Bucket List

I was talking to someone that mentioned a bucket list for their senior dog.

What are things you'd put on a bucket list for a senior dog? especially as their mobility declines and such. I think it may do rocky and I some good to do some stuff. I have some small ideas but most we need to wait until the weather cools down (and hopefully he bounces back as it cools...)

- if we have time at the very end, a meal of mcdonals burger and fries. Or we may do this (a small amount of this) for his 13.5 bday. and ice cream.
- get to the park nearby and sit and enjoy.
- guests? Maybe I need to bake stuff and have people over for coffee/beer and dessert and give Rocky a few pats. I rarely get visitors.
- hope we can make it out to my friend's new home. She bought a property this summer and we haven't been able to get there (both lack of car AND I was pretty scared of LP issues).

Not sure what else. Rocky is pretty easy going, he perks up when i get home and for food. He enjoys a good sniff sniff walk. The lab pup down the road is in heat so the sniffs have been pretty intense lately ;) Haha maybe I could add "time with an in heat female" to his list :P

A lot of the things on the bucket list videos I do on a regular basis with my dogs. When I know the "time" is coming close, I do make sure they get "one more" hike or trip to the beach before it's physically impossible. On the day of, I try to keep things as normal and mellow as possible. For my own benefit, I just don't want to draw it out. Doing competition stuff, Linus has a fan club and people he sees on a regular basis who have watched him grow. We all become close with each other's dogs and of course, we want to support one another. Instructors, regular class mates, all would probably want to say good-bye to him. His dog walker and his grandma (my mom) would want to see him one last time, too. (OK, now I am tearing up!) So, if he has special people in his life, you might consider a get together or taking him around to their homes.

Honestly, the dog has no idea. What would help YOU feel better about the situation? I think you should focus on that. Hugs!

oh i know rocky doesn't care. And I agree with doing some things while the dog can. And I'm not thinking just of the day-days before. Stuff we can do now to make this time special even though we are also more limited.

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Originally Posted by Labradorks

Honestly, the dog has no idea. What would help YOU feel better about the situation? I think you should focus on that. Hugs!

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That's my thought as well. Like Rocky, Ram's favorite thing in life is food. This may make me a bad owner, but I share everything that I eat with him. Sometimes I won't buy certain foods (penne arrabiatia) that I love because he can't have a taste. On the days that we do the underwater treadmill we share a happy meal. I enjoy watching him freak out because he knows that we're going to share a banana or he's going to get a pizza crust. I'm not going to wait until he's gone and then kick myself in the ass for not doing something that he would have enjoyed while he was here.

ok ok ok bucket list may be the wrong term :P Of course i do stuff for Rocky now and I learned with Penny never to put stuff off (I definitely do NOT feel bad about spending any of that money on photoshoots). I share safe meals with rocky when he begs.

How about I re-frame the question to: what are special little things we SHOULD do with our dogs as a treat on a weekly basis.

PS: I went to McDonald to get Rocky his own fry on Saturday to help coax him down the stairs :P

It's mostly places I would like to go with him. I have so many places in mind for hikes this fall, when it cools down. And yes, I'll take a lot of pictures, cause I am not sure we would be able to do it next fall.

Also, we are leaving for Greece in a few days, to swim in the sea.

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Originally Posted by Tanya

How about I re-frame the question to: what are special little things we SHOULD do with our dogs as a treat on a weekly basis.

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It depends on the dog. What does he love? What do you love to do together? What makes you both feel happy and content?

I guess i'm looking for inspiration from others ;)

Rocky is mostly all about food, so it's hard. and sniffies. I guess i'd like to be able to bring him to smell new smells. Just as I thought we were ok to try stuff (safely) a two week wave hit us. Seriously, this is the longest stretch of very hot weather we've had all summer. And he isn't doing great so I am anxious (will he make it a few weeks and be able to do what I had hoped? I'm hopeful, this downturn isn't terribly unsual overall exept the stair thing).

I've been saying for years i wanted to bake something fun and have friends over, once the cooler weather hits I should do that, Rocky doesn't care for visitors for long but he gets up to say hello (well, usually LOL, he doesn't get up for my parents). He likes my niece and nephew so maybe I should invite them over (and equally importantly these things would help me). But if I am spending time in the kitchen he needs to be able to come join me. That's still...up in the air right now.

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Originally Posted by Berna

It's mostly places I would like to go with him. I have so many places in mind for hikes this fall, when it cools down. And yes, I'll take a lot of pictures, cause I am not sure we would be able to do it next fall.

Also, we are leaving for Greece in a few days, to swim in the sea.

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that sounds lovely :)

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Originally Posted by Labradorks

It depends on the dog. What does he love? What do you love to do together? What makes you both feel happy and content?

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That's probably the best suggestion I'd be able to give, too. When Chase died unexpectedly a few months ago it made me feel a little better to look back and feel that every day seemed like a good day. We didn't know the end was near, we weren't focused on trying to do anything more special or unique than always, he seemed happy enough just to be with us and get plenty to eat.

We'd taken walks, he'd been able to spend time sniffing down the local scents and I hadn't rushed him along too much. He'd been able to roll in the wet grass in the mornings. He'd been able to lie outside surveying the yard when the weather permitted. He'd had some car rides that did not involve going to the vet's office, just rides for the heck of it. He was all about food and we'd shared popcorn and bites of scrambled eggs or roasted chicken or steak or hamburger most days. He'd recently tried whipped cream, a smaller, homemade version of a Starbucks puppuccino, and he loved that and got a small squirt most days as a reward for coming into the house when called. He got treats from the mail carrier, sniffed some of his neighborhood dog friends and barked at others. We'd been to the beach the previous month which he'd always loved. We were on our way to the beach when he died. I did not regret that we hadn't had a chance to do anything specific other than make it to the beach for him. He was loved and taken care of and spent time with us.

Rocky is a lucky boy. He is so well loved. You take lots of photos of him. You're doing everything you can think of to keep him happy and comfortable. I like your idea about having a few friends over, family who know Rock. You wouldn't have to cook lots of stuff, make it a pot luck or buy stuff that's easy to put out without having to spend a lot of time cooking. I'm sure your family would be happy to help warm things up in the kitchen or spend time with Rocky while you heat stuff up. I can't think of anything that might make Rocky happier than spending his time with you, doing what you've been doing to the degree that his condition allows. And a little whipped cream can't hurt! ;)

You don't have a car, right? So, in thinking of a place you can go to easily...

Schools have fields and are relatively empty. Lots of good smells there.

Any urban nature walks or urban gardens where dogs are allowed?

Or, just put him on a leash and let him lead you around the neighborhood.

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Originally Posted by Labradorks

You don't have a car, right? So, in thinking of a place you can go to easily...

Schools have fields and are relatively empty. Lots of good smells there.

Any urban nature walks or urban gardens where dogs are allowed?

Or, just put him on a leash and let him lead you around the neighborhood.

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we're not able to walk anywhere, even around the block anymore with this friggin heat wave. we're a week in and anther week to go at least :( I need a break in the weather. It's been a really bad week and a half :( I worry even with the car getting him in and out will potential jar something more.

Nowadays what makes Cilek happiest is spending time with cats. Not our cat Momo but stray cats, especially kittens. She LOVES them. So I'm trying to do my best to wait patiently while she is watching them and trying to catch them (falling regularly so I'm being there to lift her again and again).
I'm also giving her some "unhealthy" food from time to time to make her happy. I do not want to wait till the last days because I don't know when will be the last days.

I'm taking her to cafes sometimes. There she just sleeps under the table.

OK, now I'm motivated to take her out for some cat watching:)

Lucy wasn't up for longer walks toward the end, so I'd take a big blanket out to a park or grassy spot and we'd sit/lay down for hours. I'd knit or read or web surf, and she'd watch, sniff and nap. It seemed to make her happy. And I made more crock pots just for her - cooked chicken, potato and baby carrots. Or I'd cook up hamburger, mix it with brown rice and green beans. I cooked a lot for her in her last six months. And she finally got a puppocino from Starbucks - wish I'd learned about that sooner. Toward the end I don't think she was too comfortable in the car, so we limited car rides.
Enjoy this time, pretty much doing whatever makes him happy as time allows.

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Originally Posted by capra

Nowadays what makes Cilek happiest is spending time with cats. Not our cat Momo but stray cats, especially kittens. She LOVES them. So I'm trying to do my best to wait patiently while she is watching them and trying to catch them (falling regularly so I'm being there to lift her again and again).
I'm also giving her some "unhealthy" food from time to time to make her happy. I do not want to wait till the last days because I don't know when will be the last days.

I'm taking her to cafes sometimes. There she just sleeps under the table.

OK, now I'm motivated to take her out for some cat watching:)

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Lucky girl :)

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Originally Posted by LucyTudeOn4Feet

Lucy wasn't up for longer walks toward the end, so I'd take a big blanket out to a park or grassy spot and we'd sit/lay down for hours. I'd knit or read or web surf, and she'd watch, sniff and nap. It seemed to make her happy. And I made more crock pots just for her - cooked chicken, potato and baby carrots. Or I'd cook up hamburger, mix it with brown rice and green beans. I cooked a lot for her in her last six months. And she finally got a puppocino from Starbucks - wish I'd learned about that sooner. Toward the end I don't think she was too comfortable in the car, so we limited car rides.
Enjoy this time, pretty much doing whatever makes him happy as time allows.

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As soon as it cools down enough I hope to go sit out at the park :)

She loves water, it's the one labby trait she has besides loving food, so if I know we're getting close, I'd like to take her swimming and feed her a good burger and some ice cream. I'm hoping we still have a while to go though.