It’s been a tough month for my furry bestie, Watson. Multiple visits to the vet for stomach issues resulted in multiple new prescriptions. These can’t be taken with the one he needs for lameness. He’s old and tired, I know. On a doggie birthday cake, he’d freak out if more than eighty candles fired up. Watson’s reaching that stage in a dog’s life where longevity is no longer the goal in his care. Comfort and cuddles are the focus. But still, it’s hard.
It’s hard to watch him struggle to get up off the floor. Hard to see him leave his food that contains the pills he needs. Difficult to watch his face when, after a short walk around the block, I drop him back at the house. I then put on my hiking boots to take a longer walk without him. I’m convinced he knows when I’ve been to Porlock Marsh, or Hurlstone Point, or along Granny’s Ride to Horner Water. Oh, how he loved those walks when he arrived on Exmoor, just three years ago. Oh, how quickly time has whittled away his energy.
He no longer bounds through the streams or stalks the squirrel along the top of the fence. His ears no longer fly up at the sound of the postbox flap clicking shut, a sound he used to hear from a thousand metres away. So many ‘no longers’.
I hope he realises he’s not suffering alone. His aging and illness hit his family hard, emotionally and physically. Cooking breakfast isn’t something I typically do but scrambled eggs and sweet potatoes help his morning pills down. Sleeping on the couch downstairs isn’t my idea of relaxation either, but there I am, ready to hurtle from deep sleep to garden if the night proves too long for him. I’m in his corner, fighting battles I understand but he doesn’t. Luckily, he doesn’t understand the concepts of ‘future’ and ‘days and months and years’. It’s we, the dog lovers, who live with the ticking canine clock in our heads and hearts.
Watson is a huge part of our English extended family, a joy he missed out on – as did I – during all our years in America. He functions as the welcoming committee when family visits and he helps fill the void when they leave. He commandeers the best spot on the couch at Grandma’s house and doggy snacks find their way into his mouth even when the rules say no. Because at Grandma’s house, there are no rules. He knows that. His aunties dote on him too, having missed his early years while we lived in America. They are making up for lost time now, providing copious belly rubs. The way he snuggles up to his aunties verges on traitorous.
He’s entertained writers group colleagues, and acted as a therapy dog when our then teenage daughter lost a school friend in a car accident. Our house filled with distraught students and Watson led them through the mourning as only a dog can. Head on laps, soulful eyes, a gentle lick of a hand, a wagging tail. The arrival of ten boxes of pizza may have assisted in keeping him focused. There again, I’m pretty sure he’d have remained at his post without the food. He understood his assignment.
Another thing Watson understands is cheese. Cheese is his kryptonite, forcing him to drop the Frisbee he’d rather bring in the house than leave in the garden. It forces him to stop barking at the dogs walking past the gate. Cheese inflicts good behaviour on him when he’d rather run riot. He adores cheese but resents what he has to be to get cheese. He curses his weakness against the power it holds over him. Unfortunately for him, even cheese is on the ‘No Longer’ list at the moment. It will be until the steroids, antibiotics, and bland diet of rice, fish, eggs, and sweet potato have done their jobs. His eyes tell me he misses cheese, even though he’s no longer up to the behaviours that used to require the cheese.
What he understands the best is his canine mission statement. It has remained in his heart since his arrival in our family, nearly twelve years ago: entertain, protect, and comfort those who saved him from a rescue centre in America. Keep them warm as they lie on the floor watching films with him. Absorb the frustrated groans when my characters refuse to form on the page, then leap about at the joys of a published novel. He knew never to mention my hair as it morphed from brunette to silver. He never rolls his eyes as, once again, I search the house for my glasses. He delights in everything about his human clan; the good and the bad.
Watson has lived a full life of travel and adventure, of plane rides and three homes and lots of new friends. It’s been a good life and everyday he lives as though it has been just that. No regrets (certainly not about that time he stole the builder’s digestive biscuits). He has loved everyone, except one postman (the postman’s fault, not Watson’s), and he survived losing his young fellow rescue dog brother to cancer when we all thought he’d never live without his bestie.
At this writing, Watson sleeps in his usual spot: at my feet under my desk. His belly twitches, shaved for the ultrasound scan that revealed the irritable bowel causing all the discomfort. His physique has dwindled to half what it used to be, and his backend wobbles as he walks, crablike, through the house, still dutifully following me wherever I go.
