Forgive me if this kind of post isn’t allowed.

I wanted to ask people what was new going on with their pets, if they had maybe learned something about them, or maybe just gotten one. Just two examples.

For my part, I have two adopted boys (Champion and Bowser) and had to, a couple years ago, move back in with my mom and now we share a house with her and her two dogs. Champion has always had a lot of behavioral challenges, which led to me doing extra work at my previous job to learn how to train him better (I worked at a doggy daycare and we had to also learn how to train dogs.)

But somewhere along the way between moving to a new place and having to work with him to teach him it was okay for the other dogs to play together (among various other things I’ve had to help him learn), Champ lost interest in most things other than a bit of play outside (he’s still a bit rough around the edges there too) and sleeping on my bed. He’s very difficult to walk because of his anxiety, too.

However!

Recently he started showing interest in a rope toy and when I picked it up and waved it, he grabbed onto the other end and started to pull. We had a great, really long session of tug-o-war and he was really worn out by the end. I’ve managed to replicate it several times now and it’s given me a lot of hope for not just play time, but that he might be able to do things like walks in the future again.

What’s going on in everyone else’s pet parent lives?

  • Pandoras_Can_Opener@mander.xyz
    3·
    10 months ago

    I love this post idea!

    I’ve recently commited the unforgivable crime of leaving Dodo for two nights. She had other favorite two leggers show up but how dare!!! When I came back she tried very hard to be mad at me but she just loves cuddles too much.

    For your champ: have you tried anti anxiety music for dogs? It’s free on YouTube and Dodo likes the cat variety a lot.

    • Rin@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I have tried different music with him, yup! he seems very partial to lo-fi, which is nice because I enjoy listening to it as well. my preference is to just leave it on for the dogs since it’s helped them stay mellow during the day, but my mom isn’t really into it.

      and oh, I know how that goes! if I even leave to go to the grocery store (which is a couple blocks away, so I’m only gone a short period of time) or take a walk, Bowser and Champion will wait near the door until I return. they’re like “no!! mom!! no leave!! only stay!!” hahaha.