It Sucks getting Old

The familiar saying for Bernese Mountain Dogs is "3 years a young dog, 3 years a good dog and 3 years an old dog". Well, I am approaching my 9th year and I am certainly beginning to feel the aches and pains of an old dog.

But.. let me back up. My physical issues didn't start as I got older. My big issues happened when I was a young mother running around the backyard. After my second round of babies, I remember it like it was yesterday, we were all in the backyard enjoying a beautiful day when the man pulled up in the driveway. All of us ran to meet him like we always do and I led the way. Suddenly, I felt something snap in my knee and I couldn't use my rear leg. I was in a lot of pain and my lady was worried for me. She quickly got me settled down and tried to assess my injury. I could tell she was concerned because we went right off to the doctor. He confirmed what she had feared. I had torn a ligament in my knee and needed to have surgery. This was no easy undertaking. The surgery was done and I came home. Leg shaved and in a cast and pretty much immobile. This was going to be a long and hard comeback. I was made to stay still. My lady walked me on a leash and than made me lay back down on a blanket. But.. when I began to feel better, keeping me still was harder for her to do. I wanted to go out and play and be my old self again. But I listened to her and did what she wanted me to do I eventually healed and was almost good as new. But what is typical with these sorts of injuries, just like in humans, once you do it to one side, the likelihood of doing it to the other side increases. And a few years later it did just that. The other knee.. Well this time I wasn't as young. My lady was afraid of the surgery. So instead she hoped that I would heal on my own. I did, but not 100%.

So. now the knees hurt all of the time. The one with the surgery and the one without. I walk very slowly and won't run up the hill anymore. I prefer to just sit by the door and watch everyone else run around. And even though I am very careful, sometimes the young ones get out of control and hurt me. Calley did that very thing last week. She accidently ran into my shoulder and now that hurts. The lady was upset, but I know Calley didn't mean it. She was just being herself.

Sure does suck to get old.