The Guinness Book of World Records claims “Chanel”, a 21 year dachshund owned by Denice and Karl Shaugnessey, became the oldest dog alive after a 28 year old beagle passed away in the spring of last year.
Despite having to wear special goggles for her cataract eyes and being limited to a strict diet Chanel is a very healthy and happy dog. I know that for any dog to live this long there has to be a lot of love between the owner and pet.
This is something that I feel should be promoted more when selling the idea of owning a pet. Not to sound like a financial advisor here but in order to maximize your investment you want to create an optimal environment in which it will prosper. I know in our family, in addition to proper exercise, diet, and regular trips to the vet, we have always shown a lot of love towards our pets and each one has gone on to live beyond their expected lifespan.
So while it may be an obvious statement it is still worth reiterating if for nothing else but to get your dog in the record books! Hahaha. Remember….health and happiness are intimately linked and best sustained in loving environments.
Come along as I show you the ins and outs of the Pet Gear AT3 all terrain dog stroller which is perfect for one or two dogs and ideal for older dogs that need some help to get around. This sturdy and versatile dog stroller allows you to ride smoothly on multiple types of terrains with its front wheel that locks in place for those rugged areas. For riding in the city I recommend letting the front wheel stay in swivel mode so you can easily take those corners.
Your senior dog will love this ride which gives them amazing visibility and space as they once again come on long walks with you. I love the freedom that a dog stroller gives you and as an owner of a senior dog I can tell you first hand that a dog stroller can give your dog his or her second wind in life. Let the adventure begin with this high quality and reliable product from Pet Gear.
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
I watched a touching video today where a family shared their memories of their two cocker spaniels. I felt moved by being able to share in these moments, but also saddened because it made me think about my own dogs and the heart break I still feel over the loss of Churchill my French Bulldog who left us last summer after 12 wonderful years. Inspired by the video I saw and swimming in my own memories, I decided to create my own tribute to honour Churchill and the love that he and Mackenzie (my Pug) shared.
This video shares with you some special moments I was fortunate to have had with my boys. It will never be the same without Churchill, but I feel comfort in knowing that his memories will carry on and I am able to share some of them with you in this video.
Mackenzie is the kind of Pug that takes time to smell the roses, someone who appreciates the early signs of spring, a ray of sun or the dewy grass. You can’t rush Mackenzie and you’ll often find him staring off into the sunset wondering how life made him the man he is today.
As a dog gets older incontinence creeps in like it does for us humans. Accidents begin to happen and both the dog and the owners find themselves upset as a result. As much as our floors and carpets may take a beating, I find it is especially hard on the dogs because it is contrary to what they have been trained to do their whole lives. They are used to doing their ‘business’ outside so it can be very upsetting to them when they can’t control their bladder or bowels and make a mess inside the house. Diapers offer dogs a way to retain their dignity and age gracefully. Incontinence can be managed and there are lots of products including the diapers I show in this video that can help to control accidents, keeping dog and owner feeling relieved.
I have to admit, we had a lot of fun doing this video. While we have been selling diapers for some time I hadn’t actually tried them or tested them to see how well they worked…until now.
Watch as I try them out on Mackenzie and then on Paige to see the difference a tail makes. Each disposable diaper has a cute little hole for your dog’s tail which works great for a dog like Mackenzie, but not so great for a French Bulldog like Paige who only has what I call a pretend tail.
We also tested for absorbency and tried to copy an old diaper commercial that used to be on tv which poured water on the diaper and then used blue paper to see how much water was at the surface of the diaper. We were blown away when we discovered that these diapers were bone dry even after I poured a generous amount of water in them. This means that your dog will stay dry and comfortable even after they have urinated.
Typically this type of diaper is used for female dogs and male dogs use what is called a wrap. Mackenzie, who is in touch with his feminine side, volunteered to help show how these diapers work despite the fact that is very much a man. We will take a look at the male wraps in a future video.
Thanks for watching.
p.s. See if you can find the moment my sister’s finger makes its debut
Ann-Marie Fleming is the Founder of www.DogQuality.com, a site focused on products that help older dogs enjoy life.
