Navigating My Dog’s Journey Into Old Age

Our Yorkie, Mr. Wilson, will be 15 years old on July 29th. In the past year or so, he’s really begun to show his age. We knew this time would come, but we didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.

About the Name

Many people think he was named after Mr. (George) Wilson from Dennis the Menace, but that didn’t even cross our minds. My wife and I were married at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, California. The owner was affectionately called Mr. Wilson and when it came to name our puppy (less than 2 months after being married) we said:

What about Wilson, like Wilson Creek Winery?

But it seemed too plain. And there was another Yorkie in our apartment complex called Winston. So we decided to add a Mr. in there and boy did this dog deliver! With his little bowtie and his steadfast presence, he’s definitely a mister.

Signs of Aging

Confusion: In the past few months we’ve watched Mr. Willy (that’s what we actually call him) be more confused about where he is, where he’s going, and what’s happening in general.

Eyes and Ears: We’re not sure he sees or hears super well anymore, and suspect he gets around so well because he remembers his way around the house.

So Much Pee: He’s been having a lot of accidents lately. Like, so much pee. I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it. Sometimes, he may just not be able to get outside in time and has to relieve himself where he stands.

Getting Up: We’ll likely invest in some doggy stairs soon because jumping onto the couch and bed have become more challenging.

He’s Seen It All

My wife and I have only ever known a married life that includes Mr. Willy. He’s been a constant throughout our various apartments and houses. He’s been there for the birth of our 2 children. He moved to Canada with us from California.

He’s a staple. And quite possibly the one holding us together (we half-joke about this). Mr. Willy has just always been there. Nearby. Fitting perfectly into our lives and knowing precisely how much love to give.

He follows us from room to room, always at our feet wondering “where to next, guys?”

Creature of Habit

We suspect that he’s running a little bit on auto-pilot, knowing where to be in relation to us. We both work from home so we’re a constant presence in his life. I’ve never been more thankful for that freedom and flexibility.

He follows us into the office in the morning and mostly sleeps near us. We go downstairs for a snack or lunch and there he is. We sit in the living room to relax and he’ll be just close enough to feel comfortable but not nearly as obnoxious as our beagle sisters (who are of course bunched up into me as I type this haha).

Losing It

We don’t know how long we have left with Mr. Willy. We feel it slipping away. Even if it’s 5 more years, making him nearly 20 years old, that doesn’t feel like enough time.

He’s a given. Something we can count on. Our rock.

I’ve said to my wife that when he passes away I might have to take a week off work. To some, pet bereavement might sound silly. Like, it’s a dog. Sad but you can still function.

But to many people, their pets are as important as their human families. Dogs love us the LESS we do. The lazier and less productive we are, the happier they are because that means we can cuddle with them, go for a walk, play. Just be.

Quality of Life

We ask ourselves whether we’ll know when his quality of life has deteriorated to the point of considering euthanasia. He’s not there yet, but to honour what this lovable little scruff ball has given our family, we make sure to question it regularly.

Selfishly, we never want to say goodbye. But I can’t bear the thought of him suffering daily and wishing someone would relieve him. So for now, he’s still doing alright. There’s a noticeable difference but there doesn’t appear to be any pain.

All That Pee, Though

I’m not great at keeping this perspective, but I try to remind myself that someday I’ll wish there were puddles of Mr. Willy’s pee. Because as much as it sucks that he manages to find the few rugs we have, as long as there’s pee to clean then he’s still in our lives.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some dirty pee rags to wash.