Sky

[Atemas]

I have posted before about Sky and how old age (she will be 12 in December) and arthritis in her front legs are slowing her down. She has been declining walks she used to do and so I take her out early evening. She spends more time sniffing than walking. Some days she just lies around and the only thing that gets her excited is food - her two meals and her 3 kongs. This week there has be a huge change. She has chosen to do a two and a half mile walk one day and yesterday chose to go on the first walk of the day which is three and a half miles. She was actually standing in the hall with her tail wagging as DH got ready to take Red out. This is great as she can be off lead and she gets to swim in the dyke. Her whole demeanour has changed and it makes me very happy to see her like this. Today she hasn’t wanted to go on those walks but she has followed me around, sat with me and when I went to get the afternoon kongs she got really excited and pranced out into the garden. She is also going up to Red a lot more and nuzzling her and they greeted each other nicely when Red came back from her walk. This week the weather has been a lot cooler - very pleasant most of the time so that has almost certainly helped her. It’s so so good to see the old spark in her ?.

 

[Jacqui-S]

This made me smile.
Bless her.
And welcome cooler weather.

 

[SwampDonkey]

That's wonderful long may it continue xxx

 

[Natalie]

Great news. I think our labs are much better when it's cooler

 

[David]

Good to read. Thank you.

 

[Beanwood]

Lovely to see that spark back!

Casper has been up to (and enjoying..) his old tricks again now the weather is cooler..

 

[Plum's mum]

Love her. Great to hear

 

[Naya]

Glad to hear she is more like her usual self. Long may it continue ?

 

[Selina27]

That's a lovely heartwarming post, proof perhaps that dogs live in the moment Enjoying life is everything!

 

[MellowYellow]

Poppy has been really suffering during the hot weather, and is much happier it is now a little cooler (though still nearly 30 degrees here today).

I hope Sky continues to do so well! x

 

[VanillaBean]

Nice to read and hope she has a fun filled cooler season ahead of her.

 

[Atemas]

Another thing she did yesterday was roll on her back on the lawn - legs in the air - can’t remember the last time she did that. Wanted to photograph her but by the time I had located my phone she was standing.

 

[edzbird]

This is so lovely to read. I'm glad Sky is loving the cooler weather and showing she still has a zest for life. I wouldn't bother with the photographs of such special moments - just enjoy them. We see so many people living their lives through a viewfinder, it makes me sad.

 

[Charlie]

Aww so pleased to read about Sky you must be so happy Alison. xx

 

[Atemas]

Update: I am finding it quite hard having a senior dog. We went on holiday and she went to our friends who love her and have been having her for many years. We were away 9 nights. A few nights there, Sky poo’d during the night (she has never done this except when she was really ill once). She had runny poo a few days and apparently there was some blood in it. When I collected her she was very pleased to see me but I could see she wasn’t 100%. Our friends were worried about her (didn’t feel she needed to see a vet though). We have been home a week now and there have been no accidents at night but she has had diarrhoea (Pro Kolin sorted that) and her is soft but no blood. She has had a couple of days of not wanting to eat but has eventually. She has opted in and out of walks but has always wanted her evening sniff walk.

Then blow me today, she does the three and a half mile walk first thing (she’s waiting by the door for DH) and then because my step son who has just returned from a year in Oz; she goes on the two and a half mile lunch time walk because he is going with DH and Red. Step son hasn’t seen Sky for a long time as he was living in Amsterdam before going to Oz so we’d go there to visit him - he said he was shocked to see how old she has become. Sky was so pleased to see him and sat on the stairs looking out of the little window when it was time for him to leave.

Anyway, this is all a bit longwinded - I just want to record her ups and downs and also how she desperately still wants to be that young dog who is up for all walks with the people she loves.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Very glad Sky is still having her big walk days even if they aren't EVERY day.

Having a senior dog is such an emotional minefield. You cherish the good days, love the oldster wisdom and humour but worry to tears over every sign of a set back. It sounds like she is still a very happy girl who loves her people which is wonderful.

 

[Cath]

Oh Sky you are a lovely girl. Bless her

 

[Charlie]

This lovely lady knows her own mind, I think it's just a case of going with the flow which is what you are doing so well. Beautiful Sky. Hattie is 11 and I'm dreading reaching this point xx

 

[Atemas]

Well of course Sky is only 11 - she won’t be 12 for a few more weeks. My son came with my granddaughter this morning (I take her to school sometimes) - Sky was here and they both watched her walk with compassion on their faces - her gait is very ‘peg legged’ yet she did over 6 miles yesterday. She’4s one determined dog.

 

[kateincornwall]

Bless her heart , each day different but its good that she is still so active , even if she has her rest up days xx