A heartbeat at my feet

A heartbeat at my feet.

This marvelous boy celebrates his thirteenth birthday today!

My “old soul” pup... you can get lost in those eyes. There’s a comfort there.

I thank DOG for every day this one graces me with his presence.

Happy Birthday Ben!

April and youth

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

William Shakespeare

Bright eyes. Happy smile. Ben is loving his Spring walks. He trots alongside like he always has, but every Spring – out of the cold of winter and before the heat of summer – his step is high, like a young pup’s trot. His age is betrayed only by the white of his face.

It's all in the details.

Oh, such a familiar view and comfortable sight. One that says home to me. I think Ben is the perfect-sized dog. His lovely head, just the right size, settling into my cupped hands. Home. Those white hairs overtaking the black hairs just a little more each day. Can I tell you I just adore those eyelashes?

How to relish, by Ben.

The warm weather front that has graced us the last few days is soon to depart. But we're relishing it while it's here. Right Ben? Hello? Ben...

Sorry 'bout that. Ben is busy with the "relishing."

Sun salutation

Yesterday it was 60ºF with full sun and a bright blue sky... in mid-February! Ben paid his homage to the sun and warm temps asking them to stay awhile longer.

As unique as a fingerprint

Six in One

How to make it through the hazy hot days, by Ben.

That's easy... go on vacation! We head North from the humid hot stormy Mid-Atlantic to the cooler climes of upstate NY! Ok so it was still a bit hot and a little stormy but it felt positively better then the temps we were having at home in Bmore!

We made a trip up to Glen Highland Farm for their Canine Country Camp. Every year a group of like-minded folks and their dogs come together for a week of fun and learning on the gorgeous 175-acre property. There's agility, herding, rally-o, disc dog, flyball, freestyle, tracking and K9 Nosework. There are fascinating lectures on vet care, integrative medicine, reading dog behaviors, nutrition, etc. Everything about the Camp is about strengthening the bond you have with your dog(s). Ben and Molly's most favorite part.... trails and trails to explore off leash (and NO ticks) with lil ol me! Through the hemlock forests, through endless meadows, through the creeks, through the pond we went. We made lots of new people friends and new dog friends, and even met up with old friends from camps' past.

Here are some highlights from Ben:

A beautiful day! Like!

After being hammered last week with 90 degree temps and 50% humidity and raging pounding thunderstorms, the skies cleared and today we had a beautiful 80 degree day with a gentle breeze. Ben likes that.

Clean margins!

Yay for Ben! He has been recovering really well. It has been a bit over 2 weeks since his soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma excision surgery (say that a bunch of times really fast). He's been enjoying the extra pampering, treats, cuddle times and extra plush bedding popping up in places where there was none before. What he hasn't been enjoying however was his limited exercise - very short leash walks only. NO running, jumping or playing for those 2 weeks. We are now easing back into it and he is one happy camper. Molly was being great during his recovery, listening to me (for the most part) when I told her to not body check Ben or invite him on squirrel chases on the hill. BTW, Ben is not wearing a t-shirt because it's cute. He's wearing it because he does not bother his looong incision site when he is wearing it. It's quite effective and worked better than the dreaded cone.

The pathology on the excised mass was guarded news for us. The not great news was the sarcoma was a grade 3 tumor that has up to a 50% chance of recurrence. It was characterized as a neurofibrosarcoma/nerve sheath tumor. The best news is that the doc (a board-certified surgeon) was able to get clean margins by 1.5cm on all sides and 1cm deep, which is excellent!!! I take the bad with the good and stay optimistic. We have a lot of good things going for us: it had not spread to internal organs, Ben is in excellent health for a 12 year old, his blood panels and CBC are great, he is lean, always a great appetite and a good pooper and... and we got clean margins. I'll say it again. Clean. Margins.

Thank you to Dr. Krista Evans and the other fine staff at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists. This has been quite an ordeal for little man Ben and an emotional journey for me. I hope to write about that in a future post but for now leave you with some random thoughts and observations:

• Ben is very happy to be eating more raw food
• All the leafy dark green veggies in the crisper drawer of my fridge are for my dogs
• Never say you would never buy a dog ramp for your vehicle
• I hope to never have to pull a RX transdermal patch off a dog ever again
• I'm thankful to have dogs that are easy pill takers
  
• Rescue Remedy is a fine fine product
• A dog wearing a cone collar is really freaking funny
  
• Walk your dogs and cherish every minute of their company

Ben, meet twelve.

Twelve. 12 years and counting. 12 years, of knowing you. I had spotted you, the one shiny solid black pup in the litter of black and tan shepherd pups. You fell asleep as I held you and I knew you were mine.

You were the star in puppy class but a hellraiser at home. My devil dog. My baaad boy. I called you those things because you were challenging as a little one. When I didn’t know better. When I didn’t know you better.

You wait for me to wake up in the morning, content to sleep in, right along with me. I love that you start the day with long stretches of each of your legs, right down to each of your toes.

You lick to clean Molly’s face every morning and every night. On walks through the woods I so love to watch you two gallop shoulder to shoulder down the trails.

I know you can’t see as well in the dark anymore. But it is you that always find me first when we play hide and seek, Molly not far behind.

Solo walks are a pleasure for me to give to you. You move a bit different, you don’t walk, rather... meander. It’s different when it’s just you and me, I feel time move a little slower. You make that happen. On the warm days, as your step slows I bring you to the shade of trees for a needed rest and you are happy to indulge, rolling around, snorting and stretching, the cool grass on your belly, never failing to make me smile.

I stare at you a lot. I’ve watched the gray face come in, on your cheeks at first, you were still young at 2 years. One day the face of a distinguished and wise dog looked back at me. It’s hard to remember what you looked like before.

Today you turn 12.

You are my Zen dog. My take time to smell the roses dog. My live in the moment, be in the moment dog. My old soul dog. My teacher. I love you Zen Ben.

Happy Birthday my dear friend! That's 12 years... and counting!

The patient one

Ben takes ya along for a vacation Pt. 2

Ben takes ya along for a vacation. Pt. 1