dog weekend
In terms of mental health bullshit, I should mention that instead of making it to my Tuesday appointment, I got horribly lost, had a breakdown, pulled over on the side of the road to sob hysterically, then called my boyfriend for a rescue and arrived 45 minutes late. The doctor was gone by then, and out all week. OH WELL. I'm currently better anyway/likely to eat fine for another few months. But who cares! Who cares BECAUSE
Ernie and I went to Strut Your Mutt!
He did SUPER WELL and I am so proud of him, for serious. I was hesitant to even consider going, because this is a dog with some leash reactivity issues--off leash he is fairly dog social, but on leash and around other dogs, Ernie used to go fucking apeshit and turn into a lunging snarling Terror Dog. To make matters worse, we once got attacked by an offleash dog. This did not help. So, eh. Walking a mile surrounded by other dogs? Milling around at booths with other dogs? I should be so foolish to dream. I stared at the website for months with a stupid forlorn expression on my face, and didn't register in advance at all.
Then day of, I took a tupperware snack container filled with treats (chunks of preservative free, otherwise hippie bullshit deli turkey) and a squeaky ball. Thus I girde myself for peace (probably). This isn't to say that I just closed my eyes and hoped--we've been working on this behavior for months.
HE DID GREAT OHMYGOD. Check him out chilling with his new best bud, an 8 month old puppy named Rambo!
Note that my dog is the happy looking one in the back clipping harness and the superman muscle tank, because I'm me.
Ernie and Rambo are BFFs who play together all the time, which is extra adorable because they sort of look like father and son--Rambo's just a more muted tan color, and slightly smaller.
ERNIE ERNIE ERNESTO ERNIE ERNIE BAAAABY LOVE
YOUR FAAAACE AAAAAHHH
best dog!
Today we--the dog, the boyfriend, and I--walked together for miles and hours, wandering around town looking for our friends who were tailgating on a highway ramp. I had lunch at an outdoor cafe with my dog. I have left his side today only for a brief grocery run.
Much to my delight and surprise, does the dog repay me? He does. For the first time in the year I've known this dog, trained this dog, socialized this dog, exercised this dog, for the first time in the nine months he has lived in my home, for the first time--he fell asleep in my lap. He cuddled up to me on the couch, lazily turned over on his side, twisted a little more to offer up his belly and chest in perfect trust--
And then shoved his head in my lap and slept.
Ernie and I went to Strut Your Mutt!
He did SUPER WELL and I am so proud of him, for serious. I was hesitant to even consider going, because this is a dog with some leash reactivity issues--off leash he is fairly dog social, but on leash and around other dogs, Ernie used to go fucking apeshit and turn into a lunging snarling Terror Dog. To make matters worse, we once got attacked by an offleash dog. This did not help. So, eh. Walking a mile surrounded by other dogs? Milling around at booths with other dogs? I should be so foolish to dream. I stared at the website for months with a stupid forlorn expression on my face, and didn't register in advance at all.
Then day of, I took a tupperware snack container filled with treats (chunks of preservative free, otherwise hippie bullshit deli turkey) and a squeaky ball. Thus I girde myself for peace (probably). This isn't to say that I just closed my eyes and hoped--we've been working on this behavior for months.
HE DID GREAT OHMYGOD. Check him out chilling with his new best bud, an 8 month old puppy named Rambo!
Note that my dog is the happy looking one in the back clipping harness and the superman muscle tank, because I'm me.
Ernie and Rambo are BFFs who play together all the time, which is extra adorable because they sort of look like father and son--Rambo's just a more muted tan color, and slightly smaller.
ERNIE ERNIE ERNESTO ERNIE ERNIE BAAAABY LOVE
YOUR FAAAACE AAAAAHHH
best dog!
Today we--the dog, the boyfriend, and I--walked together for miles and hours, wandering around town looking for our friends who were tailgating on a highway ramp. I had lunch at an outdoor cafe with my dog. I have left his side today only for a brief grocery run.
Much to my delight and surprise, does the dog repay me? He does. For the first time in the year I've known this dog, trained this dog, socialized this dog, exercised this dog, for the first time in the nine months he has lived in my home, for the first time--he fell asleep in my lap. He cuddled up to me on the couch, lazily turned over on his side, twisted a little more to offer up his belly and chest in perfect trust--
And then shoved his head in my lap and slept.