Comments on: The death of the world’s oldest dog

By: Will My Dog Hate Me? » Blog Archive » Frankie speaks!

Will My Dog Hate Me? » Blog Archive » Frankie speaks! — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:00:11 +0000

[...] to speak to dogs rather than humans). I usually try to shield him from publicity — see my September 3 post — but Karyn’s Greyhound Injury Fund site is the perfect place for any pup to find [...]

By: admin

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:26:39 +0000

Eric, thanks for this great information. Perhaps it makes my point. These older pooches have kept a low profile — which may be key to their continuing longevity. I’m convinced it was Chanel’s media tour that finally did her in.

By: Eric Shackle

Eric Shackle — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:12:28 +0000

Greetings from Sydney, Australia.

Chanel was NOT the world’s oldest dog. And New York’s Paco Sosa (20) is six years younger than a “terier mix” named Max, owned by Janelle Derouen of New Iberia, Louisiana, born on August 9, 1983. He celebrated his 26th birthday last month.
Janelle says Max is in remarkably good shape. He suffers from cataracts, so he wears doggie goggles when he’s out in the sun, and a touch of arthritis has slowed him down, but not by much.

You can see a video of Max and his owner at http://xmangerm.vox.com/library/video/6a00d4141bbfae685e0110160aba58860b.html

Max is probably the world’s oldest dog.

Earlier this week, a German woman claimed her pooch was 25 — with a tattoo of her birthdate in her ear to prove it.

Verena Wulf from BavariaWulf told her local radio station SWR3, “My Penny is 25,” and came to her family in 1986. “The vet at the time put her age at about one and a half.”

More details are posted at http://www.canada.com/Coffee+Break/1957200/story.html

[Eric Shackle is a retired Australian journalist whose hobby is searching the Internet and writing about it. He is copy editor of Anu Garg's Seattle-based A Word A Day http://wordsmith.org newsletter, which is e-mailed five days a week to more than 750,000 wordlovers in 200 countries. Eric's blog, LifeBeginsAt80, is posted at
http://lifebeginsat80.blogspot.com/ ]

By: admin

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:56:53 +0000

You seem to be suffering from post-book publication depression, Clare! I’m sorry you’re cutting your trip short but I’m sure Archie misses you terribly.

By: Clare

Clare — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:14:04 +0000

At some point we must come to grips with the fact that there is such a thing as too much anthropomorphizing. I say that having just paid a bundle to cut short my trip in Argentina (from where I am now commenting) because I fear Archie is languishing without me. Or maybe I fear that he is NOT languishing without me. The point is, sometimes the empathy phenomenon is counterproductive to the non-boring dog parent goal. But Arch really isn’t eating well right now….

The good news is that Amazon has raised the price on your book by over a dollar since publication date! I see that as a vote of much-deserved confidence. Will you remember me when you’re someone?

By: admin

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:24:41 +0000

Aww, Jim, what a nice thing to say, both about my blog and my dog caretaking skills.

Trouble is, dog caretaking is as much of a roller coaster ride as parenting. As “Wumpie” said, you never feel like you’re doing enough. On the other hand, dogs remain at the perpetual age equivalent of a two year old, and you’ll never hear them complain”You ruined my life” because you were a bad parent. Dogs are always grateful for the slightest kindnesses, always optimistic. It’s tough to do wrong!

By: Jim Turner

Jim Turner — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:11:23 +0000

Hi Edie,

This is a wonderful blog, and I’m not even a dog fan, as you know. You of course, are a terrific dog owner.

Do you remember those little plastic mini trophies you could get in the dime stores in the 60s. World Best Dad, Best Mom, Husband, Wife, etc?

Consider yourself awarded. Maybe you could post links to other Best Dog Owner stories, so you can all remind yourselve you are. I just keep hearing “Good Dog” “Good Dog” “Good Dog Owner” Another book idea? Sort of a Chicken Soup for the Good Dog Owner’s Soul sort of thing?

By: admin

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:36:37 +0000

We do the best we can. After a while, you put your blinders on because it can drive you crazy. And in my better moments I take it day by day. Yes, diabetes is likely to cause cataracts — which used to make me hysterical. Now I know I’ll deal with that when and if it happens.

By: wumpie

wumpie — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:29:58 +0000

Am I Killing My Dog? Is a good follow-up book.

I worry about that every day. Food, shots, dental care, not enough exercise … what do I do to make my dog live healthily and happily for 25 years. And how do we deal with things like diabetes, blindness, deafness, allergies? Genes trump all the good things we do.

My dog would love to be on TV. She loves photo shoots. More genes — like people, dogs come out of the chute with unique personalities.