" Oh William!"



Old dogs have accidents .
Old people do too. 
It's the way of the world as we all get older
I once skidded on a puddle of urine as I was rushing around a corner of a hospital ward and fell hard on the floor ripping  the backside out of my pants and I remember often finding malteezer sized balls of poo lurking like land mines around clinical areas after being warmed and shaped down pyjama trouser legs and around netty knicker incontinent pads.
Nurses on elderly wards always keep one eye fixed on the floor as they go about their business.
This morning the Prof sang out that William had "flooded "  another corner of the living room after being let in by Albert. and  with a sigh I grabbed the biological cleaner and kitchen roll.
5.30 am is not a time to be cleaning up pee.
This afternoon I caught him just about to wee in the same, newly laundered spot and after I yelled his name, he sort of "came to" and realised his mistake, hanging his head in the shame of being shouted at yet again
Yells of " oh William " seem to echo about the cottage at the moment.
I put down the bucket of ashes I was collecting from the fireplace  and scooped him up into my arms and we sat on the armchair together for a long long sweet moment.

Old dogs are just like old people. 
They don't mean accidents to happen





54 comments:

  1. Poor William! You have a good attitude toward the old fella. Not all dog owners would be so patient and understanding.

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  2. Our older dog uses on doggy pee pads when we are gone or can't get him out fast enough. Of course he is only 5 lbs and you can clean up with a cotton swab!

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  3. One thirteen-year-old and one twelve-year-old--both Labrador mixes. Puppy pee pads, long ago abandoned, have reappeared in multiple locations. Old dogs have so much good to give; a little accident is forgiven.

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  4. Poor William , such a sweet boy. Our Sophie at 15 has partial paralysis in her hindquarters, as she walks through the house out drops little poo balls as hard as marbles. Just makes me thankful I don't do the same yet.

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  5. You have made me cry.
    And wish that the world was half as kind as you.

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  6. A nice armchair moment. Next time, sing him 'William It Was Really Nothing', followed by 'Accidents Will Happen'.

    Is The Prof prone to a bit of hyperbole?

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  7. Oh John - William is lucky to have you x

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  8. William really needed that hug from you today. give him a kiss for me.

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  9. Does he have a UTI or something?

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    Replies
    1. No, i think he just forgets ihe's in the house sometimes sharon..being blind doesnt help

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  10. Oh, William, you have a wonderful pa. Nothing else matters. Old dogs deserve people like John.

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  11. How embarrassing for William, and how good you had a sweet moment with him afterwards.

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  12. Give him a cuddle and a kiss for me.
    thehamish sends a woof.

    cheers, parsnip

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  13. Oh, John, you are such a lovely man -- William is lucky to have you -- and so is the Prof!!!

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    Replies
    1. My 'FC' post got a reasonably polite response! It's a pity s/he has to be so vituperative, as an 'alternative' viewpoint makes more interesting reading.

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    2. She's targeted me before and was a real cow to many here

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    3. I'm surprised she has not returned today...she attacks over a few days then disappears

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  14. Bless him!
    Arilx

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  15. Please try to stay patient with him. It breaks my heart to think of hom hanging his head in shame. :(

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    Replies
    1. It's easy to be kind to William he's just a gentle soul

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  16. I have an old dog in my house now too, and he is unwell. So I feel your pain. It's so horrible when you yell at them and see that look in their eye. Give William a little pet for me.

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  17. Lucky William that you are so understanding of his problems. Lets hope we all have someone just as understanding in our elderly futures.

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  18. Poor fellow. You have made me cry with the thought of him feeling confused and guilty. Keep loving him. But I don't need to tell you that.

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  19. teddy is old too and she breaks my heart every day.

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  20. Oh bless the poor little chap - he can't help getting old and forgetful. So glad, John, that he has you to care for him and console him in his forgetful moments.
    The Prof should remember that he might be glad for you to do the same for him one day......

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  21. A raised voice is as hurtful as a raised fist ... someone said once upon a time.
    Poor William .. maybe a dog pee pad would help him remember .. like puppies, he is being forgetful. Like all the old folks do..

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  22. The very thought of old dogs makes me cry. Give William a big cuddle from me.

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  23. On elderly wards nurses "go about their business' on the ward floor? Why don't they use the lavatories? I guess it's down to understaffing.

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  24. Anonymous6:32 pm

    " ... and scooped him up into my arms and we sat on the armchair together for a long long sweet moment."

    U

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  25. You are a very kind and patient soul.

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  26. Neither do young dogs, sometimes they just... go.

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  27. Hugs for William, the loyalty and love bestowed from him far out weigh his indiscretions. GG loves them all!

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  28. Poor old William and his forgetfulness. I wonder if he remembers Mary? the rabbit.

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    Replies
    1. I doubt it...I am just touched YOU do

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  29. Give William a hug for me . . . poor dear, he didn't mean to "spoil!"
    Hugs to you and the Prof too . . .
    continual clean ups can be daunting . . .

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. Amazing what just a little kindness and understanding means. I love when you write about your animals, but jeez, half the time I'm howling with laughter and the other half I'm tearing up. Always, though, I know they live in a good family.

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  32. Sweet sweet William....

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    1. I've said it before but of all of our dogs, even Finlay, William has the sweetest heart

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  33. You are such a softy. I'm so glad. And I'm sure William is, too.

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  34. You write so poignantly John of things that we will all find inevitable at some stage in our lives, with elderly loved ones and pets. You are a very tender man.

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  35. I hope that when it happens to me there is someone to hold and comfort me.
    Misty eyed here. Drat you and thank you.

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  36. Our dear old sixteen year old cat did a little wee wee on my daughter's lap the other night. I don't like seeing any one - animal or human struggle with getting old.

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  37. You seem to have the temperament that cheerfully cleans up messes without getting too irate or hysterical. I don't have that temperament at all!

    Poor William, such shameful geriatric accidents!

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  38. Living with a diabetic older dog has taught me a lot of patience. We just keep the cleaning supplies in a centralized place :)

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  39. ~smiling~

    As I write this response, my comment box is right next to the pic of you (I think it's you) holding William as he is "smiling into the wind".

    ~smiling bigger~

    Gotta love our elderly...we will be there soon enough.

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  40. I have recently put my Albert look alike to sleep. She was 16 and in renal failure. Feisty until 3 days before she died- ruled over the German Shepherd who bowed to her authority. Old animals break your heart. On her last day on earth Ellie sat in front of her water bowl - uremic , I'm sure, and looked at it long and hard- you could see her trying to process why she was there and what she needed to do. After 5 minutes of deep thought - she drank - and turning around, fell over. At that moment I just knew what I had to do - so so heartbreaking. I still wake up in the night and expect to feel the weight of her in the crook of my arm.

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