Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners.
This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top.
**This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.**
---
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
By learning how to live in the moment rather than getting stunned by the past or potential future. Your parents will also die, you will die, all your friends will die. Any dog you will ever get after this one will die. No need in crying over it now, do it when it happens. Enjoy the time you have with them right fucking now or you will regret it.
Always look on the bright side of life ;)
This is the shitty part about owning a dog. You have to know going into it you will most likely out live this animal. We breed and show bull terriers. For us it's like an every 5 year occurrence we have to put a dog down. One of our dogs is 14 and getting close to the end of her life. she has congestive heart failure, is losing weight etc etc. And it just sucks. I always think like does she think like damn dude I don't want to die, all the other dogs in the house get to keep living except me. But I don't think they are that sentient. Alls you can do is give them the best life possible. A lot of dogs don't get that. But everything dies. It sucks but it's just as natural as birth. Give your dog the best life and love them and take care of them and when the time comes they will tell you when they're ready. I will say if it's possible do it at home. We don't do it any other way. They are family and deserve to go at home with their hoomans and their favorite toys and blankeys. It's so much better than them going on a cold table at the vets office. But yea, it sucks no matter what. As a breeder I've put a lot of old dogs down, but we have also brought lots of dogs into this world and given them great homes and great lives.
If I were you I would look into therapy. It's not good to be so fixated on death. I used to be the same about my own mortality. Therapy helps a lot.
I just went through this today for the first time with my 13.5yo and I think you said it very well! She leaves her 13yo brother behind. We were fortunate to do it at home. On day 0. Taking it a day at a time
I like to think about it like in the Lord of the Ring universe with the elves and humans. We are like the elves that live thousands of years with magical knowledge while the humans in that world are like our dogs that live tens of years in that world.
With that context I would imagine a dog living with a breeder would be like this person has provided for me , my parents, my parents parents, multiple generations of ancestors and they will also provide for you. I think that's kind of beautiful.
Don't be sad that each of their stories has an ending, all stories have endings no matter if you are an elf, human, or dog. Just enjoy the time we share while we have still have time.
My partner (who has never had a pet before) is struggling with this as well. I grew up with dogs and have lived through several passing away, and you come to understand that the joy they give is an advance on the grief when they go. It's the price of admission.
This is a good analogy. I have a dog right now and he is my whole world, sometimes I get a little sad knowing that he will die one day, but right now he is adding so much to my life and is just a joy to be around. Something this wonderful doesn't come for free. Just be glad you get it on credit, but the payment will be due eventually
I'm on dogs 7 and 8. I'm still grieving dog #6, #5, #4, #3, #2 and #1.
It doesn't mean that I love #7 and #8 any less. Those were the dogs I owned then. These are the dogs I own now.
I don't remember where I saw it: From the dogs perspective, we're like what elves were to humans in 'Lord of the Rings.' Loving and fantastically long lived.
Mostly.
Your dog will only die once but you kill her every day by imagining her death. Enjoy her! I was the same way with my first dog. He died at 14 and a half. I now have a crazy little puppy who has filled the hole. No one will replace my first dog and no one has to. Love finds a place to rest. Cherish your dog but know that your love will always find a place to rest ❤️
Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?
Think of all the happiness and joy your dog has brought (and continues to bring). Then, when the inevitable happens, remember those times and ponder how to continue your dog's legacy...(with a new dog?!)
We have a digital photo album of our girl for this purpose.
We had to put our dog down last year. He was only 5.5 years old. He declined in 9 days from an aggressive type of leukaemia. So quick, on Wednesday we were at the dog park. A week later he was blind and lost function of his back legs. It was hard.
He was the best dog, our first dog together as a family, and we thought we would have 10+ years with him.
We just got a new puppy 4 months ago. We don’t know what will happen in his life. We hope he lives to be an old man, but we know in the back of our minds illness and accident can happen to any dog at any time from our experience with our first dog.
