Post by lotsoffreetime on Jan 9, 2016 15:31:42 GMT -5
I was writing the Pups birthdays on our new calendar at the start of the year, and it suddenly occurred to me how old they are. Silly, I know, but the years pass almost without you knowing it, especially when you have 5 of them!
Mamma Rio, Tiana, Mr. Merlin and Miss Mirage will be turning 9 this year, and Willy-Bear will be turning 10.
I guess that means as of now, I have "senior" dogs in my home, at ages 8 and 9?
Not sure what that means, really. As I look at them, they have slowed down at bit from the 3 and 4 year old youngsters we adopted 5 years ago (3 for Mirage), although not by much, let me tell you! If there is anything that I notice, it is that Willy-Bear and Mama Rio are a bit stiff some days, and Tiana will cry in pain on certain damp days. I have Metacam in the cupboard now for such days. But, they still run like mad in our yard, and God help the bunnies, because one day they are not going to make it to the fence! lol! Tiana has already caught several birds in mid-flight...
I also notice that when they get hurt, they are more fragile. They don't bounce back as fast, and they don't seem to stand up for themselves against each other like they used to. If Merlin bites Willy-Bear in a scuffle to get to the door quickly, then Willy is "acting like an old man", crying and hurt even if it isn't a really bad bite. We watch the pack dynamics carefully, because they are going to change as they age.
But I also notice, that just like with Kasie Lynne, as they get older, they get goofier, and I love that! Just like her, play time is suddenly so much FUN!!!! Stuffies are everywhere, flying around the room, like they never were when they were younger. It is like a second childhood. And, snuggle-time is just a seriously taken, and cherished by them (and me).
When they were young, and just arrived at our home, Kasie was 15 years old, and it broke my heart to think of having an older dog again, because I knew she was leaving us shortly. When she had to go, it almost crushed me. But, I knew that those final years with her were so very special, that I was blessed to have them.
And now, as I look at the beautiful white faces in my home now, I know how blessed I am again. I cherish every single day with "The Crazy Quints". We moved to our bungalow specifically for them this summer, for the one-floor as they age, for the acre property so they could run and explore and try to catch bunnies, but mostly, so they could love life.
I only hope I am giving them back one tenth of what they have given me.
Janette and the Quints
Mamma Rio, Tiana, Mr. Merlin and Miss Mirage will be turning 9 this year, and Willy-Bear will be turning 10.
I guess that means as of now, I have "senior" dogs in my home, at ages 8 and 9?
Not sure what that means, really. As I look at them, they have slowed down at bit from the 3 and 4 year old youngsters we adopted 5 years ago (3 for Mirage), although not by much, let me tell you! If there is anything that I notice, it is that Willy-Bear and Mama Rio are a bit stiff some days, and Tiana will cry in pain on certain damp days. I have Metacam in the cupboard now for such days. But, they still run like mad in our yard, and God help the bunnies, because one day they are not going to make it to the fence! lol! Tiana has already caught several birds in mid-flight...
I also notice that when they get hurt, they are more fragile. They don't bounce back as fast, and they don't seem to stand up for themselves against each other like they used to. If Merlin bites Willy-Bear in a scuffle to get to the door quickly, then Willy is "acting like an old man", crying and hurt even if it isn't a really bad bite. We watch the pack dynamics carefully, because they are going to change as they age.
But I also notice, that just like with Kasie Lynne, as they get older, they get goofier, and I love that! Just like her, play time is suddenly so much FUN!!!! Stuffies are everywhere, flying around the room, like they never were when they were younger. It is like a second childhood. And, snuggle-time is just a seriously taken, and cherished by them (and me).
When they were young, and just arrived at our home, Kasie was 15 years old, and it broke my heart to think of having an older dog again, because I knew she was leaving us shortly. When she had to go, it almost crushed me. But, I knew that those final years with her were so very special, that I was blessed to have them.
And now, as I look at the beautiful white faces in my home now, I know how blessed I am again. I cherish every single day with "The Crazy Quints". We moved to our bungalow specifically for them this summer, for the one-floor as they age, for the acre property so they could run and explore and try to catch bunnies, but mostly, so they could love life.
I only hope I am giving them back one tenth of what they have given me.
Janette and the Quints