Speck still acts like a puppy in so many ways but he will be 14 this year and that’s getting on up there for a dachshund. He’s almost totally lost his hearing. It’s sad but at the same time, he cracks me up. He will be looking all over the house for me and I’m right behind him saying “Speck! Speck!” and then I’ll tap him on the back and he about jumps out of his skin. He panics if he loses sight of me . . I guess because he can’t hear me. The good thing is that he can’t hear when someone knocks on the door . . which used to have him running to the door barking. It makes it hard for me sometimes too because he still gets into things he shouldn’t get into and when I call him, since he can’t hear me, I have to go searching for him.
We’ve always put him in the crate when we leave the house but now that he can’t hear, he doesn’t like going in the crate so if I’m just leaving the house for a short amount of time, I leave him out. I have established a routine of closing all the bedroom and bathroom doors, putting Speck in the chair and covering him up with his blanket, tucking him in and making sure that he knows this only happens when I’m leaving the house. Hopefully this will keep him from waking up and running through the house searching for me . . but I don’t know.
Yesterday morning I had been gone for several hours and left him out. I came home and he wasn’t in the chair where I had left him. I called his name, louder and louder and he never heard me. Then I realized one of the bedroom doors was open. I hadn’t closed it tightly and I hoped he had gone in there. I walked in and looked in the chair where he sometimes sits.
Where’s Speck?
Then I noticed that the quilts on the bed had been disturbed since I had made the bed that morning.
Where’s Speck?
Then I noticed a lump under one of the quilts and there was Speck . . in the bed! He had gotten into the chair and then jumped from the chair to the bed. That’s a good jump for an old dog. I wish he wouldn’t do that. I’ll be more careful to make sure that door is closed tight when I leave but at night, it’s now an issue because he knows he can jump into the bed. Last night, he did it twice and finally I convinced him he was not sleeping in the bed and he settled down into his bed on the floor. I hope we don’t go through this every night.
There’s a big double window by the chair and I love sitting there during the day and knitting and looking out the window or I’d take the chair out of there.
Diann says
I love to read about Speck. Haven’t heard anything in a while. We dog sit our neighbor’s cocker spaniel some weekends at his house. He is elderly and deaf too but his parents have taught him hand signals and when you flash them he obeys. It’s a hoot but it works.
Sherrill says
I had a little mutt rat terrier mix and she was ALWAYS an outdoor dog. She lived to be 21 & that was several years after she suffered a stroke. She always amazed me at how she’d run around the backyard like a young dog. We finally had to have her put to sleep as she had cancer.
CJ says
It’s been nearly 2 years since my little schnauzer passed, Speck sounds a lot like him. It’s hard when they get old and things don’t work right anymore!
Sandy says
Before I leave I must close the doors to all the rooms that have books my dog can reach. He likes to eat books, especially the hardbacks! I wish he’d just read them instead.
vicki gasorski says
Gotta love a doxie. Enjoy these golden years. Would love to see a pic of Speck. I had a long-hair black & red for almost 15 years. I am currently “owned” by a short-hair black & tan named Chip. Doxies are just “different” but what a joy to have around.
SaraF says
Speck was probably very happy under that quilt in your bed – he felt warm and safe, and it smells like you. Our cat did that for quite awhile after we moved into our current house. I think it was one of the few places that smelled and felt like home.
Judy H says
Speck sounds so sweet!
When I leave the house I tell my dog that it’s time to get tucked in, and he jumps up on a chair or the couch and I pet him. Then I leave. This way he knows I’m going out, and he is comforted by the routine. If I’m going to be out a long time, I’ll turn on the TV for him, too. 🙂
Gari in AL says
I know what you mean about jumping. If you go to my blog (http://gariquilts.blogspot.com/2014/01/aging-rapidly.html) you can see the steps next my bed: we have three dachshunds. We close doors, too, but our youngest gets into stuff anyway.
Ranch Wife says
Speck’s got the right idea – I like the way he thinks! Just because we get old doesn’t mean we’re not puppies at heart. 🙂 Our Gus is 15 and still acts like a puppy sometimes too and he still walks with me every day although he prefers to jog with DH.