Old Dog

When we’re away in the Lake District in March, we’re realising more and more that we’re going to have to take a bit more care with Hound this time round. It was last weekend that really made the point to us, though.

When we took Hound to the beach last weekend, she had about ninety minutes of running around all-told and she was knackered for the rest of the day, and into the day after. A couple of years ago, ninety minutes on the beach would’ve been just the starter, but now it’s more like the main course.

With her throat condition, we always knew that she was going to get old before her time, and that’s what we’re beginning to see. It’s no bad thing, to be fair, but it’s strange to see after so many years of having her running around like a barmpot all the time. Besides, when she was diagnosed with the Megaoesophagus, Herself was told that Hound was unlikely to even get to the age of five. Now she’s nearly eight, so we’ve had a good run with her – and far more of one than was ever expected.

But when we’re up in the Lakes, we’re just going to have to take a bit more care, and keep an eye on her – particularly when we go up to Aira Force, which she loved last time and wouldn’t stop going in and out of the flowing river.