Our Dogs Updated Tuesday, 03 January 2012
IF YOU CAN … If you can start the day without caffeine or pills If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles If you can eat the same food everyday and be thankful for it If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time If you can overlook when people take things out on you when through no fault of your own, something goes wrong If you can take criticism and blame without resentment If you can face the world without lies and deceit If you can conquer tension without medical help If you can relax without alcohol If you can sleep without the aid of potions and pills If you can do all of these things… …you are probably the family dog! Author Unknown.
	Charmian took this picture during a walk on Sandbanks beach on 27 December 1998. It is posed. I was hoping to get all three (Henry, Buckingham and Murray) looking up towards the camera but this is the best which could be achieved. Buckingham rarely hold his head up these days - he has suffered a number of minor strokes, but the vet assured us that he is basically well for his age (14 years 7 months).
Looking after an old dogs seems not that different from looking after the elderly. I am convinced the secret is in the mixture of age groups/carers an involving the "extended family" in all activities as much as their physical and mental fitness permits. I don't know what Henry and Murray think, but I find it is tempting to leave Buckingham at home and just take the others for a decent walk. It is painful slow taking all three when on my own and I am grateful when Charmian is available to take the younger two on a longer walk whilst Buckingham and I meet them coming back.
Buckingham - born 17 May 1984; put to sleep 28 June 1999	Thomas - born 10 September 1984; put to sleep 29 January 1997. (Click Thomas for a sad story.)	Henry - born 27 January 1991; died in his sleep on 2 January 2005.
Murray - born 1994; died of a stroke in the back of the car on 7 January 2005	Skipper	Buckingham Murray and Henry
Charlie - born 2000; put to sleep 26 April 2008	Bath-time for Henry, Charlie & Murray or how we hate this!	Henry & Thomas enjoying a saucer of milk
Cara - born 2002; died  23 June 2011.	Cara after grooming January 2008	Jacko - born 2004
Lola - born 2 July 2006	Alfie - born 3 January 2005