Books, Writing & Life

I got a new dog to help me with my anxiety after dealing with grief/loss at the start of the pandemic a few years ago, but my dog also has anxiety. We are, figuratively speaking, the blind leading the blind.

I love my little Cooper Robinson. He’s hilarious with his little dachshund weenie antics, but the slightest things send him in a frenzy. Somedays he’ll start a Cooper bark-fest and in my mind I’m thinking, I am NOT getting up or going in there. Eventually, I do oblige and he’s looking at a piece of trash or some wrapper lying on the floor. It’s his way of saying, “Mommy, that gum wrapper isn’t supposed to be there and it’s stressing me out.” [Insert eye roll.]

Let me back up a bit.

A few years ago, my schnauzer, Maggie, died at the ripe old age of 16. We added Cooper to our family before she passed, so he was there as my new furry bestie to carry on the canine energy of our home.

It was soon after we got him that we realized he’s extremely high-strung and at the same time, scared of the strangest things. He was a COVID pup, so there’s that. There was not a lot of socialization at an early age for him due to the pandemic. I mean, I tried but even at puppy school while all the humans were wearing masks, Cooper was the special needs pooch who would NOT comply to anything in the class.

I get him and he gets me. We get each other.

So, who comforts who? I’d say he helps me more than I help him. He’d probably say I comfort him more than he’s there for me.
It’s a mutual relationship.
He’s my protector and I am his.

If I’m anxious, he crawls into my lap and makes himself comfortable. I guess it’s his way of helping me to refocus. When he’s anxiously barking at the fly that’s made its way into the house and is crawling on the wall, I chase crazy old fly away and let him know it’s been handled.

He is also my walking partner and my snack buddy. We walk the neighborhood looking for anything and nothing. He knows the route and if I try to take a different street, he’s quick to let me know this is NOT the way and will turn and go the familiar route he knows.

He is smart and the fiercest protector; he even “protects” me my own children. How can we have a family dog who is overly loyal to one member of the family and will fight other members? All he knows is he’s got to take care of me at all costs. (This can be very aggravating.)

After about two years, he’s finally learning the ropes. He recently started behavioral training and did you know pets can take some of the same anxiety meds as humans? No? Me either, but I’m glad they can. It’s making a big difference in his and our lives.

Life is starting to get better. Anxiety meds and behavioral training are working. They are a lot like us; they have their ups and downs. They get excited and can be scared by the slightest things, and just like humans, they need a little tweaking at times and that’s ok.

When I was in my 40’s, I started running and did several 5k and two 10k races. My motto back then was “I run to burn off the crazy.” I’m not running any more but I do walk quite a bit.

I’m still trying to burn off the crazy, just not as fast as I used to and with a stubby legged dog I affectionally call Mr. Weenie. I love me some him. It’s a love/hate relationship some days. If you’ve ever met a dachshund, you know they are very special.

We’re the perfect pair.