[Farmer Dean]

I wish all dogs would live this long.Losing a dog that’s like a family member every 10-12 years is terrible.

[sparklite2]

Yeah, me too. It’s a shame they don’t live longer.

[longfellow]

That would hurt 2x as much, but I agree with you.

[libstripper]

Oh, God, how right youu are. It’s worse than many human bereavements.

[shotgun]

Agreed.

I have a 38yr old horse named Black. He went blind a couple of years ago but is still going strong. He knows where his water trough is, his hay barrel and where the gate is when he gets his grain for breakfast and dinner. If you didn’t know it you would think he was in his 20’s.

He can also tell time.

[Huskrrrr]

[BunnySlippers]

That’s why I cannot imagine the allure of a Great Dane who live about 5-6 years.

[DoodleDawg]

When I graduated from college I got a job, apartment, and dog in that order. My labradoodle is 11 now and still has a lot of puppy in her. I know the day will come when she passes but I don’t want to think about it. I’d rather her heart give out in the middle of chasing a squirrel or doing her rounds of the yard or something else she enjoys.

[SaveFerris]

yep

[over3Owithabrain]

Sure is. Lost my 15 year old good boy two weeks ago and I still feel empty and terrible.

[PLMerite]

“Losing a dog that’s like a family member every 10-12 years is terrible.”

“I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?”

Sir Walter Scott

[Texan5]

My much-loved Siberian Husky died peacefully in her sleep two months ago-she was very old for a big dog at 17, and had slowed down a bit in the last couple of years-but still played with the 3 cats and howled back at coyotes at night. She’d had her usual happy day and settled down to a nap on her bed by my chair after dinner and a walk-when I saw that she was not breathing awhile later, I realized that her 17-year-old heart had finally given out.

I’d had her since she was an 8 week old pup, and wish I could have had her with me for 30 years-I miss her...

[5th MEB]

Don’t we all wish that, don’t we all know how much it hurts when they have to go.
Lost my Old Jack this last Dec. 30th after 18 years.
Really do wish they could all go in their beds when the time comes, unfortunately most don’t.

[Viking2002]

Amen to that. The dog I had as a small child made it to 20. She was in rough shape, but she didn't die of natural causes. She walked out in front of a truck that was just pulling out. To this day, my mother thinks she knew it was her time, and deliberately stepped out in front of it. The truck was barely moving, so it was clean and quick. I miss that dog. This was back in the day when Mom could give me money and a shopping list, and I'd walk to the market to get her groceries, and my dog would follow along side and sit at the front door of the market until I came out. If it got too hot outside, she'd come inside and sit by the shopping carts. The cashiers knew her by name and would even give her water if she was thirsty. Then back up the hill we went. What a great girl she was. As I tell everyone, if there is a Lord God who can make the heavens and the earth, then he certainly can have that Rainbow Bridge sitting there with all our four-legged family waiting for us when we arrive. All Things Are Possible With God.