Times, they are a-changin...

Terry, I know exactly how you feel. Spencer will be 14 in June. I know this sounds awful, but every night I go to sleep wondering if I will find him still with me in the morning. He has some health problems, and I know he is old. Honestly, him going in his sleep would be my wish, after what I went through with Sadie, but it doesn't make it any easier. It's also hard because some people have begun to ask me if I am going to get another dog "after Spencer." Sometimes I want to push them down! I think the weather does contribute to the feelings. I don't know about where you are, but this winter has been cold & cloudy here. The other day, we saw the sun for the 1st time in 2 weeks. We're expecting to get 3-6" of snow by noon Saturday. Ugh. Just the other day, I whispered into Spencer's ear that in about 4-5 months, he'd be stretched out on the green grass in the sun while I tended to the flowers in our yard. I hope that turns out to be true for both of us.

Beverly Anne said:

But then I think of all the times I've wanted to blast him into the great beyond, like right now, when he's whining for the zillionth time to go out, to eat, to play, to do whatever it is most inconvenient for me to do at the time he wants to do it.
God bless the little darlings.

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I know what you mean. I have two duties when at home - let Moe in/out (for the zillionth time, as you do) and give Moe cookies.

He gets cookies many times a day: Morning cookies after he comes in from doing his business, before-I-go-to-work cookies, after-I-get-home cookies, before dinner *******, after dinner cookies, before bedtime cookies, and generally any other time he thinks he needs cookies. Multiply the number of cookies he gets by however many family members he can fool into thinking that he hasn't had any yet. It's a wonder he's got such a trim figure...

Both needs are communicated by irritating whining, either at the door (to go out) or in front of the cabinet where his cookie basket is kept.

I do love him VERY much. I think when he's gone I'll miss how he makes me jump through hoops for him!

There ain't nothin like a hound dog!

I just read all the posts in response to "Times they are a-changin" and wanted to encourage all you owners of senior bassets to cherish your time together. I lost my basset Lucy, Oct 09 at age 11, when she crossed the rainbow bridge. I could tell for her last 6 months, she was really slowing down and getting ready to cross over. Much of the literature I"ve read on bassets lists their average life span 10-12 years. So from the beginning, I tried to remind myself of that fact. Alas, it didn't make loosing her any easier. I've seen my husband shed more tears over loosing Lucy than the loss of any human life we've experienced. It's a perplexing phonomenon, how attached we had become to our basset and how much we love the unique characteristics of the breed; that soulful look, loving personality and zest for the outdoors! I've joined this forum and others like it to share in the lives of other basset owners b/c I miss my girl so much. But I too, like another post author, fear that no other basset will really be able to replace my girl Lucy. But, I honestly think, another basset will come along when the time is right. For now, all you lucky basset hound owners: cuddle, walk, hunt, share treats and slurpy kisses with your hounds especially during the twilight stage of their life and remember, they will always be with you in spirit............cause.........there aint' nothing like a hound dog! Lovin You All the Time! Happy Valentine's Day..................Lucy girl, where ever you are..........hunting rabbits over the rainbow, for sure!