December of 2000– I was 14-years-old and a freshman in high school.
One afternoon my parents came home from work and my mother was lamenting how her coworker had already sold all the chow chow puppies and we weren’t able to get one. I almost believed her until I noticed that her coat was moving and she started laughing. She opened up her coat and inside was a small black ball of fur.
He was the meanest and smelliest little jerk I’d ever met, but he was so damn cute I fell in love with him anyway.
My mom came up with the name Baloo and it just worked.
When you get a dog for the first time you don’t really anticipate them getting old.
I mean you know it’s going to happen, but you’re too busy enjoying their puppyhood and their prime years that you think, my guy is going to be sturdy and strong forever.
Sadly that’s not the case. My Baloo is 12-years-old, he’ll be 13 in October, his muzzle is white and his hips aren’t what they used to be. I watch him struggle to get up and go get water or struggle to go down and up the stairs to go outside and it hurts me.
The past couple of days he’s been a little odd, he’s not barking as much as he usually does, he’s been a bit unsteady walking around and he’s been very lethargic.
I don’t like it.
Tomorrow we plan on taking him to the vet to see what’s wrong and what we need to do to ensure that this doggy lasts a long time yet, because I am in no way ready to let him go.
That’s my Baloo, what am I suppose to do without my crochety old man?
He is the King of Dogs.
The Secret Life of Pandas 
He’s adorable!
It is so hard to watch a pet get old…cuz they’re not freaking pets! They’re family members. And it hurts even worse when they inevitably die before you. My pup had better be in Heaven waiting is all I have to say on the matter.
they are family members!!!! 😦
and that’s my baby. he’s my old man, but he’s my baby. ugh!!!!
I know what you mean.
aww. 😦 I know exactly what you mean. Our kids were 10, 8 and 4 when we got our current dog. It makes me sad to realize I know he’s going to make it 12 or 13 years, but they still secretly think he might live forever.
You want to believe that they’ll live forever. I don’t know if this makes it easier or harder to cope with the fact that they live such short lives.
He’s a bear all right. I hope he hangs in there, but that’s very old for a dog.
My fat old cat Pumpkin is about 14-15 years old now. He has decided to live outdoors instead of spending his nights in the cat porch with the others, so he’s lost some weight and become a lot more athletic. He lived the last 8 years indoors because I got tired of dealing with fleas, and now he’s seizing his chance to make up for it. He looks happier.
you gotta let the wild things be free. 😉 I like the sound of this cat.
Aaaaand I did not come up with this profile pic. Weird.
Aw, he is beautiful. I hope the vet can help him out.
Aww. What a handsome guy. Hope he’s alright and will live a long long time.
he IS seriously adorable. you’ll have to keep us updated now. oxoo
Watching a dog get old is one of the hardest things in the world. One of my dogs is 12 and she acts a lot younger than she is most of the time, but there are moments where I can see her age clearly, such as when she moves stiffly or lays in such a way that makes it apparent her arthritis is bothering her. And it scares me. I don’t want her to get old. Because I don’t want to lose her. It sucks. 😦 I hope your dog is OK!
awww. doggies don’t last as long as I wish they would. 😦
and yeah, it makes my heart hurt when I see him getting up. I always go over and help lift him up.
the doctor is still waiting on test results.
Aww, my Little Bear is starting to do the same thing and it just kills me.
oh! little bear! how old is she?