Zeke has been our dog for about 13 years, and he was around even before that. He was grown when we first saw him across the road from our house. So he’s probably around 14, which is quite old for a big dog like him.
The deep brown patch centered on his right ear is graying, but he has always behaved like a young dog. He’s up at the barest hint of action. He’s ready to go out for any reason, and always ready for a ride in the truck. He rough-houses with Sam on our walks. If not for the gray, you would never guess his age.
Until Tuesday. On Tuesday we left the house around 9:30 for our regular morning walk. We turned down Fouche Gap Road and headed down into Texas Valley towards the bottom of the mountain as usual. I let the dogs operate on dog time. That means we stop for interesting odors, and we make sure to mark various limbs and blades of grass, just in case another dog should happen along. At that pace, it takes about 30 minutes to make it to the bottom of the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain we stop for a minute, and then we turn around. Turning around is usually a sign for Sam to start nipping at Zeke and dancing around him. Sam growls and they bite each other on every surface they can reach. Sam does most of the work, but Zeke does his part, too.
But that didn’t happen on Tuesday. Zeke turned around and began a slow trudge back up the road. My pace is usually somewhere between a dog walk and a dog trot, so the dogs will trot for a short distance and then slow down to walk for a time. But on Tuesday Zeke walked slowly and deliberately, putting one foot down and then another. When Sam invited him to play, he barely acknowledged it. It took 45 minutes to get back home, and I was wondering the whole time whether he would make it. I was thinking about how to get Leah to come and pick us up. Zeke just wasn’t himself.
Or rather, I guess Zeke was himself, only it’s now his older self. I’m afraid this means no more long walks. We won’t walk down Fouche Gap Road; instead we’ll go up the mountain to the top, a fairly short walk, and then, when we turn around, it’s all downhill back home.
I have wondered how long Zeke would be able to keep up with Sam, and now I guess I know.
This is Zeke today.
This is a shot from about two years ago.
How sad for Zeke; he really is getting old. I always wish dogs would live as long as humans. Nice long years and a lifetime of friendship. That they age so quickly. He really is a beauty, even in his old age. Give that boy a nice bit of love from his long distance admirer, me!
Robin — We have had Zeke so long that it’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t have him. We know his days are numbered, as are ours. It’s not going to be easy for us, or for Sam, to lose him.