Remembering Gucci!

Today we returned from a wonderful two weeks out of town. We spent 2 wonderful days with you and Jared. We then went to Hingham for a week and 1/2 with Allison, Brian, Emma and Alex. This time included: a Red Sox game with amazing seats, a trip back to Fenway for a cool date with the Nolen's and a concert by Paul, 3 trips to beaches, a day trip to the beautiful ocean town of Marion, two trips to farms, two more trips to playgrounds, two library visits, two ice cream outings, a visit to Derby Street for a visit with a firetruck and countless hours of fun and games at 8 Flintlock Circle. We added a nice visit, at the end, to Syracuse to say good-bye to Aunt Rosamond. Despite all that goodness it was with a sad heart, that we we returned home to 1012. I opened the door to an empty house. Gucci was really gone! The sad reality set in once more. But in our mail was a letter from my good friend, Kurt. He had drawn this wonderful picture of Gucci for us to remember him!

Final Resting Places

Today we received Gucci's ashes so we decided to take them to his final resting places. The first one is in the grass at the far end of the pool. He would sit out there in the evening just staring back in the corner for hours. We called this his "patrolling".

The second place is in Sugarcreek Reserve. It is on a path that both Mom and I walk regularly, but it is not a main path. We plan to visit him for as long as we are in Ohio. We plan to leave bones for him at both places.

Gucci has reached the finish line! And we were all winners! "The Summer of Gucci" has ended!

The Summer of Gucci Ends

Today, early afternoon, Gucci left us. It was very quick and peaceful. I petted him through the process and he just went to sleep and died. I was glad I was with him and could see how peaceful it was. My thanks to his vet, Dr. Talmadge, for a lifetime of great care and compassion! He was a great dog and he was well loved and will be missed! The "Summer of Gucci" has ended.

"One Day More!"

I keep thinking of the song from the musical Les Mis, "One Day More." Like the song, Gucci keeps going, one day more, but now I believe it is more a case of days rather than weeks before "The Summer Of Gucci" ends. Yesterday when he stumbled over to me and crashed and lay with his head on my foot (see picture from previous entry). I thought he was telling me it was time and he was ready. However, today he perked up! Physically he is no better but he was "perkier", less lethargic and more interactive. So Jane and I will evaluate him on a daily basis. If we decide it is time we will call both girls before we take him to the vet. For now "The Summer Of Gucci continues... Below is a picture of Gucci, this evening, in his new standard position.

A Great Pool Day!

Today was a great pool day! So we spent most of the day outside, where Gucci does a little better. Still fed him by hand and had to stand him up inside and out. But outside, once he is up, he actually gets around very slowly and unsteadily. Every step is difficult for him. Ultimately he ends by falling to the ground and then staying there in a spread eagle position. In the picture below he had just finished walking around and going to the bathroom. He came over and crashed and lay at my feet. I know he is frustrated and the falling hurts him! So sad!

It also is our anniversary so he got to lick the plate from my cake. He really liked that. Tomorrow is supposed to be another nice day. Maybe he will have another decent day. The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

Talking to the turkey!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are Gucci's favorite holidays! He has been obsessed with turkey and when we took the turkey out to cool and carve and put in on the counter, he would whine. He would not stop until we actually moved the turkey. I'm reminded of this because today he can no longer stand and walk. If he sees someone in the kitchen preparing food he whines. I moved him from the great room to the kitchen and he still whined! Gucci physically is failing rapidly, and I fear it will not be too long when he can no longer stand and walk even with assistance. When that happens I believe it will be time to say good bye. For now the "Summer of Gucci" continues...

Gucci's a Reader!

I took this picture today because Gucci has just about always been at my feet. Only these days you have to pick him up and carry him there. Once he is there he can't move around much. So in this pose he looks like a reader!

I have noticed that his walking outside is becoming limited. Just about a week ago he would walk around the fence in the back. He has not done so lately. Maybe tomorrow. The summer of Gucci continues ...

Deja Vu All Over Again!

