As with groomers, finding dog-sitters to care for Charly as a senior dog also became a challenge – especially when nighttime incontinence began.  So, for our first trip post-pandemic, Charly flew with us to see my parents.  She had always been a good traveller…provided there was some sedation.  But, on that last trip, she did not recover well.  It was apparent that less travelling was better for her.  The hunt for a senior dog-sitter resumed.   I used a popular website, but was turned down repeatedly by everyone we conta ..read more

   Thomas was an old dog owned by workmate and my friend.  He was the inspiration for this blog (with Charly).  My workmate and I would discuss our daily tasks, and then end up sharing the latest story with each other about an old dog event recently experienced…the highs and the lows, the moments of sickness and periods of recovery.  “We should write this down,” I would say to her.   Thomas was a well-groomed poodle with fur in a pretty shade of brown, but it wasn’t his looks that made you love him.  Thomas was sweet.  He ..read more

  Every dog has their attributes and their deficits.  Their talents and their challenges.  You have come to know Charly’s, and that with her age these have morphed…mostly into more deficits and more challenges.  Except for one characteristic:  her poo.  It is “practically perfect in every way”.  It’s well-formed.  It’s consistent.  It has a healthy consistency.  It’s regular.  It’s predictably placed in one of three usual spots – always about a block away from our house.  Eve ..read more

  As a running dog – mostly on mountain trails – Charly loved to splash in the muddy ditches.  She was never on leash for runs, and had free rein to go wild and get dirty.  From a young age, Charly started going to the groomer’s so her fur could be trimmed to avoid matting and facilitate cleaning after her fun.  Once running ended, she still went to the groomer’s for trims and deep cleans, especially in the hot months.  But, when she was about 11 years old, that changed.  She was asked not to return to the groomer’s.  Thei ..read more

   Charly loved snow as a puppy and middle-aged dog.  She frolicked, she rolled, she bounced, and she ate.  Snow was snapped at and lapped up as we walked and played in winter.  Cold – ingested as food or water posed no issue.  Neither did hot.  However, as an old dog, although Charly still likes to eat snow, her stomach doesn’t like to receive it.  It revolts.  And, Charly vomits.  For quite a while, I assumed that any vomiting was due to her being sick or having eaten something mysterious and toxic.&n ..read more

 ...this week's blog has been interrupted by the flu.   ..read more

 Charly is an English Springer Spaniel.  She excels at sleeping, snuggling, receiving belly rubs, and barking at squirrels (her arthritis now prevents her from chasing them).  She scores an A+ for eating, and has mastered the art of conning us into believing she has not yet been fed breakfast.  She looooooves people as much as food, especially kids.  Charly came into my life when she was 11 weeks, and today she is 13 years old.  Her birthday cake will be the usual stack of mini pancakes with peanut butter in between and maybe her favourite typ ..read more

 Join us on Friday September 15, 2023 for the introduction to Old Dog Blog...a collection of experiences about living with an aging dog ..read more

   I think I’m not alone in having every minute of the day accounted for by some familial, employment, or dog-related task.  It’s hard to accomplish everything that “should” be done, and moreover, to the standard that I’d like.  Now, in the past couple years, “self-care” was added to the list…another box that I will fail to tick! In my frenetic effort at times to get tasks done, I am stopped by my senior dog.  She cannot be rushed.  She moves at one of two paces – slowly, or very slowly.  She lays down for minutes in the grass to re ..read more

  Over the past couple years, I have thought about where to spread Charly’s ashes after she dies.  Now that we are in a house, the backyard presents as a viable option.  But what if we move?  I don’t know why, but I wouldn’t want her to be resting in a place where I could no longer visit.  At the moment, this matters to me.  So, I have kept thinking. During the holiday break, our family went to a nearby track to run.  We brought Charly so that after my shorter distance I could take her for a walk.  There are stai ..read more