This is what it’s like to love an old dog

This is what it’s like to love an old dog

By Abigail Cukier

The pandemic puppy(ˈpəpē) craze(krāz) has come at a peculiar(pəˈkyo͞olyər) time for me. As so many people are seeking the comfort and companionship(kəmˈpanyənˌSHip) of a young dog, mine has just turned 15.

We recently had a backyard visit to meet another family’s new puppy. He was utterly(ˈədərlē) adorable(əˈdôrəb(ə)l). He pranced(prans) and played, nipped(nip) and licked(lik). Our friends beamed(bēm) as they told us about his first days at home and how he was already sleeping through the night. It was truly puppy love.

Later that night, as I walked behind my dog to give her a boost(bo͞ost) as she climbed(klīm) the stairs(ster), and the next morning, when I heated(ˈhēdəd) up the homemade food that helps control her kidney(ˈkidnē) disease(dəˈzēz), I thought about how you don’t consider this level of extra care when you bring home a furry(ˈfərē) new family member. But that is often what that puppy love turns into.

I am lucky to know this more “mature(məˈCHo͝or)” love. To love, and to be loved, by an old dog, is truly a privilege(ˈpriv(ə)lij).

For a long time, I denied(dəˈnī) it. My husband would remark on how Skyler, our German short-haired pointer, wasn’t running as much at the park or was a bit slower on the stairs, and I told him he was imagining it. For the longest time, I really didn’t see that my high-jumping, fast-running girl was getting older. But these days there is no denying it.

The chocolate fur(fər) on her face is flecked(flek) with white and her wise(wīz), dark eyes are hooded(ˈho͝odəd) by grey brows(brou). Sometimes, she will fall while eating from her bowl(bōl) and wait patiently for someone to help her up. On our daily walks, one of my favourite times of day, I sometimes have to stop and let her rest or pick up her hind(hīnd) legs if she starts to fall. But still we walk.


https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-this-is-what-its-like-to-love-an-old-dog/