[JusticeDog]

I have been really watching my dogs lately... I have 5 dogs over the age of 9 (1 - 9 y/o; 3 - 10 y/o; 1- 11 y/o). they are still all quite healthy and bouncey, although I know at these ages, something can go wrong quite quickly. (yes, I don't get them that stacked together any more).

I have noticed some small aging signs, and I'm wondering what your list is?

1. The obvious gray muzzle
2. Doesn't lift his leg as high when peeing
3. after being fed breakfast, his half bucket of water and 2 biscuits, lays back down in his crate for a nap
4. sleeps more soundly
5. Doesn't knock all the furniture into the walls when running through the house

 

[Kevinismybrother]

my old guy got slower to sit - turns out it's more like arthritis and pains in the joints than lack of "want to". His front paws especially got sore from that too.

he really did go a bit deaf - and then when I cut him some slack on it, got really sloppy on obedience, which makes him seem even more deaf.

He also likes it inside more and sleeps way more than before, and not able to go for longer walks.

 

[Brian Urban]

Stiffness in the morning and a gray face are telltale signs. If you keep them fit, I've found that a productive season at the age of 13 is possible.

 

[MooseGooser]

Brian

That is a beautiful picture..

Gooser

 

[Guest]

I would have to say, The greetings at the door when i would come home from work. He would always meet me at the door with his tail going 90 mph!!! Then it would be only at the top of the stairs.Finally it was just a wag of the tail when i got to the top of the stairs while he layed on the couch.
I miss you Luke!

 

[Andy Carlson]

Briezy will be 13 in July - the only gray is a little under her chin and a very thin moustache. But her hearing is going, she is very slow to lie down and when she is down if she reaches around to lick herself you can hear her spine creak. She can't jump in the truck any more, I have to put her front paws on the bumper and lift her butt up. But she has no problem getting on the furniture;-)

Her stamina is not what it used to be. She still insists on going training with Ticket but she is now content with a couple of marks under 100 yards each vs the old days where she would not be happy unless verything was 250 + yards - the longer the better!

But she is sound and happy - I am truly blessed and appreciate every day!!

 

[starjack]

My buddy is 7 and has been hunted hard BUT i have seen little things popping up greying slow down on fun runs. One thing that has got better with age is his nose

 

[ErinsEdge]

Selective hearing, impatience (go out NOW, come in NOW), a lot of noises from the orifices, wants to go for a long walk and keep up with the rest, but almost kills himself doing it-literally fell over one day. End of group walks-now senior citizen walks, even if he gives me dirty looks to go faster. He's still interested in girls but they can outrun him. Goose, 14.

 

[Wade Thurman]

Says F U to me alot more knowing full well at 91/2 I wont do anything, because she owes me nothing.

 

[BonMallari]

Says F U to me alot more knowing full well at 91/2 I wont do anything, because she owes me nothing.

Bill Totten told me the same thing about a couple of dogs he trains...with Nola , she just lost a half step, same with Mirk..he has also become a little more ornery and less tolerant of Brig, along with wanting to sleep more in the duck blind..I think Mirk was born prematurely grey

they both earned their keep a couple of times over

 

[7pntail]

Well, Bramble has always greeted me with something upon entering the house; bowl, tennis racket, sock, check book, remote, and countless other gifts. In recent months, the gifts have become less frequent. He would never think of coming to me without something. 14 dad, slowin down! Last week, he brought me bra from the laundry room. I couldn't help but smile. Could have used him back in my single days


What a line------Wanna watch my dog fetch your bra? Any reasonable, dog loving girl couldn't say no. Right? And, a nice way to weed out potential prospects for marriage. Just trying to help you young trainers.


On a different note, Briar is already turning white in the muzzle and is not three yet. Is that common?

 

[Mary Lynn Metras]

My 9 1/2 yo Blackie looks before he leaps into the truck. Stiffer on some days!
Significant graying all over.
Slower but still does his agility at Veterans height and comes out when I train HRC.
Sleeps sounder!
Still greats me at the door but doesn't hear as well.
Nothing wrong with his eating!! loves food!

