A family (DU /Lounge) decision: My last companion/ dog

[UTUSN]

My first dog was “Patty” who was the daughter of an aunt’s cocker spaniel “Dixie.” She was in our family for thirteen years. She came with a huge red bow when I was four years old or something. There’s another story about her, actually two more but some other time.

Then after my Navy years I bought a Cocker purebred for $25 and he lived for 10 years, Hotspur (from SHAKESPEARE).

I never had other breeds until these little ones now, Mona the Chihuahua and Sancho Panza the mini-dachund.


So I’m getting old and will only live for one more dog’s lifespan (15 yrs) so I’m going to get my LAST dog: It’s going to be a Cocker Spaniel



And I’m going to name it for my beloved cousins: De-identified

[texanwitch]

1. I was saying the same thing to a friend.

My dog is 10 years old now, don't know if I want a puppy again.

I wil be 58 years old soon, a dog can live 10 to 15 years old.

If I get a dog again it will be a older dog.

I don't want to deal with a puppy again.

[UTUSN]

2. No, no, I'm dealing with the last 15 yrs of MY life, if that's what it is

So we're talking starting at the pup phase here. Plus, Cockers are high-energy, so either it or I is going to call the shots.

[texanwitch]

3. Getting a dog is like adopting a kid, I think I am ready to move on.

I love my dog and puppies are cute.

There are lots of older dogs that need homes.

My dog I have now took 3 years to really mature, I can't handle that now.

Nice mature older dog will do me.

Have fun with the pup.

[GoldenOldie]

4. My last dog is a Cocker who chose me

After losing my two Shi-tzus within a year of each other at the ages of 16 and 17, I felt totally lost without a furry friend. Because I have many health problems and was going into my 70's, I worried that taking on another puppy could become a problem for a both of us but when my daughters told me to quit worrying, just get a damn dog and they would take care of the rest. I wanted something a little bigger than my 10lb Shi's as I might not be able to bend down to pick them up or become to clumsy and drop them. As I rescued one of my Shi's at the age of 1-year and she returned her devotion til the moment she died, I began looking into Pet Finders for a medium size, adult female. One day my young neighbor rang my bell and she had heard I had lost Koko and Pitti and might be looking for a dog. She had 2-dogs; 1-shepherd mix, about 2-yrs old that she had rescued from the streets and a black cocker spaniel, 8-mons old that had been given to her by a client when the pub was 6-weeks old. I knew of the cocker as many times I had tried to capture her when she made escapes from their backyard. The neighbor explained that she needed to find a good home for the cocker as her 4-year old son was just to rough with it, plus she had a year old daughter and was fearful that the daughter was also beginning to mimic the sons treatment of the pup. She explained that if I didn't take the cocker, she was taking it to the SPCA. As I was already keeping my daughters dog, while she was fulfilling a 2-year contract in Russia, a Pit-Bull (Belle), I told the woman I would have to try her out with Belle. I knew Belle was well trained and compatible with other dogs and cats, but I was always unsure of other dogs. The cocker was brought to my house, immediately began a loving close relationship with Belle, jumped onto the couch between my daughter and I and planted herself, thus we had no choice. She was determined she was making this her home and even when her owner went to the door and said good by, my new pup, renamed Lulu, ignored the goodbys. Lulu is now 7-years old, Belle has crossed The Rainbow Bridge and once again playing with the Shi's. Lulu has become the love of the entire family, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. Lulu chose her forever family no matter what happens to me.

[UTUSN]

5. Cockers are SO smart, SO loving, playful clowns

And, as I learned, despite "knowing" - they are RETRIEVERS, love jumping into the water after a tennis ball. I'm sure what I'm proposing will be a handful for me, but it will recognize and work around MY limitations!1

[rurallib]

6. Great choice! Man, I love cockers

I myself was raised by a cocker named King. What a personality.
When we had kids, we had to have a cocker to raise them. Mr. Buffington Jingles was his name. Quite a dog he was.

We have moved to cats, but for me, cockers are the best!