What is time to a dog....?

[s/v Faith]

What is time to a dog?

 I was thinking about my Dog Peter this afternoon.  Anyone who has known me for long knows my pal and what an important part of my crew he is.




 I was thinking about time.  Time to a dog is a funny thing.  When I leave the house he pretty much watches for me while I am gone.  Rose says when I used to have to go for work he would keep his vigil at the window for as long as 3 days without moving except to go out.  He often would loose his appetite while I was gone.  On the boat he will sit up on the bow without a bother for hours on end.  Whenever one of us goes ashore without him (rare) he paces the deck until we return.  

Then life is good and he can relax.





 Something I don't like to think about much is the limit of a dog's life.  I even have a hard time typing it just now.  Peter is mostly Lab, and about 85 pounds.  He will do well to live 12 years... maybe a bit longer.


 They say that 1 year of a dog's life is equal to 7 of ours.  If that is true, one month of his life is like 7 of mine.  


 I have been places I did not want to be for 7 months at a time.  I have been in some pretty miserable places for 7 months.  What is strange is just how fast time passed even then.  Maybe not while I was going though it, but after it seemed to have passed quickly.

 I wonder about the time that passed while I was gone.  Was my dog aware that his life was passing by without going to do cool things with me?  What about the last month, week or day?

 It may seem silly to think about these things, but if I want my dog's life to be full and not pass without being lived what about my own?

 How often do we miss the opportunity?  How many people do we pass by because we are too busy?  Is there anyone you have been meaning to see, or call?  And finally to the connection to this forum, how often do you take the opportunity to go sailing?  How about taking that cruise you have been planning?  Or how about the last time you took someone sailing for the first time?

Peter climbing the stairs at HopeTown Light;


 Sometimes I take my dog with me to places that people don't normally take dogs.  I get reactions that are mostly positive, but sometimes less so.  I am less and less concerned. Peter in the 'potty barge'

 What are you missing?  



What can we do?



Time to a dog may go faster then it does for us, but it will run out for us just like them.

   
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit";whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.[/b]  _{James 4:13,14}


 How have we lived today?  More importantly, How will we choose to live tomorrow.>?




 Excure me, I have to take my pal for a walk.  ;)

[Tim]

I have come to believe that to animals (to which I classify dogs, though some may disagree) time is irrelevant.

It is events and needs that impress, what happens in between...well just isn't :)

I think about time a lot, why just moments ago I stressed about a mistake on a Defender order as to shipping because I need a new sink pump before next weekend. I now have to call first thing Monday to straighten it out.

Since I retired I have tried diligently to make time irrelevant but with little success. I will continue to try though.

I want to fully appreciate every event and feeling that I am going to be allowed here not wasting time on what's in between.

Within two weeks we will be in the PNW sailing trying to make time go away,...unfortuntely it will only be for three weeks. :)

[CharlieJ]

I have reached the point of having to ask what day of the week it is-grin

[Tim]

I have reached the point of having to ask what day of the week it is-grin

Charlie, the goal is "What month is it?"  ;)

[CharlieJ]

Hey-I've only been cruising a month yesterday. Give me a few more weeks-grin

[Grime]

Faith,
My old cow dog will be 17 on Dec 25 and still going strong. Hopefully Peter will out do Jake on years.

Tim,
I think to make time irrelevant is to have no regrets for yesterday. Dogs have no regrets about yesterday and don't plan for tomorrow. They live in the moment. This is something that I need to learn. Just live that moment to its fullest and enjoy life.

[s/v Faith]

This life is short.

I was reminded of this yesterday.

Peter and I took a road trip to Mississippi for a medical procedure I needed.  He is a great traveling companion, and was really happy to go (as always).

I got back night before last, and went for our normal (6.5 mile) walk.  He was on and off the leash for the walk, and enjoyed running around chasing rabbits while off the leash.

Over the last couple years, he and have gotten into hiking.  We have been going up to the Appalachian Trail and hiking several times... he and I walk every single night.   

Yesterday morning I noticed his stomach was swollen.  He did not eat his breakfast, and threw up the water he drank.

