Old dog question :edit - found- not good news

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:36 pm

My 12 year old border collie escaped my back yard along with her 2 compatriots ---- The other 2 ding a lings made it back, -- my smart dog did not

This was 10 days ago and i have blanketed my area with bright yellow signs with my # and "Lost Dog- Reward"- info

--- Lots of calls on the signs , but usually a different dog

Its been a royal bear trying to find her --------- somebody brought up the fact that maybe she just went off to expire by herself
--- This sounded preposterous to me at the time , --- my Princess had a health scare a year ago, (pancreatitis attack) but since then i got her on high protein food and it really took some years away regarding her perceived energy levels -- she ran circles around my much younger boxer and was catching rabbits in the backyard

I'm thinking she wandered too far and just lost her way ------- (i saw a girl re-united with her dog after 3 weeks missing - so im not giving up after 10 darn days - )

But the thing about old dogs going on "walkabout " to find a more comfortable place to count down the hours --- is that an old wives tale, or something that old dogs do by their nature?

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:43 pm

I can't answer your question, Doug, but I feel for you. You and your old pal are in my prayers tonight.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:48 pm

I've never heard of anything like that..... I hope you guys are reunited very soon....

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:56 pm

Streetstar wrote:
But the thing about old dogs going on "walkabout " to find a more comfortable place to count down the hours --- is that an old wives tale, or something that old dogs do by their nature?

Like Victor (good to see you posting, Vic!) I hate it for you...it's always bothersome to have one missing.

To your point though... I lean towards it being a real deal.
I'm sure people feel better if they think it was just the dog's time to go, and they didn't put out 110% effort to find it...
But I've had more than one elderly dog "go missing". Old timers always told me they would go out to the woods to die when they got ready.
I SAW the neighbor's dog do it...she got unhealthy in her old age and left the neighbors house to go lay in my pasture, up against the treeline. I saw her way out there on evening and thought it was odd...next morning she was still there but her head was down. I went out to check on her and she had passed in the night, so I buried her. Neighbor said she was feeling sickly lately.

Our cat was an inside cat all her life. Out here, if you let an inside cat out much (her front paws were declawed to save the furniture) they expire quickly from stray dogs and coyotes. When she was 13 she got to asking to go outside every few days. Finally one night she didn't come back in. I found her the next morning stretched out under the front hedges. She appeared to have just laid down and died. There were no signs of trauma that I could find.

bmtshooter · Post by **bmtshooter** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:05 pm

Never heard of that, but I have had older dogs get so scared by bad weather that they escape the yard and become lost. Had one missing for about 4 days before we found her wandering about a half mile from home. Seems that my dogs tended to get more afraid of thunder & lightning the older they got. Thunderstorms seem to panic the older ones right out of their wits.

Hope your dog shows up soon.

boolitshooter · Post by **boolitshooter** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:26 pm

Doug, I pray you and your old girl will be reunited soon.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:05 pm

I have seen it before.............. somehow they want to spare you the pain.
And they go off to do it on thier own.
It is WHY we love them

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:27 pm

I've know 2 people that had old dogs, like 12-14 years old. Both had failing eyesight, both were found drowned in water near the house. One in the family swimming pool. The other in a fish pond behind the house. I don't know if that's enough case history to build a theory on but it does start one to thinking.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:04 am

I've had two dogs that got the wanderlust when they were older. An elkhound and an akita. Both were bad about making themselves at home anywhere they landed. I think there's a senility factor there. Your dogs probably went far enough that older dog was too tired to come home.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:16 am

BlaineG wrote:I've never heard of anything like that..... I hope you guys are reunited very soon....

+1. But, I haven't had but one older dog.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:39 am

We've always had Border Terriers in the house and the little dogs usually stay with us 14+ years . But larger dogs I've been told tend to meet their maker a bit earlier .

My last bird dog expired in his kennel at the ripe old age of 11 .

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:50 am

I feel for you. My Spitz Klien, (think over sized Pomeranian) just disappeared when he was about 14. He had cataracts and was nearly deaf so I figured he just went off to die. That's been about 3 years ago and I still miss him.

44shooter · Post by **44shooter** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:01 am

I've known sick or injured dogs go off to heal, sometimes to not return. Dogs are naturally pack animals so they leave when in a weakened state to preserve their status and not get beat up on. Same reason a dog can be in pain and not show it. I've also known of puppies yelping in pain get immediately set upon by their littermates.

I hope she comes back healthy. Dogs can survive outside with little food for a long time. I grew up around deer dogs. Once in a while one goes off the reservation and stays out for weeks to eventually come back or allow someone to pick it up.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:58 am

Hope your dog finds its way home.

I'm hoping you had positive identification and phone numbers on the dogs collar (I have land line and cell numbers). That seems to be missed by some people for some reason. Even if they have a rabies tag, some people that find the dog may not know it can be used to track the dogs owner. Getting them chipped with the microchip is good also.

Some people may find a dog they think is nice and just keep it if it isnt crystal clear who the owner is without them having to think to return them.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:39 pm

Saw a thing on TV about animal communication years ago...where the family told the story of their little dog's last night... It was old and decrepit but this night it bounded down stairs as if it were a young dog again... It ran around the living room dodging about then jumped up on the wife's lap (something it hadn't been able to do for some while) then from her over to her husband... Then it jumped down ran up stairs and was found dead a few minutes later when they got up there.. They supposed it wanted to day a happy Good Bye...

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:45 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Saw a thing on TV about animal communication years ago...where the family told the story of their little dog's last night... It was old and decrepit but this night it bounded down stairs as if it were a young dog again... It ran around the living room dodging about then jumped up on the wife's lap (something it hadn't been able to do for some while) then from her over to her husband... Then it jumped down ran up stairs and was found dead a few minutes later when they got up there.. They supposed it wanted to day a happy Good Bye...

Dang it, Ben...you got something in my eye.....

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:19 pm

This picture is of president Coolidge`s wife with her favorite dog. My gr grandfather was a dog trainer in Wisconsin for some rich guy. He gave this dog to her. My gr grandpa lived in central Wisconsin and I think they shipped the dog probably from Oshkosh. The dog got out of its crate somewhere in Illinois, I think I heard below Beloit (sp?) Wisconsin and jumped off the train. It found it`s way back, and it had to be well over a hundred miles!
https://ashleybrownbarnes.files.wordpre ... olidge.jpg

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:28 pm

My Dad always said the old cows would wander off by themselves when they were done. Don't know if a dog would do the same, but I hope your pup has just lost her way home and will figure it out shortly.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 3:26 pm

Praying for your pups return

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:49 pm

Older dogs seem to like quiet places where they are left alone.

Doesn't seem like a mystery that an older dog, possibly in distress, confused, or just tired, would seek out the same calm quiet environment to just be left alone and 'rest'.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:52 pm

I still look daily --- checking with the local pounds and people call me with several leads daily based on the signs i have put out but still no dice

She is right in there age wise that its stupid not to think about the inevitable --- but with her energy levels , like i mentioned, i thought we were 2-3 years from that issue

---- she has gotten loose before , but typically visits a neighbor's pond and comes back in an hour or two

Thanks for the words of encouragement ----- these darn critters spend a decade with a sensitive guy like me and it hits me hard when they just disappear

Dogs are family , that is true -- but i have to remind myself that they are not like kids , much as people think they are --- in every dogs heart probably beats a little bit of an independent spirit

Mossyoak1957 · Post by **Mossyoak1957** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:03 pm

Sorry to hear that but I had a dog run away one time and she was gone for a week....... I was working out in the yard one day and I turned around and she was standing there looking at me........don't give up hope just yet.

2571 · Post by **2571** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:21 pm

Kid was getting ready to leave for college. Ancient dog would not let her out of his sight. When she walked to her part time job one day, dog escaped & followed her about a mile.

Old Jack died within a month after she left.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:12 pm

I have heard from a veterinarian that they do in fact sometimes go off to be alone if they feel their time is near.

mark · Post by **mark** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:01 am

FWiedner wrote:Older dogs seem to like quiet places where they are left alone.

Doesn't seem like a mystery that an older dog, possibly in distress, confused, or just tired, would seek out the same calm quiet environment to just be left alone and 'rest'.

+1

My thoughts are with you, I know it's not an easy time.

Mark

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 2:46 am

2571 wrote:Kid was getting ready to leave for college. Ancient dog would not let her out of his sight. When she walked to her part time job one day, dog escaped & followed her about a mile.

Old Jack died within a month after she left.

