Moe was a loving member of our family for 14 years. He gave everyone that approached him unconditional love. I remember finding the breeder and taking our kids to select our first dog. We immediately found the one we wanted but the hard part was that we had to wait another 6 weeks before we could bring him home. During that time we all worked on naming him. On a drive back from a Canada vacation we came up with the name Moses and we all agreed Moe was right but the kids added the middle name JJ so he was named Moe JJ.
When we took him for walks there was not one person that did not comment on how beautiful he was. He turned our house into his in no time. He would roam the house at night making sure he spent some time with each one of us as we slept.
We went to training class every Sunday–he was a quick learner. We used the click and reward method to train him–it was very effective. He would sit outside restaurants and stores and wait patiently for my return as he knew I always had a treat for him.
Then came the best day in his life–we went to the beach. When I released his leash he could not believe the things he had at his nose’s disposal–smells that filled his every sense. It took him a bit of time but he took an interest in the ocean and was a natural swimmer. He learned to fetch balls, but what amazed me the most was his ability to bring back rocks that I threw into the water.
Cleaning was a fun thing to do every time we went to the beach. We ended up at a local dog wash. Little did we know that those visits would lead us to starting our own business.
I spent a lot of time researching the best foods for Moe and we tried everything. He never objected to foods and it was obvious he trusted my judgment. Moe was a true family dog. He loved his house and enjoyed walking the trails stopping to smell life and what had been there before him. He was a master at getting out if we left the door or gate open and sometimes took long walks by himself down the trail.
When we opened Dirty Dogs things became more interesting for Moe. He became the store mascot and our product quality tester. We washed him to test new shampoo formulas and mixes. We would wash, rinse and dry him over and over and he patiently allowed us to work with him. I guess he loved the attention and massage he got during this time.
We also tried different brands of food for him. Until his last weeks we changed his meals regularly. We gave him Honest Kitchen that required hydration, next we tried Sojos another brand that required hydration. We fed him all brands of kibble and watched how he would react. But like a true lab he ate and did not complain. We mixed raw meat with dry food and additives for joints and fish oil for skin. He got raw bones to chew in between meals to stay busy.
In his last months his arthritis took over and the nerves on his back gave out, taking away his ability to stand and walk. His quality of life was deteriorating. We all reached a consensus that we should give him peace and ease his pain.
It was hard for our family to let go but we all know it was for the best. We had a great dog that we will miss greatly. Moe had a kind demeanor and was patient; he had an unconditional love for all. Moe was such a great and loyal dog, loved by us and everyone who had the chance to meet him. - The Btesh Family
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