I lost one of my best fiends in the year 2000, it was my mother-in-laws 5 year old mixed Terrier that my husband and I inherited.

The little terrier hated my guts but loved my husband. We had the terrier for the next 13 years even though the longest living puppy from his entire litter only lived to about 5 years old, they said it was genetics.

My husband and I are very much into holistics and feed our dogs as naturally as possible, which in my opinion probably extended the terrier's life.

We also have a 15 year old mixed breed Sheppard who I sometimes refer to as "mommy's little boy". We got him when he was about 6 weeks old, and two ago our vet told us he's as healthy as a horse.

As I said, the little terrier hated my guts and for 13 years never listened to anything I said, bit me every chance he could, and only showed love and attention to by husband. The terrier hated the Sheppard too.

But after his kidney's failed and the vet told us there wasn't anything more he could do, we had to make the gut-wrenching decision to put him down. That was the hardest decision we ever had to make. We mourned all day and that included our Sheppard, it's weird, but somehow he knew too.

Well 2 weeks passed and everything was normal until I came across a photo with the little terrier in it, I paused, then began to tear up a bit.

I was surprised to have so many feelings well up about this little terrier that hated my guts for so many years, that at that moment I realised these entities aren't just dogs we own, but friends, they're our family, and in the case of our 15 year old Sheppard, he's "mommy's little boy".

I have very fond memories of the little terrier that hated my guts, bit at me every chance he could and never listened to anything I said, and I think to myself how lucky we were to have the knowledge to care for him in the very best way we could so he was able to be in our lives for as long as he did.

The Author Jasmine Beaupre an autodidact, and avid researcher in the field of animal husbandry not only draws upon her own personal experiences with the domestic canine, but also is assisted by well documented texts from a wide variety of canine specialists which makes all her writings accurate and very enjoyable to read.
Download 7 Secrets For Treating Your Pet At Home.

For more information on dog nutrition: