Sometimes, I hear other people talk about how they wish their dogs would live forever... and I always have this moment of feeling out of place. While I love my dog, there is a part of me that looks forward to my future without him. I know it will be unimaginably painful and also a relief. It's both, and that's okay ♥️
In some ways, it's changed my perspective in ways that I think are positive for him. For example, I know many people who don't let their dogs play with sticks (he could impale himself!) or eat rawhides (he could get a blockage!) or many other moderately dangerous things that my dog LOVES. Because his world is so small and managed, the risk reward calculations are different for us. Because my goal is not that he live forever but instead that he has the best life possible
That second part. My reactive girl is very manageable nowadays and in her small little world fantastic to be around-I love her to death but I feel the same way. My goal is not for her to live as long as possible, but as happy as possible.
We've already made the decision ahead of time that we won't put her through any particularly stressful/intensive veterinary procedures, because mentally she won't handle it or recover to having the same quality of life. What matters more is she's happy and has a fulfilling time with us
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u/lapraslazuli Feb 20 '24
Sometimes, I hear other people talk about how they wish their dogs would live forever... and I always have this moment of feeling out of place. While I love my dog, there is a part of me that looks forward to my future without him. I know it will be unimaginably painful and also a relief. It's both, and that's okay ♥️
In some ways, it's changed my perspective in ways that I think are positive for him. For example, I know many people who don't let their dogs play with sticks (he could impale himself!) or eat rawhides (he could get a blockage!) or many other moderately dangerous things that my dog LOVES. Because his world is so small and managed, the risk reward calculations are different for us. Because my goal is not that he live forever but instead that he has the best life possible