Today was more of the same. Gucci is limited to moving in the house only when you carry him. Outside he works hard to stay upright once you stand him up. He falls when he starts to walk. After 4 or 5 times he stays upright enough to go to the bathroom. Jane continues to feed him by hand. I think he is very frustrated as he tries to stand and can't. Outside is the only place he can move around at all and that is not much. It is all so very sad!!! The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

A Remeberance Run

Today I did something I haven't done in over a year. I ran 2 miles. Actually it was more of a shuffle than a run. But it was the first time in years I ran without pain. I did it for 2 reasons: First, Laura gave me the book "Shoe Dog ", a memoir of the Nike founder Phil Knight and he motivated me. Second, I was thinking of Gucci and me and all the times we ran in the park (Sugarcreek) together. So I thought I would try to run once more for both of us. It wasn't pretty but it was painless, and I did not stop for the entire 2 miles. Gucci's day continued to show a decline. Today he was unable to stand on his own, inside or outside the house. Outside the house, once you got him to a standing position he was eventually able to walk so he could relieve himself. Inside you stand him up and he falls right back down. I'm afraid that soon he will not be able to stand or walk at all. Who knows maybe tomorrow will be a better day for him. The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

"Gather The Rosebuds While Ye May"

The thing that amazes me most about Gucci's aging is how quickly it is happening! I have mentioned before that less than a year ago: I was still riding the bike with him, playing endless games of fetch, watching him leap off and on the deck and taking fast 2 mile walks in the park. Today, he can't stand or walk inside the house, he can't eat unassisted. He has to be carried outside where he wobbles to stand and walk. The pace of his deterioration is continuing. A month or so ago he could still walk in the house and go to the back door and bark to be let out. We could let him out and he could get on and off of the deck - usually. When I carry him outside and stand him up on the grass he generally falls four or five times until he is able to stand well enough to get his balance and strength to pee. I think there is a lesson in this for all of us. Some of the reading I have done suggests that an older person's aging is often accelerated by an accident or fall. Very quickly they can die or age and end up in assisted living. It makes me think of one of my favorite movies "The Dead Poets Society", when English teacher Robin Williams brings his class to a display case with a picture of an old athletic team. He has them lean in to hear what the people in the picture are saying. He whispers "Seize the day, gather the rosebuds while ye may." I'm profoundly affected by Gucci's experience and I will try to live life to the fullest everyday. The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

Zen Master

I was reading today that in Zen Buddhism what is important is not the future or the past, but the now. In this sense Gucci is a Zen master. His life is completely in the now. There is no past and no future. It is so sad to put him in the living room and just watch him. He does not move for hours until you pick him up and move him. When I look in his eyes, he seems so sad with how his life has been reduced. I was also thinking he does not play anymore. Think of how important play is to a dog. He does not play anymore. For Gucci there is no finish line! It was another beautiful day, actually a Father's Day. Gucci gave me a cute card. He spent most of the day outside resting or sleeping comfortably. The Summer of Gucci continues...

Another Day

Today was much like the day before. Gucci was good outside but had difficulties moving and standing inside the house. Jane had to feed him by hand again. One problem he is having involves his dumping. Because of the position he gets himself in, he falls right after dumping. Today he fell right into his dump. I hosed him off. I'm glad it is summer because he is able to enjoy his last days, relatively comfortably, outside. Tomorrow is supposed to be another nice day! The summer of Gucci continues...

In the Front Yard with No Leash!

Today Jane trimmed the bushes! A major job! My job was to "clump and dump." That is raking up the clippings and putting them in garbage cans to take later to the street on collection day. Gucci was inside alone while this was happening. So I decided to bring him out. He has never been allowed in the front yard without his leash. Today was his first time. Unfortunately he could not walk around, let alone think of "bolting" which he would assuredly have done a year ago. As we moved to the side, I picked him up and moved him with us. Here he was able to get up and wander around a bit. He dumped and promptly fell in it! Yuck! We put him in the back as we moved there and he walked around. Basically it was not a good day for him. He did not move around inside the house and could not get up from the rug in the living room. He now whines sometimes when is frustrated with his inability to get up. When he does that we pick him up and move him closer to one of us. Then he seems content. The Summer of Gucci continues.... Here are some pictures of him in the front yard without his leash!

Still Following Me Around

Since I have been home most with Gucci for the past 16 years he has chosen to follow me around. He still tries today. It is much more difficult for him, but sooner or later I look down, and whether we are inside or out, he is at my feet. He now sometimes can't get to me and he whines until we come get him. This is especially true at dinnertime. I have always fed him from the table, so he is under my feet. His appetite for people food is ravenous, and feeding him by hand can be dangerous as he is not always gentle. Jane had to help feed him his food again as he cannot stand and eat from his dish. In general he does better standing and getting up in the yard rather than in the house. This was especially true today as inside he had to be carried most of the time. His best traction is on the brick decking surrounding the pool. We no longer let him drink from the pool for fear of him falling in. We have a bowl of water for him outside. He really does not move much at all. If we leave the house we generally find him right where we left him when we return. At night he does not move for 8 hours. The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

More Of The Same

Today for Gucci was pretty much more of the same.  He spent a good deal of time outside, where he moved around pretty well.  He is unable to come up the steps on he deck.  Otherwise he does pretty well.

