An interesting development

One of the hardest times for me is late evening or middle of the night storms........to be so rudely awakened by a panting,clawing dog is impossibly hard to handle for me (and probably most people)

Last week I was able to 'hide' in the middle of my queen sized bed........O'Riley can't jump up on the bed w/o the assistance of two large firm cushions that sit next to the bed and which I removed when I realized a storm might develop in the middle of the night. As soon as he realized I was inaccessible I heard him scratching around in my closet and then I heard him climbing into the bathtub where he remained the rest of the night !!!!!!!! He has NEVER done this and I'm beginning to see that as soon as he realizes there is no help or attention from me he decides to calm himself.....AND, this is w/o the help of any anti-anxiety meds !

Last night we had storms due to arrive around 10 pm...........I dosed him at nine and settled in bed with my book..............I made no eye contact at all and hid behind my book.............again he went into the closet, panting furiously, and soon I heard him climbing into the tub again (in which I had placed one of his soft mats).......and that was that.......he stayed all night, long after the storms had passed.......I am hoping this is an ongoing situation and that MAYBE this means I can leave him here alone if I have an appointment or am meeting someone for dinner etc. Up until now I have not dared leave him alone for fear that he might hurt himself and also because I can't bear to leave him when I know how terrified he is..............but,(fingers crossed) maybe we have reached a better place and O'R is learning that he can handle his fears in a different and less stressful way !

Here's Hoping !

Hanging out in the laundry room

Yesterday I gave O'Riley 2 clonazepam about 20 minutes before storm............this time I went o the basement laundry room and he followed me down(which he usually won't do) I had laundry tub filling while I folded laundry from the drier and talked happy talk as the storm passed through........I could certainly hear the thunder as could O'R but he handled it well......no clawing at me, thank god ! The only thing I didn't like was the after effects of the drug.......he was a little stumbly in the rear and that is where his spinal arthritis affects him