The other day my buddy Caleb and I had what I am calling a wet wheelbarrow walk.

Wet because it was pouring rain out.

Wheelbarrow because I held Caleb’s rear legs up from behind him so that he could walk with his front ones.

I’ve been doing that for a few months now. Ever since Caleb’s rear legs became paralyzed from a condition called degenerative myelopathy (DM).

It’s a genetic disease that some breeds including corgis are susceptible to.

While it’s been difficult to see my buddy lose the use of his rear legs, I am grateful that it didn’t affect him until he was 14. That’s a pretty good long time for any dog to enjoy full mobility, especially a dog with DM.

But as most anyone who has had a dog will tell you, our time with them always seems too short. Caleb is 14 and ½ now—over 100 in dog years—and I’m still having a very hard time accepting that we probably don’t have too many more walks together.

I got Caleb when he was two and for the past 12 years he’s been one of the greatest gifts to come into my life. One of the things that I tell him most every day is that he’s the “best bud ever.”

One of our favorite things to do is to go for a morning and evening walk. After Caleb first lost the use of his rear legs, I thought those days were behind us.

But then I discovered that if I hold up his rear he will march out with his front ones for a walk.

We don’t go far. Maybe a block or so. But it gives Caleb a chance to do two things that he loves—eat grass and drink out of puddles.

There were plenty of puddles the other morning when Caleb and I did our wheelbarrow walk in a pouring rain.

When we got back inside I dried him off in the entryway and decided to take some photos of him. Partly because he was sitting below a wall-hanging that I bought several years ago.

“Things We Learn from a Dog,” it says.

*Love Unconditionally;

*Take a Nap;

*Have a Happy Attitude;

*Play is Good;

*Show Affection;

*Learn New Tricks No Matter Your Age;

*Delight in the Simple;

*Always Be Faithful;

*Protect Those You Love.”

Caleb has taught me all of those things and more. Whatever time we have left together, I am going to do my best to cherish it and look forward to meeting up with him in heaven.