Inside he got to a standing position from the rug a few times. Other times he could not get up.  He did not eat from his dish so Jane fed him by hand.

Last night I could not get him to take his last pain pill, but he seemed to sleep well.  Today I forgot to give him his midday pain pill.  Again he did not seem to miss it.  Tomorrow I will try to start giving him just two pills a day.  I think he will be perkier and more alert.

The "Summer of Gucci" continues...

Return of the Rabbits

Well, Gucci, over the past 16 years, has created a "rabbit free" backyard.  There were "massacres" where he would in a matter of moments wipe out entire nests.  Now, in his decline, the rabbits have returned. That is, at least, 1 small bunny that we saw for the first time this afternoon.  We also had a cat in the yard.  I picked Gucci up and moved him toward the cat.  He advanced on the cat but the cat stood his ground and I ended up chasing him out of the yard ( don't tell Gucci -  he thinks he chased the cat away).

As you can tell from this post, Gucci spent much of the day outside.  He had a very good day moving , albeit slowly, all around the yard.  When he came inside he moved around the house much easier than has become his custom. He even ate on his own, standing upright, in front of his dish!

The "Summer of Gucci" continues ...

Noises and barking

Gucci used to be quite skittish with loud noises.  One of the funniest incidents occurred when a hot air balloon flew low over the house and then fired its gases.  He was so scared we had a hard time getting him to go outside again.  He was always cowering and looking up. Often times this cowering would be accompanied by a slight "scared" bark.

Now, of course, he is almost totally deaf. so virtually no noise startles him.  We can come in the house and be in the kitchen for a long time before he even notices we are here.  Up until recently he would bark to go outside.  He no longer can walk easily to the back door, so he doesn't bark much anymore.  He does not like to be outside alone.  The other day we were inside and he barked from the bottom of the deck to come get him  So we carry him out, periodically, hoping he does not have an accident.

Today was a good day with no accidents.  He got outside and walked around.  He still cannot stand and eat so he has to be fed by hand while he is flat.  The weather was beautiful today.  Hopefully it will be nice tomorrow. "The Summer of Gucci" continues....

"Groundhog Day"

The days of The Summer of Gucci are virtually indistinguishable from each other.  I find him sprawled out asleep in our bedroom at 6AM.  I pick him up and carry him outside, and I steady him on the grass in the backyard.  He takes a step and falls.  I lift him back to all fours and he steps and falls again.  I lift him back to  a standing position,  and he takes a few steps before falling. Eventually he gets going and sets himself in peeing position.  After he pees I wait to see if he wants to continue walking to the fence.  When he stops I go get him and bring him to his water bowl outside.  He drinks a lot.  When he is finished I carry him inside to his dish .  I get his medicine and put it in a spoonful of peanut butter.  If I'm lucky he will take peanut butter pill and all. Sometimes he eats the peanut butter and leaves the pill.  Then I get another spoonful of peanut butter and try again.  After his medicine,  I feed him his bones and dog food by hand because he can no longer stand or sit in front of his bowl for a prolonged period of time.  When he is done I carry him to the living room where he stays and sleeps,  and usually stays in the same spot until I carry him out again, and we repeat the whole process.

Sometimes he stays out when Jane or I are outside.  He either sits on the deck or lays in the grass.  He will occasionally get up and walk around.  We need to make sure we give him and opportunity to dump.  This is difficult for him, and in the process of going he sometimes loses his balance and falls down.  This morning he went right after peeing early in the morning.  I thought he was done for the day.  Typically after he has been out he is good for 2-3 hours.  I go ride the bike or go to the gym.  Today I left for an hour and a half.   When I came back he had dumped on the rug.  I was surprised because just before I left he was outside with me for 2 hours and he had dumped once already in the morning.  I think he knows it is wrong to go in the house, but I do not get angry with him because I feel he is disappointed in himself.

Tomorrow we will do this all over again. Hopefully he will not have and accident.  The  Summer of Gucci continues.

Ghost Rider

Today I biked to the gym.  The route to the gym contains much of the same ground as my 2 mile bike rides I took with Gucci.  Gucci was really good at bike riding .  He had about a 6 foot leash and he would have to match pace.  He also would have to avoid obstacles.  The biggest obstacle while riding on sidewalks was mailboxes.  He was great at it.  The only problem we ever had bike riding was when a dog came after us.  A few times dogs that were not on leashes or stopped by electric fences came after us, and then Gucci would sometimes cross in front of me and we would crash. Most times I saw it coming and would stop and dismount.  However, a few times the dog would approach silently and go after Gucci.  This almost always ended in a crash.  But for 95% of the rides they were uneventful, and Gucci would match my pace in perfect harmony.  It was a thing of beauty to watch.  As I rode today,  I swear I saw him at my side.

