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Some breeds of dogs seem to last longer than others. My first dog was a Lab-shepard cross (Samoyd-Siberian-Lab-Shepard actually) (sp?)... he lived only to a little past 10 years.
My current dog is a collie-husky cross, and he's 15 and a half years old and still quite puppyish and frisky much of the time. He sleeps much more these days than he used to, but I'm fairly confident that he has at least a year or two left in him before he's too far gone to keep him alive.
My sister just put their dog (a 17 and a half year old springer spaniel) to sleep this past week. He was deaf, blind, and his hind legs finally gave out all together. I don't think I would hang on and keep a dog alive as long as they did with him, he was too far gone even last year. But it's hard to let go, and yes they do become just like a child to some owners.
I say get a new puppy. It won't replace your old dog, but it will put a salve on some of the hurt and will create an improved life for one more dog who is otherwise sitting in a cage at the Humane Society (or whatever you call your local abandoned pet facility)
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