She chose these two based on my answers to her detailed questionnaire. Both of her dogs sound nice, but I am puzzled about something she said: "Females will love you but a male will fall in love with you". Not to be suspicious but she may be trying to make the male the more desirable dog for you to adopt. The female may be a dog she knows will be easy to find a home for. I think a spayed female would be easier to place than a male dog that has been intact for awhile. I've always attributed the degree of devotion a dog shows to factors such as breed, personality, and previous experiences. However since all opinions are anecdotal and it's not possible to do a double-blind study we'll never really know, will we? :D There have been 10 dogs (5 females, 5 males) in my adult life over almost 50 years (we almost always had 2-3 dogs at a time) and 2 of the males were devoted more to me than other members of my family IMO because I was the person they spent the most time with rather than that they were male. One was a puppy when we bought him and since at the time I was a SAHM I was home with him and trained him so I was always his alpha and we had a very special relationship. The other was an adult Greyhound (not a rescue) we adopted after I retired but DH was still working so I was home all day with him. One hears Greyhounds may tend to be more clingy and needy than some other dogs and he seemed to need a lot of attention and got it from me so he bonded well with me. He had beds in several rooms and when I went to another room he would soon awaken and follow me and quietly settle in another bed! The Greyhound had never been a breed that appealed to me but he certainly changed my view as he was a gentle, well-behaved, quiet, and all-round wonderful pet.

My 15 year old dog had some of the same issues. I think it is a combination of senility and pain. Panting is a sign of pain in dogs. Senility can cause anxiety. About my dog: At about 14, she forgot how to drink water from her bowl. Seriously. I tried every type of bowl, raised it, lowered it, whatever. I ended up having to give her water by using a needleless syringe and squirting it into her mouth. I also could put a cup or so of water in with her food and she drank that fine. Weird. She was also restless at night. Pacing, panting. I think from general confusion, (senility), and probably pain. I had her on deramaxx for arthritis. When that seemed to stop helping, I switched to steroids. Normally I would not put a dog on constant steroids, but at her age, it wasn't like I had to worry about long term effects. I also gave tramadol - twice a day. Increased to 3 times a day towards the end. I think that just like when people get old, old dogs do not need as much sleep/cannot sleep well at night. Think about how many old people get by on 5 hours a night. Part of that may be because they sleep a lot during the day, just like dogs do. Just a theory. Anyway, I would consider switching to steroids for the arthritis, and giving your dog an extra tramadol at bedtime. Good luck, I know it is heartbreaking. My Maggie would get "stuck" too. Behind doors due to senility, or on slippery areas (tile, wood laminate), because she didn't have the muscles in her back legs to be able to get up :( And, I'm very sorry about your daughter Jill. I know the pain of losing a child never goes away.

There's no bedroom downstairs, so the only way I could sleep in the same room as the dogs is if I slept on the couch. I'm reluctant to do that--although sleeping on the couch might not be much worse than the way things have been going lately. As I write this, it's 11:00 p.m. and both dogs are panting. Wolfy is clingy, nosing my arm and attempting to get under my desk. (He doesn't fit.) It's possible that these behaviors of his have something to do with the fact that I'm out of the house seven hours a day (minimum) now. Before I started this job in December, I was home with the dogs a lot more. Wolfy is quiet and seemingly content in the morning and early afternoon before I go to work, but when I come home at night his restlessness starts. Jodi, I've wondered about the sundowning phenomenon, too. Uxorial, I just noticed your message--sorry! I did remove the bone meal. Actually, I threw it out because Wolfy had bent up the box so badly. Sarah, it's nice to know someone else is putting up with very difficult behaviors from a much-loved dog. I caught some flak on the Pet Forum last year (just from one or two people, not everyone) because I tolerate a higher degree of ....well, mess from my two elderly dogs than was deemed civilized. I'm the first to admit that gracious living flew out the window when my dogs got old and often incontinent. But I refuse to destroy these loving and loyal animals to restore my standard of living. If the time comes for that decision to be made, it will be for their comfort, not mine. Thanks, all.

One of the most difficult decisions for a pet owner/lover is when to say goodbye. It's a responsibilty we have though as responsible pet owners. It's heartbreaking and difficult and easy to second guess. Just listen to what your heart and mind tell you. I'm sure you'll do the right thing. There is no exact "right" time. It's interesting how, when many/most animals know their time has come they go off to be by themselves. I've seen the reaction in multi-pet homes and it's really interesting. When one is sick, often the other comes and checks on them, even if they didn't get along otherwise. I've seen my two check on each other when they weren't 100% and leave them alone but still check. However when the time came, the ill one will go find a hiding spot to be alone and peaceful. The other then stays away until they've passed. It's interesting how humans feel a need to drag the world around someone who is dying. Someone in a bed, probably nervous, in pain, possibly scared but we have to have the world watch them in their discomfort and embarrassment and indignity. Some may want it, some wouldn't. But the differences are rather striking. I sense a big part of it is we humans as survivors have to make ourselves feel good that we were there when they died. Maybe we need to take a lesson from animals. The bathroom incident I would agree is anxiety and in this case a separation anxiety. It's not unusual for animals to experience anxiety of many forms more as they get older. Often that can be the root of their trouble with bladder control. They get excited and wet. Often our pets are used to getting what they want, right? We often spoil them. As they age, there's certainly memory loss and they don't really understand the concept of "time". They don't eat because it's a certain time, they eat when there's food available and/or when they're hungry or bored. They often have a routine that after eating they'll get some water. Normally when they feel the urge to go out they'll let you know but as they age, they have trouble telling what it is. Some say they can't feel it. I tend to wonder if it's just they don't remember what that feeling means. Either way the result is the same. Clearly you are aware of the situation. I know you'll make the right decision. I've seen a few people who just couldn't part with their long-time friends and put them through too much. I think that's selfish and hope I don't do that should my critters need me to make the ultimate decision for them. Don't forget the happy times with your companion. Best wishes to you all.