MinPinMoments

Today is Malibu’s half-birthday. She is fifteen “and a half.” For a dog her age, Malibu has excellent mobility. Going for walks is one of her favorite activities, and she enjoys two or three each day. About a month ago, I noticed her limping, so we took a break from our walks. Malibu must have only tweaked her leg because she bounced back quickly. We were out on walks again in less than a week. It made me think about how lucky I am to have a senior dog who is still active.

Puzzles used to be another top activity, but Malibu lost interest, and I couldn’t figure out why. When she was diagnosed with canine cognitive dysfunction last year, I learned that her lack of interest was a symptom of CCD. Earlier this spring, I pulled out an easy puzzle and tossed some food in it. To my surprise, Malibu interacted with it. For now, I’m just using this simple puzzle. If Malibu continues to show interest, I will slowly re-introduce her other puzzles.

Another surprise came on Easter. I put plastic egg halves upside down on the patio. Treats were underneath them for Malibu to find. I wasn’t sure Malibu would even go near them. Last year, when I put out a few closed plastic eggs, Malibu became spooked and wouldn’t go near them.

This year, not only did Malibu go up to the egg halves, she picked them up with her mouth and tried to crack them open. She didn’t seem to realize they were already open. Malibu only needed to nudge it with her nose or paw to reveal the prize. But she continued picking them up with her mouth, which I had not expected. She would pick up an egg, and I would show her the treat on the ground. Without my assistance, I don’t know if Malibu would have realized the point of the activity. Games like this can be challenging now.

I thought back to past Easters when I would fill plastic eggs and toss them around the backyard. Then I would release the girls from the house to go and “find the eggs.” As soon as I opened the sliding door, they would race out of the house and off the deck. They would grab eggs and crack them open as I followed them with my video camera. The girls knew how to play the game and loved it.

Malibu’s cognitive issues may present challenges for some of the things we used to do, but I am so grateful for the things we can still do.

I hate March. There are too many sad events that have happened during this month. I lost my precious Twinkie in March of 2007. Quest was diagnosed with lymphoma in March of 2021. And then Quest made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge last March. This year I have been counting down the days until April.

One year ago this evening, I faced the decision every pet parent dreads. Quest hadn’t been feeling well, so I wanted to get her checked out. I thought after receiving fluids and anti-nausea medication, she would perk up. As we left for the emergency hospital, I had no idea we would return home without our sweet Quest. Saying goodbye to her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I knew I was making the right choice. She was experiencing a list of health problems that grew as time went by. It wouldn’t have been fair to keep her here for me. I needed to set her free to be reunited with Aspen. Life isn’t the same without them. I miss them both terribly. Memories soothe my heart, as does my Malibu, who is still by my side. But it will never be the same again.

Fifteen years ago this weekend, we brought home our Min Pin litter.

Happy Birthday to my Malibu –  She turns 15 today! 

Malibu continues to love taking long walks, performing tricks, and showing off her agility moves in the backyard (she doesn’t know I lowered the height of her dog walk and teeter for safety purposes, lol).

It’s a bittersweet day, but I’m so grateful to still have Malibu with me.

For many years, the first weekend in December meant one thing – a holiday photo shoot with my dogs. My goal was always the same – to capture the perfect photo for our annual Christmas card. A theme would be selected. Outfits and sometimes props would be organized. Some years I would take a group photo of the girls, and other years, individual shots would be taken. It was a weekend I looked forward to each year.

The long-standing tradition ended in 2020. Because it was the last December I would have all three girls still with me. The following summer Aspen passed away. I knew then that there would be no more holiday photo shoots. No more gathering the girls and dressing them in festive clothing or costumes. No more positioning them just right. No more taking photo after photo with tasty treats nearby to keep the girls focused on me. No more searching for the image that outshined the rest.

But I did have another project planned the first weekend of December in 2021. I planted flower seeds. When I received Aspen’s urn there was a tiny package of wildflower seeds included in the box. The instructions showed the best time for planting was late fall.

I wanted the flowers to grow in a very special area. One of Aspen’s favorite places in our home was the front windows of our living room. She would sit there for hours looking outside and waiting for something to happen. Under those windows was an empty flower bed. It was the perfect spot. I have no green thumb but did my best in following the directions.

Exactly six months later, the first flower appeared. It was the only one to bloom, but I was grateful to have it.

Last weekend, the first one in December, I had a new packet of seeds to plant. This time it would be in honor of Quest.

I planted her seeds in the same location as Aspen’s.

I hope to see flowers in the spring. Maybe I will see two blooms, instead of a single one.

Malibu