It's hard not to LUV a dog. (I wanted to add this as a comment in the Rate of Progression thread, but HU does not allow It, but should.)

[MBAnderson]

Meet our dog, Margaret. ( my apology to you cat lovers.)

[reedboat2]

Dachshund mix?

[MBAnderson in reply to reedboat2]

Good guess. You know how we send in our saliva to 23 and me? My wife sent in a saliva swab in of our dog!!! 39% beagle and 14% Bassett Hound - The rest is unknown.

[parkie13]

Oooh, cute.

[chartist]

I don't understand why HU wouldn't let you add this to that thread???

One of my PD friends, whose wife has passed away, had a dog that passed away not too long after his wife and he was devastated to say the least!

He now has a new canine friend and it is apparent that this dog is a major part of keeping his mood and life in general, better!

It may not be the same for everyone, but I believe that his dog will keep him more active, happier, motivated, relevant and consequently is highly likely to slow his disease progression, while always showing affection for my friend!

HU needs to reconsider!

Art

[MBAnderson in reply to chartist]

There is actually some science behind your point. Anybody with common sense would know that a dog keeps you healthy and happy.

[rebtar]

Nothing like a dog to keep a heart connection open and joyful. That’s healthy! My beloved Oso passed a year ago, but I now have a grand puppy (my daughter’s pup) to hang out with.

[LAJ12345]

Definitely our dog Albie who is a black lab has been amazing for my husband. We got him a year ago. It could have gone all wrong but I got him for “the kids” but really for hubby! They walk together, sit on the sofa watching sport. Albie is most interested in anything involving a ball, even on tv! So is my husband so I guess they are well suited! I saw him the other day say to the dog “ I don’t know how I could live without you!”. Hasn’t ever said that to me🥺

[JohnPepper]

Animals have a wonderful effect on Pd symptoms. They do not reverse them but they make them less intrusive.

[Zella23]

We have a grand dog - a beautiful Golden Retriever belonging to my daughter. He was a puppy when my husband was diagnosed. My husband takes him for walks but not quite so long as he used to as he is a very large dog! We do see a lot of him as they live close by and we are like a second home for him! We sometimes look after him when our daughter goes away and so miss him when he returns home.

[WinnieThePoo]

Yes - it's a pain you can't add a photo to a response. It means if I want to post my 2, I have to start a new thread - and that's klutsy.

[MBAnderson in reply to WinnieThePoo]

Your comment doesn't show up in this thread for me, but I followed the link to the pictures of your dogs. Are you sure they're dogs and not wolves? Nice scenic walking path.

[WinnieThePoo in reply to MBAnderson]

Sorry Marc. I was experimenting posting flickr links into a thread to get the photo to show (like a youtube link does) but failed. It may have messed you about a bit.

They're big teddy bears - my therapy dogs

[MBAnderson in reply to WinnieThePoo]

Nice looking dogs. How long is your walking route?

We can post links in the comments sections so probably we could save our pictures someplace and then link to them.

[WinnieThePoo in reply to MBAnderson]

I have several, but the normal ones take about 50 minutes, and I walk at at least 6 kmph so I guess 5km. They include some steep hills to climb

[JantheNana]

My daughter lives next to me and our yards connect. Her dog,a 3 yr old golden doodle stays at my house as much as hers .He is a great companion for me especially since the death of my husband 2 yrs ago. I would be much more lonely without him.

[alaynedellow]

Erik (my dog) is my life saver too. He always there and he lifts my soul.

[bepo]

Too sweet! Margaret? What a riot!

[KERRINGTON]

What a face, so peaceful.

[Cjbro2000]

I agree, @MBAnderson Dogs can be very therapeutic. My husband (also caregiver, also all around nice guy) comments often about how glad he is we decided to get a dog for me. (We’ve only had her for 3 months.) I’m probably about 60-70% housebound these days and he sees the positive effect she’s had on my mood and general health.

[Goldencbc]

When our husky Isis passed my husband and I were devastated and he didn’t want another dog. But the house was so empty and without a dog to walk his diabetes got worse. We found another husky at the shelter 3 months later and she has helped both of us. I’m more active with her as she is younger. Love dogs. They just want love and give so much back.

[AlpacaGal]

I have a miniature husky that is specifically trained to see to it I get my meds on time. Because I am often alone for most of the week this was also reassuring to my husband because the dog will actually wake me up and alert me until see sees me take the pills. No more missed doses! The other wonderful benefit is her awesome companionship.

[Cjbro2000 in reply to AlpacaGal]

That’s interesting, @AlpacaGal. How does the dog know when it’s time for your meds? I could use her myself. I’m notorious for forgetting my meds.

[AlpacaGal in reply to Cjbro2000]

She was initially trained to a cell phone beep beep alarm. I often couldn't hear it so it was beneficial to have her pawing at me to get my meds. Now she will alert instinctively to the dosing times within about 5 minutes. I have a fit bit as well that will vibrate, but she's usually spot on just before. She is trained to have me rattle the meds then take them before she settles back down. It takes about a week to "reset" a new schedule. (I'm four times a day now)

[MBAnderson]

The Power of a Pet | Rustin Moore | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

youtube.com/watch?v=-t4m6mo...(Not working as expected?)

Dogs helping humans heal | Moschell Coffey | TEDxUMassAmherst

youtube.com/watch?v=U_nDaGz...(Not working as expected?)

[MBAnderson]

Above, AlpacaGal tells us her dog alerts her when it is time take her meds.

I've asked a lot of friends whether or not dogs/mine have a 6th sense.

Every time, without exception, whenever a UPS, FedEx, or post office truck pulls up out front of our house, our dog begins barking. The street is 80 feet from our front door and our garage is between our front door and the street. The window is 4 feet above the floor, but she can be anywhere in the house such as the upstairs bedrooms and even in the basement and still she barks.

Next, when my wife is about 50 feet away from pulling into our driveway, our dog starts whining, squeaking, and wagging her tail.

My non-dog owner friends say she can hear the motors and tell the difference.

My question; how do you think she knows?

[MBAnderson in reply to MBAnderson]

One More.

A couple months ago my daughter and I were walking down the center aisle of her horse barn and all the horses came over and put their head over the door to be greeted, except one, which stood in the corner with its head hanging down. When I asked my daughter why it didn't want to be greeted like the others, she said because it's owner is dying of cancer and it knows and is sad.

[MBAnderson]

youtube.com/watch?v=9TZ3XVX...(Not working as expected?)