 

[Tom Watson]

Inappropriate barking, loss of hearing, loss of sight. Would not walk the 2-3 feet from carpeted floor to carpeted floor across hardwood or tile. He would walk in circles around the breakfast table for hours rather than cross three feet of hard floor to get to the den where there was an antique orieintal rug and his bed in front of the fireplace. Finally, could hardly get up and down in his hind quarters. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at 13 yrs, 1 week on his bed in front of the fireplace in the den. My wife Lisa, son Joe, and I were there blubbering like babies. It took four or five minutes after he quit breathing for his magnificient heart to stop. We buried him in the back yard under a 100 year old oak in a grave my son had dug. We carefully and gently covered him with earth. I still am haunted by his trusting gaze as I pushed the drugs. He hated the vet's office and crossing the bridge at home with his family was the very least I owed him. I was sure I heard him bark in the back yard a couple of days ago...but alas no. This is way harder than I thought it would be. Godspeed and rest in peace Woody, Par Shooter's Knock It Stiff.

 

[mlopez]

My old dog is 13.5 now. She doesn't like to sit anymore, mostly likely because it hurts to do so. She either stands or lays down. She has also gotten increasingly "needy" and attached to us. She HATES change, or even the threat of change. We don't mess with her schedule. She also has to get up more often at night to go outside, kind of like an old man. But she still loves to pick up branches 15 feet long and carry them around during her walks, and she keeps my young pup in his place pretty well too

 

[Sundown49 aka Otey B]

well it breaks my heart to see my Maxx slowing down. He is 11 now and is still TOP DAWG around here but now he sleeps a lot and instead of always running he now walks more. He still has te "want to" but his body is not letting him do what he THINKS he can do. .hummmmmmm sounds like me also.LOL.

 

[Becky Mills]

Heart trouble. They'll break yours.

 

[Janet Kimbrough]

My 10 1/2 has slowed down. He is more independent than he use to be and his eyes are getting "cloudy" but he still wants to go and I am letting him. We are still running and having fun.

Janet

 

[hotel4dogs]

reluctance to jump in the back of the truck, on the sofa, etc. was probably the first big change I noticed in both my old guys.
Toby, G-ret, passed recently at 14 years old
Tiny, G-ret, just turned 15 last month

 

[lennie]

My girl will be 10 in June, she has been gray since she was 4, but her face is almost all greay now. And she is gray everywhere else too, her feet, her belly and her butt!

I just noticed that she is sitting MUCH more slowly than before, it is hard to tell if it hurts or she just "doesn't think it is necessary" ! She still loves to run for the bumper and wants to have you throw it all day long, but I have seen her back legs go out on a couple of slids so I am thinking Arthritis in her hips or spine.

She still runs up hill when we go for wheeler rides on the farm. I go slow specifically for her, but she thinks she has to go as fast as she can!

She does sleep more and she has always HATED to get out of bed in the morning.....She will stay in bed until you really reprimand her, but she has always been like that.

I hate to see her age though, and I know she doesn't have the longevity in her line like our old boy had ( He made it to 14) but I will love up on her everyday I can!

Earlene

 

[savage25xtreme]

Inappropriate barking, loss of hearing, loss of sight. Would not walk the 2-3 feet from carpeted floor to carpeted floor across hardwood or tile. He would walk in circles around the breakfast table for hours rather than cross three feet of hard floor to get to the den where there was an antique orieintal rug and his bed in front of the fireplace. Finally, could hardly get up and down in his hind quarters. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at 13 yrs, 1 week on his bed in front of the fireplace in the den. My wife Lisa, son Joe, and I were there blubbering like babies. It took four or five minutes after he quit breathing for his magnificient heart to stop. We buried him in the back yard under a 100 year old oak in a grave my son had dug. We carefully and gently covered him with earth. I still am haunted by his trusting gaze as I pushed the drugs. He hated the vet's office and crossing the bridge at home with his family was the very least I owed him. I was sure I heard him bark in the back yard a couple of days ago...but alas no. This is way harder than I thought it would be. Godspeed and rest in peace Woody, Par Shooter's Knock It Stiff.

Your story made me clear my throat a few times. RIP Woody, you are loved.