We're in the trenches at the moment.
Medication changes, unlucky with triggers, cat management...
I'm finding it tough. George had an overnight stay recently and I got to go to the football.
I had such an amazing time. Being out in the world and around people was so incredible.
But on the downside, I'm feeling the isolation more now. It's like showing someone what they are missing.
I feel like we are stuck in survival/management mode. Until the meds settle, we can't progress. It feels like there is no hope.
So I am trying to remind myself how good we've actually got it. I am genuinely grateful and don't know how I would manage otherwise. I often think about what we don't have, so it's helpful to reframe it now and again.
We have a private garden where George can go to the toilet. I feel so much for people with anxious dogs in apartments. It must be so difficult.
We have Sniffspots we can drive to. George gets to run around off lead with no triggers.
He can go to daycare. Two daycares with people who care about him. He's excited to go in both. The reason I keep my sanity and can pay for his medications.
He's doing really well with pick-up for the special needs daycare. Jumping in the car, sitting there patiently waiting. Something I never thought possible.
He does well at the groomers. Fear-free certified and they do such a good job.
He loves me a lot. He's such a cuddle bug at home. But he also forms really close bonds with other people; my friends, the daycare teams, his vet. Once you're in the circle of trust, his love is limitless.
Small dog privilege; he's very cute and fluffy so I think we get a lot of leeway.
Understanding neighbours; just today I got a friendly "All good!" as I wrangled a barking and lunging George through the bushes.
Understanding work colleagues; everyone knows about George. People ask me about him when I haven't ever spoken about him with them. I think people can't get their heads around the fact that I really don't go anywhere except walking my dog.
I's been really tough recently. I actually saw George's empathy for the first time; I cried and he looked worried and wanted to be close to me. Normally he looks like he couldn't care less 😆
When everything feels awful and every time we leave the house is stressful and dramatic, I am trying to remember what we do have, what he can do, and that it could be worse.