In my growing years my dad had hunting labs. In my teenage years I had my own, a Collie, a Collie/mix and a Doberman.
Then in our early years as a young married couple with three children, we had dogs. A Boxer and an Airedale. Then an Airedale and a Boxer as well as a Shepard.
As our large dogs started aging, smaller breeds came into our lives.
Our youngest son had a small terrier, the husband had his Archie Beagle and I have a Miniature Schnauzer.
Of all the different breeds we have had in our lifetime the one common thing they all shared is the firm rule I have of not feeding the dogs people food.
I don't like beggars and hand feeding dogs people food, turns them into beggars. If, and I say if they got lucky and happened to receive a tasty morsel, it would be in their bowl.
It's just my pet peeve, pun intended, but the dogs never knew any different. Meal time was a happy time for them and for us.
The last dog standing is Oskar. He has out lived all his companions.
He'll be 15 in September and just recently, has really started showing his age. I think in people years he should be at least a hundred and something.
His walks are getting shorter and slower and sometimes requires us to carry him the rest of the way home but that doesn't stop him from wanting to go out.
He'll sit by the front door and If I don't get the hint, he'll follow me around then show me the door.
He's also become super picky on what he'll eat.
He went from dry dog food from the vet with all the nourishment for an aging dog, to the canned version.
That lasted a few weeks so I tried different canned food from the store to some individually packaged moist food.
To say the least, he threw up.
He's losing weight which is very concerning to me and for the first time ever, he wet his own bed. I think he was sleeping so soundly he just wet himself.
Well my poor aging dog is tugging at my heart so for the first time ever, I'm giving him whatever he wants to eat.
Lately it's been scrabbled eggs. It seems easy to chew and gentle enough on his stomach.
Get this though, if it's served in his bowl he won't eat it but on a plate he will gobble it down.
So now I'm not only giving him people food but cooking it and serving it to him on my tableware.
Our past pups are probably rolling in their graves knowing I have succumbed to my own rule.
By doing everything I can to get Oskar to eat I have become exactly what I have so diligently worked to keep my dogs from being, with my pleading eyes and constant encouragement, I have turned into....... the beggar.
By doing everything I can to get Oskar to eat I have become exactly what I have so diligently worked to keep my dogs from being, with my pleading eyes and constant encouragement, I have turned into....... the beggar.
12 comments:
our first dog of our 35 year marriage, lived with us for the 1st 16 years of our marriage. the same thing happened to him, the only thing he could eat and keep it down was GRITS... grits with butter is what he lived on for the last few months of his life. when we adopted Big he did not eat people food, did not beg, did not come to the table when we ate, he would sit about 10 feet from where we were eating and just wait.... I wanted to keep him that way. the dog trainer said if you ever give him just one bite of people food, he will be a beggar. Bob wanted a beggar, he said all 4 of our dogs ate from the table and I like it for ME to give him food. now Big is a beggar....
I grew up with a Collie. I agree about feeding them people food. It makes them finicky and not eat dog food well. However, with four kids in the house and Mom making us eat all our dinner, we would always sneak food under the table to the dog. haha.
Oscar is darling and defiantly deserve to be spoiled at his age.
Lisa
I had dogs and cat and I had the same rule as you.
I think at his age, and at being an old faithful companion, he deserves to get whatever he wants. Seeing our beloved pets coming to the end of their lives is such a hard thing to go through.
Hugs, Julia
That is so sweet of you to throw your firm rule out the window and cater your sweet dog! I confess to feeding food treats and bones to every dog I’ve ever had and even my grand dogs! Blue and Rufus know I will always give them a treat when they come up to the camper cabin. Amber's black lab eats bananas and watermelon. I’ve had lots of dogs and cats in my life and they nearly all were very old when they died. Not sure I will ever have another one. I think my care taking days are over - at least for critters. Unless I’m at the ranch. Or need to keep a grand dog.....
This is a beautiful post even though it is about him aging. Watching my Gypsy age was the hardest thing. At the end I made her whatever she would darn well eat!!--and did anything I could to make her happy and make her last days with us happy and special and I WILL NEVER REGRET THAT. I don't think you will either.....Best of luck that your Oskar still has many more happy days ahead of him!!--he might surprise you!
Oh my goodness this post has reached my heart. I know exactly how you feel. Our pup is 12 and I want him to live forever. Hugs. sandie♥
Awww I hope Oskar is okay. Such a cute dog. Go ahead and pamper the sweet pup.
Love your precious pup!
What a sweetie.
Our vet told us to give our puppies scrambled eggs too.
They sure love them!!!!!!
what a sweet heart ...those are great shots. nice to meet ya. thank you so kindly for your comment on my blog ... sorry it took a bit to get over here ... just got home from a Memorial Day camping weekend. playing catch up .. always fun to see new commenting folks and all that jazz-ness. hope u r well ... VA has been so humid here in May not sure i recall a birthday (which is in May) has been so humid. usually the will hold off 'til like June ...but this year ... i am thinking it might be a humid hot one for sure ... could get interesting. u take care and thanks again. see ya. Beth. ( ;
I'm glad he gets what he wants. I love dogs and it is obvious that you have shown tender loving care to all of them.
That is a sweet story about Oskar and how he is training you regarding feeding him and taking walks. What a cute dog, I like those expressive white eye brows. You are taking great care of him as he ages.
Saimi are you okay?? Just checking in, you haven't posted anything in a long time. Thinking of you.........
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