It's been a challenge recently. We've had a few of those!
But there have definitely been some positives.
Despite challenges at home (see 'Cats on a fence'), George has been adapting pretty well to his new routine (see 'Back from a hiatus').
At a local Sniffspot recently, George was very suspicious of a kayak. He's seen it probably 10 times before and never paid it much attention.
But on this day it was on the other side of the pond and, how dare it, was moving gently in the breeze.
George kept a very watchful eye, but we continued our walk and he continued paddling in the pond.
Towards the end of our visit, it was moving more, and drifting towards where we were. George's reaction was a bit different to what I am accustomed to.
His normal reaction (nowadays) is barking and lunging towards the trigger. Perhaps because the water meant he couldn't reach it, this time he grumbled and growled and came to stand by me. When the kayak kept moving (albeit veeeeery slowly), he bolted.
He used to do this as a fearful puppy but I hadn't seen it in a long time. He bolted pretty far away.
Luckily we were in a fenced-in spot but I was worried he was going to try to get through the next fence to where the car was. The car was also parked in a fenced spot but next to a busy road. I worried a small terrified dog could find a way through.
But good boy George waited for me at the inner gate, just short of where the car was parked, although he was pretty far away.
Although bolting can be very dangerous, I must admit in a controlled situation like this I think I prefer it to the barking and lunging. Although I probably felt differently back in the day when George was afraid to leave the house or walk 5 metres.
Given his fear, we called it a day and went home. But I didn't want to leave it too long before going back. Not least because it's a great nearby Sniffspot and we don't have many places to go.
So we went back the following week. I was prepared for some desensitisation work from a distance but he bounded in without a care in the world.
This time, the kayak was (thankfully) on the edge of the pond so it wasn't moving around.
After a bit of paddling around next to the kayak, George hopped right in. He slipped a little on the surface and looked uncertain when it wobbled beneath him, but he steadied himself and stayed - ears up, curious, taking it all in. I was very proud! Although a bit worried he was going to float out into the pond at one point 😆
Another lesson for me - one reaction to something doesn't necessarily mean the end of the world. And an anxious dog never ceases to surprise you.