Today was an "ok" day for Gucci.  We spent a good deal of it outside in the backyard.  It is hard for me to reconcile the current picture of Gucci; struggling to stands and walk with the athletic dog, who only a year ago, ran along side my bike stride for stride in perfect harmony.

The "Summer of Gucci" continues.

"Boys Rule and Girls Drool"

Jane has gone to New York City to be with Laura, Allison and Emma and the rest of girls as they celebrate Laura's bridal shower.  Gucci and I are left here alone. With me working from home, we have been  alone together a lot over the past 16 years.  It rained the first half of the day,  so we got movies from the library.  We watched "The Revenant."  There was a very scary bear in it!

Gucci did not have a particularly good day, as he struggled to get up and fell many times.  I had to feed him by hand.  But we enjoyed the day together, and look forward to a better day tomorrow.

"The Summer of Gucci" continues.  You may wonder why I call it The Summer of Gucci.  It is because of his condition that we cannot both travel.  Someone must be home with him.  Jane and I don't mind.  There will be plenty of time for both of us to travel.  This, sadly, will be the last summer for Gucci, so it is "The Summer of Gucci."  But it is not a sad thing.  I believe he is relatively comfortable and happy! We all enjoy this special time together!

The Backyard Jungle

Our backyard at 1012 Treeside Court is a veritable jungle and Gucci has been our hunter.  He eventually drove all the rabbits away.  He could chase the squirrels and chipmunks all day.  At night Gucci would stay out for hours and "patrol'.  He had a number of fights with the opossums, and got a scar under his eye from one fight.  He even had a  standoff with a Canadian goose. We have also had a family of foxes next door,  and Jane saw a coyote in the backyard about a year ago.

Today the squirrels and chipmunks have free reign of the yard because Gucci doesn't try to chase them.  He used to scare the ducks out of the pool.  Lately we haven't had any ducks in the pool, but Gucci would not be able to chase them anyway.

Today was another good day for Gucci.  We have noticed some blood in his stool, but I have not mentioned it to the vet.  He struggles to get up and walk, but once he gets going he gets around ok - especially outside - but he even did better inside today.  Gucci surprised me by going down the deck, and  he made it to the bottom before falling in the grass.

Here is a picture of him when he was a pup!

The Best Training Partner

Over the last 16 years Gucci has been my training partner.  We have trained for marathons and 5K's.  Most of the training was done at our favorite spot, Sugar Creek Reserve.  Below is a picture of Gucci at his last time at Sugar Creek. It was on his 16th birthday, February 20.  He walked very slowly around the 1/4 mile paved path for the handicapped.

Gucci also ran along side, on the leash, when I biked.  I could even go 13 mph  and he would be running in full stride, easily, at my side.  As I eventually could no longer run myself, we walked together in the park.  He was the best training partner ever.  Over the 16 years I bet we averaged 3 days a week running or walking at Sugar Creek!

Gucci had another good day.  It was beautiful and he spent a good portion of it outside.  He was out with Jane when I returned in the car from the gym.  He saw me in the car and walked over to the deck to wait for me.  I spoke to his doctor today and confirmed that he is doing well and reordered his medicine.  The Summer Of Gucci continues!

"Turbo Time"

One of the funniest things about Gucci's energy was his "Turbo" moments.  For no reason at all Gucci would start tearing around in circles, full speed,  around the room,  on and off the furniture so quickly you didn't have a chance to scold him.  After doing this for about 1 minute he would crash on the floor, panting!  It ended as suddenly as it started.  He had these "turbo" episodes for years.  It was a  funny thing to behold, 1 or 2 minutes of high energy, culminating in his crash to the floor at the end.

Our house has a three step deck out the back.  For years Gucci never used the steps! He would just leap off and on.  Now he can no longer climb or descend the steps.  We carry him up and down.  With that said, Gucci had another very good day today.  He spent times outside  lying on the deck  and in the grass in the sunshine.  He even walked around a little bit. He has trouble standing up on the rug inside, but today he did it a couple of times! He got up when Jane came home, and when I came home from the gym.  The "Summer of Gucci" continues!

The Best Fetch Player

Gucci was an incredibly athletic dog.  He could run, jump and catch, and he showed all three skills when he played his favorite game, fetch.   Up until last summer, he could play fetch with you until your arm fell off.  He always ran at full speed,  but when he returned he never wanted to give it up.  To get him to drop the ball you would have to throw another. Then  you picked up the first ball when he was retrieving the second.  You would repeat this, literally forever.  He never slowed down or got tired and always seemed disappointed when you stopped.  He would play this game with anyone,  young or old. Emma liked playing this with him when she visited in the summers.  If you threw a Frisbee and got some air under it,  he would catch it in flight!

