Now Mature

Trixie turns 12 years old today! That makes her a senior citizen in dogs years, and I'm a little sad to say, she is finally showing her age.

In the last 8+ months, she has started to slow down. The most obvious sign is that she no longer jogs with me. She is 100% still eager and excited to head out the front door on the leash, but her pace is no longer sufficient for jogging. She still has bursts of speed to chase a squirrel up a tree, but sustained speed is no more. In the past she would be at the end of the leash in front of me. Now, after about half a mile of jogging, she is at the end of the leash behind me. So, I have had to accept that reality and adjust my morning routine -- she is now part of my warm up or cool down, or my companion on a "just do something outside" walking day.

Another sign of her aging, is that her hearing is starting to fade. For all the years that we have had her, she would hear the sound of the garage door opening and run out to greet us in the garage. Now, we can make it all the way inside before she even realizes we've opened and closed all the doors. 

But she is enjoying her golden years! And thank goodness all creatures have multiple senses -- basking in the warmth of the sun, enjoying the smells. 

And what did Trixie want for her birthday?

Happy Birthday, canine friend!