Old Man Dog's Special Adventures

The slight humidity in the air partners with the light breeze to take away the boiling heat of the past few days. I roll all the windows down and open the sunroof to soak it in, smiling as my sweet pup sprawls out on the passenger seat and savors it, too. We're on the way to the park for an adventure. I can't remember the last time we took a just-the-two-of-us walk. I feel a tinge of guilt, but I remind myself that it's okay to be over-cautious to protect his heart.

Tonight I'm throwing caution to the wind and letting Old Man Dog live it up. Tomorrow will be a stressful day for us both: he'll endure dental surgery, I'll endure the wait. We'll let tomorrow's worries wait while we enjoy our adventures together.

I refuse to rush him. I let him lead the way, sniffing every post, tree, and blade of grass along the way. Okay, maybe not every blade of grass, but I'm not keeping track. I take pictures of his curious face as his nose guides our steps. I smile as I think back to our early walks together and my brave little guy prancing his way ahead to explore. We've temporarily traveled back to our younger days.

"I love sniffering all da things. Every single thing. Dis, dis, and dat one, and dat, too, and dis.."

"Do I haz something on my nose?"

 Half an hour passes before I have to lead him back to the car. The mosquitoes are getting the better of me, and I'm sure they are biting Squirt, too. He finds a few more spots to sniff along the way, and we linger just a little bit.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Old Man mode sets back in as soon as his paws hit the seat, and he curls up for a nap. It's been a while since he's walked and sniffed that much without a break.

Back at home Scout and Danny run around while Squirt gets a partial Doggy Spa treatment: a good brushing, a mani/pedi (nail trim), and a good belly scratch. Danny squeezes his way in for a brushing, too, because he can't resist an opportunity to get his handsomeness to its full potential. Squirt doesn't mind, though, because he knows even Dannys need some extra love sometimes.

As the sun slips away I know it's time to start winding down our adventures. The only thing that could end this perfectly is puppy ice cream, so I split the pup cup between the three bowls. This will be Squirt's last bit of food before tomorrow's surgery, so I amp it up with a little whipped cream for the boys. Carpe diem, right?

nom nom nom.

All three boys devour their peanut buttery frozen goodness, and lick every speck from their bowls and the floor. They double-check they've gotten it all, then dutifully double-check each other's bowls.

"But why is all da ice cream gone?"

Squirt follows me to the living room. He's ready to snuggle up and doze on the couch. I feel his little toes tapping my leg and glance down to see his eyes beckoning me to pick him up. We both know his accuracy for jumping up has decreased, and this makes me his personal elevator. And he snuggles in, satisfied once he's touching my leg. His tiny Old Man snores come just minutes afterwards. This is my cue to cover him up with a blanket so no chills interrupt his rest. After all, Old Man Dog had many adventures today.

My heart is full of joy, and it keeps the worries out of this dog momma's heart. I'm thankful for this peaceful evening and the peace within me. It won't be long before I snuggle up on the couch, too. We'll sleep here tonight, my Old Man Dog and me, instead of him sleeping in his crate like usual. I tell myself it's so he doesn't have to be alone, but it's really due to my selfish desire to get all the snuggles I can before the morning. That 7:30 check in time at the vet will come too soon. Until then it's time for us to recharge for whatever tomorrow many bring.