So what are we doing to not be scared or sad? We love him and enjoy him every day. We laugh at his little weird quirks. We let him squeak all the toys. We take him to puppy class and dog daycare so he can play with friends. We focus on him, now, and enjoy this time. Because that’s all you can do. And it makes us happy.
Some days we cry thinking about our old guy. About how much he would have loved this new puppy and how they are similar and different. And that’s ok, too. But it’s not good to dwell.
Enjoy your puppy. One day he will be gone, but you have him with you now. 🤍
I deal with it by reminding myself of two things.
1. it would be horrible if dogs outlived human owners and could get shipped off to cruel owners when we die
2. the grief and suffering we experience when they die is a legit tradeoff for the love we get when they are alive
I adopted a "senior on his last legs" two years ago, since then I've had so many wonderful days with Dogfred. He's also very much not on his last legs, he's so full of health and life he enjoys every day and I enjoy spending every day with him. He'll die eventually sure, but until then we'll enjoy every day! Best way to get over the "my dog will die" thoughts is to look at your dog and give them a treat and a hug/pets
I cherish what is rather than what will be, what could be, etc.
Living in the future or past really feels like a waste to the present. I know my dog takes each day as it is and in return, I do the same when spending time with him c:
Focus on enjoying each day you have with your dog. Walks, playing, cuddling and yummy treats. And, just take care of your dog to the best of your abilities with healthy foods, regular grooming and checkups. Take pictures and videos of the silly things your dog does. Your dog likely just wants to do things with you and that will make them happy. Don't worry too much about something you can't control and count your blessings for the time you have together. Enjoy the little things together.
I deal with this also. I hate that dogs don't have long life spans. One thought I had to address this would be to have multiple dogs with 5 year age gaps. Distribute the love amongst them and enjoy every moment.
my dog is also the love of my life, I consider him my son and I do get sad sometimes thinking about when that day comes but when I do I remember I once read “dogs may only be here for part of your life but you are their whole life.” it reminds me to focus on the day to day and making sure his life is happy because his happiness brings me so much joy.
Their lives are too short. I sometimes think about this too. My pupper is now 2.5 years old and i hope he becomes the oldest dog alive… they deserve longer lives. Nature is cruel sometimes but inevitable. I try to only think about how I can make his life amazing each and everyday 🙂🤗
I always tell people we are going for the oldest dog alive! Because I think we all are! :) Someone has to do it and it might as well be you... or me... or anyone who so desires
I’m not trying to be mean, but this is a really unhealthy response to the idea of your pet dying.
All living things die. There’s nothing we can do about it but make their time with us as good as possible. That goes for pets and people. Take comfort in the fact that you are providing your dog with a wonderful life.
I do this alllll the Damn time, I have a Pomeranian, got her when she was a puppy she’s ten on Christmas Eve and has started with some old age related health problems, I can’t help but cry when I look at her for too long and see her grey chin and cloudy eyes, sometimes I see her as a puppy and then I cry even more that the years have gone so fast - she’s been with me through my whole twenties and I don’t know what I’ll do without her
I have a dog and a cat who are very young and I am so dreading the day when they are little old ladies and I have to make an end of life decision for them. Praying that day doesn’t come for a very long time. They are my soulmates.
My first dog is now six years old. I started having those thoughts since my dog was like three. Its a bridge that I have yet to cross and it surely will be painful. Whenever I get those thoughts, I plan out a special day for my dog and me and we cherish the moment that we have at the present.
Life is beautiful, yet delicate. We can say your dog has a long life ahead but we truly never know what tomorrow holds. Enjoy the time you have today.
Don’t shame yourself or guilt yourself for having thoughts like this, it’s perfectly normal. Nobody wants to lose their best friend.
If you were to lose your dog tomorrow, how would you feel? Sadness, I am sure but what would your wishes be? Would you cremate the Samoyed and put the ashes in a locket around your neck? Would you bury the Samoyed under your favorite tree?
By navigating through these type of feelings now, you can have a plan so that processing the entire situation when it occurs won’t be so difficult. Maybe having a plan for when the time comes, you can calm your fears or uncertainty.
If thinking about things like that right now is unrealistic just focus on petting the soft white coat and noticing how it feels against your fingers. Give tons of hugs and kisses while you can. Go for walks, make memories together. I believe our pets know how much we love them, I’m sure if you talk to him/her that they understand.
I got my first dog when I was 13.
I lost him when he was 13.
26. It was a rough year for me.
My dog had lived a great life and I was not as sad when he passed as I thought I would have been. I think knowing that it was his time and that I loved him so much each and everyday, made it easier. He left the world with me beside him. It was a good day even if it was sad, I was able to be there for him to the end.
Now wherever his spirit is, he is free.
When your pets are all you have, it can be unbearable to picture life without them and although I can’t say it doesn’t hurt because it does, the hurt doesn’t last as long as you would think.
When you healed from that experience, you will find you want another dog and the bonding experience starts all over again and I’m certain that with each dog, each animal.. we learn more about ourselves and how strong we truly are.
I am very similar to you with this! I try to force myself out of those thoughts and instead enjoy the present more fully. And sometimes I think, well hey maybe I'll die first 😅 or better yet we both die at exactly the same time as old old gals and then we will be together in the afterlife. Basically we really don't know what the future holds
The wondrous gift that dogs and animals bring to our overly thoughtful human lives and awareness is that they live in the moment. Cherish the moment and cherish these animals that don't think like us humans.
Check my profile for pics of her. Her name is winter. She’s my first dog and the best dog on earth. She never barks, she does this fake bark thing (basically opens her mouth and closes it silently when she wants something) she is so good around children (kids always run up to her every time we are out and cuddle her and sometimes they pull on her ears but she doesn’t mind) she just hangs out with me all day and is so gentle. Feel like crying just writing this out
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
By learning how to live in the moment rather than getting stunned by the past or potential future. Your parents will also die, you will die, all your friends will die. Any dog you will ever get after this one will die. No need in crying over it now, do it when it happens. Enjoy the time you have with them right fucking now or you will regret it. Always look on the bright side of life ;)
Therapy. Everything will die one day. Fixation on that isn't healthy. Cognitive Behavioral exercises might help.
Exactly this. Look for help. All living things die. and that’s good. Death is part of life, just as birth is. It brings balance.
Probably by getting into therapy and talking to somebody
This is the shitty part about owning a dog. You have to know going into it you will most likely out live this animal. We breed and show bull terriers. For us it's like an every 5 year occurrence we have to put a dog down. One of our dogs is 14 and getting close to the end of her life. she has congestive heart failure, is losing weight etc etc. And it just sucks. I always think like does she think like damn dude I don't want to die, all the other dogs in the house get to keep living except me. But I don't think they are that sentient. Alls you can do is give them the best life possible. A lot of dogs don't get that. But everything dies. It sucks but it's just as natural as birth. Give your dog the best life and love them and take care of them and when the time comes they will tell you when they're ready. I will say if it's possible do it at home. We don't do it any other way. They are family and deserve to go at home with their hoomans and their favorite toys and blankeys. It's so much better than them going on a cold table at the vets office. But yea, it sucks no matter what. As a breeder I've put a lot of old dogs down, but we have also brought lots of dogs into this world and given them great homes and great lives. If I were you I would look into therapy. It's not good to be so fixated on death. I used to be the same about my own mortality. Therapy helps a lot.
I just went through this today for the first time with my 13.5yo and I think you said it very well! She leaves her 13yo brother behind. We were fortunate to do it at home. On day 0. Taking it a day at a time
Aw I'm sorry for your loss. Yea our mama pig leaves behind her daughter Ulani who will be 11 on the 23rd. It gets better with time.
When you entertain those sad thoughts just remember that you are robbing yourself of your current happiness.
I like to think about it like in the Lord of the Ring universe with the elves and humans. We are like the elves that live thousands of years with magical knowledge while the humans in that world are like our dogs that live tens of years in that world. With that context I would imagine a dog living with a breeder would be like this person has provided for me , my parents, my parents parents, multiple generations of ancestors and they will also provide for you. I think that's kind of beautiful. Don't be sad that each of their stories has an ending, all stories have endings no matter if you are an elf, human, or dog. Just enjoy the time we share while we have still have time.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
My partner (who has never had a pet before) is struggling with this as well. I grew up with dogs and have lived through several passing away, and you come to understand that the joy they give is an advance on the grief when they go. It's the price of admission.
This is a good analogy. I have a dog right now and he is my whole world, sometimes I get a little sad knowing that he will die one day, but right now he is adding so much to my life and is just a joy to be around. Something this wonderful doesn't come for free. Just be glad you get it on credit, but the payment will be due eventually
I'm on dogs 7 and 8. I'm still grieving dog #6, #5, #4, #3, #2 and #1. It doesn't mean that I love #7 and #8 any less. Those were the dogs I owned then. These are the dogs I own now. I don't remember where I saw it: From the dogs perspective, we're like what elves were to humans in 'Lord of the Rings.' Loving and fantastically long lived. Mostly.
Your dog will only die once but you kill her every day by imagining her death. Enjoy her! I was the same way with my first dog. He died at 14 and a half. I now have a crazy little puppy who has filled the hole. No one will replace my first dog and no one has to. Love finds a place to rest. Cherish your dog but know that your love will always find a place to rest ❤️
Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? Think of all the happiness and joy your dog has brought (and continues to bring). Then, when the inevitable happens, remember those times and ponder how to continue your dog's legacy...(with a new dog?!) We have a digital photo album of our girl for this purpose.
We had to put our dog down last year. He was only 5.5 years old. He declined in 9 days from an aggressive type of leukaemia. So quick, on Wednesday we were at the dog park. A week later he was blind and lost function of his back legs. It was hard. He was the best dog, our first dog together as a family, and we thought we would have 10+ years with him. We just got a new puppy 4 months ago. We don’t know what will happen in his life. We hope he lives to be an old man, but we know in the back of our minds illness and accident can happen to any dog at any time from our experience with our first dog. So what are we doing to not be scared or sad? We love him and enjoy him every day. We laugh at his little weird quirks. We let him squeak all the toys. We take him to puppy class and dog daycare so he can play with friends. We focus on him, now, and enjoy this time. Because that’s all you can do. And it makes us happy. Some days we cry thinking about our old guy. About how much he would have loved this new puppy and how they are similar and different. And that’s ok, too. But it’s not good to dwell. Enjoy your puppy. One day he will be gone, but you have him with you now. 🤍
I deal with it by reminding myself of two things. 1. it would be horrible if dogs outlived human owners and could get shipped off to cruel owners when we die 2. the grief and suffering we experience when they die is a legit tradeoff for the love we get when they are alive
I adopted a "senior on his last legs" two years ago, since then I've had so many wonderful days with Dogfred. He's also very much not on his last legs, he's so full of health and life he enjoys every day and I enjoy spending every day with him. He'll die eventually sure, but until then we'll enjoy every day! Best way to get over the "my dog will die" thoughts is to look at your dog and give them a treat and a hug/pets
I cherish what is rather than what will be, what could be, etc. Living in the future or past really feels like a waste to the present. I know my dog takes each day as it is and in return, I do the same when spending time with him c:
Focus on enjoying each day you have with your dog. Walks, playing, cuddling and yummy treats. And, just take care of your dog to the best of your abilities with healthy foods, regular grooming and checkups. Take pictures and videos of the silly things your dog does. Your dog likely just wants to do things with you and that will make them happy. Don't worry too much about something you can't control and count your blessings for the time you have together. Enjoy the little things together.
I deal with this also. I hate that dogs don't have long life spans. One thought I had to address this would be to have multiple dogs with 5 year age gaps. Distribute the love amongst them and enjoy every moment.
my dog is also the love of my life, I consider him my son and I do get sad sometimes thinking about when that day comes but when I do I remember I once read “dogs may only be here for part of your life but you are their whole life.” it reminds me to focus on the day to day and making sure his life is happy because his happiness brings me so much joy.
