Can anyone hold my hand tonight? Elderly dog

[sadwidow28]

DDog is 16.5yrs old, arthritic.

Most days he is happy and walks. Since last night he won't walk (but is eating well if I put a bowl of food and water under his nose)

I booked a home visit for him yesterday - that can only be done at 8pm tonight and I am getting worried that I will be offered PTS.

I will never allow my dog to suffer, but I think PTS tonight will not be appropriate.

For background

• He had a benign tumour removed from his anus 18 months ago - and a cyst removed from his eye at the same time.
  

• He had blood tests re-done in August 2015 and heart, kidneys, liver all showing he is in 'excellent' levels for an Oldie. Results described as 'good' for a 9yr old'
  

• He is a Border Collie (80%) and German Shepherd (20%) mix - and I know that GS have hip problems.
  

• I now have to lift him each morning to get him to standing position (but his back legs now give way when he least expects it)
  

Please, please hold my hand.

[Greyhorses]

SW, ringo sounds fantastic and im sure he will be a huge miss.

The dog in question looks identical to mine. Mine has many good points and I'm so pleased to have him but he has been hard work over the years. He sheds as much as a german shepherd, he is obsessed with toys to the extent collies often are, he shadow chases and has obsessive behaviours like a collie, he spends most of him time knee deep in mud and is nervous of men and loud noises which I also think can be collie traits. As a combination of breeds I will be honest and say it's a bad one. The few I have met have been as mad as collies but as aloof as shepherds. Mine has the worst traits of the collie and the shepherd, but again I wouldn't be without him now! Oh and he also has hip problems. I wouldn't class mine as a designer dog and if people ask I say he is a mongrel. He is also very full of energy all the time, even now he is 6.
Saying that, he really is a great dog and I would pick him again 10 times over!

I also have a dog who is dog (and human) aggressive. This is much harder to deal with and if I was you I would think hard as to whether you would be willing to give up an easy life. I find it hard not being able to go anywhere or worrying if and when a dog will be off lead and run up to her etc. It has limited what I can do...I can't even go on holiday as I have nobody to leave her with. The aggression would put me off more than her breed.

Personally though I always find my head rules my heart and I would go and meet her and see how you feel about her. Most things can be worked through or managed?

[sadwidow28]

Thank you Greyhorses. The clues and advice is exactly what I need at this moment.

I am not the invincible trainer who will cure all poor dog behaviour. I am simply a person who needs an animal in her life to make a life complete.

I have spoken at length tonight to my SIL who is the current carer for Rosie. I have read out a 'change of ownership' form to my SIL and I will send a copy in the post tomorrow so that she can process the words.

I then phoned my friend who runs the animal sanctuary in Surrey. The first thing that I have been advised to do is to change Rosie's diet. She is being fed 4 x Pedigree pouches per day which is not sufficient to maintain a 3yr year old Belgian Shephard. I am ordering a dry food for a young working dog and will transfer her gently to ensure that her tummy can take it. (My friend did say that Iams Senior would be okay - but I want to start off with getting everything right for Rosie. I'll post Ringo's 12kg of Iams Senior to the animal sanctuary.)

I have asked SIL to pack up Rosie's special toys and any fleeces that are important. My friend from the animal sanctuary has suggested that I DON'T wash Ringo's harnesses and training lead as Rosie will be more comforted by the smell of dog rather than "Percil with added conditioner"

So I am on 'all systems go' to travel 150 miles next Friday to adopt Rosie.

I am finding it comforting to be pro-active for Rosie as I grieve for my lovely lad. No dog will have the space in my heart that belongs to Ringo,

I'll watch out for more hints and tips so that Rosie and I can bond together as quickly as possible.

Thank you everyone x

[hennipenni]

So so sorry for your loss sad widow, your love for Ringo shone through your posts and I hope that Rosie can bring you some comfort.

For what it's worth, we have 2 rescue dogs and a third dog. Our 2 rescues came both under the age of 8 months, both had at least 3 previous "owners" before they came to their forever home. It has been very very hard work as we didn't have any decent knowledge of their backgrounds- one was very under socialised and has health issues, both dogs are still very young and are still very much "works in progress" with lots of work still to do but we can see the dogs that they should be shine through more and more. Good luck x

[hennipenni]

Sorry, should say sad loss x

[Wordsaremything]

You are thinking of everything ! Do you know how Rosie is in a car?

Also where will she be sleeping? I made the mistake, I think, of having my collie's bed downstairs at first and I think that made him over anxious. They both sleep in their beds in my bedroom and have done for years . ( not on the bed tho- that is the cats' domain)

What adventures you had with brave Ringo -I loved the story of him rescuing the boy down the gulley. But three hours of trying to get him back
I'm sure I've seen footage of rescue dogs being airlifted to safety but maybe the circs were different.
You must have held him with a grip of iron !

[sadwidow28]

Do you know how Rosie is in a car?

I know that Rosie used to travel in the back of a small saloon car as a puppy. But then my niece (who was the 1st main carer after DB died and DNephew emigrated) had a stroke at aged 29 years. She hasn't been allowed to drive since. So I guess Rosie hasn't been in a car for about 2 years as SIL who is the 2nd main carer since DB died and DNephew emigrated doesn't drive.

Sorry - just remembered that Rosie has been to kennels when SIL has family events. Last Christmas Rosie went to kennels so that SIL could have family Christmas with my DNeice. As neither drive, she was collected and returned by the kennel staff.

