. Kids are grown now, but is still have my old girl.