Golden Oldies

My friend had to say goodbye to her dog this week, she was 15 years old and lived a great life loved by her guardians but still this final goodbye hits hard whatever age. It’s always incredibly sad but really got me thinking because lately, I've been noticing the changes in my own dogs.

The grey faces. The slower walks. The extra naps during the day.

My dogs are getting older.

It's funny how these changes creep up on you. One day everything feels the same and then suddenly you realise your dog doesn't quite move as quickly as they once did, takes a little longer getting up from their bed, or chooses another five minutes sniffing the grass instead of charging off on an adventure.

Rupert now ignores squirrels more often than not, which is quite amusing really, considering I've spent a very long time trying to teach him to do exactly that. It turns out age has succeeded where my training perhaps didn't!

If I'm honest, it makes me a little sad.

Don't get me wrong, we're not there yet. Both Rupert and Mila are happy, healthy and still very much enjoying life. I try not to think too much about the day when I might have to say goodbye because, right now, they are still here, and I want to enjoy every moment of that.

My dogs have taught me so much.

They have both been challenging in their own ways. They are both overseas rescue dogs – Rupert from Spain and Mila from Romania – and because of them I leaned into my love of dogs, of learning and of training. They are the reason I became a dog trainer.

They've taught me patience, empathy and the importance of celebrating small wins. They've reminded me that every dog is an individual and that sometimes the dogs who challenge us the most also teach us the most.

As they've got older, our lives together have changed a little.

Our walks are slower now and, if I'm honest, I quite enjoy them. There is less rushing and more simply being together. I spend time watching them trundling along the tow path, enjoying the sunshine, being outside in nature, sniffing, exploring and going at their pace.

At home, we do more scent work and more garden sniffing games. Keeping their brains active is just as important as keeping their bodies moving. They still love training and they still enjoy learning new things, but we adapt what we do so it's kinder on their joints and suits where they are in life.

We also spend time doing physiotherapy exercises and gentle movement puzzles and fitness work to help keep their muscles as strong as possible. Growing older doesn't mean stopping; it simply means changing what we do and how we do it.

For now, they both love their training. They both love their walks. They are still enthusiastic and still find joy in the little things.

And they are still very much here.

I think that's the thing our older dogs teach us best. To slow down. To appreciate the ordinary moments. To stop rushing through life and simply enjoy being together.

One day there will be a last walk, a last training session and a last cuddle. But today isn't that day.

Today there are still squirrels to ignore, sniffs to investigate and adventures to be had.

And for that, I am incredibly grateful.

I would love for you to hop on my facebook page and add photos of those greying muzzles and awesome golden oldies.

Karen