I took him to the vet, they did emergency surgery and found his liver had been bleeding and was swollen with several quarts of blood.  It burst on the table and they were not able to save him.

I lost my best friend of 11 years yesterday.

Some who are not dog people may not understand.  If you think Peter was "just a dog" please do not reply.

I have not slept and am trying to adjust.  This forum is filled with pictures of him enjoying the cruising life.

He was really an exceptional dog... people who met him would comment on this... (I will probably post some of these stories in a bit).

He is gone now, I was allowed to come back into the operating room and hold his head as he passed on the table... a thing I will be forever thankful to the vet for allowing me to do.

Time passes quickly.  Never allow anything to take even a single moment of it away from you.

Peter Dog would agree.

[Timbo]

Condolences for the loss of Peter Dog.  It's very special you had such a great companion and friend for 11 years.  There may be a puppy out there just waiting for you to take him/her for walks now...

[s/v necessity]

Faith,
    I'm sorry to hear of your loss.  We have an older dog, who is in good health, but towards the end of his days, and it's something I am not looking forward to (10 year old great dane).  Watching him grow old is tough for me.  Not long ago he bloated up and got sick.  We sat up with him all night long worried that this was it.  We took him into the vet asap the next morning, and turns out he was mostly ok, just likely sick from some dead critter he found while on a walk.  Still it was a terrible night, and I constantly worry I'll have to repeat it, with a different outcome.  It sounds like Peter Dog was a very lucky dog, with a very caring owner. 

[Godot]

Condolences. Pets are family, and their loss hurts.

[Travelnik]

My heart breaks for you after reading this. My dogs are part of my family, and are treated like they are my kids.

It's good that you were able to be there with your best friend at the very end.

I will say a prayer for you during this time of grief.

[Tim]

Craig, my heart goes out to you, what a sucker punch. My best to you and Rose.

[SalientAngle]

RIP, heartwrenching...

[s/v Faith]

I can not tell you how much it means.  He really was an amazing animal and friend.



I miss him more then words can say.

Here are some more pictures if you are interested...

[Travelnik]

Thanks for sharing those pictures/memories of Peter, Craig.

He sure was special!  :)

[Tim]

That was moving. Though I have seen some photos of Peter over the years, watching the slideshow made me feel like I got to spend some time with him.

[tomwatt]

Aw, that's so sad to hear. Although not a dog owner, dogs always love me, and my new sweetheart has a little chihuahua that is 14 years old, nearly blind, but took to me immediatly and loves me dearly. Her name is Mia, and she is impossible to resist, she's just so cute.
Peter the dog will never be replaced, but I suspect that Peter will send a puppy or lonely dog-in-need into your life when the time is right. In the interim, you have fond memories of the times you shared with Peter, and will mourn the loss as right you should. I'm sure Peter will watch over you from where-ever there is a lookout spot in Doggie Heaven, whenever he's not romping in the warm grass, or chasing butterflies.

[Lost Farmboy]

Condolences on your loss, though it is good that you were able to be with him to the end, and that he was able to enjoy his life with you. Just from the pictures and from growing up with Ellie, another Lab, they know what it is like to live life to the fullest, enjoying every moment especially time spent with their people.

Once again, my condolences, and I hope that when time is right, another dog may be a part of your life.

[s/v Faith]

Thank you all for your kind replies. 

  It has been a tough couple days now.  I took my first walk without Peter last night... and it was rough.

It is amazing just how much a part of my life that dog was.   He truly was an exceptional animal, and I will never.. ever forget him.

If you have a dog, please do heed the OP and think about going for a walk, sail, or taking him for a trip...

If you do not have a dog, please do heed the OP and think about going for a walk, sail, or taking a trip...

Life is short.

Fair winds to you all... your replies mean more to me then you can know.

[Frank]

Just got wifi and read this now. SO sorry to hear. It was truly nice to meet "Peter Dog" in Florida....he was a hoot.
We are "on tour" and our travelling buddy "Sadie girl" is curled up at my feet as I peck this. They are "family" and most likely the most unconditionally loving beings that we will ever have the pleasure of knowing. Can't imagine her not being here.  I know you're hurting...don't know what to say.....other than he was well loved!!!