Back to basics
Mum and I are going back to basics. We have sat down and had a long chat about my ‘issues’. We’re both hoping the course we’re going on will help, but Mum has said I’m reaching adulthood and now I’ve had my second season my hormones will also settle down a little. Taking that into account we have agreed that we will start again as though I were a new puppy to see if I can learn to deal with many of the things I have been reactive to.
The biggest problem is my ADHD tendencies. I can go hyper at a moment’s notice and I don’t always see it coming, let alone Mum. On top of that, I very easily suffer from sensory overload, but that is something thankfully Mum completely understands.
My muzzle
My muzzle is not because I’m a bad dog. I’m not aggressive and I love everyone and every dog. Essentially it’s for Mum’s safety. When I flip out, my immediate response is to grab bite Mum. I think it’s because I reach for the nearest thing and that is invariably Mum. I am happy, for Mum’s safety, to wear my muzzle. I’m used to it now. The only problem is that some people who see it get the wrong idea and that makes me sad.
Our schedule
We’re building recovery time into my schedule and won’t push me too far too fast. I shall go out for walks, or to new locations, every other day. On the in between days I shall have garden time and training at home. It won’t always work quite like that, as there are seven days in the week and training is a going out day on a Tuesday every week.
To begin with, our going out days will alternate between the local walk that I know well and which is very quiet and then new or busier places.
The racecourse
Yesterday was a going out to a new place day. We went to the racecourse. It went really well. I met so many dogs and found so many things to smell. I don’t like bicycles coming from behind me, but Mum remembered I’d had problems with that before. I did want to chase after a jogger, but Mum said she and Dad can’t go that fast. The only time I was really wary was the big sprinklers that were watering the course. Dad asked if Mum thought I should go up to them, but Mum said she simply wanted me to walk past them as though they weren’t even there, to realise it was nothing of any interest. Actually, I don’t think she wanted to get wet! And to be fair, neither did I.
Overall, I like the racecourse. I think I’d be happy to do that again.
Today is a garden day, which is fine. We’ll do some gardening and some training and that will be fine.
Hugs, licks and head butts
Pebbles
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