15/11/2024
🐺 Two Years of the Wolf 🐺
November 6th (I’ve been forgetting to post for ten days… thanks ADHD) marked two years of loving the biggest, dopiest, handsomest, tree (squirrel) enthusiast, who’s given me a hard ride but I’d do it all over again for him.
The past year has had a lot of changes for Nox… a hip dysplasia diagnosis in January, lead to ongoing appointments with vets, physios and chiropractors.
Some previous bad advice and misdiagnosis of his behaviour, that he was just ‘over excited’, lead to an increase in his reactivity - and of course he is the anomaly who gets more reactive when his pain condition is treated!
Despite being a trainer myself, I knew I was too close to the situation and my own emotions were getting in the way. I also felt like I had tried so much of what usually works… and couldn’t ‘fix’ him. So I made it my mission to find someone to help guide us and I wouldn’t let my own ego interfere with my boy having the best life he could.
We saw several different trainers, one of which was down right dangerous in their advice to drop his lead and run away when a dog was close by 🤯
But I didn’t give up and kept looking for a trainer who could make a real difference. We saw a couple who gave some useful tips but nothing that really clicked to make a big difference.
Now, after a lot of work and finally finding the right person, we’re starting to make some real progress. Nox is in the best condition both physically and behaviourally, that he’s ever been and I’m so proud that I didn’t stop. I didn’t just accept what I’d been told. I didn’t accept advice which felt wrong.
So to anyone struggling, don’t give up… don’t accept anything that doesn’t feel right and if you’re in the dog world, I know how much harder it is to struggle with your own dog. Keep going!
To the boy who keeps pushing me to learn… thank you Nox!
