Molly is my black Lab, and is now 14 years old. She is still spry, and caught a mouse just a couple days ago, but she is almost deaf now, and her eyes are clouding. She never was one to bark too much, and for a while now, she takes a lead from our Jack Russel (Jack) when it is time to bark at the mail man and such.
But lately, as the kids say, she barks at walls, and shadows. I used to just call her name if she barked too much, but now she can't hear me unless I get close, then she thinks she is in trouble. We got her at the dog shelter, and she was always very skittish if someone yelled at her. We think she was abused. She has always had abandonment issues too. If I am in the shop, and take a step towards the door, she has always jumped up and out the open door whether I am going out or not.
Molly has always been a real love machine. If you stop petting her she will herd you like a sheep. Sit down, and she will force, and I mean FORCE her head between your arm and body till you pet her. It's tough to see her going downhill, but I hope to have her around another year or so.
Then again, I will be a septuagenarian next month, and my family is looking a bit oddly at me lately too.
Rick Potter