It's always sad....Jack was probably doing the last duty he could....

rodeo kid · Post by **rodeo kid** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:48 pm

I really believe there is something true about dogs going off to die. While we have quit now, for several years we were breeding Miniature Schnauzers. about 18 months ago our first Schnauzer, Mollie, came down with Lymph node cancer. We took her to the Oklahoma State vet school and they gave her 90 days to live. We were of course heartbroken as she was a sweet girl and my wife's favorite. Almost to the days predicted she stopped eating and drinking, and when I went outside to bring her in for the night, I could not find her. Our backyard is about 3/4 of an acre and is fenced. I got a flashlight, walked the whole yard calling her with no luck. The next morning I got up and went out again calling for her and could not find her. Just as I was about to give up I saw a slight movement in leaves piled up against the north fence and there she was buried under the leaves. I picked her up and carried her into the house. We cleaned her up and noticed she was seeping blood from her neck. We called the vet and he advised it was time. The hardest thing I have ever done was to take her in and hold her as he gave her the shot. Anyways this is why I think there is something true about it. God Bless.

magyars4 · Post by **magyars4** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:49 pm

I have no idea if the wandering is true or not, all I know is I feel for ya....kinda got a lump in my throat.
Prayers and positive thoughts headin your way.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:28 pm

I'd check around that pond real close.

DadsMod12 · Post by **DadsMod12** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:47 pm

I remember when I was around 6 years old our springer spaniel was starting to have problems. He was 14 years old. When I got home from school one day he was gone. We looked, but never found him.

I hope she comes back.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:09 pm

Well , today my search is over and i had to officially say good bye to my good friend , Princess.

She has been missing nearly 2 weeks , and was finally found in a culvert on the backside of a pond dam (not the pond i was searching high and lo at, but another one not 1/2 a mile from my place) --- it is heavilly fished so i thought for sure someone would have seen her there,

She was surprisingly close to a roadway that is known for people driving too dam fast -- and there is 99.9% chance she was struck by an automobile

Judging by her condition when found i would guess that this happened the same day she went missing , likely within minutes of her taking off --- she had visited a pet groomer to get her toenails trimmed and hair brushed out the day before - so was still wearing the pink bandana the groomer tied around her neck

I am not happy at all , but i find a small amount of solace knowing she did not starve to death, and was not the victim of coyote predation

I have over 50 large bright yellow real estate signs out with my number and a description of her throughout my area --- i would think that whoever hit her could have gave me a courtesy call , but i guess thats not how the world works anymore-- i would think most people would know it if they hit a 55 lb dog -- i hit a possum not long ago and knew it immediately

This is an older pic of Princess and her compatriot, Dixie the boxer mix (who also escaped with her but came back )

I brought her broken vessel back so my wife could have some closure and we will bury her remains next to another departed friend of hers, Cupcake --- but her spirit still runs the fields rounding up sheep and cattle as she was bred to do

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:20 pm

Sorry for your loss.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:21 pm

.

Drunk drivers will run into/over just about anything when they're in a stupor, and not remember...........

Sorry for your loss.

.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:27 pm

Sorry to hear of the loss of your old friend. Sadly, just knowing what happened may be better than wondering.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:29 pm

Doug,
I'm sorry for your loss but at least you know what happened. The uncertainty can be awful in it's self.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:45 pm

So sorry to hear this sad news, I was hoping she would return. I've had two collies myself and know how they capture your heart.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:14 pm

Well, darn....

piller · Post by **piller** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:41 pm

That is rough to deal with. I hope you remember the good times you had with her and that it helps soothe the loss.

mark · Post by **mark** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 4:48 pm

Sorry to hear the news.

At least you know.

Mark

2571 · Post by **2571** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:15 pm

We are all God's children, even the the animal folk.

Sorry.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:18 pm

Very sad indeed. Hope you have sunnier days soon.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:30 pm

Sorry for your loss Doug.

Thanks for posting Princess's picture.

.................

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:42 pm

Very sorry about the loss of yer' pal.

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:55 pm

Sorry for your loss.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 7:14 pm

I am sorry for your loss. Glad you found your princess. Blessings

firefuzz · Post by **firefuzz** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:04 am

So very sorry for your loss.

Rob

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:34 am

Travel well Princess. Heal well friend.

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:35 am

I am so sorry for your loss. May you and Princess be reunited at the Rainbow Bridge.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:51 am

Thanks for the kind words, friends

Regarding my original question, i guess i had an example in family -- my brother's little Dachshund , PRecious, - had issues with seizures and tumors when she got about 10 y/o ---he had just moved into a new house just a mile or two from his old one - she was found deceased on a county road trying to walk back to his old house (her old house too) -- just got on Pat 'n Charley and hit the road

I look at the primitive, territorial antics my little dog, (a Pekingese) shows from time to time also and it reminds me that as much as guys like me treat their dogs like little furry spoiled brats --- they are more connected to their pack animal past than we humans are to our pre-historic past

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:30 pm

When I was visiting Mom in Jan this year, Thor was at a friends house, went "zoomie" around the room for a few minutes, laid down and just about instantly died...Such is the way of life, but I've felt forty tons of guilt because I was not there with him at the end.....

I'm so sorry for your loss, Doug......Most dogs are better and more loving than people.