Aspen the Yorkie

I’m writing as myself today…not for Aspen…but about her.  She has been such a wonderful companion for over 11 years now, and is beginning to show her age.  She recently seems to have difficulty seeing, and other signs that remind me that I need to give her extra loving for all that she has given to me.

She isn’t as lively as she used to be, because it is hard for her to see…I just took her out for a walk, and not that far ahead of us was a cat…usually she would have gone crazy with barking and excitement, it took her a while to even notice the cat.

She sleeps more, and is always happy to have a belly rub, a back massage, and her treats, they are a special delight…something my husband gives her each night after we have dinner.

Here are just a few of the pleasures Aspen gives us:

Unconditional love, and devotion.

All that loving is healthy for you, yes, petting your dog, having their companionship, can help calm you…stroking their fur is good for them and good for you…Aspen loves to snuggle and loves her tummy rubs.

Aspen is great company when no one else is around…of course she likes all of us to be there…we are her “pack” after all.

Aspen listens to everything we say, as if she understands…and I think she does understand…a lot more than we may give her credit for. When everyone is out during the day, she is always there with a listening ear.

Aspen gets me outdoors to walk on days when I may want to just stay inside. I love walking, but some days just don’t feel like making the effort, her companionship makes it more enjoyable. We both get some exercise when we walk.

Aspen makes me feel safe when my husband has to travel, which is rare, but happens occasionally. She will bark if she hears ANYTHING, and this brings a sense of security…no barking, all is well.

I guess I’m feeling a little sentimental today, realizing that she’s an older girl now, and more delicate than she used to be. Just hope I can give her all she deserves for the joy that she has given us over the years since that March day when I watched her birth.

Love your dogs, treat them like part of the family, that’s what they are.

It’s rainy today where we live in the northeast, and sometimes I feel a little more achy on days like that…after all, I’m going on 10 years old.  I do pretty well, but can’t jump up on the couch or my owner’s lap without doing a few tries first.

I wonder how it will be later on, though, when I get to be an even older little dog? Will my joints hurt even more? My owner doesn’t like to take me to the vet unless it’s an emergency, and we have had a few of those. It’s expensive, though, and anything that they offer for you to buy at the vet costs a lot of money, so she does her best to find good deals on things to take care of me.

She just asked me if she could tell you about something she just found, glucosamine for dogs. She said people take this for their joints, and so can dogs. It actually has a way of rebuilding and repairing the worn out cartilage in the joints. Do you know what cartilage is? I love chicken, but can’t eat the bones.  When you take the meat off the bones the next time, take time to look at the leg bones…you’ll notice that at the ends of each leg bone joint, there is a smooth, white covering, that is the cartilage, the part that makes the joints move against each other smoothly. When it wears down, there is pain, and that’s where glucosamine comes in. My owner knows all these big words because she’s a nutritionist.

If you visit the links in this post, you’ll find that there is a great sale going on while supplies last, and sales are important with the economy the way it is these days…at least that’s what the humans around me are saying. You can buy a bottle of Osteo Pet and get another one free, that’s a whole lot better than what you would pay at the Veterinarian. OH, and the shipping is free, too!

Only 2-3 weeks ago, I posted some pictures of a few of my cat friends in Australia at this link, and sadly, received news yesterday that the precious little kitty pictured first in the post was quite ill, and as of today, is no longer alive.

My owners and I are so sad to hear this news, it’s hard for humans to say goodbye to their pets, I guess we become like family to them, I know my people are like family to me. You are going to want to click and read Kathie’s wonderful tribute to her Beauie, “Ode to Beauie“.

Lots of human hugs and yorkie kisses from our home in the US to your home in Australia, Kathie and family.

Here is the really good article, I hope you enjoy it! Since I’m getting to be an older dog according to the article, I told my owner about it. I didn’t know that now that I’m 8 I’m considered a “senior dog”, and now I understand why I like to take more naps. There’s lots of good pet articles at Selling With Articles if you look in the pets category. We saw that there are over 200 of them! Enjoy the article:

The Companionship of an Older Dog

By: Janie Knetzer

My husband and I have rescued dogs of all ages over the years. Since we love dogs and want to help when we can, we always get our dogs from shelters and dog rescue groups. We have consistently found older dogs to be our favorites. Their gentleness and straightforwardness have always fit well into our hectic lives.

A dog at or above the age of eight is considered to be a senior dog. The great thing about adopting an older dog is that while they are far calmer than a younger dog, they are still healthy and enjoy playing.

In contrast to younger dogs, an older dog does not demand all of your attention all of the time. However, they do till like a regular routine just like a young dog. Dogs are always happiest when they can rely on a regular schedule, regardless of whether they are an older dog or still a puppy.

A regularly scheduled walk, regular feeding times and the opportunity to snuggle up to you while you read or watch television are ideal for your dog. Come up with a daily schedule which works for you and your dog and you will both be happy.

An older dog has a bit less energy than a puppy, so they will spend a little more of their time sleeping. You may need to give your senior dog a little push to ensure that they receive enough exercise to stay in good shape.

Kids And Senior Dogs

If you are thinking of adopting an older dog but have small children, remember that older dogs (just like us when we get older) do have aches and pains, meaning that they may not exactly love having children tackling them all of the time.

Parents should always teach their children to respect animals and treat them as they would want to be treated if their roles were reversed. If an older dog is a pet you’d like to take in, make sure that they are good with kids and can be relaxed in their presence. If the dog tries to escape from children, they likely will be uncomfortable around yours.

This does not by any means indicate that this older dog is a bad dog, merely that they are alarmed by their sudden movements or perhaps have been mistreated by children in the past. Families with small children should look for older dogs who walk up to children happily seeking to greet them.

Senior Dogs Have Little Chance For Rescue

It is very unfortunate, but most people overlook the older dogs when looking to adopt. Never realizing just how much these wonderful dogs have to offer. Their calm, gentle and grateful disposition makes them the perfect candidates for many families, single people and older people as well.

The only downside to adopting a senior dog is that you might not have the opportunity to spend as many years with them as you would like to. Yet, once you witness for yourself their undeniable gratitude and companionship, age no longer matters.

It is our hope that if you are thinking about adopting a dog, that you will please consider an older dog. Those gray muzzles are well worth a look.

Author Resource:-> Janie has been working with dogs for over twenty five years. She resides in Southwestern Pennsylvania with her husband and two dogs. She dedicates herself to educating others about the importance of responsible dog care. http://www.old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com

Article From Selling With Articles -

I just wanted to let you know that two more pages were added to the “pages” section of the blog today (see the list of pages to the right)….one about aging pets, and another with the start of a list of food recalls, food warnings, and foods that are not dangerous for you, but may be dangerous for me.

Hope you had a great weekend, my family was out a lot at church and visiting family, I missed them.