Old Dogs, New Licks

It’s been awhile since I’ve written about Scout. She is coming up on her 13th birthday this year. We are not planning a Bark Mitzvah (hey, but if you are, no judgment, you weird and wonderful people.)

Her birthday will make her about 91 years old in human years, if I’ve done the math correctly. Having a senior dog is a joy. The understanding between Scout and the members of our family is easy-breezy. Most days have a similar routine, which include a walk, lots of naps, lots of human contact and lots of naps (did I say that already?)

In this epic winter we’re having, our walks can be too short, too icy or non-existent. Even the river, which can be a go-to winter swim with her Chessie blood, is frozen on the banks. Little or no exercise has led to OCD. That’s right. I looked it up on the internet, so it must be correct.

Without getting too technical, Scout licks herself, the furniture, the carpets, even the floor, when she doesn’t get enough exercise. (That wasn’t technical at all, just logical.) The solution, of course, is to take her on at least one 30-minute walk a day. I believe this not only exercises her body, but her brain, as well. All that doggie data from the smells and sensations of being somewhere, other than home, seems to calm her in a way nothing else does. And when the licking begins, we need to redirect her attention to something else. This can be comical, as Scout is now quite deaf. This is especially true in the middle of the night, when all you hear is licking, then high pitched whistling, finger snapping and hand clapping (the only things she can truly hear now.)

Disturbed sleep and obsessive licking aside, we treasure (almost) every moment (ie: Scout the Garbage-Destroyer) with our old girl.

No one in our family makes us laugh more. She’s never grumpy. She’s always patient. And she’s the quietest one in our house. Cheers to you, old lady, Scout! And many more healthy years to come.