Things with Riley have been quiet these past few weeks. He remains afraid of me, and that fear seems to be growing. I’ve gone back to our original routines of only approaching him while walking backwards, no eye contact, and lots of hand-fed treats if he’ll take them.
I wish I understood what was going on in his head and why he has this sudden fear of me. I was talking to an older client in my job this week, and he reminded me about how as we age we tend to do a life review, and reminisce. It makes me wonder if dogs also do that.
Riley is aging. He seems slower, less sure-footed. We are giving him his space by leaving him alone in his bed, not making him go out on walks if he doesn’t ask, and letting him retreat to the second floor while we’re all downstairs. Giving him the most peaceful life we can.
OK, maybe I’m not being so peaceful with this. Once I noticed that he’ll go down the stairs when I come up, and he’ll go up the stairs when I come down, I’ve played around with it. Sometimes I’ll go up and down the stairs a few times just so HE has to go up and down a few times for the exercise. But other than that, I promise I’m being peaceful.
I wish I understood what was going on in his head and why he has this sudden fear of me. I was talking to an older client in my job this week, and he reminded me about how as we age we tend to do a life review, and reminisce. It makes me wonder if dogs also do that.
Riley is aging. He seems slower, less sure-footed. We are giving him his space by leaving him alone in his bed, not making him go out on walks if he doesn’t ask, and letting him retreat to the second floor while we’re all downstairs. Giving him the most peaceful life we can.
OK, maybe I’m not being so peaceful with this. Once I noticed that he’ll go down the stairs when I come up, and he’ll go up the stairs when I come down, I’ve played around with it. Sometimes I’ll go up and down the stairs a few times just so HE has to go up and down a few times for the exercise. But other than that, I promise I’m being peaceful.