Some Early Morning Thoughts

I woke up an hour ago after a night where again I got little sleep. My pain meds tend to do that. I go to the living room, barely get settled in, and Dolly starts wanting out of her crate. I take her out and she is full of energy. She would not settle down.

I was thinking it was another false alarm. I thought she'd just woke up and wanted to do her old routine of going outside, barking, and then come right back in. I hate asking Gretchen to take her out. She'd just woke up too. We are both old and if an accident happens we don't heal fast and we'd be less able to take care of Dolly. You can't expect even a smart dog like Dolly to know that.

Yes I could tell my son to do it. But Gretchen and I have had far more experience in dealing with injured people and critters. More so with people and we have our own set routine with Dolly.  I was also thinking that if nothing else Dolly was going to expect me to sit and hold her all day long. I don't mind.....most of the time.....but I really can't  do that. I was thinking that I was going to have to make her get used to staying in the crate when she did not want to.

Gretchen took her out. It was no false alarm. There was no long potty ritual. She had barely got away from the carport when BOOM number one happened. She went like the energizer bunny. A few feet further on and number two happened almost like number one. Then Dolly wanted back inside even though her dog buddies showed up to check on her.  Once back inside I took a towel and dried her off.

She had settled down. I was still expecting another long day of holding her. Instead she stood up , looked at her crate, and then looked at me while wagging her tail. I was surprised she was wanting to go back in her crate. She was happy when I put her cone back on and went in the crate with no problem. Once in she settled right down and immediately went to sleep.

So my early morning fears appear to have been unfounded. Our dog continues to surprise me. No two days are entirely alike but they still have some of the same routines. Our love for our dog continues to deepen. I've often wondered if she somehow senses that me and my wife cannot do the things that normal younger people can. I do know that she knows my routine better than I do.