[nagdu] Older Dogs -- Warning for Talk About Dogs' Life Span

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Ava.
No, you're not the only one.  None of my first 3 dogs worked past 7, so I 
got very nervous when my 4th dog reached that milestone, and then passed it 
and was fine.
Ben is 8, too.  His birthday is in October, so Coco is a little older than 
he is.  But I'm already looking at him and wondering.  Is he slowing down? 
Is he less enthusiastic?  Is he indicating he'd like to retire?  Should I 
start thinking about that next application?  The answers so far are all No. 
He does go slow sometimes, but I think that's just because he's bored with 
the routine.  Otherwise, he seems to be going strong.
So yes, I understand where you're coming from, and you're not alone in it.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <avapup.7 at gmail.com>
To: "the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:02 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Older Dogs -- Warning for Talk About Dogs' Life Span


>
> Hi, from Ava and Cocoa, in the land of the wind and snow.
>
> Does anyone else start to get kind of nervous when their dogs reach a 
> certain age, even if their pup is still working wonderfully?
>
> I don't know why I'm feeling this way. Cocoa is only 8 years old, and 
> turns 9 in the spring. She is never happier than when she gets to help me 
> with guiding and/or balance ( except for when it's time for her to eat --  
> she is a Lab, after all, grins ). She sees her harness and becomes a very 
> bouncy dog. She hasn't slowed down at all. But something just sort of 
> keeps nagging at me. I think it's the fact that she's 8. My first guide 
> retired at 6 for a minor medical issue, but I don't see Cocoa retiring any 
> time soon.
>
> But am I the only one like this? Sometimes I just worry and think about 
> how she's a big dog ( 65 lbs ) and how big dogs don't usually live as long 
> as small dogs, and I think about how devastated I'd be if I lost her. I 
> even refer to her as my daughter, though I know she's a dog, and have 
> never treated her like a furry person, and have respected her for being 
> the great dog that she is.
>
> Do you think that her being 8 is too young for me to get so nervous?
>
> Thank you, and happy holidays, and a merry Christmas to those who 
> celebrate it!
>
> Ava and Cocoa
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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