As the annual week in Wellfleet inches towards its end, the level of connection I’m feeling with my dog is at its maximum. He and I have been doing this together for a long time. Never do I understand him more than here, on the Cape, in late summer.
I’ve learned that he follows me around incessantly not to annoy me, but to honor me. He wants to be near me. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Accepting his devotion has made both of us happier and I find myself being very sensitive to his need for proximity. If I’m stepping outside to hang laundry or toss recycling in the bin, I invite him to come along instead of just making him wait the few moments it takes for my task to be accomplished. It prevents stress and makes him happy to be included.
Our first night on the Cape, something I ingested disagreed with me and I found myself on the bathroom floor for a bit of time. While I was aware of that, even as it occurred, what I didn’t realize until I saw the photo below was that Jeter had nestled into my side and sprawled out on the bathroom floor with me. Today, a delightful beach day without flies, he spooned me in the sand.
After last year’s disastrous GI situation with Jeter, I’m much more aware of his ingestion of water from the ponds and working hard to curtail it. I also proactively, in advance of the trip, started giving him a probiotic capsule in a fingerful of plain yogurt daily, with the hope that it’ll shore up his gut health. So far, so good.
We take care of each other.
I do my best to include Jeter in all of our activities or, at the least, tire him out enough that he’s secretly relieved to see us go without him for a few hours. He’s always happy when we come home again, but he’s more quiet about showing his excitement than he has been in years past.
He’s definitely slowing down.
As I sit on the screened porch, the place we basically live when we’re here, with Jeter near my feet and the sound of the leaves blowing in the breeze, I know these days are numbered. When our time together ends, I know my heart is going to break. How could it not? Jeter has been my most constant companion for nearly 11 years. Moments like this, though, will remain with me forever. Me and my good boy.
DelSo 
Beautiful. Thank you Sylvia.
Your reflections on the bond with Jeter are so touching
He’s been my most steady companion for more than a decade. Glad my feelings for him and our connection were conveyed!
I appreciate this post! My dogs have always been American Eskimo, a true companion. Between my last 2 ‘skimos, I have not showered or used the bathroom alone for 15 years.