About three weeks since last update on Chief

I think--think, mind you that I have the right medicine combination in order to keep him 'comfortable'. His days are much different than before 'arthritis' let itself be known. He and I don't run as we used to, but rather walk. At times I will pick up the pace using a treat to get him to 'exercise safely'. If he had his way he would lay around most of the day because number one he realizes that he can't play with Susie any
longer and two that it feels 'better' not to run. As I think of him turning 3yrs old in July I have difficulty comprehending all that he has been through medically; or let me rephrase this--what all of us have been through along with him. I still fill up thinking about the days he ran and ran and ran. He reminded me of a Stallion back them and when he and Susie played it was indeed a 'ballet of wonder'! I had so many things I was going to have him participate. Activities that will never come to fruition primarily due to his medical challenges that is his urine issue having been re-routed so to speak due to a stone lodged and tear in his bladder and his arthritis and chronic degenerative joint disease. While he and I continue to 'struggle' with pulling issues notwithstanding the amount of work and training I have done with him to decrease this I continue to be in 'awe' of him. He is and continues to be a 'gentle spirit' and a most 'loving dog'. I often refer to Chief as 'an old, wise soul'. Rather than focus on the dreams and expectations both he and I had in terms of 'working together' (having fun with each other) I focus on what I believe to be a tremendous opportunity. An opportunity that allows us to get to know each other by the way we 'are' with each other throughout each day rather than what is 'objectively measured' in terms of what is 'done'. There are moments when I experience the energetic, pain free Chief of yesterday. As I watch him ever so 'gracefully' glide through the air at a fast pace I am reminded at how fleeting life is at any given moment and am grateful for this time together regardless of his condition.