Walking the Wibbler.
He has really minded the heat this summer.
At least, I hope that's what it is. He's happy, out at the front of the leash, for a little while, and then he's behind me, at the end of the leash, the rest of the way.
Usually he's sniffing away, back there, but sometimes he's just drooping at the end of the leash.
We'll see what happens when it really gets cool. I hope that can keep the spring in his step!
Black-eyed Susan.
Looking ahead -- no dog.
Looking back.............
I can no longer get any exercise, myself, if I have him with me. I have been taking him on very short walks (as he drags at the end of even a short walk, most days), and then leaving him at home and walking myself.
Daylilies in the harsh late-afternoon light.
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5 comments:
Poor Wilbur. He seems to be slowing down. Age gets all of us, requiring some adjustments.
It does, indeed. Not for sissies.....
Agreement.
It's ok Wilbur, I drag at the end of walks too.
I wish I knew what is really going on in his head.
His houndy heritage has always had him WAY more interested in his nose, and what it tells him, than any of the corgis. Way more interest in sniffing every blade of grass.
So how much it's that he really feels too tired/painful/whatever to go on, and how much he doesn't WANT to stride out when he might miss every nuance of every last thing there is to sniff, and how much it's because he knows he's nearing the end of his walk and doesn't WANT to go home..........
I can't tell, and I wish I could.
He's been slower at the very end of a walk for a long time. Regardless of the length of the walk.........
I don't know if I should be encouraging him to MOVE RIGHT ALONG so he could have the chance to go farther, or if he hurts and should be allowed to dawdle.
Or what.
Ah well.
His 13th birthday is sort of Novemberish.
I know it hurts him, some, to move around, because he grunts when he lies down, and thinks about jumping up on to furniture, and hesitates before running up or down stairs. He still does jump and run, but you can see the hesitation.
He's on a joint supplement, but not on any pain killers.
I just wish I knew better what was going on in his houndish little head!
When he's sniffing, he goes into a zone like no other dog I've ever walked. When you speak to him, it's sort of like "Eh? What? Oh. We were walking, weren't we. Oh. Well. Ok, I guess I could move on."
Sort of like I imagine a wine connoisseur might do, lost in the details of the aromas and tastes and mouthfeel of a lovely wine......
I can't help but imagine that part of the increase in dawdlification is that I'm letting him, and he LIKES taking forever with each scent....
Ah well.
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