Kali

Thank you all for your loving support. It is a very hard decision and all your posts have been very helpful. I know she will not get better, only worse, but she still does like her food, and can make it up the stairs (although she mostly stumbles down). When I think of how she would be if she had a stroke, I see that she does have a little bit of life in her yet. We will keep going with her for a while, and see how things go. Putting her to sleep would be so hard, I think I am going to have to be driven to it. We are fostering another dog right now, and I enjoy her, but I realize that the dog I am looking for is Pizza in her younger days. I am crying as I write this, because she is just so special to me, and I will never have her young again. Dogs just do not live long enough... or maybe they do, and there are hidden reasons for thier short time on earth - we who love them learn so much about loving and letting go, and then still loving again. Thank you all for your support. It helps so mcuh to hear your stories. Kali

Sea4th - that poem is beautiful, it made me cry. I think I will know too, but I am feeling like it is getting closer. We have decided to have an animal communcicator talk with her - I will let you know how that goes. It should be interesting, at the very least! Thanks for all your thoughts. Kali

Hi, I have posted previously about a border collie X that we are fostering. We also have a 14 year old CollieX whom I have had since she was one year old. She has been so faithful and loving, and I love her dearly. I cannot imagine not having her with me. But, lately, her health has begun to deteriorate even more. Over the last few years, she has become more and more arthritic (and is on medicine for that), incontinent (medicine for that helps too), and more recently, she is pooping in the house. She poops just whereever she is, she could be lying down sleeping, and it will happen. I feel that her quality of life is very poor, she is deaf and quite blind too. I am really considering putting her to sleep. But, at the same time, she does enjoy her food, and rolling in the grass. I have never had to make this decision before, and I am not sure how to do it. I feel like I need to harden myself to it, but I want to stay in touch with my feelings, at the same time. I guess because she is not at deaths door (where euthanasia seems justified to me), I have some second thoughts. I will be taking her to the vet this week for a checkup and I'll discuss it with him as well. This is long, but I just wanted to describe my situation, and see if anyone else had experiences with this. Or, if anyone knows of any good books or websites to go to for wisdom on this. Thank you so much.. I appreciate all your posts so much. Kali

Hi, I am just curious how to reward with a tug or toy, as in the timing of it. This must seem like a silly question, but I am having trouble visualizing it. I know with food, I just give her the treat, or throw it to her. With tug, do you click, or say good girl (or what ever), and then offer the tug toy for a few minutes? Call me silly, but I'm not sure! Thanks, Kali

Thanks, you guys! That does help alot. I'll just be persistent! All the best, Kali

Hi! I am fostering a border collie mix, and she loves to play ball. She runs to get it, and brings it right to me. I am just a little confused as to the steps once she gets to me! She tends to drop it and it rolls away. I want her to put it in my hand, and to sit. I have been saying "Give" with my hand out, then telling her to sit, and THEN treating her. But, in this sequence, she doesn't want to give it up so easily. I am not pulling it out of her mouth, but she will give it up when I hold a treat near her mouth. Am I missing some steps here? I have had her for about 2 weeks now, and her previous people did play fetch with her too, so she is familiar with the game. I think she is ready to just give it to me. Thanks, Kali