Marley and Me

I adore Marley, a heavy golden Labrador retriever, who reminds me SO MUCH of my own dog, Chubby,also an uncontrollable Labrador.

What is making me feel totally sad, though, is because I am at the point where Marley is growing older. His boundless energy and infinite puppy dog years have flown away, and I feel heartbroken. Why does Marley have to be rid of his endearing behaviour? Id on't want him to die - he is to much like Chubby, and I don't want my Chubster to die, ever - though it is an impossible wish. 

Grogan expresses so much hope that he is imagining Marley's slow ageing - his once fast reflexes have rusted, and he becomes almost totally deaf, but he still does hear the patter of puppy chow in his bowl! He slowly loses almost all his energy and gets the arthritis so many Labs are prone to, meaning bathroom breaks are much harder for him to do and his once stone-strong bladder gives easily. This shames him deeply - because this dog has pride. Lots of it. Too much of it.

Chubby is still at his strong puppy stage and the stages Marley went through are like his- and I'm just too scared for him, though it's way into the future. I love Chubby to bits and the prospect of him losing his gallons of energy is unfathomable. Ridiculous as it is, I wish I could freeze his growth so he stays like this forever. Dogs really are pets for life.