When Stubborn Girls Get Old

This picture is of my girl quite young. She was probably 4 or 5 in this picture. She didn't start slowing down until age 9. I remember the day. We were on a beach in the Portland ME prom area, and there were about seven or eight labs running around. They all saw Miss Boo (Jazz's one of many nicknames) and surrounded her.

Now before, she would have chased and tormented every dog there until they were all exhausted. On this day she looked directly at me from the middle (as if she was the center of the flower) with a distinct "help me" on her face.

I knew then that Jazz had started her decent into middle or old age. She is now 14. Until a couple of years ago, she was still running and chasing ball. Since then she has developed a slight heart condition, wobblers, almost no eyesight, and almost no hearing. Still she does the perimeter check of the yard almost every day.

Until about two days ago, she was still going up the stairs. Now I carry her.

Course, Jazz is a stubborn dog and DOES NOT LIKE things being done for her. Even when she can no longer do something, she would just prefer to fall down the stairs than have you carry her. She thinks it's undignified, we make her be carried anyway. She grumbles and flails her paws all the way down the stairs, then kicks mightily until you put her down already!!

Now that her two important senses of eye sight and hearing are all but gone, she does not appreciate you guiding her. She still wants to do it on her own.

While her enjoyment in life is depreciating, she is still enjoying her life. As her owner and best friend, it's hard to see her struggle. It's important to enjoy the times we have left when she is having fun rolling in the grass, or discovered Jackie trying to hide from her by flattening himself on the floor LOL. To appreciate that the young girl you knew is still in that body that is now failing her. That spirit still lives on.

It's important not to dread the inevitable decision to be made, but enjoy our last moments, days, weeks, months together until the right time comes.