Baker Turns 12.

 

Just as it came last year, and the year before that, the 26th of August brought International Dog Day! 
Colleen Paige, an Animal Advocate and a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert founded the day marking the date she adopted her first family dog, Sheltie. It wasn't just to celebrate her dog though, but to celebrate and appreciate dogs as a whole - the unconditional love, joy and in general value dogs bring to our lives. Colleen also wanted to bring a focus to pet adoption, highlighting rescue shelters and to adopt, not shop. 20 years on, the latter message has gotten a little lost, though of course with social media many people's dogs get the shout-out they deserve.
I'll always take the opportunity where possible to shout about the 'Adopt, Don't Shop' movement and encourage you to seek out your local rescue (or even travel further afield) when in search of a new pet. From cats, dogs and small furries, to reptiles, birds and horses, rescues care for a whole host of species, breeds, ages and temperaments - there really is no excuse not to adopt. Safe the life of an animal who has already been let down by people and give them the chance they deserve. 
If you are not in the position to add a pet to your family, why not support your local rescue anyway? You can volunteer your time or talents, and donate goods or money. Every little thing helps. 

As you can tell, the 26th of August isn't just International Dog Day, but also our own dog Baker's birthday! He has been on this crazy planet for 12 full years and with me just shy of that. Tweleve! 
Here are some photos from his birthday...


Check out some of his previous birthdays below
Baker Turns 8!
Baker is 9
A Decade with Baker
Baker's 11th Birthday!

Thankfully, this year unlike last, Daddy was off work and able to be at home with us on the actual day. However, Granny and Granda weren't here this year. So although like clockwork I made his birthday banner, took his portraits and he opened his presents, we didn't have a little tea party this year. 
As is discussed every year, he really doesn't want for anything. He gets toys and treats and anything he needs all throughout the year, and so we'd planned to only get a couple of bits...of course that didn't happen!
I want to avoid talking about his ageing too much in this post, but it was extra evident this year while he opened his gifts. He was less interested, more easily tired and less dexterous. It may have taken longer and included more breaks but he opened all but two and then lay down for a big nap! With that being said, we've been finding different forms of enrichment and keeping his mind and body busy than the usual games we play so new hide-and-seek toys (which he has a few of already and loves) as well as a new puzzle toy were included in his haul.

Some facts about Baker from the past year:

- He has gone from only being able to eat chicken breast and rice, back onto a dried kibble after a sickly week put him off!

- No longer able to conquer the stairs, his new bedroom is the living room and for the first time in his life he has decided not to sleep in his cage and instead favours the sofa.

- He still cries and winges just as much and is determined in his mind that he can bound about like he used to, but his body tells him he can't and he often gets frustrated at that.

- We got him a buggy! See his first time out in it here > The First Adventure with Baker's New Buggy!

- In June his 3rd annual camping trip was attempted, however, he decided to go on hunger strike the first day and we had to drive all the way home the next day! 

- He did get the opportunity to set foot in Loch Ness though. 

- Baker's current favourite toy, not counting his birthday additions, is a big spider. Funnily enough, he used to hate even the word spider as he was scared of the creature but now, apparently not! 
- His hearing is waning, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much.
- If he used to be clingy, then I dunno what you'd call him now! Baker loves to have physical contact at most times and still loves to give his Mam kisses.

Here's to many more years of my boy, Baker.


Check out some of his previous birthdays below
Baker Turns 8!
Baker is 9
A Decade with Baker
Baker's 11th Birthday!

Baker's 11th Birthday!

 

On August 26th 2023, National Dog Day, Baker turned eleven years old!

From his very first birthday up to the present day, I have handmade a birthday banner and taken Baker's portraits alongside it. We also like to have a little tea party and he gets to open his gifts, however, this year his Daddy was at work on his actual birthday so we had to move the celebrations to the day after. 
My parents came down and so helped me take his portraits on the 26th and then on the 27th we all gathered to watch him open his little pile of presents and had a small picky tea in the afternoon.

As the years go by it gets more and more difficult to buy things for Baker as he wants for nothing. He has a never-ending supply of toys which rarely get thrown away because he treats all his things so nicely and if anything does get slightly damaged I mend them. The choice of treats and the like is forever dwindling too with his old man's constitution meaning he is on a specific diet and there is less and less that doesn't disagree with him. He did get a few nice bits though and once we return from our Honeymoon in October we hope to find some super comfy new orthopaedic beds to cradle his aging joints. 

This is just a quick post to show off his beautiful little face in his birthday portraits and as I've written a small summary about Baker for the past 4 years, I'm not going to stop now. If even only for me to read one day long from now when he is no longer here.

It's surreal that he is 11 and although some days you can really tell from his mobility and especially his attitude, most of the time he needs to be reminded how old he really is and to stop jumping so high while playing with his balloons!

He is getting much more difficult as he ages, but who doesn't. He's, in human equivalent years, in his late 60s and has lived a life of being absolutely spoiled so it's inevitable that he was going to become stubborn and even more needy, but oh well! He is who he is and has grown to be that way. This is his house and his family and he can do whatever he wants if it makes him happy for the rest of his life.

His daily diet now consists almost completely of cooked chicken breast and white rice and this year we have started playing 'find it', where we hide treats or chicken around the house and he uses his nose to sniff them out. Alongside his balloons, this is one of his favourite activities.
He's been lucky to enjoy another camping holiday this past June and hopefully, we'll be able to take him away for another special little holiday next year.