He has another trip to the vet later. He’s doing better but we’d like to get him back on a regular diet, which for Watson means cheese. PRONTO PEOPLE! I have a feeling he may be disappointed on that score today, but if one thing remains consistent it’s that hope springs eternal in Watson. He never gives up hope of another walk, another piece of chicken falling off a dinner plate, another human coming round the corner for him to love instantly.
If only dogs lived longer. If only humans modelled their lives on doggy principles. Dogs really are the greatest creatures on earth, and Watson The Wonder Dog is right up there with the best of them.
Images: author’s own
So sorry for your doggy blues. We have one that is getting up there too and hate to think about her leaving us, so we try not to.
But what the love they share without strings (or maybe a little string cheese) is hard to pass up.
I’ll always have a dog.
Thanks, Christine. Wishing you lots of cheesy love with your bestie. And yes, I’ll always feel life with a dog is worth all the heartache.
Dogs are the best ❤️ So much better than us humans. I know how hard it is as they age but take comfort in the fact that it doesn’t bother him as much as it does you. Just keep giving him those cuddles and that love. That’s all he knows and all he wants. And to hell with writing! That can wait. Sending you both lots of love and cuddles. x
Aw, thanks Natalie. Every word you say is true! x
Sitting here reading Watson The Wonder Dog, bringing tears to my eyes. Our animals our are saviours, through good and bad times, always by our side. The love and loyalty they give, has no measure, so often taken for granted. I have always had animals and so love every one, thanking them for all the love they gave every minute of everyday. I pray that Watson feels no pain, no suffering and pray for you and your family.
Thank you, Janet. Watson is comfortable and surrounded with love and laughter. Wishing you the same.
Watson is truly a great dog. Enjoy every bit of what life remains to him. He has lived a good life and made yours better.
Thank you, Larry. He has indeed given us great joy.
Oh Tracey, I am so sorry to hear about Watson’s struggles. Bailey is 15 and completely blind, has glaucoma in her right eye (who knew that dogs could have it), doesn’t eat much and is losing weight. I bet her tail would still wag though if she heard her Auntie Tracey’s voice!
Duke and Watson were always so gentle with our little Bailey and they were her best friends. We miss walking by and seeing him in the yard.
Give Watson hugs and kisses from Auntie Janet and Bailey. We miss all of you!
Watson was so lucky to have such fabulous neighbours. It always made me laugh how tiny Bailey ruled the roost over my huge boys, Duke and Watson!
Give Bailey a big hug from us all, and keep one for yourself xx
Sorry, Tracy. Thank you for sharing this beautiful heartfelt story of Watson the Wonder Dog.
Thank you, Greg. Watson also thanks you for reading about him.
Tracey. Not Tracy. Why the heck don’t I edit before hitting submit? Jeez!
I say this exact same thing about a hundred times a day!
Sorry to hear about Watson. Sure do miss seeing him on our daily walks. Hang in there and keep him comfortable. There is nothing to compare dogs unconditional love.
Thanks, Ronie. I bet Watson remembers running up and down the fence line barking at you as you walked by! He says he’s comfortable and happy so all is well.
Dogs are the best….and it’s just patently unfair that they have such short lifespans. Our beloved terrier Bella lived to 17, she was totally blind and hard of hearing at the end, but she was a real trooper. We miss her horribly to this day. Gigi has a heart condition (mitral valve degeneration) that’s not operable, but we are managing it with meds, homemade organic food, and lots of heart supplements. She’s 8…the veterinary cardiologist gave her 15 months and that was about 18 months ago. She’s doing great so we are going to keep on keeping on. Thanks for sharing Watson’s story…lots of feels….
Your dogs are so lucky to have found your family. Homemade organic food?! As I said, lucky dogs! Thanks for reading.
Thank you for your understanding of how we need to approach each day, like a dog! Our Lonnie is almost 7 years old and I already think of the day that she might not be here, which is not how I should think about! But our love for our dog(s) makes us realize how much we will miss them when they are gone and how important they are in our lives….How luck we are to have such wonderful four legged family members.
Tell Watson we would love to meet him when we come visit you this June (surprise) so he needs to start eating cheese again soon.
June! How exciting! Bring cheese! (Watson is typing this as you may have guessed.) Give Lonnie a hug x
So sorry Tracey! I know how hard it can be to watch such an active dog slow down! Sending prayers that the meds do the trick and he can enjoy the rest of his life!
Thank you. I know you’ve recently been through this so you understand. Enjoy your new little pup! x