Posted on 01/16/2014 9:00:37 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
...our 13 year old Lab/Aussie mix has been the BEST dog...didn’t get her till she was 2...we are likely in her last year right now, as she has cancer (they operated, but couldn’t get it all as it’s right next to her trachea)....no small dog for us as we age...but, no hyper one either.
I sympathize with your loss. I too am a golden retriever fan. We are on our third generation of goldens spanning more than 30 years. The breed represents not just versatile bird dogs; they are also fun, sweet, kind and all one could ask for in a canine companion. I guess the author didn't like dogs that are hard to pick up an sit in one's lap. IMO- a dog ought to sit at your feet not on top of you and should know its place in the family pack without insisting on running the place.
We have 2 Golden Retrievers. The best dogs on Earth. I hope you get another.
Shetland Sheepdogs are the way to go. They were previously known as “Shetland Collies”. Collie dog owners complained to the AKC that Shelties are not of the “Collie” species so that the AKC changed the name to “Shetland Sheep Dog”. Shelties are still the best house dog for older people. They are not as active as Border Collies and are self-disciplining. The only problem with them is that I heard a rumor that they are going to take over the world next week! ;-)
I have a 95 yr old neighbor who had two Labs until 6 months ago. Her kids made her get a couple of cats ilo another Lab or two.
I’m waiting to fully recover from my recent knee replacement to adopt another dog. It has to be a Golden, I think. That is the breed that melts my heart every time. And, it will be an adult dog from a rescue org.
But, my memories of my last Golden will have to fade a bit because he was the perfect dog. Even though he’d been found as a stray and was a wild child when we got him, he quickly calmed down and went to work with us every day. He knew the bounderies of our property and never left. He exercised himself. He didn’t even shed much (they have different kinds of coats). He never barked, or whined. When he wanted something he nudged you with his cold nose and fixed a soulful, brown-eyed gaze upon you! We still look at each other when we leave the office for the night and ask, “Should we take the dog home before we go out to dinner?” (Of course we know that there is no dog to consider any more, but it is an ingrained habit.)
:-D Well, we know who your favorite is. (They are adorable)
Good for you. He sounds adorable and I hope you get many years of pleasure out of him.
My wife and I own two Chihuahuas......life is never dull as they have successfully house trained us. The dog whisperers’ head would explode as they as pets are pretty much everything he advises against as is we as owners....spoiled rotten and proud of it!!!
Are you confusing “dumb” with masochism? :)
Our old girl is a Golden Retriever/Australian Sheppard cross. I would not trade her for anything. The only concern I have is falling because she has a way of blocking me out of where I intend to go if she wants more lovin’. Funny too! And low key but not lazy which is a necessity for me.
Rat Terrier. I’ve had them all my life and the ones I’ve had have been VERY smart. They also have no congenital (breed) health problems. And unlike Jack Russels, they have an “off switch.”
PFL
I thought the author was thinking more along the lines of being able to carry a 70 pound dog back to the house, if something happened to it out on a long walk. I have an old golden (14), and we go on long walks out in the back country often. I know I have wondered how I would get her home if something happened out on the trail, so that she couldn’t walk.
I wouldn’t want to leave her, but there is no way I could carry her more than a few feet.
I have no idea what “PFL” means. Please enlighten me.
Small, smart, beautiful silky coat that does not shed.
And if you miss being bossed around get a dachshund
Bichon Frise - adorable, non-allergenic, small (15-20 lbs), not whiney.
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