When is the "right" time? 12y/o dog

[markids77]

The vet says it is time, and you have had to alter your (and her) lifestyle to compensate. Perhaps it really is time.

[Broken Wind]

It's time, man. Sorry. I went thru this only last month with one of mine.

[SnikPlosskin]

So sorry to hear this. Of course, I've been through this so many times. For me, the "time" is when it is clear they can't be a dog anymore. They are unable to do things that dogs do to be fulfilled. A German Shepherd Dog rarely lives past 12 years so your dog is very old for the breed.

It's hard to say it but at this stage of your dog's life, be sure that you aren't just prolonging the inevitable. I've had dogs on the verge of death that seemed happy. They couldn't lift their head, but they wagged their tails.

Dogs can tolerate a lot of pain so it's easy to think they have a higher quality of life than they do. I ask myself, "Is the dog able to be a dog?" if the answer is "no" then I know what to do.

For my Django, he could no longer play and hang out with us (he lost control of his hind quarters and dragged himself by his very strong shoulders and front legs). If I didn't have such as close relationship with him, I might have thought he could go another three months. But ultimately, he was miserable because he could not live up to his instinct to participate in his pack.

More recently Ranger (who lived only 2 years) was to the point where he was too weak to play. He would sleep 22 hours a day. He LOVED to play with a tennis ball - but at the end, he could do maybe 2-3 minutes and then he'd drop - exhausted.

I remember looking into his eye (he had his left eye removed) on the day I took him in. Although I knew he had lost vision in his remaining eye, he seemed to be telling me "It's time." He gave it everything he had. He still managed a wag as I petted him as he lay on the floor at the vets that day.