Enough snow fell to make things pretty once again, not enough to take out the skis, plenty though for Henry to enjoy, though please, not on our early morning walk.
I am, if you can believe it, still thinking about my dog. A lot. About his fears and reactions when he is suddenly confronted with a person coming at him exiting or entering the elevator.
(waiting for the elevator, with trepidation)
We have lived together in the apartment building for nearly three months and I can't say he is getting any better at it. I speculated with Ed just now about whether he'd ever shed those elevator fears. Perhaps they are part and parcel of his shy and just a little fearful and protective nature. Ed reminded me that Pancake, our most (!) stray feral cat, used to be extremely terrified of us and only his need for food had him come as far as the porch. Two years later, Pancake is purring on the carpet, at ease with us even inside the farmhouse.
Two years though. It took him that long to (almost) completely relax. He, too, had been in battles with those who meant to fight and harm him. He carried very visible wounds, often coming to us with bruises all over his face. Henry, I don't think, had it that bad. He has no visible scars or bruises. And for all his fear of strangers being thrust upon him, he is extremely lovable and sweet to those he knows and trusts. He had no trouble cuddling up to me from the getgo...
... and he is sweet as can be with Ed and with family members and with the staff of doggie daycare. He is one adored boy over there. So maybe not two years until he accepts a strange person entering his space? Our space?
I was joking with my friend Bee, who is a dog person herself (meaning she had a shy dog as well), that I am going to get evicted from the Edge because of Henry! Well that would be an adventure! I can't say that I would blame those hapless souls who are terrified of his bark and who would feel compelled to complain to management. We will see where this whole saga will lead us all!
Breakfast, so peaceful, so fine...
I drop Henry off at doggie daycare and then go on a medicine run. First, to the vet's for Henry's pills. I dont care what the tests showed, (They showed nothing.) I found worms! Next, to my old pharmacy for renewals. Then to the farmette.
I was to drop in for a brief visit, but Ed is lost to a technical Zoom call, so I do not linger. I go to the bird store and pick up more bird feed instead. And to another pharmacy and then home again. A regular loop of necessities! Well, Ed was to be the pleasurable part, but that went nowhere.
In the afternoon I pick up Snowdrop.
(No elevator fears here!)
And I pick up Henry at doggie day care. My pup that has me puzzling over him so much! I had just talked to the training school where he was signed up for two separate training programs, both starting this weekend. The problem? I will have to miss two classes of each program because I'm going to be away for the last two weekends of January. They weren't sure it was a good idea for me to take the one class on Calming Skills for High Arousal Dogs or Situations if I had to skip two in the middle (the other one I could catch up the required work). I explained that the Calming Skills one was a necessity! I need help developing techniques that will calm him in the elevator.
Aimee, the owner and director of the school is one of Henry's fans (she knows him from doggie daycare, which is in the same building), but she told me a hard truth: his initial shyness, which she knows and understands, wont go away in six or seven months (my remaining time living in a building with an elevator). The training I was doing in and out of the elevator (the sitting, hanging back, waiting) -- those were exactly right. He doesn't need another training class. However, she is fairly certain they wont make the problem go away anytime soon. In her view, he needs additional calming help in the meantime. And my vet should be able to help me with that.
Well good! I schedule an appointment for next week, with a smile: I can't believe my dog will have had more doctor's visits in one month than me!
And of course, at home, at the Edge, all is calm in the evening. So very calm...
with so much love...
