Merlin a bit down

[MellowYellow]

It's been nearly six months since we had to say goodbye to our beloved Poppy. I miss her so much... OH misses her too... I especially miss her silky ears. And the way she snuggled her head into my hand, even during the last few days of her life. And her complete, loyal focus. She was definitely one of a kind! Our little sphinx.

I thought Merlin would bounce right back after her death, since Poppy and he were never really a very bonded couple, but I have to remember she was there for all his life with us, since the day he came to us at eight weeks of age, and life has changed for him now. He seems flat somehow, not depressed exactly, but not as lively and joyful as before. I have been with him to the vet for a thorough check up and although everything seems fine they are going to do an x-ray of his hips and back just to check whether there is any arthritis (you may remember he has very bad hips, although never shows any signs of discomfort other than his back legs shake when he does a pee). I wonder whether he is just missing the action that was always there when Poppy was with us - 'what's she doing? Is she getting cuddles? Are they going to play with dummies with her? Is she getting treats??? WHY AREN'T I GETTING ANY TREATS???'

We talk every day about whether we should get another dog. I of course would get a puppy in a heartbeat; OH is more inclined for us to be a one dog family. I know Merlin doesn't really like puppies... but he loves our friend's young dog, who is 6 months old. Maybe it would cheer him up? Or maybe it would send him into a further decline...

Merlin's breeder is considering a litter with her young bitch next year. I have contacted her and said we are interested in a puppy. I think next year would be the latest time that I would get a second dog, as Merlin will be 10 and I think that's about as late as I can imagine him dealing ok with a young dog.

Any thoughts???

 

[Cath]

I know that Fred is getting slower and older and I really don't know what Annie will do when he has gone.
He sleeps a lot now its just old age, but Annie goes and checks on him through out the day. They still go on their morning walk together although
slowly. I know she will miss him when he is gone, but she is getting older too she will be 11 in November, so in our case I will not get another dog.
That is right for us, you must do what is right for you Karen and Merlin

 

[Atemas]

Gosh a big decision and has to be right for the three of you. As you know we completely underestimated what Sky would think to a puppy. She was 10 when we got Red…..but she may well of reacted exactly the same if she’s been younger. She did eventually like Red. It was hard work especially when Sky could no longer do the big walks needed for Red. I do miss having two dogs but alas age and osteoarthritis are not on my side so it won’t happen. I hope the X-ray shows nothing .
Red is 9 and a half and is definitely slowing down, (although she shows she still has it sometimes) she sleeps a lot. Could that be so with Merlin?

 

[MellowYellow]

Red is 9 and a half and is definitely slowing down, (although she shows she still has it sometimes) she sleeps a lot. Could that be so with Merlin?

Yes, of course Merly is a little slower now at 9 years old, and also he became more staid after the castration a couple of years ago. That said, there is a noticeable difference since Poppy has been gone.

Getting a second dog is a big decision, and as you say it has to be right for us. The upsides to having only one older, calm, easy-going dog are many. Merlin goes everwhere with us; everyone loves him; he's no bother at all, etc. etc. The main advantages to getting a puppy sooner rather than waiting until we no longer have Merlin is that when you have one calm and well-behaved dog, training a new puppy is so much easier. Also, in five years we will be in our early 70's - hopefully still ok to look after a young dog, with all the training and walking required, but who knows what our health will be like then? Also, I miss the joy and excitement of having a young dog.

As you know we completely underestimated what Sky would think to a puppy. She was 10 when we got Red…..but she may well of reacted exactly the same if she’s been younger. She did eventually like Red. It was hard work especially when Sky could no longer do the big walks needed for Red.

Oh goodness yes, I'd forgotten that Sky did not like Red to begin with! And it's a very good point about when the older dog can no longer do the longer walks. Sigh.

We'll see what the x-rays show. We've already decided that if there is arthritis, that we definitely wont get a puppy.

My main concern is though - is Merlin sad or depressed? Or just getting older? Or in some pain that we haven't been able to find out yet? Or he's absolutely fine, and it was just that he was more on his toes the whole time when Poppy was around.

 

[Selina27]

It's difficult to know isn't it?
I sometimes worry about Cassie, living just with me these days, but then she is 10 so doesn't really have surplus energy but can still find it if necessary.
It's one of the reasons I like still do some training classes with her, she still enjoys a mental workout and I enjoy doing stuff with her rather than just "walks".
Is that something that you might consider for Merlin?
I wonder too if they pick up on our sadness xx

 

[Boogie]

We walk our two separately as they have such different needs. Ted needs a good old yomp and run around the fields, whereas Tatze likes a slow, short, pottering sniffy walk.

How about 'borrowing' your friend's 6-month-old youngster for a few days and seeing what difference it makes to you all?

 

[Atemas]

I wonder too if they pick up on our sadness

I think they do - they are very in tune with our emotions.

My main concern is though - is Merlin sad or depressed? Or just getting older? Or in some pain that we haven't been able to find out yet? Or he's absolutely fine, and it was just that he was more on his toes the whole time when Poppy was around.

I don’t think you can answer these really unfortunately except ruling out arthritis or something else

 

[Anne123]

We got Odin when Finn was 11 years old. We didn't think that Finn would live this long as we have had several times that we were worried that Finn had to be pts....Now he is almost 13, still going and we are sure that it helped him we got Odin. Odin cheered him up, made him play again and was activated by Odin. If he doesn't walk fast enough he will be bitten in the bump by Odin. It's lovely to see how this worked. As he is almost 13 now we see a difference. Finn is really aging very fast and we think that his end in nearing. He is very slow, gets angry with Odin and doesn't want to play anymore. I think Odin made him live longer...

 

[MellowYellow]

we are sure that it helped him we got Odin. Odin cheered him up, made him play again and was activated by Odin.

This is so lovely to read!

 

[MellowYellow]

It's one of the reasons I like still do some training classes with her, she still enjoys a mental workout and I enjoy doing stuff with her rather than just "walks".
Is that something that you might consider for Merlin?
I wonder too if they pick up on our sadness xx

We do a bit of dummy training with Merlin, and today we made a real effort to play more games with him (hiding his tennis ball in the garden, etc) and it did seem to cheer him up, more so than just going for his normal walks. Also, I take him on visits with me to the old people's home, which he really likes - we are going there again tomorrow. And yes, I think our dogs are so attuned to us that they are very aware when we are grieving.

 

[Emily]

Sometimes I regret not getting another dog for Ella. She's 11 and while she sleeps during the day like only a lab could manage, she's still full of beans with daily zoomies, decent walks and always finds time to shove toys at us.

I wonder if the boys have kept her younger as they play with her a lot.

When we stayed at my in-laws for a few months before moving house, she LOVED living with my I-laws GR Roxy. Considering Roxy is 6 yrs younger than Ella, it was funny to see that Ella instigated 90% of the play.

I think she'd love a puppy friend but we just don't have the time to give to a new puppy right now.