Our Lab, Clancy is going to be 11 years old in a few weeks. We've had him since he was eight weeks old, just a squirming, yippy puppy. Once a way too energetic dog, he's just now beginning to slow down. Now that he's well into his senior years, a few quirks have come along that only add to his rather enthusiastic personality.
He likes to imagine that intruders are outside on a whim. He begins barking for no particular reason and stares out of the front windows. I vainly search for possible trespassers, but the yard is
empty. If a commercial on TV includes a doorbell ringing, he's immediately at the front door barking like a Rottweiler. I'm chalking up these reactions to old age. He used to be able to differentiate between TV and reality. Or perhaps he's watched too much TV over the years.
Clancy, who leads a rather sedate life these days, comes to life every evening around 7:00pm. He happily supplies entertainment just when we'd like to sit down and relax. He decides that it's time to play and drags out slippers, shoes, and dog toys. With a gleam in his eye, he strews them around the family room. If that doesn't get us off the couch to play, he begins pawing at the rocking chair cushion and finally flips it onto the floor. Proudly standing over it, this act usually elicits some sort of response from his people, who now have to get up and put the cushion back into place. Once the cushion has been replaced, he drags out his bed, which is in front of the fireplace into the middle of the room. Sometimes, he flops down on it and other times, he wrestles with it for a few more minutes. Next comes the "let me out so I can come right back in" game. Once he tires of that and we've probably told him that we're definitely tired of it, he begins backing up. I really can't explain this at all, but he backs up about three feet, stands there a moment and begins again. A friend of ours also has a Lab who likes to back up.
There's a lot to be said for old dogs. They're happy to hang out with you and take leisurely walks. They sleep a lot, slobber on you, and are grateful when you rub their ears. If you throw a toy for them to retrieve, they amble after it once or twice. After that, you'll be retrieving it, so think before you throw.
The old dog is stretched out by the TV, possibly dreaming of doorbells ringing and rabbits waiting for him to chase them. But you can be sure when 9:00pm rolls around, he'll be on his feet, waiting for his evening stroll. It's a well-oiled routine for the males in this household. They're both creatures of habit.
He likes to imagine that intruders are outside on a whim. He begins barking for no particular reason and stares out of the front windows. I vainly search for possible trespassers, but the yard is
empty. If a commercial on TV includes a doorbell ringing, he's immediately at the front door barking like a Rottweiler. I'm chalking up these reactions to old age. He used to be able to differentiate between TV and reality. Or perhaps he's watched too much TV over the years.
Clancy, who leads a rather sedate life these days, comes to life every evening around 7:00pm. He happily supplies entertainment just when we'd like to sit down and relax. He decides that it's time to play and drags out slippers, shoes, and dog toys. With a gleam in his eye, he strews them around the family room. If that doesn't get us off the couch to play, he begins pawing at the rocking chair cushion and finally flips it onto the floor. Proudly standing over it, this act usually elicits some sort of response from his people, who now have to get up and put the cushion back into place. Once the cushion has been replaced, he drags out his bed, which is in front of the fireplace into the middle of the room. Sometimes, he flops down on it and other times, he wrestles with it for a few more minutes. Next comes the "let me out so I can come right back in" game. Once he tires of that and we've probably told him that we're definitely tired of it, he begins backing up. I really can't explain this at all, but he backs up about three feet, stands there a moment and begins again. A friend of ours also has a Lab who likes to back up.
There's a lot to be said for old dogs. They're happy to hang out with you and take leisurely walks. They sleep a lot, slobber on you, and are grateful when you rub their ears. If you throw a toy for them to retrieve, they amble after it once or twice. After that, you'll be retrieving it, so think before you throw.
The old dog is stretched out by the TV, possibly dreaming of doorbells ringing and rabbits waiting for him to chase them. But you can be sure when 9:00pm rolls around, he'll be on his feet, waiting for his evening stroll. It's a well-oiled routine for the males in this household. They're both creatures of habit.
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