Aoife is our eldest dog and the matriarch of our little Darksprite pack. She will be 14 years old in February 2025 and her health is not as good as it once was. When her affenpinscher companion, Crybbe, passed away in 2022 she was quite bereft and became a bit withdrawn but she has recovered much of her spirit and, despite a heart murmur and stiffness in her joints, Aoife still wants to join us on outings or to the dog field with the young ones.
She has managed fine without pharmaceutical intervention for over two years now since her heart murmur was diagnosed and she has natural supplements added to her raw food diet to support her heart and joints and also her eye health. Aoife used to sleep on the bed with some of the other little ones but, since she has become older, she prefers her own space and has a warm bed to herself in a room of her own at night.
Aoife will often have a stroll in the village with one of us but she prefers a ‘proper’ outing really away from our home turf. Sometimes we take her out on her own to a local cafe which is always a favourite as Aoife attracts attention from staff and customers as well as the opportunity for snacks! She does also go with us when we have a walk at one of the dog friendly attractions locally but we have to keep outings fairly short especially in winter as Aoife tires more quickly now and it has become very cold here in Yorkshire. Here are a few photos of Aoife on her recent days out.
At the dog field
Enjoying the sunshine
Watching the young ones at play
Showing that she can still run when she wants to ❤️
The Christmas café
Aoife in her snug bed under the café table
Hoping for a titbit
Getting a smidgen of bacon
Snoozing on the car journey home.
Aoife with her great granddaughters, Fíadh and Astrid
Aoife at Lotherton Hall Gardens
Fíadh and Aoife exploring the Christmas experience
Aoife ❤️
Posing by the Christmas tree
Falling asleep on the back seat of the car ❤️
