I have had dogs in my life ever since I was young. Dogs have taught me to love, been my best friends, there was always a dog who I rushed home after school or work to care for. I've walked the last mile with many of my dogs and here is what I've learned about aging from them.

1. Even when body parts hurt, it's always good to let your loved ones know you are happy to see them.

We appreciate how hard this is to do sometimes, yet dogs consistently manage it.

In humans, chronic illness frequently leads to depression, at the very least, it leads to more-than-occasional grumpiness.  And when we feel crappy both physically and emotionally, we aren't always nice to be around. Yet when my dog suffered from diabetis, arthritic hips and blindness, and on some days had to struggle to even get up from the rug, he never failed to wag his tail at the sight of me coming through the door.

By contrast, when we are feeling bad we use our words to express everything that’s going on and even when someone has stopped by for a visit, we spend that time listing all the things that are wrong instead of enjoying the time with them. My dogs never listed the problem, they just laid their head on my lap, wagged their tails and slept with great content.

2. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

A friend shares this about their dog Chloe. When the vet discovered a small cancerous tumor on our Golden girl Chloe's lip, we were thrown into the throes of despair. We Googled her cancer, we questioned the vet, and we cried mightily knowing that her end undoubtedly would be near. She, on the other hand, just wanted to play ball at the beach. On the day we got the news, my husband and I sat sobbing in our beach chairs, throwing and throwing and throwing that ball to our obviously oblivious dog. Chloe felt good until the day she didn't. She enjoyed every long walk, every extra treat and every car ride where she got to feel the wind in her face.

She was able to do this because she didn't know her days were numbered. While certainly in humans, many conditions have better outcomes if they are treated early and we are in no way suggesting that you ignore routine screenings or treatment options in favor of ignorance, Chloe sure did bring into focus the advice about living each day to the fullest, treating each day as if it was your last. Sometimes, this requires that we make the effort to actually live life between visits to the doctor.

3. We can all learn new ways to do things when the old ones don't work so well anymore.

Aging is a gradual process, not something that comes upon us all at once. You agree to wear reading glasses, you get your hearing tested, you buy a pair of comfortable shoes, hopefully not all on the same day because that could be a downer!

Dogs are great about not getting hung up on the stuff they did as puppies and can't do anymore. My Domino quickly learned to use a step ramp to get into the higher-than-he-could-jump-nowadays truck. We built him a second so he could avoid the steps to go outside and back in. When he lost his eyesight, we put sides on his ramps so he would feel safe and not fall off the sides.

We all make adjustments to aging. But dogs just don't complain about it.

4. Forbidden food may taste great, but it isn't good for us.

Sometimes when we are going through serious health issues, we want to enjoy everything to the fullest. It’s the “you only live once” mentality. This can be the same for our dogs. We might be tempted to give them the foods they love even if it upsets their stomachs. It’s better to only do that once in a great while…for them and for ourselves.

5. It doesn't get much better than long walks with a friend.

Walking is the cheapest, easiest and most convenient form of exercise. And walking with a friend is the best way to visit because there are no interruptions. Dogs have figured this out. Sometimes it’s just the simple things in life. Health issues can force us to make changes, do things differently or find a better way, but they can also help us to look at every day, every moment as precious and to be lived to the fullest!

 This blog borrowed from another blogger.