I am taking Ringo's travel crate, 2 sizes of car seat-belt harnesses, a ramp and a SUV grid. I am hoping that between one of the methods I will be able to get Rosie to enter the car easily and transport her back safely. I have a friend who is traveling with me to do the driving when we bring her back. Hopefully, I can give her any attention she needs whilst we travel the 150 miles back. If I tried to do this alone, I could easily become distracted on a motorway with a new-to-me dog who is displaying anxiety. That would be a recipe for a major accident!

I know I have to approach her traveling with confidence otherwise I will transfer my anxiety. (My friend thinks that I will just shout "in" - as I did with Ringo - and Rosie will jump into the travel cage. It took me weeks of training Ringo to love his travel cage - I even slept in it with him one night )

I spoke to SIL last night and it is definitely all-systems-go for Friday. We'll do a transition day on Saturday where I collect SIL and my DM and take them both for fish and chips at a local beach with my friend and Rosie. That gives me one day to assess the way Rosie travels, and a day for Rosie to have a day out with her current carer and me as her new carer.

I won't let Rosie off lead/muzzle for at least 2 weeks, but a good, brisk 3 mile walk on the beach on Saturday will give her a taste of things to come.

I am wittering on because I can't stop watching the clock today. It is the one week mark. This time last week I had 50 minutes left before his pts.

Why is grief so hard?

[sadwidow28]

Also where will she be sleeping?

I will do the same for Rosie as I did for Ringo. She will have a lounge bed and a bedroom bed. So when I go to bed, she will lie down on her big mattress at the side. During the summer, when I sit on the decking, she will have Ringo's lounger with his huge mattress on it and hopefully she will snooze in the shade with a happy smile like Ringo did.

Because I hope Rosie will become my travel companion, she will also inherit Ringo's 'travel beds'. (Ringo had his own little wheelie suitcase with toys, brushes, fleeces, towels, shampoo, food, bowls and mattresses ready and waiting for the next time we went on an excursion!) The concierge at many hotels (particularly the Europa in Belfast) have been very kind to Ringo over the years. He was treated like a human guest and opened the door if he was 3 steps in front of me and would say "Welcome Ringo, I hope you have had a good day". I was greeted afterwards....

20 minutes to go to the 1 week!

[sadwidow28]

I loved the story of him rescuing the boy down the gulley

When Ringo and I started doing search and rescue, we joined the volunteer team for Shannon Matthews. (Google it)

We were assigned Dewsbury Moors and Ringo alerted! I had to call a police officer over as his indications were very strong. My stomach felt sick but I was not allowed to leave the area in case we had to do a formal 'process of hand-over' to stand up should a criminal investigation take place. My knees shook, I almost couldn't stand up whilst we waited for the forensic team to arrive.

False alarm! He had found a rabbit that had used some human garment to make a nest (it looked like part of pajama bottoms). Ringo had to go back to training school after that one!

9 minutes to go......

[sadwidow28]

Done!

I survived..........

[DayToDayShit]

I am so sorry to read this thread from start to finish Am in tears for you. Well done for getting through the first week xx

[sadwidow28]

More pictures?

Here is one on a narrowboat with friend who is coming to collect Rosie with me and DNephew whose daddy had died. (All humans have been cropped from this photo)

NOW NOTICE HOW RINGO USED HIS TAIL TO CHANGE GEARS TO MAKE THE BOAT GO SLOWER! He hated the vibrations so when friend (Skipper) put the boat into 3rd gear, Ringo would whizz it back to 1st gear with his tail.

Clever dog!

And here he is in his life-jacket. He hated water as it was used as abuse, but he could handle water when he had his orange jacket on. It was like super-man pants! He became invincible.

[Wordsaremything]

What a dog! Steering a narrow boat and i just love the second pic of him in his life jacket. Such a handsome clever boy. ( did you ever see the film of the Australian dog who was taught to drive? Bet you have!) And being welcomed at the hotel by name! He has such a kind intelligent face too.

Anyway. Well done for writing yourself through the week-anniversary. Well done. The agony. You are being so fearless and actually it is giving me some help and comfort, some tools I will not forget when it is my own beloved dog's time.

When my father died nearly three years ago, although it was expected and not tragic at all (he was a very old man) I got this surge of adrenaline-fuelled energy which I put to use in organising the funeral. I wonder whether this is what is buoying you at the moment?

And yes, my question about the car I'm glad you have someone to drive you back. And the handover with dm and current carer, and walk on beach. Again, what a great idea.

I can see that the lessons you and Ringo learned together will be to Rosie's benefit, if you see what I mean. Lovely boy.

[sadwidow28]

Wordy

Ringo raised money via eBay for 'speshully operations' for a well known Cat Sanctuary in YORKSHIRE. He sold any gifts he didn't like (squeeky ones) and made me crochet blankies until my fingers nearly dropped off!

I have seen the trolling - and have been accused of being a troll myself this past week. I needed MNet to keep me focused.

I hit a very black spot at 3am 3 days ago and thought about taking every drug I had in the house - but spoke to The Samaritans and I came through that black part.

I am going through the really cold phase of grief again. I remember this when DH died in 2001. I just can't keep my body warm at all. I shivver visibly and even a coat doesn't make a difference. I put an electronic under blanket on at night, but I still shivver.

It took me 4 hours to eat one small meal last night - but I managed to keep it down. That is a great achievement for me.

I am really focussed on water hydration (as I was for Ringo) and I am drinking a 'squirt' every half hour.

If anyone wants to suggest I am troll - please think carefully. I am in a grief cycle and I need help to stay focussed on my next steps forward.

[SingingMyOwnSpecialSong]

Sounds like Rosie couldn't have found a better forever home. So pleased for you both.

[honeyroar]

Really lovely to read this. Best of luck for a long happy future with Rosie.