Sunday 4 June 2017

When your dog is old

It's hard enough to admit to myself that I'm old. But to admit that Penny, too, is in her senior years...is confronting.

I was just looking back through my old posts, searching for a photo of a pvc pipe agility jump I'm giving away on Freecycle, and feel quite sad that so many of the fun things Penny and I have done in the past are no longer appropriate. She can't get up on her hind legs, and has quite a lot of arthritis in all limbs, so many favourite tricks are now out of the question, also most agility and indeed, a great deal of the active training.

Here's the agility jump that has made me feel so nostalgic.


On the other hand, recently I came across this skateboard ramp on the side of the road for disposal.



I reckon we could have some fun with that, and what's to stop her doing a little bit of weaving, provided I space the poles far apart? As I've posted previously, I'm a great believer in recycled items as agility equipment. After all, it's free.





I've just read Karen Pryor's post about adapting training to the changes in your old dog. Most encouraging. And I liked a few of the points in this post, also.

Yes, we will still have active fun together!


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5 comments:

Molly the Airedale said...

Seniors are just the best and Penny is so lucky to have you♥

curator said...

Yes, dogs don't really know they are old....they just get on with living. It's harder for us. May you and Penny have many, many fine days of fun yet to be.

parlance said...

Molly, thanks. I remember reading that it takes a long time to produce something as beautiful as an old dog. I love that saying.

parlance said...

curator, that's a lovely thought, that they live in the moment and don't count years past and years to come. Thanks.

Molly the Airedale said...

Mackie and Jett both had the kennel cough vaccine. It's a requirement here before a dog can be admitted for surgery at an animal hospital. Mackie is doing terrific and I don't see Jett often enough to comment on him.