Jess is aging. Things are changing.

(Old pic. Last summer)
She is 11.5 now.

She has, since a puppy, ALWAYS gotten up the min my feet hit the floor (she never missed a beat) & it makes no difference if we are in the lounge at night when I go to bed or in the bedroom in the morn when I get up. No matter the time nor place.. at friend's houses she is my shadow, dogs playing.. she comes with me... she always goes around me to heal/trott/follow on my left no matter what is going on!

She is now not getting up when I do. (that is not Jessup)  if I get up & she dosent realise, she comes out barking in guard mode till she sees me, then in happy mode that she's found me. "Come Jess, I'm here babe." (she actually gets very stressed if she wakes & doesn't see me.) I have taken to rubbing her face & legs saying...."bed time" or "morn jess", before I leave the room. She is a true mummy's girl! If I leave for 15 mins to go up the street, it's as if I had been gone for days when I return. She jumps, barks & chews on my chin in sheer excitement.

My OH has noticed the changes in hr. He asked... "Whats with Jess? awhile ago.

He spoke to me today about getting a dobe, rottie, great dane or mastiff when she goes.

I would have any of the above, & I know he was testing the waters, but....

I am so annoyed he would broach the subject, though I know it was well intentioned. My girl IS HERE! & I plan to keep her here for as long as I can! I do not want to think of a pup here for now.

She may be old. She may be grey. She may be full of lumps. She may be slow. She may not be able to go on full walks or get herself in the wagon anymore without help. She may walk crooked due to arthritis & take some time to get on the couch, she may creak & groan, snore... But, she is MY GIRL, Jessup has been with me through thick & thin!

She may not be many things now but she is everything to me & replaced is not one of them!!!!!

I must say, My OH loves her dearly, he brings her carrot to her so she doesn't have to get up, does anything for her, I know he meant no harm but, I am annoyed right now at his suggestion of a pup.

Rant over!

I think people deal with things like this in different ways! Where you (and me, actually) would prefer not to even think about getting another pup while the present one is still here, I think some people find it easier to answer the anxiety with the hope of getting a new one.

I don't blame you for being upset over it!

It's always hard when they start to age. But all that's happening right now is that Jess has decided to take things a little easier!

I don't doubt that she has a few years left to her yet!

I did consider a permit for a 3rd dog awhile ago but I couldn't go through with it. It felt like replacing her for Tyson's sake.

That's the wrong reason to get a dog.

Jess is old now, for her breed & size..I know that.
She has a few issues,  she cannot get up or down without noise, she "fluffs" without control , her left hind leg is shot to sh1t,  she cannot do more than a 10-15min walk, she now snores, she can't eat a full meal in one sitting, she can't jump in the car, when asleep, she can't hear anything, etc.

I only want another 10 yrs. But, to be honest, if I have another year with her I will count my lucky stars.
She is at the end of her life, but I will do everything I can to extend it without overstepping the line.

When it's her time, I shall be there just as she has been for me.

I'm just annoyed at the thought of a pup proposal at the moment.

I'm sure it was well meant, though.

I understand exactly how you feel Tracy. My last Dobie Rio was 11 years old and remarkably fit and healthy (apart from an underactive thyroid, which medication "cured" for as long as she took it) , then when she was 11 years old her legs became arthritic for which she had Metacam, I think it was, which helped somewhat. I used to cry over her a night (when she was asleep) , grieving that I wouldn't have her for much longer, although I hoped I would because I had recently met someone with a 15 year old Dobe who although a bit battered-looking was still prancing around.

Then she started limping heavily and X-rays showed inoperable bone cancer. Within two weeks she was dead and I thought I'd never stop crying, even though I had accepted the inevitable. But I'm glad she didn't suffer long and enjoyed her life up until the last two days of it.

But coming to the point (at last!) I wouldn't have wanted to introduce a new puppy into the household because, being a boisterous baby, it would inevitably have bothered Rio at a time when she needed her peace and quiet. Plus, I wouldn't have been able to give the puppy the care and attention it would need whilst I was caring for and yes worrying over my old lady.

So that, in a nutshell, is what I would tell my OH if I were in your shoes. Yes when the time is right there will be a new puppy, but the right time is not now.

Having stuck my oar in thus far, as Caryll says - Jess may well have a lot more happy life ahead of her, even if it is necessarily more sedate these days. She has hybrid vigour on her side!

Bless you Jess and sending you strength and good vibes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to you and Tracy.

They have a way of surprising us sometimes! May she live for many more years!

Thank you Lynda. I hope you know how helpful that was to me.  
Rio sounds like she was quite a girl!  

I'm not a worrier by nature but I to do worry most days or nights about Jess. I find myself late at night snuggling up to her on the couch or lying with her on the floor as I just watch her sleep & hold her. (She loves a gentle ear pull as she goes to sleep)

She is still active & even plays with Chilli occassionally,  nuzzling her or pinning her down under her paw to kiss the cat. She still gets all excited at walkies or visitors but she cannot sustain it.