The crying and whinging may get me stressed, but I love him so much and hope for many more years of Baker.

Check out some of his previous birthdays below
Baker Turns 8!
Baker is 9
A Decade with Baker

A Decade with Baker

 

Baker is TEN!!
We hit the decade milestone. And it flew in.
It feels like the past ten years have disappeared in a blink, but then again I cannot remember life without this little man.

I'm sure that there are others out there who share my exact bond with my dog, especially since joining the Blue Cross as a volunteer and hearing first-hand that people do feel the same, however, I am aware that many people don't understand the relationship Baker and I have, nor the way I treat him.
Baker is my child. The fact that he has fur and four legs has no part in it because, as I have mentioned many times previously, I do many things for him that a mother does for a child. 
Baker is my best friend, he is an emotional support, a companion who is with me all day every day, he is a dog but he is way more than 'just a dog' and I can't express how much he means to me.
This little guy has been in my life longer than most people. He's been by my side through so many ups and downs, 6 house moves, a breakup, a new relationship and marriage. Through illnesses, deaths and new additions (other pets obviously!).

As the recent months have passed and I've seen him start to age, his morality has become very apparent to me and I have struggled with the thought of life without him.
His grey hair is creeping up his face, a cloudiness appearing deep in his eyes, he walks rather than runs up the stairs and he is happier to sleep more during the day compared to his usual need to play 24/7.
Hopefully, we won't be separated for many years yet, but I know I don't have forever left with him and so we've been being more purposeful with our time, being more patient and making the most of our experiences. We actually took him on a special holiday at the beginning of the month for an early birthday celebration and some of those moments will live with me forever - especially getting to properly swim in the sea at Scotland's most southern point with him. I have photos from that little trip to share on here soon too.

With both his and my mental and physical difficulties we have an interesting life, different to that of most average human/dog relationships. He can't go on normal everyday walks, we have to be concious of where we go and who will be there and accept the fact we may have to leave places early if there are too many other dogs around but I wouldn't change my extremely intelligent, overly sensitive, consciously caring, absolutely gorgeous little lad for anything.

We are those people who have a party (of sorts) for our dog, he gets presents and every single year I have handmade a birthday banner. His daddy works every day apart from Wednesdays and my parents were down the Wednesday before his birthday for a hospital appointment so Wednesday the 24th was the day to celebrate! 

He absolutely LOVES presents, in particular, just opening presents haha so he got to open those that he hadn't already gotten to use previously* and the humans all had a nice 'picky tea'. Then the following Friday, on his actual birthday I took his annual birthday portraits and had a lovely quiet day together. 

*He got a new harness and cooling insert which he had early to take on our trip with us and a special new personalized water bowl from Emma Bridgewater that I wanted him to get use of straight away when it arrived. 

Check below for the video of him opening his presents and some more photos!

To see more of Baker and his life, you can check out these posts from the past few years:

Meet the Pets - Baker

Baker Turns 8!

A Peek into Our World // Baker's Bedroom

Catch Up with the Pets! // Part 1

Catch Up with the Pets! // Part 2

Things My Dog Says

Things My Dogs Says part 2
Baker is 9
Baker's 2021 Photo Set
Catch Up with the Pets // Part 3

I thought I'd also pop in a couple of old photos of baby Baker to round this out...

Until next time... 

Baker is 9

 

Can you believe it?! This tiny puppy is 9 years old! 9! Almost a decade. I can't. 

It's also crazy to think that it means he's now been by my side for pretty much a third of my life! People have come and gone, and other than my parents Baker has been the only constant for me - the being I have known the longest. 

People call dog 'man's best friend' but I don't think they fully get the complexity of that small statement and how seriously it is said by many of us. It is no lie to say that I have no idea where I would be or how I would cope if it wasn't for Baker's constant loyalty, company and support. It goes even further than being best friends though, he is my son and it breaks my heart when people try to take that title away from us animal parents. From cleaning up sick, constant playing, hugging him until he falls asleep, dealing with poop situations and so much more I am a parent and I love him with the same fierceness as those with human children (no matter how they try to argue it).

If there's any debate on how special this dog is, did you know he was born on August 26th - International Dog Day?! Coincidence? I think not! 

Anyway. Mr H was working on the actual day of Baker's birthday so we celebrated a day early. Here are the photos we took.

It's getting more difficult as the years go by to know what to get this guy for his birthday, he is spoiled after all and needs for nothing. However, he loves opening things so much! I guess we could just wrap up empty boxes and he'd still have fun but if you could see the joy he gets from new toys you'd spoil him too haha. 

Of course, his Granny and Granda weren't able to make it in person so they watched him open his presents over the webcam. We still did have a picky tea though! A lovely mini (oh-so healthy haha) vegan buffet complete with cupcakes made especially for Baker by his daddy.

It was a lovely day. Bittersweet somewhat for me because, inevitably, he's getting older and that worries me. I have a fear of death, myself and my loved ones, but that's a topic for another time.

To see more of Baker and his life, you can check out these posts from the past year or two:

Meet the Pets - Baker

Baker Turns 8!

A Peek into Our World // Baker's Bedroom

Catch Up with the Pets! // Part 1

Catch Up with the Pets! // Part 2

Things My Dog Says

Things My Dogs Says part 2

.'' Having a dog will bless you with many of the happiest days of your life, and one of the worst. ''