Now it is a sad sight when you look around the back and see all the balls he used to play with just lying there, "unplayed with".  The only toy he still goes to,  and then very slowly is the Frisbee.   He only goes to it because it might contain some rain water if it is lying upside down.  This makes me wonder about the quality of the life he now has.  Some people might say,  "Wow, such an athletic dog can't be happy being barely able to stand and walk." I'm not  so sure.  Today, for example, he had a very good day.  He still could not go up or down the deck by himself.  But when outside he walked all over the yard. When in the house he followed me room to room and was able to get to his dish and eat himself.  The Summer of Gucci continues!

A Dog Named "Gucci"

Well let's start this story at the beginning! Gucci was born on February 20, 2000.  We got him in late April or early May.  He came from a rural town in western Ohio, close to the town of Laura. He was the last dog of a litter of Jack Russell Terriers.  Allison had named our previous dog, our beloved beagle, Hershey.  So it was Laura's turn to name the family pet and she chose "Gucci."

He fit right in!  Jane had always assumed all the major responsibilities of pet ownership.  In agreeing to allow us another dog, she required that I take the role of primary care giver.  Gucci and I have been attached at the hip ever since.  I was working a lot from home then, and over the next 16 years I worked mostly from home.  So our relationship became pretty much a "24/7" one.

 Gucci has always had a bit of an "attitude", is independent and never a "lap dog".  We each have had  our own space. We have understood each other,  and he went everywhere with me!  Over the past sixteen years I have had more than my share of operations and procedures.  He has stood by my side through all the recoveries, so  it seems only fair that I stand by his side now. I don't see how that includes me somehow putting him down.  So this is the "Summer of Gucci."

Today was a pretty good day for him.  The weather was beautiful, and he spent most of the day in the backyard.  I should mention that he still has difficulty standing and walking and today after dumping he lost his balance and just missed falling in his own excrement. "Whew!  As I mentioned in the first post,  when we bring him in we steady him by his dish so he can eat and drink.  Today he was not able to stand, for long, and eventually he fell.  Jane then fed him the rest of his food from her hand.  The good news is  he still has an appetite!  He also is good about going to the bathroom outside.   He no longer can walk to the door to let us know he has to go. We just need to remember to pick him and get him out often enough. Like I said, today was a pretty good day for him.  He seemed well medicated for his pain and appeared happy and perky at times.
 Gucci standing

Gucci Walking

This is the Summer of Gucci, our sixteen year old Jack Russell Terrier's last summer.  Gucci is, fairly quickly, losing his ability to stand and walk.  When that happens it will be time to put him down.  At that time, I have no idea how I will be able to do that. This blog, I hope, will help.

Gucci has been my friend and constant companion for 16 years. He used to follow me everywhere, around the house, in the yard and in the car. Now he generally stays in one place.  Periodically, I pick him up and and carry him out in the backyard.  When we get there I support and balance him.  He tries to take some steps forward, one or two, and then falls down.  I get him back on his feet and he tries again generally falling once or twice more before he finally maintains his balance long enough to go to the bathroom. Sometimes he is able to continue a wobbly walk to his bowl for water and on a good day he walks the fence perimeter stopping by where the neighbors compost pile backs up to the fence and he can, sometimes, find some people food scraps.  His appetite remains good and when I pick him up to carry him up the steps of the deck and in the house, we stop in front of his dish , where I steady him and support him while he takes some food and water. I then carry him back to the rug in the great room or the master bedroom.  He can still walk on the rugs and most times can get himself to a standing position.  Most of the house is hardwood floors on which he ends up sprawled out flat and unable to move (we have installed pathways of runners to help).  When we leave the house we put him on a rug and remind him to stay, although he is now quite deaf and I'm sure cannot hear what we are saying. If we are lucky, he stays on the rug and we find him there when we come home.  We have found him sprawled out on the hardwood floor laying in his own urine.  This, for now, is the exception.  He normally only messes in the house if we do not take him out often enough.

Gucci is the most athletic dog we have ever owned.  He could run and jump and catch in endless games, which we played until last fall.  He also was very disciplined about the bathroom, never messing in the house.  When we went out he had the run of the house and when we came home everything was fine. This has all changed.

We have had an incredible 16 years.  In the daily entries to follow, I will chronicle Gucci's day and then talk about some of the amazing things Gucci and our family have done together.