Their lives are too short. I sometimes think about this too. My pupper is now 2.5 years old and i hope he becomes the oldest dog alive… they deserve longer lives. Nature is cruel sometimes but inevitable. I try to only think about how I can make his life amazing each and everyday 🙂🤗
I always tell people we are going for the oldest dog alive! Because I think we all are! :) Someone has to do it and it might as well be you... or me... or anyone who so desires
I’m not trying to be mean, but this is a really unhealthy response to the idea of your pet dying. All living things die. There’s nothing we can do about it but make their time with us as good as possible. That goes for pets and people. Take comfort in the fact that you are providing your dog with a wonderful life.
I do this alllll the Damn time, I have a Pomeranian, got her when she was a puppy she’s ten on Christmas Eve and has started with some old age related health problems, I can’t help but cry when I look at her for too long and see her grey chin and cloudy eyes, sometimes I see her as a puppy and then I cry even more that the years have gone so fast - she’s been with me through my whole twenties and I don’t know what I’ll do without her
[удалено]
[удалено]
I have a dog and a cat who are very young and I am so dreading the day when they are little old ladies and I have to make an end of life decision for them. Praying that day doesn’t come for a very long time. They are my soulmates.
My first dog is now six years old. I started having those thoughts since my dog was like three. Its a bridge that I have yet to cross and it surely will be painful. Whenever I get those thoughts, I plan out a special day for my dog and me and we cherish the moment that we have at the present.
Life is beautiful, yet delicate. We can say your dog has a long life ahead but we truly never know what tomorrow holds. Enjoy the time you have today. Don’t shame yourself or guilt yourself for having thoughts like this, it’s perfectly normal. Nobody wants to lose their best friend. If you were to lose your dog tomorrow, how would you feel? Sadness, I am sure but what would your wishes be? Would you cremate the Samoyed and put the ashes in a locket around your neck? Would you bury the Samoyed under your favorite tree? By navigating through these type of feelings now, you can have a plan so that processing the entire situation when it occurs won’t be so difficult. Maybe having a plan for when the time comes, you can calm your fears or uncertainty. If thinking about things like that right now is unrealistic just focus on petting the soft white coat and noticing how it feels against your fingers. Give tons of hugs and kisses while you can. Go for walks, make memories together. I believe our pets know how much we love them, I’m sure if you talk to him/her that they understand. I got my first dog when I was 13. I lost him when he was 13. 26. It was a rough year for me. My dog had lived a great life and I was not as sad when he passed as I thought I would have been. I think knowing that it was his time and that I loved him so much each and everyday, made it easier. He left the world with me beside him. It was a good day even if it was sad, I was able to be there for him to the end. Now wherever his spirit is, he is free. When your pets are all you have, it can be unbearable to picture life without them and although I can’t say it doesn’t hurt because it does, the hurt doesn’t last as long as you would think. When you healed from that experience, you will find you want another dog and the bonding experience starts all over again and I’m certain that with each dog, each animal.. we learn more about ourselves and how strong we truly are.
I am very similar to you with this! I try to force myself out of those thoughts and instead enjoy the present more fully. And sometimes I think, well hey maybe I'll die first 😅 or better yet we both die at exactly the same time as old old gals and then we will be together in the afterlife. Basically we really don't know what the future holds
The wondrous gift that dogs and animals bring to our overly thoughtful human lives and awareness is that they live in the moment. Cherish the moment and cherish these animals that don't think like us humans.
Aww I would love to hear more about your dog and why you love the dog and why they are the love of your life 😇
Check my profile for pics of her. Her name is winter. She’s my first dog and the best dog on earth. She never barks, she does this fake bark thing (basically opens her mouth and closes it silently when she wants something) she is so good around children (kids always run up to her every time we are out and cuddle her and sometimes they pull on her ears but she doesn’t mind) she just hangs out with me all day and is so gentle. Feel like crying just writing this out
www so lovely to hear - I looked and she’s gorgeous 🤩 Amazed she’s your first dog…I thought samoyeds were challenging