The Dog Update

There’s a lot going on at the moment. I was supposed to write the AI update this morning, but my dog is on her last legs. At three years old, she has recently declined due to seizures, which may be a brain tumour.

In fact, I’m now certain it is. She's pacing around the kitchen this morning banging into things, uncertain of who she is.

I am afraid to say, she doesn't have much time left.

My family is so upset. She’s a great dog: half Leavitt bulldog, half Olde English. Athletic and very smart, she outdoes the labs on obedience. And yet, the ugliest pile of brindle, underbite and side-eye you have ever seen.

She brought peace to our home. After homeschooling our boys through Covid, aged 4 and 5, the house had become a bit too shouty.

I have one son with type 1 diabetes, so our sleep is compromised, and another who is neurodivergent and plays havoc in the day. I am ADHD. My wife is perimenopausal. We (I) needed to recalibrate the environment.

It was at a friend’s funeral I decided it was time to get a dog. Life seemed to be flying by too fast. Bringing a dog into the mix would add so much love. I needed more walks. The boys needed to learn how to care for an animal. Everyone needed a greater sense of calm.

"We're going to have a look at a new litter of puppies this weekend," I said.

"I don't want a dog," my wife replied.

"We're just going to look, that's all," I said.

On our return from puppy viewing, my wife was busy making a list.

"She's going to need a bed. Where will she sleep? We'll have to figure out where to put the dog food."

It was beautiful to see how the family adapted.

My pitch was that she could be a hypo dog, one that sniffs out hypoglycaemia and would alert us. While we started that training, it was clear she was quickly becoming everyone’s therapy dog.

We’ve all learned how much this little dog has brought to our home. Inside: the hugs, the games. The looks, the judgement and the snorts. She stands in between the boys when they fight and tells them off.

Outside: the walks. The joy of seeing her bounce over long grass. The stick. The balance and grace of her effortless movement. Her obedience outperforms the labs, but the dog snobs underestimate her because of her face. I love that.

On Thursday, she was on death’s door. They gave her one last kitchen sink attempt. And for a few days, she came back to life - licking the boys' knees and bringing us her toys. Tail high.

But in the last two days, she’s started slipping again.

So there is no AI update today. Instead, you have an email about a dog who has brought exceptional joy to a family that needed her.

And a writer who is distracted.