This is one of the main reasons we will hesitate to get another dog(s) when Maxx and Cody are no longer with us. We will only want to do two dogs again and not just one. They are so funny together, partly because they are just opposites (one is 22 pounds and one is 100 pounds) and also how they interact with each other.

I truly believe they have kept each other young. Maxx, now 11 is so healthy, thin and runs around like he is 4 again. Cody, 9 1/2, obviously old for a large dog is very healthy other than his liver which is now under control and now running back around like he is a young pup.

They still wrestle almost everyday and just hang out being best friends. We do not feel as guilty when we are away from the house as they have each other to keep them company.

we have a 1 yr old Golden and an 8 yr old Shepard, so one keeps the other "young", when the Shepard goes, and we hope not for a long time, we will get another. So we will always have a young dog and an older brother dog.

I don't want to derail, but find myself compelled to ask bperg a question. Those are two really different dogs, do you see a big difference? And which personality traits do you like of each? I am not trying to get too personal, and apologize if I am. We are in the looking stages, but my wife wants one of those breeds and I the other. I've had both, but looking for an outside opinion.
Thanks.

No problem, I got nothing to hide. The Shepard is very protective and loyal, he is our guard dog (we live in the woods and he's a 120 lb. mass of muscle). It takes a while, a few hours of of him on a lease inside with a new person in the room for him to accept that person, but once you're on his good list he won't forget you. The Golden is just over 85 lbs. and very playful, and a sweetheart of a dog. He loves anyone, and would help a thief carry out the goods. They get along fine (the Shepard is the older one) and the Golden stays right with the Shepard when they play rough. We don't allow kids near the Shepard, the Golden is absolutely harmless. My last dog was a female Shepard (the two I have now are neutered males) and she was not aggressive. I don't know if that matters or not.

I find it funny that you have a shepherd and a golden. We lost our 16 YO golden/shepherd mix to kidney failure in April, right after I found the tumors in Buddy's throat. Ginger was acting old when we got Buddy (she was 10) but she perked right up like a puppy again after we brought him home. I expected Ginger to leave us enevtually and then Buddy would be our "old" dog, maybe we'd get him a puppy like he was for Ginger. But I couldn't believe it when I found the tumors in his neck, we were "prepared" to lose Ginger but not both of them together. They were definately best friends, and I'll miss them terribly.

The good news is we just came home from Morgantown with a brand new 2008 model Golden Retriever puppy! I know we'll never replace Ginger and Buddy, but life goes on and the house seemed SO empty without a pooch! My wife looked into rescuing one but couldn't seem to find any for rescue, and couldn't find any females locally. So we drove an hour each way.

I'll post some pics later after I get a chance to take some.

This is a tough read.. we lost our family dog 3 years ago after 13 long years We got another one, a Dachshund about 2 months later. We got a little yorkie-poo last year, and they have both been just the best friends.. reading all your stories about losing your pets made me tear up... I'm such a woos when it comes to pets/animals.

bradyf, can't give you any good advice as to when, but you'll know when, when it happens!

bradyf, sorry about your loss.

But if and when you're ready for another pet, heed waterdog's advice: get a Ragdoll. I have one, and out of all my cats (we have three), he is by far THE most affectionate. Almost dog-like. And smart too. He knows how to sit, shake and stand.

And if you're thinking about a canine, a Miniature Schnauzer is a good bet. I have one, and she never fails to amaze me with her intelligence.

Thanks. Two dogs ago was my Golden. I had him since he was two, and he was put down at the tender age of 19. He still had the spirit but his body had given out. My last dog was a Shepherd mix, brought him home at 8 weeks old. We had to put him down at 8 due to cancer. I miss them both. I viewed them pretty much how you view yours. I would like another Sheppy, but the wife wants to be practical. With a 4 year old in the house, a Shepherd probably isn't right for us now, but I much prefer thier attitude.

Shepards are iffy, but if it's a pup and raised with a child it would defend that child to it's own demise. The problem: your child bringing friends around. With kids I'd go Golden. (I've had a Great Dane, Doberman, Husky, Malamute, Samoyed, and a Beagle; I'd get anther Golden in a heartbeat)

My wife thanks you for your thoughts.

Hey, brother, we're all on this big rock in space together. Caring for each other just makes life a lot more bearable.

I second bperg, I'd get a golden too, but hey I'm kinda partial to goldens (since they are the worlds best dogs!)

I say get a Golden also. We have a 3 year old now. She is the best dog that we have had. I hate to think of the day she is not with us. Last year she got stung by a hornet in the woods when we were on the lake for the weekend. At first we thought she got bite by a snake how she was acting. She just started to fall over. Then just laded there. But another dog with us started to act the same way. We later found out she was stung. You could see the mark on her paw.

That bring up a question I have for bperg. Is there a Vet around the lake. That we can call on weekends for emergency's. We could not find anyone that time. We ended up calling our Vet in Harrisburg.

There is one in town who is good for emergencies, I'll try to look up her name, we use Lakemont vet hosp in Altoona, about 40 min away from us, maybe an hour from the resort.

Most bee stings in dogs are self limiting. Obviously, stings on the lips, mouth or tongue can cause severe swelling and result in a medical emergency due to breathing difficulties. If your dog is allergic, then it is always a medical emergency. I recommend keeping some Benadryl oral strips (instantly dissolve when put on the tongue) on hand. They come as 12.5 and 25 mg strips. Usual dosage is 1-2mg/lb. A paste of baking soda and water applied to the site purportedly reduces swelling.