Senior Moments

I have mentioned time after time about how sudden Cosmo has become a senior citizen in the dog world. I feel like a lot of it had to do with my family moving and him adjusting to this new life. He's been a much different, sleepier dog. Lately, his old side has really been showing. For the past twelve years about, Cosmo has greeted us whenever we came home. He could hear the door bell, a knock on the door, the door being opened, and the garage door going up. He use to look out the windows at the front of our house and wait for us to come home. Now, I come home to a dog that is fast asleep and has little knowledge of anything that is taking place. Just today, I came home from school to empty house. Occasionally Cosmo will be in the front room, so he at least sees me walk in the door. Or I will hear his loud, obnoxious, lovable snoring. But today, I couldn't hear a sound. I looked through all of the house, and of course he was lying on the couch which we have always taught him not to do- a relative's couch at that. Once I wake up him from my presence, it takes him a minute to comprehend that I'm now home, which means he should be excited to see me. But he embarrassingly smiles it off and keeps wagging his tail.

Getting some warm sun during the cold winter.

You can really tell that his hearing is going. Not only from him not being able to hear us come home, but he can't even hear us throughout the house most of the time. Sometimes when he's laying in the hallway, or even in my room, I accidentally scare him because he won't hear me walk by but suddenly see a figure moving. Also, sometimes I think he randomly starts howling because he wants us to think he can still hear stuff that we cannot. He's not fooling anyone. He's also so needy all of the time. My family rotates in petting him for about an hour each day, and he's still all up in our faces. He's just always craving love and attention. But he's cute, so it's okay.

Selfie life.

Cosmo has grown up with me, and I know he is about twelve years old. But I've always heard different ways to calculate "human years" into "dog years". So according to Pedigree, Cosmo is about eighty-nine years old! Geez! He's becoming an older dog, but I'm not sure he become any wiser.

Miserable Moments

Today, Cosmo had to get surgery on his poor little paw. As you may remember, he got a sore on his paw in November. We thought it was all healed, but Cosmo got a check up at the vets last week, and turns out his paw is acting up. This past week he had to wear a cone, which made him getting around the house even harder. Although it was funny at times, it was also pretty dismal to see him so incapable.

He went into the vet yesterday, and they said he had to have surgery. So today he went in, and to be honest, I can't tell if he's loopy from being drugged, or if he's just being himself. When I came home and saw his bandaged, I felt so sympathetic, so I sat with him for some time, just thinking. Here is a picture of his stylish bandage.

Here is his bandage.

He also has to wear this over his bandage when he goes outside because of the wet snow.

The cover.

So he has to take pills for the next few weeks, and he hates taking pills. We practically have to force it down his throat. I hate when he has to go through something like this.

About four years ago, Cosmo had a tumor on the side of his eye. He had to wear a cone of shame then, and now his stitches that make his eye look weird and squinted. I cried when I saw him because I was younger, and I started tearing up when I saw him today. I hate this; I hope he heals fast. Everyone wants a happy dog!

Reminiscing Through the Past

Now that the new year has begun and 2014 is here, I was thinking back on some memories I've made with my dog over the years. Like I've said before, he's been in my life for as long as I can remember, so we've been through thick and thin together. I'll share just a few highlights of these past 12 years!

I vaguely remember the day we got Cosmo. I remember all of the adorable puppies chasing each other outside on the farm. I'm pretty sure I joined in on the fun. My brother picked Cosmo because he had a green collar on- his favorite color. The whole car ride home, he was running around the car exploring his new family.  The only thing I remember after that is him running up and down the hallways of our house while we decided what to name him. He was our new addition to the family, and that is when my love for dogs grew tremendously.

There are a few sliver of events that I remember about Cosmo between 2003 and about 2006. I remember the general things he did as a puppy such as chewing up blankets and pillows, running around the yard maniacally, and bathing me in his saliva. But I don't remember specific occurrences as well. I remember after we moved out of our house around 2004, we had to rent a house for about six months while our new house was being built. I don't remember doing many things outside during that time, but that winter we played with Cosmo in the snow so much! That's was my favorite memory of renting the house.

I think between 2006 and 2009. I remember going on many hikes and a couple backpacking trips with my family. We took Cosmo along most every time! He loved it. My family would be so amused when he would find a squirrel and his instincts would reveal. I really liked when he'd cuddle with my brother and I in our tent at night. He was still able to go even about two years ago- we just had to make sure we put booties on his paws so that they wouldn't get too sore!

Fishing with Cosmo during our backpacking trip in 2009.

Everyone my family knows, knows Cosmo. When we host parties, you can always count on him to be snooping around for scraps of food. Or whenever my friends come over, he comes on adventures with us. Even now when he can't do as much, he stills participates in sleepovers by sleeping next to me, following us around the house, and letting us dress him up.

About eight months ago while Cosmo rocked a Grateful Dead tee.

These are just a few recollections I have of Cosmo, and contain little detail, but they are the ones that stand out to me more than others. I will cherish these years with him for the rest of my life. In order for friends and family to be updated with Cosmo, I made a silly Instagram account for him! I'm not sure what my life would be if we hadn't gotten a him, but all I know is that life is better when traveled with a dog.

Cosmo, about four months ago, giving up on his walk. We had only passed two houses so far.