I was so proud of Emma today. I normally walk my dogs in our local nature reserve which is about 5 mins drive, I normally take 3 trips, the pups, the inbetweens and the 'big girls'. Tia, Penny & Emma. While there with pups I saw the yellow flashing light from machinery and was also warned by another dog walker just leaving that workmen were about. So off we went. On joining the main track near the end of our walk, all workmen and woman had stopped for lunch and Penny being Penny had to let them know she was there. Then she realised there seemed to be food on offer, and it was. I was at least 50 yds behind them and of course Tia and Emma were in hot pursuit of Penny. By the time I got their attention, the workmen had fed them sandwiches etc, except Emma who returned on 1st recall :D and when we did reach them she refused the food when I said no and gave her a treat of her own.  Tia and Penny took no notice of my rantings, too busy chomping down cheese and pickle sandwiches. All my hard work with Tia gone down the drain, and as for Penny with severe arthritis, I dont think I have ever seen her move that fast. Workmen will be there for the rest of the week as they are laying a new track and have been politely informed of the implications of feeding other peoples dogs, however well intentioned
Kay

Kay

RFLOL @ chomping at cheese and pickle sandwiches ! :D :D

It is amazing how Labs still are able to move to the kill when food is about even if they have a disability ! :D

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy, you did notice that I said,  <<in hot pursuit of Penny>>,  Penny got there 1st. Arthritis indeed, If I hadnt seen the xrays for myself, I would have never have believed it. As for the chomping, talk about trying to hide the evidence, a dyson couldnt have sucked the food up quicker :D  Poor Emma though, she was the only one who did right and missed out because of it. I must admit, I do feel a little guilty because of this. How do you explain to a dog (the others get cheese sandwiches because they have been bad and you dont because you are good) Although she did get her treat, the look on her face told me it was not quite what she had expected.
Kay

Yes I did ! :D

Labs in groups (more than two) do have such an ability of making us feel bad by the way we are starving them!

Lucy
xx

Years ago I remember having a picnic and a lab running up and trashing everything before stealing the sandwiches and running off.  The owner was mortified but it was just the funniest thing ever :D

CG

Labs in hot pursuit of food!!!!!! When I arrived in this evening, my daughter no. 2 (who's home from school), said what's the food on offer tonight mum (school slang I guess), and two snoring labs jolted into life in a split second, and tearing down the hall at breakneck speed, whilst daughter and I watched in amazement.

What are they like, and what would we do without them.

Labs? In hot pursuit of food

Purdey, our (very old -14 and half) lab, has to be helped up from her bed now most days - but she is at the front of the lab pack when she hears Nik open the fridge door to start making bacon butties :D :D - she manages to completely mow down her neice Gypsy and 14th month old Freya in her rush to get there - and although she can no longer jump up, she "huffs and puffs" from one front leg to the other, waiting for her buttie - its so hard to keep training Freya to stay sitting for her bit!!

Margot

Food? whats food, you dont see it long enough to know what it is when you have a lab :D Tess' favourite trick when im eating is to stare at me and tilt her head to the side occassionaly as she knows i cant refuse her when she does it :)
tanya

Margot

Min is still acting like a puppy ! :D

A question I must ask you as we are in the same boat and have been before when do you make the final decision.
Mars, Mins mum was 14 3/4 , I left it far too long . I should have made the decision at least a couple of months before. I realise now my needs are so down in the scope of what is important. I wanted her to be with us for longer, I neglected her needs.

Lucy
xx

I know that decision is not far away :(

However, at the moment, Purdey still enjoys her food - she decides whether she wants to come for a walk or not - but she always wants to come out.    I know that labs are food-led - but she still has a "gusto" for life - to see her hopping from one front leg to the other affirms this to me.   But, once she doesn't want to get up, isn't interested in the scent of a bacon sandwich, or can't be bothered to give the others a warning woof when they come close to her treat, I will know that we are reaching the point that we all dread.

Sometimes in the morning, if Ad isn't up to make coffee at 545, we will have to clear up a poop, or pee , because she hasn't been able to get to the door, and we hate to see the embarrassment that she seems to feel then - but, for today, and hopefully tomorrow, she has a quality of life.  

I know that it is better a day too early than a day too late - but, please God, this is something that we won't have to face until next year - we have been blessed with another year - she has had an input into the "bringing up" of Freya - and this time last year, I had very little hope that I would be able to write in this manner now.  So, to all of us out there, with our oldies, cherish them this Christmas - and remember Christmases past.

Margot

Penny is only just 4 at the beg of November, and has severe arthritis, so much so that I have recently been considering her quality of life. Metacalm only worked until halfway through the third bottle, and she has been on glucosamine and condroitin. When the colder weather arrived she really struggled.  After sleeping it can take her around 15 mins to get into a suitable position to raise herself from her bed. But once up and about she is stiff but fine.  5 Weeks ago vet started weekly injections, cant remember what they are called, but it looks like it is definately working. I have also invested in a magnetic collar. I have started taking her walks with the big girls as she misses out on so much and as they normal stay close by she keeps up, and also lets me know when she want to turn back to the car. The difference in her over the last 2 or 3 weeks after these injections is amazing. Although she still growls if any of my dogs go near her rear when she is lying down. I dont know if I will ever know when the time is right, but for now she seems to have a new lease of life.
Kay