When Annie Goes To College. . .

As we approach retirement, there has been more than financial concerns running around in our minds.

Annie is our 15 year old Doxie. She is in very good health. However, we know that her health can take a turn for the worse...overnight. Hopefully, some of my suggestions will help you to prepare for a day that we all dread.

Annie is very intelligent, she has a large vocabulary. Some words will trigger a robust response from her. For instance, when she stares at us it's almost as if she is wanting us to read her mind. Here are some of the words that we use to try to figure out what she is thinking:

Yum.....means that she want's her meal. (she will run to the kitchen if we mention Yum)

Sissy...means that she needs to go out to urinate. (mention this word and she runs to the back door)

Uppie...means that we are going upstairs to go to bed. (she heads to the stairs with this word)

Baby...means to get one of her toys. (Her toys are her babies)

Annie's body language

We are grateful that Annie will come to one of us and give us a tap on our leg when she needs to go out to poop. If she needs to poop we mention poopie and she spins around. It happens every time.

Annie will stare you down if she is hungry, until you mention the word that she is awaiting to hear. I do believe that she can tell what time it is. Everyday at 7:00 a.m. she is ready to eat...then at 10 minutes to noon, she is ready again. At 10 minutes to 5p.m. she is ready for dinner. She knows when we skip a meal on her. Her staring could burn a hole in your brain. Treats are not on her list of must haves. In fact, we don't know why but if we give her a treat, she will carry it around in her mouth for a long time. She puts it down and draws a V around the treat....we think she is trying to bury it. Then all of a sudden she will eat it with great passion.

Coping with the end result.

Lately, we have been dancing around mentioning the death word. My husband can hardly mention the word. So one day I told him...."When Annie goes to College," we will go away to a Bed and Breakfast. Of course we will not be turning her bedroom into a game room, adding a nice big Pool Table, however there will be major changes that will take place.

We will take all her items to the Dog Shelter. Her beds, food, toys, etc.

I know our lives will never be the same without her, so all we can do is love her and take care of her needs, until......"Annie goes to College."

Until we meet again....Francesca27