Being a Dog

Our pack is four dogs plus Ann and me.  Jake is an English Spaniel/Setter rescue who will be 15 in May and is in hospice due to lumbosacral stenosis which is slowly paralyzing his hind quarters.  At times, he forgets and thinks he’s still a puppy.  Casey (the Pirate) is our Tripawd Golden who, at 11, often thinks he’s a puppy.  Bode is an 8 year old Boykin/Wachtelhund hybrid, and Jet is our  6 year old Golden.  Bode and Jet are in the prime of their adult lives, and really don’t understand why we only walk 2 1/4 miles daily.

We have great memories from when the whole pack was more active, some of the best being at Great Meadow.  Great Meadow is a steeplechase race course here in near-Northern Virginia, with about 140 fenced acres and two ponds, one of which is known as Swan Lake.  It’s somewhat teardrop shaped with a shallow, under water “bridge” that the horses run across in races, a tiny island where the geese build their nest, and yes, seasonally, there’s a swan.  The original swan story involves Casey who was surprised when after half an hour or so of harassing the swan (during which the swan teased the dogs incessantly by “hopping” twelve feet past them every time they got close), the swan got fed up and decided to leave.  Have you ever watched a swan launch?  These are big birds, and they “run” across the water developing speed before flapping their wings and taking off.  Well, Casey’d grown bored also, and was on shore, about twenty feet from the edge of the pond, when the swan surprised him flying about four feet overhead . . . whoosh whoosh whoosh.  Well, Casey just pivoted and took chase as the swan slowly gained speed and altitude, and they both disappeared over a rise.  I can still see Casey just SPRINTING after that swan, and remember thinking I hope the gates are all closed.  I expect to keep this memory of Casey running like that for ever.

Now, a few years later, Jake doesn’t interact a lot, and while he forgets and tries to run, it’s not very far and he regrets it.  Casey became a Tripaw 80 days ago or so, so he’s not chasing any swans very far, but Bode and Jet well . . . like I said, they’re in their prime, and when it’s walk time, it gets pretty exciting.  Of course, the dogs can read our minds, so yesterday, as Ann was at her desk, I was pulling another layer on and the dogs just knew . . . WALK!  Bode and Jet lose it, and Casey joins right in.  He’s biting at Bode’s legs, and Bode is in there, biting at Casey’s one arm and they’re all tussling and barking and rolling around and it’s getting pretty rough so Ann panics;  “Casey can’t do that.  He’s romping like the other dogs.”  I just looked at her and said “We have to let him be a dog.”

Of course, he is more fragile, and common sense is warranted, but it’s just such a joy watching him be a dog again.

Casey goes in for round five of Carboplatin today.  I checked with his oncologist last week and they raised him to the maximum allowed dosage last time, which is 300 ml per square meter of body area.  He tolerated that well so that’s likely what he’ll receive today.  That makes two doses at 200 ml, one at 250, and two at 300.  This may be his last round of chemo, and now, spring is coming to Great Meadow, and he can continue being a dog.

Author: tlahaye

Pack leader for four dogs . . . two goldens and two mixed breeds.

3 thoughts on “Being a Dog”

  1. What great memories! That swan scene must have been something to witness, how crazy and beautiful and unforgettable. Your doggies are so lucky to have someone like you looking after them.

    I hope the chemo went well. Yes, Casey needs to be a dog and you’ve got that routine down pretty well it seems. I know it’s hard to walk the line between letting them do what comes naturally and preserving their joints and health. I stumbled around that a few times when Jerry first lost his leg. But over time we learned what was just the right amount of fun and what was too much. You’ll get there too and we look forward to following along on that adventure with the whole pack.

    Lots of love coming your way!

  2. Casey, you have got this Tripawd thing CASED!!! Well done! I have just caught up on your story and am looking forward to hearing more!
    I also love that you have that memory of Casey chasing after the swan furever implanted in your heart! Even i can smile along with the picture that you have painted of that very amusing scene! The swan was probably unsure as to whether or not Casey could fly too! Ha!
    Keep up the good work and be sure to put more of those beautiful memories in the box of Love!
    Rots of Ruvin from Super Stu and his Pride.

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