[nagdu] Updated -- Guide Dog Age and Retirement

[avapup.7 at gmail.com]

I have been watching Cocoa very carefully since I first asked about retirement age. I made sure the harness wasn't too tight or too lose, made sure nothing seemed medically wrong ( checked ears and paws and teeth ), and then began keeping track of where and when she would seem to get tired, and where and when she would slow down.

First, I realized that in stores or shops, she didn't slow down. 

Then, I realized the only time she is really slowing down is when we go on walks around our neighborhood. Hmm. I remembered my first guide doing this same thing in the same situation, except she was much younger when she started it. 

I began changing the patterns of our walks. We have been walking some really weird looking routes, sometimes up and down the same part of the street, sometimes turning in really odd places, and pretty much just varying things. 

It turn out my Princess Cocoa has adopted the same attitude my first guide had regarding neighborhood walks -- "This is boring, Mom, and I don't want to go home yet, either. Let's do something else!"

Dogs! So now, Cocoa has no idea when we're actually going home, or when her walk's over; she is seeing new places, animals, and people, and to her, that's not boring! As a result, she walks at her normal pace again for the entire walk. Turns out my little 9 year old isn't ready to retire -- she was just bored. I wish I'd realized this a lot sooner. I sometimes wish dogs could talk like humans, and just tell us in our languages what they're thinking. That's be quite helpful lolol!

Ava and Cocoa