Today we begin a 'transition' which is not easy, but necessary

I don't know why I thought that in time Chief and Susie would be able to play with each other again. Since Chief's diagnosis of chronic bilateral degenerative joint disease I have been striving to figure out his pain needs, activity needs and last but certainly not least, his 'dog needs'. In particular how we continue to give him time with 'Susie' safely so that he doesn't injure himself. It is so ironic. The last pack of dogs we had at a certain point we had to keep them separate because they would fight with each other. Now we have Susie and Chief who are absolutely 'in love with each other' but due to his recent condition and the passion at which if left to their own devices they exhibit through their play they cannot play with each other. Oh they can swoon each other which they do, but once jumping occurs I have to put a stop to it. Chief is only 2 1/2 and yet has already experienced major 'challenges' due to his urine issue and now this. I thought that once I reached the point of accepting his needs associated with the re-routing of his urine flow operation I could breathe and I felt that a balance once again (homeostasis if you will) returned. Of his two major conditions the DJD is by far the more 'devastating' because it significantly affects his quality of life and that of Susie's. Of course I can say this now since the operation regarding the bladder allowed him to continue to live. And although caring for him  in terms of the amount of laundry needing to be done per day and the many number of times he needs to go out to urinate is physically exhausting for me, this new condition is by far more physically and psychologically draining. I believe this is because I worry if I am adequately addressing his on-going pain needs, that I am providing him with the quality of life he deserves 'as a young, active dog', and that I find ample avenues through Chief and Susie can 'relate' and relate well!
Susie as you can well imagine is going through a tremendously difficult transition. She doesn't understand, nor like the fact that they are separate for play sessions with me. I have become the 'world' to her since the dynamics due to necessity have changed with Chief.

Today's pictures: