Van Rides, Prams & Pill Boxes: Life with Horatio at 10

It’s Horatio’s 10th birthday this week and of course I am planning a celebration. There will be cake (homemade, of course), maybe some balloons (not that he’ll care), and definitely lots of photos. Ten is a milestone for any dog but for a British Bulldog, it’s especially epic. The average lifespan is somewhere between 8–10 years, but we’ve convinced ourselves he’ll beat the odds. By a lot. Because the alternative... well, we don’t talk about that.

That’s the difficult part of dog ownership, the brevity of their lives. Anyone who has ever lost a dog knows the heartache, the silence, and the promise you make to yourself that you’ll never go through it again. Until you lock eyes with the next pair of paws destined to take over your heart.

From Foster to Forever

We didn’t have Horatio from a puppy. He came to us as a cantankerous adult foster, already stubborn, already full of opinions. Within days, he’d bitten us (more than once), trashed the house when dinner was late, including chewing on the TV and smashing the screen, and glared at us with utter contempt. Naturally we were smitten.

He’s still grumpy, still dramatic, and completely in charge. We’ve adapted our lives around his preferences, and not the other way around.

Senior Dog Life: His Rules, Our Reality

Horatio loves the idea of a walk, far more than the actual walking part. Most days, we get halfway up the street before he plants his feet and refuses to move. Going home? Same. He just enjoys standing still, watching the world go by, like a stubborn little Buddha in a collar. The neighbours are used to it now.

His mobility has declined a lot over the last year, so we were kindly gifted a dog pram. He took to it immediately, like the king he knows he is. Unfortunately, the gifted pram lacked a directional front wheel, something we learned is essential if you value your wrists and general will to live. Pushing a 24kg bulldog who insists on riding in front is no small feat.

After much scrolling through Facebook Marketplace and a few false hopes, I caved and bought a new one. It ticked all the boxes... except colour. So now we cruise the streets in a bright lime green chariot. You absolutely cannot miss us.

Lesson two: even the best pram in the world is no match for sand dunes. One of our first big outings was to Merthyr Mawr—home of beautiful scenery and brutal terrain. We should have turned back immediately, but having paid for parking (and being stubborn ourselves), we pressed on. It turned into an epic two-person mission, one pushing, one pulling with a lead strapped to the front. Never again.

Car Rides & Royal Treatment

If there’s one thing Horatio loves as much as food, it’s vehicles, particularly my husband’s work van. He even has a bit of a social media following as “Deputy DAFAid.” The moment he sees his lead, he lights up, dancing like a dog half his age and towing you to the driveway with purpose. Getting into the van? No problem. Getting out? Not his concern. He’ll happily sit in the passenger seat for hours, like a retired gentleman on a leisurely road trip. The only rule of van life? All snacks must be shared.

On the days he’s not “on duty” and stuck with me instead, I’ll pop him and the others into the car, drive to a local field, and walk the other two while he watches from the open boot living his best life. So far no one’s questioned it, or tried to steal the car.

Pill Boxes & Physio Sessions

To keep him comfortable, Horatio has regular physio sessions with Denise which he absolutely adores. He’ll lie there like putty in her hands while she stretches and manipulates his aching joints, try something similar at home, no chance, probably get bitten. Denise has the magic touch. I highly recommend contacting Canine Rehab Cardiff if you have an senior dog who may benefit.

He’s also on a cocktail of supplements and daily pain relief, carefully balanced with his vet’s help. We now have a pill organiser just for him, Monday through Sunday, like a very grumpy pensioner with a complex medication schedule.

Loving Them Longer

Living with a senior dog isn’t always easy. It’s slower. It’s more expensive. Sometimes it’s messy and heartbreaking. But it’s also really rewarding and for us full of out loud laughs.

We no longer measure our time together in big adventures or long hikes. Now it’s about car rides, window gazing, snoring symphonies, and the privilege of simply being there, of sitting beside him, loving him.

If you’ve got an older dog who’s still full of heart, I offer gentle, studio-based senior dog photography sessions designed just for them. It’s a calm, cosy experience that celebrates your time together and gives you something beautiful to hold onto—no matter what the future holds.

We may have adjusted our world to suit Horatio, but honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. He may not have been with us from the start, but he’s ours completely now. Here’s to loving him longer, for every moment we get.

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