Stubborn Old Man

Today I took Huey for a nice run around the lake and at about two miles into the run he stopped. Wouldn't move. Went down to the water's edge and flopped to the sand. I let him chill for a bit and then once I got him going again he made for the nearest bench and crawled under it. I let him chill again and then tried to get him going. Eventually, I just carried him a little ways, then set him down in the sun on the grass and we sat there, watching the water.

Huey took in the breeze and the sun and I tried not to cry because it was the first time he was showing his age and I was so sad to be losing a running partner. I decided it was time to get moving again and when we stood up, Huey again refused to move. Then he looked at me, looked to his left, and pulled. I figured, heck, I'll go where he wants to go as long as he's moving. Once he figured out I would follow he broke into a trot in exactly the direction he wanted to go. No troubles. No refusing to move. Just happy, running, sniffing, doing what he wanted to do.

I wasn't willing to believe he was just being stubborn and worried about him all night. Thought I might come home to a fragile old man waiting to be lifted into bed. No such thing. He was up for a jog around the block, a game of tug-of-war (he won), and a bout with his kong.

I might still have lost a running partner but at least it's because he's lost interest and not because he's winding down his active days. I think Huey's still got a lot of life left in him, he'll just use it his way.