Mattie turns 5!! Does your doodle's age worry you?

[Ginny Nightingale]

Today is Mattie's 5th birthday--as my first doodle and the one who so clearly "gets me"--I am very, very attached to her. She is the favorite of everyone in the family and is a great therapy dog as well. So, now, as her birthdays go by, I am starting to cringe--yes, I know she is only 5, but it is so scary to think of her getting older. I have always loved all my dogs over the years, but never felt quite so close to any of them as I do to Mattie (although my other two doodles are great as well, they are a bit more like dogs then people, especially Lyric.) 

We celebrated earlier today with their favorite treat--a bully stick for each of them--and I am a lucky person to have three such wonderful doodles, even if time does march by when you don't want it to!!

Happy Birthday, Matilda dear!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh, and by the way, she is quite the "poser" as you can see---the other dogs look away when I put the camera to my face--not Mattie!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Wow, Mattie you are so pretty! Happy Birthday sweet girl! Tell your mom not to worry, that you still have a long and full life ahead of you. :o)

[Donna K & Quincy]

Happy Birthday Mattie, you are one beautiful little girl.

 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Happy Birthday Mattie

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Happy Birthday to gorgeous Mattie, may she have many many more wonderful birthdays to come.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Happy Birthday!

[GBK]

Happy Happy Birthday Mattie!!  Ginny, Buddy will be 7 this August, he is my special dog as well.  I too cringe with each year...  He is in the prime of his life and I want it to last forever.  My baby turns 5 in July, where does the time go?

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Yes, I feel exactly the same Myla just turned 4 last month and Chloe will be 5 in March and I'm feeling the same things. I just want them to stay young and healthy.

Happy Birthday Mattie!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Happy birthday! I know what you mean-Peri will be three and I get sad a little.  Tacky the chihuahua is EIGHT today...where has the time gone?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

What a beauty she is!  A very happy b-day to you Mattie!!  Ginny - I do hear what you are saying about the age thing but what better reason than "live for today"!!!  Just enjoy each and everyone because they are a gift.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Aww Happy Happy Birthday Mattie girl. I'm figuring on spending at least 150 dog years with my doods and yes, I sometimes think about them getting older and the end, but then feel so grateful to have them now and to enjoy every little thing about them as I know you do too.
I feel it's the hardest part of having them, but it is inevitable and when it's all said and done, I know they will have had the best life any dog could ever have. I also know that there is a good possibility that being we should be in our late 60 s when my two are old and gone, that they may be the only dogs we will ever have in our whole lives. So that makes me too sad when I think about it, so I just don't think about it.
One good thing,all of us on DK will have dogs all getting older together and we can share our feelings and discuss how to keep them healthy on here. That is very reassuring.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Well said Sue--when I was deciding to keep Rio from Lyric's litter last year, I was 56 and was thinking "Is this my last puppy? I have only had three young pups in my lifetime and got the other dogs when they were over 6 months old, so I appreciated every moment--and maybe that is why I raise the puppies for the breeder now--I just can't get enough of that puppy breath!!