I am so pleased to hear of a 15yr dobe. I think 12 was the oldest I've known. So you have given me hope.  

Her left leg joint is so jaggered, when I saw the xray I actually thought... OMG, that looks like a gear! She is on cartrophen which has been wonderful for her but even with that she cannot get in the car anymore, & its alot of work for her to get on the couch or sneak onto my bed now. You can actually see her thinking....do I really want to get up there. She waits, stares, then little front end jumps to build up momentum just to get the front end up, she stops to concentrate, then its a slow haul to bring up the rear.

She's really not much staffy bar her colour & she's always been alittle chunkier than a dobe should be but, she is 90% dobe.

My OH only meant well. I think his thinking was if we get a pup, it becomes part of the family, then, when Jess leaves us that we will all feel the loss a little less. Unfortunately,  it doesn't work that way.

Thank you everyone for listening to me stress over my girl.

I hope everyone is right & she has many more happy yrs ahead.

Can I also raise a quandary I have.

Jess is absolutely wonderful with the young of any species. So is Tyson. He was taught by Jess as a pup to respect all young, Though I am not wanting a pup, I also wonder if it would be a good thing for Tyson to actually see how she taught him as a pup.

Tyson is very gentle with babies also, but learning from another dog is very different to learning from me.

Don't know why I ask this as my rottie learnt manners as an only dog till zac (rottie) moved in. Jess had only me to learn from & she is wonderful! Tyson had me & Jess to teach, love him & tell him off & he is also gentle.

Maybe its just a calm house, training & socialization?
I don't oppose another pup in the house per say, I do oppose one comming in to take her place in the future.

Just another something for me to think about.

Perhaps it's something you could discuss with him, as it sounds like that might be how he wants to cope with it. If you explain exactly why that might make it worse for you, even if you just show him the posts you've made here, it might make it easier for him to understand.

Getting a puppy now might help with the socialising, but only you know if you can manage another! If you decide to get one later on, you could always ask the breeder to keep the pup for an extra couple of weeks than the minimum requirement, as this can (within reason) provide that little bit extra socialisation with siblings, provided they're still there.

Oh, he understands my point very well, as I do his. He was just suggesting & thought it may help. A pup would not have been to help him. He thought it may have helped Tyson & I.

Socialization is not really the prob as, (though learning from jess would be a great start) I put my pups in the midst of everything & everyone.

I think... he is trying his best to ease my worry/ pain & I won't get a pup to try to ease my future loss. He will also be devistated if something were to happen to Jessup, just that he wouldn't let anyone know.

Another pup would be very welcome here but only for the right reason.

Maybe give it some time, to think it over!

Well this has me in tears.
I've known Jessup for about 6 years now. Half her life! It is terrible that they get old and tired. With Twinkles earlier this year I saw on her face it was time for her to go. At least we can give them dignity.
Now I look at Xan and he doesn't have the endurance he used to have, his face is getting white, he's getting some lumps and bumps and it kills me!!!
He's been with me through some hard patches and always given his all.

So I know exactly how your feeling and the dread in your heart.

And again I'll say it: As horrid as it sounds a new puppy never replaces the lost dog but it is a good bandage to cover the hole left behind.

Theresa, cheers mate.
You have known Jess for a long time now. I know many people have felt what I am feeling... but it never gets easier even no matter the 1st or 20th time, knowing whats coming only makes your heart ache earlier.

I don't want a pup now but from prior experience,  within 3 mths I will have another pup, not to replace but to welcome another into our lives.

Eleanor, I pray I am stressing for no good reason, but I see many changes in her. Though she is still the queen. She is not the same Jessup!

She also tells Tyson off now for making too much noise as he plays with & runs with Chilli as she chases him to chew on his legs or chase his kong.

I trully do thank you all for understanding & bearing with me as I constantly stress over her.

You stress because you're a caring owner/mum.

No you can't ever replace but it does make the ache a bit better if there is a new bundle of puppy love and exuberance about.

And no it never gets easier and with some dogs you just have a deeper connection and more history that makes it that bit harder to take.

Jess has had a good life and she has brought you lots of joy. just get in all the hugs and cuddles you can.

I am babe. She is my girlie girlie! She has been there knibbling my face throu as many things as I have for kissed her for. We are trully joined. Neither she nor I look to another.

I can trully say she is as much my soul as I am her's.

Go take some new photo's and post them for us!

I have been refraining from posting pics of her. But I will get some wed. I should be a nice day.

Get some of the wombat as well. Haven't seen a decent, recent pic of him in ages as well!

Hahaha! (you remembered his nickname!)  I will get him in the pic to if I can get him to sit still long enough.

I know how you feel tracyp, Zack is now 9 which is old for a Newfie and he could never be replaced. He is such a lovable big slobbering bear of a dog and we love him so much. I pray he goes peacefully and quickly. But maybe he will prove experts wrong and live longer than they say. . Jess looks so handsome.

Wow, Jackie, that's quite old for a Newfie! He looks amazing!