The Small Dog on Old Dogs…

Posted bySue VincentPosted inDogs, HumourTags:, , ,

It is getting harder and harder to get up off the floor these days… for both of us.

I struggle a bit, but can still manage. If she goes down, she stays down until the cavalry come to rescue her. We had to get my boy down to help pick her up the other night, as her leg gave out…and it just flops about a bit when she tries to use it. She’s not happy about that. She s put lots of non-slip mats down for em to get a grip on…but they don’t seem to work for her.We’re both having to learn to live with changes, but while mine are coming on gradu’lly, hers seem to come all at once…

We just have to learn to live with it, I s’ppose. There is an old saying says that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, you may not be able to… but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn them. And that seems to apply to two-legses s well as four, because since she’s been poorly, she seems to be getting waited on, hand and paw… and she isn’t doing anything. I couldn’t get my head around it. I mean, what a lifestyle! And does she appreciate it?

I watched her. She’s just sitting there at the desk.

She doesn’t need to ask for a drink… there is always one beside her. He brings her medicine… and nice, chocolatey things to take the taste away. He uses the groomy thing on her muscles… and she only has to smile.

If I smile, and especially if I try to sneak in to give him a give him a cuddle… he just complains about fish breath. Or being squished.

But there had to be some way she was getting him to do all this nice stuff. I couldn’t see it.

Then, while he was in the kitchen… I saw her in action. Sneaky…

All she did was cough.

Just a little cough. Nothing much… nothing desperate… not even on purpose…

… and the Ball Guy downs tools in the kitchen and comes running…

Was she okay..? Did she need..? Could her get..?

I mean, isn’t that what two-legses are supposed to do for us four-legses? Cats seem to manage that kind of service! Why not dogs? So I settled down for a snooze and a think.

Next morning, I waited till it was all quiet. He as working at the kitchen table. She was at the desk. I just sat still… and coughed. Quite deliberately.

She looked round all quizzical, then her face cleared and she did that “I know what you’re up to” look. I grinned back. And coughed again. Louder.

Nothing happened, except she was finding it hard not to smile.

I tried again. Each time, looking over expectantly at the door…

…meanwhile, she is in hysterics… quietly laughing herself to pieces on her chair. Well, they say laughter is the best medicine… and I only want to help er feel better, after all…

It took a few tries before I got the volume right and he came. I am going to have to work on the Ball Guy’s training on this one though… It never takes him long to catch on to be fair, and he’s really good with walks and treats and stuff. And especially with her.

And, if all else fails, I just have to look cute… that always works.

Much love,

Ani xxx

Published by Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent is a Yorkshire-born writer and one of the Directors of The Silent Eye, a modern Mystery School. She writes alone and with Stuart France, exploring ancient myths, the mysterious landscape of Albion and the inner journey of the soul. Find out more at France and Vincent. She is owned by a small dog who also blogs. Follow her at scvincent.com and on Twitter @SCVincent. Find her books on Goodreads and follow her on Amazon worldwide to find out about new releases and offers. Email: findme@scvincent.com.

102 thoughts on “The Small Dog on Old Dogs…”

  7. Well done. The dowager aka the cat knows all about noises that get them moving while if I bark it’s all shushing and in your bed… talk about one sided. Hope your two legges gets a little better and keep giving her some fishy breath love from us. Mylo and the walkman

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  11. Good try, Ani, though I think you are being too restrained. We just bark endlessly until someone pays us attention. Admittedly sometimes it’s rather exasperated attention, but hey, attention is good whatever the quality, don’t you think?
    The Highland Howlers

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  13. Dear Ani,
    Although Ms. T and I are owned by cats, I remember our German Shepherd, Susie, from a long time ago. She couldn’t purr, of course, but she would lie at the foot of the bed, or under the table, and give a BIG LONG SIGH with her irresistible brown eyes looking straight up.
    It always worked.

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  18. Reblogged this on pensitivity101 and commented:
    Oh Ani, sweetheart. You are always cute. I read once that cats don’t have owners, they have staff. I don’t think cats like the idea of being owned, but they can bring comfort and companionship. But for me it will always be dogs. I love dogs. Much love ❤ ❤ ❤

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  19. Too well bred, Ani! Some of your canine friends around here howl when they want attention. I don’t recommend it! Sounds to me like you have a cushy number. Keep an eye on that mistress of yours 🙂 🙂

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  21. And let there be no doubt dear Ani, that you ARE cute. You would have me wrapped around your paw in a nano second! And it’s wonderful to know your two-legs is being so well cared for. ❤️

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      1. Oh, I am very sorry to hear that Ani. Please give her my love ❤️. Sending you love too, I know this is hard on you too 💕

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  23. You’re definitely going to have to put in a bit of work training the Ball Guy up properly, but although he’s a bit slow on the uptake, I think he’ll get it in the end … and the nerve of your person laughing at you!

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  25. Hey, Ani, Roscoe here. Sounds like you’re doing a grand job with that gal of yours. And copying her cough, well, I’ve not tried that one. I’ve had a little squawk to help me poo recently, and all she did was mention it to the vet and I got more nasty medicine. But she does give me lots of cuddles with it. Give your one a cuddle from me, would you? It sounds like she needs it.
    Roscoe
    xxxx

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  27. Ahhh…Ani – – my two-leggeds spent time arguing with me over ‘which of us should answer’ your post/send note of encouragement and well – in the end, we decided we could both LIVE with the truth of the following: OF course you have fish breath! That’s your job – it goes towards teaching two leggeds unconditional love! We both feel sad, because my two leggeds remembers time she just trusted the ‘four-legged’ Gods who chose to live in her house were capable of looking after themselves, even when she could’nt take care of herself – and in the end? Ahhh – – Ani – this growing old fast or slow really sucks – but me and my two leggeds LOVE to know – you and your two leggeds are managing to do it together and making each other laugh or be there all the while, no matter who else shows up that CARES! mightily, but maybe aren’t quite yet, ‘fully household’ trained – at least not for ‘our kind of household’ – :D. Much love and hugs Ani – <3. ❤

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      1. We know. Ball guy does his thing. You fo yours. Beloved two leggeds does her. Still. We both (me and my two legged) laughed right along with you coughing and your two leggeds laughing. My two leggeds spent two days barely touching me after she realized the lump on my neck boded no good news. But i waited until she forgave herself for mot being able tp afford the surgery or chemo and well? We just sing in the sunshine and try to male each other laugh as often as we can and all back to normal now.

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  29. Thanks for the tip, Ani. I might try a little coughing this morning and once I get the volume right, I’ll see what happens. I’m so grateful that you got your two-legs to laugh. Keep it up. ❤ Hugs.

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  35. Pingback: The Small Dog on Old Dogs… – Steven Halverson

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