I have a purebred AKC registered yellow lab, who is the sweetest dog on the planet (IMHO). Everyone here at the inn loves him and return guests always ask about him. Most guests won’t leave until they’ve said good-bye to Sherlock. He’s quite the celebrity.
As we all know, dogs, like humans, age. My old man is well into his 13th year. We’ve had him since he was a wee pup and are dreading the day he decides to leave this earth. We know it’s coming and we know he’s had a very good life. Yet dread looms.
The other day as I was sitting quietly on the porch petting him, I realized that not only has this good old boy brought joy into my life, he’s also taught me some very important lessons. Lessons we can all heed.
Number One – Accidents happen. And that’s okay. My old guy has had LOTS of accidents lately. It’s an unpleasant inconvenience, but I know he can’t help it. You see, he suffers from Hip Dysplasia, which causes tremendous pain. He’s treating for it with pain pills and other more natural supplements, but this disease causes him pain when he defecates. Most of the time he tries to get outside but he doesn’t always make it. So, I’ve learned to accept that he’s just going to poop in the house from now on. And that’s okay. He’s old. He’s in pain. Some day I may have this problem. (He is confined to our private areas of the house so guests are not even aware of this problem.) My new habit is to make sure he goes outside quite a few times during the day just in case he feels the need to unload.
Number Two – The importance of having a buddy system. As Sherlock has gotten older, in addition to the problem mentioned above, he’s lost most of his hearing and some of his vision. You have to nudge him now if you want his attention or get in his face and scream at him, which he interprets as punishment for bad behavior. The nudging seems to work best. Sometimes when we play fetch with him, he can’t find the ball. He’s always been easy to fake out, but as he’s gotten older we try not to do that to him anymore. It’s just not fun to trick an old dog. I’ve also come to realize that sometimes I might have to retrieve the ball myself it it’s obvious he’s not going to find it. I’m his buddy retriever. And, sometimes as he makes his way up the stairs, his back legs will go out and he falls. I always try to make sure I’m right behind him or next to him so I can catch him and help him back up. I’m his stair buddy.
Number Three – Never Give Up. Tying in with number two above, my Sherlock ALWAYS wants to play. No matter how sore he is, he still wants to chase that darned ball. I have to take it away from him to make him rest. Also, he continues to battle the dreaded stairs because he loves being where we are and we are often in the basement (our family room which is off-limits to guests and therefore private). In order to get to the basement we must descend 15 steps. That in turn means, going back up those same 15 steps when we’re done in the basement. Sherlock continues his daily journeys on those steps. He does’t have to, he can stay upstairs, but he’s a trooper.
Number Four – The importance of playing. As stated above, Mr. Sherlock has a one-track mind – chasing his ball and enjoying Scooby Snacks. He will sleep the day away until someone goes outside. Then, if her happens to hear the door close, he will slip and slide across the hardwood floors until he’s gained his footing and trot out his doggie door in the hope that whomever went out is going to play with him. Shouldn’t we all get as much playtime in every day as we can? Sherlock understands how important playing is.
Number Five – Patience. It is so hard to watch my sweet boy get old and I don’t mean just watching his face turn white. It takes him a very long time to get up and lay down. He’s in pain and bending hurts. Plus he doesn’t have anything to grab on to so he slides around on the floor as he’s scrabbling to get up, or lands in a thud if his hind end gives out while he’s struggling to lay down. It takes him a lot longer to bring his ball back so I can throw it again. He can’t jump up or sit any more. He has to either stand or lay down. He can’t get in the car by himself. He can’t sleep on our bed or the couch. He poops in the house.
Watching him struggle with these things is so hard. But, I’ve learned that the problem is not his, it’s mine. He’s accepted his situation and makes the best of it. I just need to be more patient. No, I don’t like cleaning up poop. Yes, I want to carry him up the stairs. Yes, I wish he could jump up on the bed and snuggle with me, but I can still get down on the floor and snuggle with him, so what’s the big deal? Patience.
How about you awesome readers – do you have an aging pet? Any secrets or ideas for making my dog’s life easier? What lessons have you learned from you old faithful furry friends?
Word of the day: Katabatic
Fun fact about me: I realize that old dogs are just as much work as puppies.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, November 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.
Love this!! I can’t leave comments on your posts because I don’t know my WordPress login but I am still reading every week!
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Awesome – so good to see you! This week’s comment went through so you must have guessed right on the log in. Or created a new one.
Aren’t old dogs just the sweetest. I mean, next to puppies. It’s pretty hard to beat puppy love, but gosh I love my old dog.
Have a great week.
Patricia
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Our pup is seven and half and full of life. She likes to get up with me at 4 or 5 go and do her thing then beg to jump up on the couch with me. Those sad eyes are hard to resist. Lately, she’s been joining me in the basement and lays at my feet. It must be that it’s starting to get cold here, again. Ivy has taught me a lot of things, but patience and unconditional love are at the top of the list. When I come home each night I can guarantee that I am going to get an enthusiastic greeting and that makes even the worst day teaching 8th grade melt away. Though this year I haven’t had many crappy days, but it’s early and the the 8th graders have yet to ‘bloom.’ She always makes me smile and going to sleep with her nestled up along my legs is pure joy. Have a great day and I remember meeting Sherlock, great dog.
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Your Ivy sounds like a gem. The unconditional love part is HUGE. My Sherlock never judges, he just loves. Dogs are such amazing creatures.
I’m glad you got to meet my “pup.” He’s hard to forget.
Thanks for stopping by. Here’s to many, many more not crappy days.
Patricia
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Sherlock is SUCH a good name and he sounds like such a sweetie!
We had a Labrador while I was growing up. They are such friendly, happy doggos. You are so lucky to have had such a long time with your awesome dude. The guests must love meeting him too!
We had a cat that lived until she was 25, but she was blind and deaf. She was okay within our garden, but if she ever stepped outside, she’d just stand in the road and meow until someone picked her up and popped her back in the garden. Luckily our neighbors were good at helping if they saw her in the road! She was a cool old lady too!
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Wow – a 25-year-old cat – that’s impressive. Good thing you had such caring neighbors. Poor old gal must have been scared to death. At least she realized she wasn’t in her usual place. Sherlock sometimes acts confused, which is worrisome. But he’s always been super sweet and gentle. Our guests adore him.
Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to this week’s virtual hike in Vancouver.
Patricia
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All the best guest houses have a doggo! Your guests are lucky to receive puppy hugs. 😉
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What a sweetheart your Sherlock is. Heartbreaking to read about his pain and problems with aging. We went through this with one of our dogs. Her hind legs weren’t working anymore. I had to put a towel under her to hoist her up to take her outside. It’s too hard to write about the day we had to say goodbye to her. A very, very sad day. We have two aging dogs now. One is blind and the other is losing his site and I think his hearing, too. All they want is a little attention. That’s what makes them happy. Sending you and Sherlock hugs. What an amazing and loving dog.
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Thank you my friend. I feel your pain. I’m trying to be the kind of person Sherlock thinks I am. Their unconditional love is so amazing. You’re right – all they want is a little attention. Like humans, they just want to be loved.
Thanks for visiting today. So lovely to see you’re smiling face.
Patricia
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Much love and hugs to Sherlock!!!!
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Thank you my dear. So good to see you. I hope all your little pooches are doing well. Miss you my friend!
Patricia
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