Sitting for the Grand-dog

Sitting for the Grand-dog

There are grandchildren (the kids belonging to our kids) and then there are grand-dogs (the dogs belonging to our kids).  Currently we’re babysitting one of our grand-dogs for an extended weekend.  In the past we’ve boarded Riley (a Golden Retriever) and Titus (an Australian Labradoodle).  But this time it’s Lexi’s turn (a brindle mutt).

Lexi is a matronly old gal who has been around the (canine) block.  As a pup and emerging adult she lived with our son-in-law in a house in the country full of similarly-aged college guys, one of whom was our younger son.  Eventually she shared her man with a new wife - our daughter.  And inevitably she became second (and third) fiddle to two baby girls - our granddaughters who are now nearing their first and third birthdays.    

I'm not sure of her exact age, but Lexi has seen a lot of change in her lifetime.  Having reached her semi-golden years, she’s surrounded with so much tail-pulling, little-kid LIFE that she hardly has a chance to get old.  She strikes me as wise (no point snarling at those rambunctious kids, they just don’t know any better) and bordering on elegant and refined, if dogs can claim standards of etiquette.

Her cataract-clouded eyes don’t seem to trouble her, and she displays a tail-wagging disposition that asks only for an occasional scratch on the head or a pat on the back.  She’s not chewy, nosy, barky, or bossy – just a sweet old lady. 

“Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable.  They might be a bit out of shape and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well.” -Bonnie Wilcox, Old Dogs, Old Friends