Albie 2015-2026

On Thursday, we made the difficult decision to put our beautiful dog Albie to sleep.  He was 11 1/2 years old, and we loved him so much!  Albie was our constant companion, through the flood, high school graduations, a move, and empty nesting.  His personality filled the house, and he always kept us on our toes!

Albie was always by my side: laying by my desk in the study, sleeping by my bedside, walking with me almost every day, and always ready for a cuddle or treat.  He was my shadow in the kitchen, waiting patiently for a piece of cheese or scrap of food to fall from the counter.  Albie had the most expressive eyes, and you truly felt like you were completely adored when he gazed at you.

We adopted Albie from the local shelter in March 2015 as a surprise for the kids.  He was about 8 weeks old, and somehow we thought he was a beagle or hound dog.  Later, a DNA test showed that he was a big mix of Staffordshire terrier, Lab, bull mastiff, and cattle dog.  The kids were definitely surprised, and Albie brought lots of fun into our house of teens.  He also brought a little pep to the step of our older dog Rosie.  

Albie was the smartest dog we have owned, but also the most obstinate.  He knew exactly what to do, but didn't always do it.  He was the best guard dog, with the fiercest bark you've ever heard.  He was honestly hard to control when someone came to the door, and they always stepped back about 10 feet from the door.  We felt very protected!

He was the most instinctual, rough 'n' tumble dog ever!  The list of his injuries and vet visits is long!  All of these required trips to the vet:  He got a tiny stick lodged in his throat.  He attacked a snake and got bit. He tore off his toenail running out the back door.  He dislocated his leg from running and turning too fast.  He ate various turtles and frogs leading to foaming at the mouth.

And worst of all, he broke my nose by running into me while I was kneeling in the flower bed!

If there was an animal in the backyard, he chased and attacked it with a vengeance.  This included squirrels, turtles, armadillos, snakes, frogs, and rabbits.

Albie loved to swim, and he probably missed our pool even more that I did.  He swam so much when he was puppy that he got swimmer's ear. 

His health had slowly declined over the past 9 months since he had a mast cell tumor removed from his leg.  It was a slow decline, until it wasn't.  In the past week, he was having a really hard time getting around.  He started panting at night and restlessly pacing around.  At first, I thought it was dementia, but then it progressed to panting in the day.  He looked so uncomfortable, and on the last morning just laid there without lifting his head.  The vet helped us make the tough decision to say goodbye.  

This farewell felt much harder for me than our other dogs.  He was my buddy as we entered the empty nesting years, and I'll miss my handsome boy so much.  

Surprising Grace and Jack with a new puppy.  

They named him Albus Dumbledore, and I often called him Dumbledogg.

Albie was a very active puppy!  He kept Rosie on her toes.

When we got him, he had just had a little surgery to remove hanging dewclaws, 

and you can see the bandages on his back legs.  He weighed about 18 pounds.

Albie loved to find sticks and play with them.

From the beginning, Albie liked to ride in the car on a seat like a person.  Here we were going to the junior high to pick up the kids from school.

We always said it looked like he was wearing eyeliner.

I didn't realize how white his face had gotten until I look at the puppy pictures.

Always lounging on the step of the pool

Albie loved to cuddle, and this just increased as he got older.

Always ready for some fun!

Albie posed for many Christmas card and family photos.  

He was really good about posing for the camera, especially if food was involved.

At this point, Rosie was 10 years old, and she would run one or two laps around the yard with Albie.  Then it was time for a rest!

Albie loved laying on the steps at just the right level to look out the window of the front door. 

We called it his Beagle's Nest or Perch.

My walking buddy Lisa had a dog the exact same age as Albie, 

and we went on many, many walks with Stetson.

So handsome!

Albie was always ready for a trip to the park.

Helping Jack take pictures for the first day of school.

Jack's contraption to get Albie to pull him around in my office chair.

More Christmas card photos!

If I was sitting outside, Albie would gaze out the window and sometimes scratch to ask to come outside.

My walking buddy - everyday for almost 11 years.  In the last few months, I didn't walk him.

These leather chairs were Albie's favorite spot, along with the couch.  

Later in life, he liked laying on the cool tile.

He was always up for trying on glasses or hats.

We all liked to wrap Albie in blankets, and he didn't mind at all.

Waiting for food

Albie would eat almost anything including watermelon, corn on the cob, raisins, apples, 

and of course, a burger on his birthday.

He sure did love Grace!

And Jack too!

Always getting comfortable on the couch

We thought it sounded like a galloping horse when he ran around the yard.

He always looked forward to Advent Calendar treats.

He couldn't wait for Grace and Jack to come home.

Mollie the puppy became his new best friend in 2024.  

They loved to play together.

And he taught her how to pose for pictures.

Good walking buddies

Our tradition of the dogs at the front door for Christmas over the years.

So handsome, so fun, and such a handful!

But a handful I was glad to have for the last 11 years.

Rest in peace, good boy.