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Thread: Bucket List

  1. #1
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    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

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    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    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!

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    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    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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    Senior Dog Sue-Ram's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    Honestly, the dog has no idea. What would help YOU feel better about the situation? I think you should focus on that. Hugs!
    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.
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  6. #5
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    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

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    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    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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  8. #7
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tanya View Post
    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.
    It depends on the dog. What does he love? What do you love to do together? What makes you both feel happy and content?

  9. #8
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by Berna View Post
    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.
    that sounds lovely

  10. #9
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    It depends on the dog. What does he love? What do you love to do together? What makes you both feel happy and content?
    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!

  11. #10
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    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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