Cherishing every walk

[JudyN]

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There's a lovely article in the Guardian today about the columnist's elderly whippet, who is taking his own sweet time over walks: My dear old dog won’t be around for ever – so I will cherish every last walk | Emma Beddington

I empathise with this - Jasper's afternoon walks seem to follow a pattern of setting off at a decent clip in the direction of some desired location, then he'll grind to a halt and stand there for 10 mins wondering whether to continue or go home and refusing to budge in either direction, then he'll settle down for a snooze, and once he's back up again, he'll head for home, but decide to have another lie-down and snooze on the first grassy verge we pass, and then every single grassy verge after that. I did get quite a lot of my book read this afternoon, but had a damp bum from sitting on the ground. And some funny looks from passers-by!

 

[Tinytom]

That is so true ....having 3 senior dogs showing their ages nowadays it really takes a toll on you emotionally. ...i dont remember feeling so emotional when my other dogs got older...think it must be a human age thing

 

[Hemlock]

I'm in the same position. Every day is a bonus.

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

Oh my heart! <3

That was a lovely read, I will definitely try to get less annoyed at the amount of times Rox has to stop and sniff and pee every 10 seconds
She's 10 so hopefully many walks ahead but it does make you think. Every time she has an off day I get super worried.. I know what you mean Tinytom.
I love that you take a book with you JudyN, that made me giggle...but good idea!

 

[JudyN]

A couple of years back I would often see a woman sitting reading in a field in the woods, with her old GSD by her. The GSD couldn't walk far at all, but loved to be out. The difference was, she would be there in winter, in freezing weather and pouring rain, just sheltered by a tree. That's proper dedication, that is.

 

[RGC]

They give so much more than we could ever give them. I tend to accompany Mabel on her walks and let her do whatever she wants. Fortunately I’m retired (which I love).

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

Aww that's so cute JudyN, and wow yes very dedicated!
I can see myself doing this with Roxy as she loves walks (although maybe not in pouring rain) haha

RGC this is so true, the least we can do for them is give them lovely walks as long as they want them where they can do what they want.

 

[Biker John]

My last Shelti that I lost at 18 1/2, always wanted to go out for her walks so I carried on taking her. But although we were out for around the normal length of time the distance we covered just gradually got shorter. Towards the end our hours walk covered about what would have been a ten min stroll. Still she enjoyed her self so I was quite happy.

 

[Flobo]

Actually had time to sit and read that article and it brought a tear to my eye. I remember when Jake was getting older and we took him to the Rotherlands where we had spent a lot of time when the inlaws were still with us. I recognised then that that would be his last big walk, we spent the best part of the day there, took our time and created the memories, (pictures and videos!) we all now cherish. It was a great day... His walks after that were exactly that 'his' walks in whatever guise, speed or timeframe they presented as! As heartbreaking(and tiring) as my experience with Jake was, I wouldn't have swapped it for anything...

 

[JudyN]

It seems that it's not just walks that have to adjust... I went to my son's fiance's hen party yesterday, and was out from 3pm to nearly 11pm (more socialising than I've done in the past 16 months all together!). He was unsettled all evening, and this morning he has a runny bum - given that he had a runny bum on holiday, I'm thinking that this is the effects of stress. Not sure it it's stress combined with age, or stress combined with NSAIDs though...

How he'll cope with the half-hour or so car journey to and from the wedding, and being in a strange place for the day I don't know. I've missed family funerals for his benefit, but I'm not missing this event - we've been waiting long enough!

 

[Robins mum]

There's a lovely article in the Guardian today about the columnist's elderly whippet, who is taking his own sweet time over walks: My dear old dog won’t be around for ever – so I will cherish every last walk | Emma Beddington

I empathise with this - Jasper's afternoon walks seem to follow a pattern of setting off at a decent clip in the direction of some desired location, then he'll grind to a halt and stand there for 10 mins wondering whether to continue or go home and refusing to budge in either direction, then he'll settle down for a snooze, and once he's back up again, he'll head for home, but decide to have another lie-down and snooze on the first grassy verge we pass, and then every single grassy verge after that. I did get quite a lot of my book read this afternoon, but had a damp bum from sitting on the ground. And some funny looks from passers-by!

 

[Robins mum]

Fab! Can always rely on you Judy N to be practical! Robin lays down when tired or wants to watch the world go by for 5-10 mins and he’s only a teenager! Lol

 

[Flobo]

How he'll cope with the half-hour or so car journey to and from the wedding, and being in a strange place for the day I don't know. I've missed family funerals for his benefit, but I'm not missing this event - we've been waiting long enough!

I think you already know it may well be difficult,(or he may just surprise you and have a lovely time!) but just remember it's only one day!
I got married during Jakes 'special' time of life, I walked him before we left, (was even picking up his last poo in the garden in my wedding dress... he used to forget to do his business on a walk sometimes), after the ceromony my daughter brought him down to the pub where he stayed with me til teatime. Before it all got raucous my daughter and her friend took him back to dog sit him til the morning. He never ate a thing while away from me and did a lot of pacing and not much settling but he survived and was alright. And I think that was probably only the second or third time in his whole life that he had to spend a night away from me, so not bad going eh!
Goodluck all the same!

 

[JudyN]

Thank you Flobo At least we know it won't be too raucous - it was originally going to be a weekend do with something like 80 guests (which should have happened last summer), and now it is going to be just the happy couple, parents, and a brother on each side (plus the official). Her family is dog savvy, so will understand if we need to make accommodations for Jasper.

 

[Flobo]

Sounds perfect! I was going to say I hope Jasper will be wearing a bow tie or something... but then I thought that may be pushing it!

 

[JudyN]

Yep, the original plan was to bling his muzzle with stick-on sequins or something, but I'm not going to subject him to any faffing. I might make him a daisy-chain necklace when we're there though...