Doggone Etiquette —

Dogs In Our Lives

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

It has been a very long, very cold, very windy winter, especially for some of you “golden oldies.” Maybe you lucked out and found the perfect spot indoors where you could lie in the sun for a good part of the day.   (And pretend you were on vacation in the Bahamas?) One of the nice things about being someone’s best doggy friend is that when you are gone, you will never be forgotten. No matter how or when you go to that doggy heaven, the people you leave behind will forever have warm, loving, happy memories of their time with you. Hey! Not many people can say that!

A Word to the Dog’s Owners:

All dogs today live longer than their ancestors did a century ago, due in part to the progress in veterinary research and the routine healthcare now available for our pets. The dog food aisle in any supermarket or pet supply store is evidence of our increased concern about our dogs’ nutritional needs. The average dog’s lifespan in bygone days was also related to the fact that almost every dog had to work for its living and the type of work took a toll on the dog’s length of life. When dogs were first kept as pets, they were considered very much a luxury item, living in (unemployed) luxury. These were the small dogs which we today call the Toy breeds. Large breeds began to evolve as pets when the canine job market failed. These bigger dogs then became pets in the homes of people who had the housing and finances to take them in and the people quickly learned how much they were getting in return.

It’s often hard for the owner of a dog to accept the fact that their wonderful companion that has been with them for eight, ten or twelve years, is getting old. Granted, canine aging does depend to a great extent on the breed, and tied to size – the smaller the dog, the longer its lifespan. Giant breeds like the Irish Wolfhound or Great Dane are at the short end of the scale with a lifespan of 6 or 8 years, while the Pekingese or Yorkshire Terrier often live into their late teens. The ratio to human years has been changed to compensate for these breed differences and improved health, but the easy-to-remember gauge is about seven dog years to each human year.

The toughest part of having owned a dog over a long period of time is the final separation. Euthanasia is often the kindest, most loving thing you can do for your dog regardless of his age. If that is the decision you and your veterinarian have made, do the right thing and stay beside your dog as he goes to sleep. The dog leaves you with memories of the good, funny, naughty and special times you shared so think of this as your final act of loyalty. Especially if there are kids in your family (but equally rewarding for adults) is a beautiful book called “Dog Heaven” written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant. “If you have ever been lucky enough to have a special dog in your life, then you know there is a place called Dog Heaven.” It’s a very simple, but poignant, book.  

When possible, pets are buried in the dog’s favorite spot – in the garden, the woods or the field – with or without a marker. There are also dog cemeteries, with monuments to special canine pals. Among the many gravestones I’ve seen, this is one of my favorites:

RUFUS

Down

Stay

Good Dog!          

We all remember the first dog we had, probably as a kid, and then all the dogs that followed. Your next dog – and invariably there is, or should be a next one – will of course be compared to the previous one, sometimes favorably and sometimes not! It just goes to prove that each dog enters your home on his own four feet, with his own personality, quirks, and special new ways to become another major part of your life.

                                                                                                            

Until next time – BE GOOD!

-  Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me! which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award last year.