[nagdu] Nixon's 7th birthday and retirement question

[Tracy Carcione]

Happy Birthday to Nixon!  Yesterday was my birthday, too, coincidentally.
Sounds like he's doing great!

Some people plan retirement by saying they will retire the dog when he's
ten, for example, regardless of how well he's working.  Me, I like to play
it by ear.  When the dog starts to slow down, or seems to have lost
enthusiasm for the work, or small problems start getting a lot worse, then
I start figuring out if it's time for the dog to retire.
Last time I needed a new dog, I decided to switch schools, so I put in my
application long before I needed to be in class and asked them to hold it
for me.  I think TSE held it nearly a year.  Then, when Echo started to
slow down, and didn't seem to be enjoying the work so much, just doing it
because I wanted her to, I decided it was time for her to have a
well-earned rest.  It's not an easy decision to make, partly because the
cues are subtle.  One day the dog may be full of energy, and another day
not so much.  Or, like with my first dog, I started making accommodations
to small problems, then more accommodations, and soon I was planning whole
routes around her weaknesses without really realizing it. Once I realized
it, I decided that was really dumb, and I try not to do that again.
Other times, the dog's health starts to fail, so you don't get much
choice.  Although sometimes people fail to notice that the dog is being
bothered by arthritis or whatever.

Anyway, I hope retirement decisions are still a good way down the road for
you and Nixon.
Tracy


> Time flies fast when you are having fun, or in my case, busy running
> around
> like a chicken with her head cut off! I can't believe it.... my boy turns
> 7
> tomorrow (Monday)!!!
>
> When I was first matched up with Nixon, when he wasn't quite two years
> old,
> over five years ago at the Oregon campus of GDB, our lives at the time was
> dull. I wasn't in school, didn't have a job or anything of the sort. Now,
> Nixon and I have a full plate! The schedule I keep is so erratic, enough
> that keeps Nixon wondering what we do and where we go! He was exposed to a
> lot of new routes and new places to be in the last year, and a great deal
> more walking as well. College life, there was not enough, to me anyways,
> challenges in Nixon's guidework to keep him sharp. He knew the way since I
> had my classes in the same classroom for all three years! Things slowed to
> a
> crawl once we had my sister's wedding and my graduation for a while. I
> needed that break, but was glad, my life slowly picked up drastically to
> doing many new things. Now? Some weeks can be pretty chaotic!
>
> I wondered, when I started to get busy, if Nixon would handle my crazier
> life style... Long hours of resting around, then running around non-stop.
> There is no routine!
>
> He's taken it all in stride!
>
> It doesn't seem like it that he will retire at about 2 - 3 years. Has
> anyone
> ever did planned retirements, especially those who wanted to give their
> dogs
> the retirement they so deserve? Or, those who have physical problems and
> needed to do a transitional retirement up to the time you go to class,
> until
> a dog is trained for your specific needs? I know and hope that I can
> retire
> Nixon when is around 9 or 10.
>
> We do not have plans for his special day, since Dad has to head out of
> town
> for a few days, and won't be going anywhere, but the attention, cuddles
> and
> peanut butter on his bone will suffice. He is spoiled rotten enough!!
>
> If it is any indication, since Nixon and I've done so much walking, in a
> three-week span, and upping his food intake, he lost 1.5 pounds!! I am
> quite
> impressed and the vet is impressed how looking he is...
>
> Seven years old???!!!! Where has my baby gone?
>
> Jennifer McEachen and "Nixon"
> Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
> Alumni Association Board of Directors and secretary
> jenandnixon at gmail.com / jmceachen at guidedogs.com
>
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