(Sort of) A Sad Milestone. . . So we go hiking yesterday, up in the Cascades, →[More:] and of course we take Lacey, who just turned 11 (or 12). I have more than once referred to her as the Mother Teresa of dogs. The best parts of a yellow lab and German shepherd put together.

But yesterday, about a mile up the trail at Rebel Creek and, going up a very steep canyon, we come to a log across the trail that Lacey could not get over or under or around. It was an easy scramble over for us, but it was too steep and brushy both uphill and downhill from the log that there was not way around and the log was slanted such that she could not get over it without the danger of slipping downhill into the brush.

For the last year, she has needed a boost on her rump to hop into the car. She's slowing down, and so yesterday we had to turn back, rather than risk getting her hurt (carrying her over was too dicey, with the slope).

So, unless we know it's a very flat, easy hike, she has to stay home from now on. It's sad, though, as she's been with us on most of our hikes and, with 4 legs, has been able to handle a lot of stuff that we can't.

She still has a few (more than a few I hope) years left on this earth, and she is still a great member of the family, but this was a very clear sign that she's past her peak, at least physically.

Has anyone else had this happen with a dog?