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Sam
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posted 12/30/09 10:37 PM
My setter will be 11 in February, he is a big Dog and is currently on steroids to keep him happy. He was a re-homed dog many years ago and not a rescue. I gather that he had been hit by something at some stage in his life given he has always run with his back legs somewhat next to him rather than behind him. But quite rightly we knew fairly little of the details. We had to risk having his ears removed a few years ago, the other choice wasn’t fair. It was hard work for the vet and us, since no matter how many drugs were administered the dog wouldn’t settle until he was home... leaving us to play vet with an assortment of drugs and needles that technically we shouldn’t have had, learning to stick a needle into your own dog was never a part of the deal! Equally you find that you’ll do anything no matter how odd, so long as they wag that tail of destruction.As an aside, I would recommend a deaf setter to anyone that knows setters, knowing they weren’t listening in the first place is a great relief as they vanish into the undergrowth. Not needing to shout after them saves the throat considerable stress.However the ease mine has learnt my (made up) sign language deserves a medal. On or off the lead I can make him wait or come back on demand almost reliably, which is far more than we managed with ears!I also have a very sweet looking long haired Jack Russell that grew up with the setter. Both dogs have had the operation that makes me cross my legs.Between them they have worked out how to live a life of attention. The terrier prefers my lap, the setter is a genius, he lays in the bathroom door way so he gets attention from every direction- If he is not on the sofa or thinking he is young enough to jump up on my bed. I have to face reality and my setter is getting old. I have a certain feeling, given that he is and always has been a gentleman that he might expire without outside assistance but I also have a determination that he will not be kept alive through drugs and procedures- unless it is reasonable, I think he has had enough procedures for his age. But I don’t see why he cant keep going for a at least a couple of years, just because he is fairly stubborn. Which leaves me with a problem, when do you get the next one?I’d love to have my old dog teach a younger dog the tricks of the trade, I’d love my old dog to have someone to play with and purely selfishly, I wouldn’t want to be without a setter having known one so well.I also don’t want my Jack Russell to start thinking that he is entirely in charge. But my dogs must come first. They both love making new friends, the little one growls and barks until the setter has been introduced but then the games begin- generally. The little one has also learnt that he can pick fights, then run back and stand under the setter- to his luck with a certain German Shepherd.What is the best way of moving forward that will keep my dogs happy whilst perhaps providing a smooth transition?
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