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

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

        No.
Just enjoy her and pay attention to signs. You'll know when she needs toretire assumming that you are otherwise emotionally healthy.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of avapup.7 at gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:02 PM
To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
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
_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%40tasc.com
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments or files transmitted with it (collectively, the "Message") are intended only for the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary and/or prohibited from disclosure by law or contract. If you are not the intended recipient: (a) please do not read, copy or retransmit the Message; (b) permanently delete and/or destroy all electronic and hard copies of the Message; (c) notify us by return email; and (d) you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of the Message is strictly prohibited.