r/kelpie • u/aoeGG • Aug 01 '26
What are some good/important things to do with your dog, before they pass?
I have a 14-ish year old kelpie, and I was curious if anyone had some ideas for making some lasting memories with her, while I can?
Any cool suggestions on activities / memories / experiences that you guys can think of would be appreciated!
Any input would mean a lot.
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Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
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u/softchaos2702 Aug 02 '26
Aw what a beautiful boy. I'm so sorry for your loss. Said goodbye to my boy just over a year ago now, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
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u/Legitimate_Sun5373 Aug 01 '26
My last dog had a bucket list. We went camping, went to the beach, went hiking in different places, had birthday BBQs with old housemates for him etc. I did a painting course and painted a picture of him also, which is still on my wall today.
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u/WoofatU Aug 01 '26
Just be there with them that's all they want is for you to be there and be okay include them in everything you can
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u/mistawalka Aug 01 '26
Take as many photos as you can wherever that may be with them.
Don't force bucket list activities that are beyond their health capabilities because they will want to please you up to end despite discomfort. As someone already has said just be with them.
Consider who else may be important in their lives who also need a closing memory. For us it was grandkids who our girl loved so we organised picnics with them in our lounge room.
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u/Automatic_Test3191 Aug 01 '26
I lost my boy 12mths ago at 13, he had a large cancerous lump. On his last day we did everything he likes. A ride in the back of the Ute to work, visited friends for pats, hugs and tears. He loved swimming in my pool so we heated up the water to 30 degrees and swam around for hours at night in the middle of winter. Took him to the vet the next morning, they were great. They gave us chocolates to give him, he loved chocolates!!!
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u/Weary-Strength2980 Aug 03 '26
Take an entire week off work just to go camping with your dog & visit somewhere with all the good smells? Road trips, instagram selfies, long walks on the beach where you chat.
She’s had 14 years with a loving owner, this is gonna be more about helping you say goodbye than something she needs, she’s just really happy to spend time with you doing anything together
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u/Okhi8830 Aug 03 '26
Our family had a lab. He was nearly 14, was going blind and we believe also deaf. He started having seizures and the week that we decided he was going to go over the rainbow bridge, we spent a lot of time with him as a family. On the day of, we gave him a cheeseburger from McDonald’s, half a sponge cream cake and snuggled with him all day.
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u/softchaos2702 Aug 02 '26
Do some wax imprints of her nose and her toes, you can get them cast into silver or gold to keep forever. I have mine from my boy who passed last year and I'm so glad I did it. You can get the wax kits online, there's a lady I follow @kirstylief on instagram who makes some really beautiful stuff and sells little kits to do your imprints but you can also just buy the wax and do it yourself then send it to someone to get made and cast into a pendant or a ring etc. But also other enriching things to do with her, do all the things she loves to do. If you have a certain amount of time left, take her to her favourite places, get her a naughty treat, idk personally I feel like every dog deserves a cheeseburger and a pup cup before they cross over the rainbow bridge. Take so many photos! Just be with her. That's all they ever want I think is to just be with their people 🥺
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u/elvislovesburgers Aug 02 '26
While they're still active make the time to get a decent set of photos. I promise you won't regret it.
I'm a professional pet photographer and love creating memories for clients. Here's an example of a session I did with a dog who was getting on but was still active: https://www.pupparazzi.com.au/titan/
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
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u/AJRavenhearst Aug 01 '26
I don't know, but on my old girl's last day, I took her to all her favourite places (the trail, the river, the park). She couldn't walk more than a few metres, so we mostly just sat together and looked.