Always easier said than done! Anxiety is awful, sometimes gotta use snakes as a trick

SO MANY gentle hugs. The only thing I’ve found that at least pauses the anxiety spiral is saying “could be worse, could add snakes?” which is a) a legit consideration (distraction), & b) dramatic enough to prompt a recognition that how I’m feeling is real, but likely not a proportional response

I am so sorry. They always leave such a vast space behind, but I hope the memories of the many adventures you shared together are a comfort.

Buster looks so adorably concerned and I am grateful for his assistance in these trying times! <3

SO SICK MUCH FEVER just straight up not having a good time

me toooo

The irony is that I have a complaint lodged with the main vet branch that they said they’d take 10-14 days to respond to … 17 business days ago? So I shall be pursuing that shortly (bear in mind that my complaint is about that branch being unable to get things done in a timely manner).

Yes

good news I already chipped the new screen protector, so order has been restored to the universe (ie, glass in my fingers)

That’s nearly there! Especially as no one is ever more than 95% packed :)

Bear with my generalisation, but Valhunds developed from a very old breed type & those dogs probably introduced the dwarfism gene into the corgi gene pool! Corgis just doubled down on the gene (literally). It’s not specific to cattle herders, although the attitude is all cow dog, for sure!

The only dog I’ve had who made no effort to avoid peat was Bo, but he was a thrill seeker who thrived on physical challenges and would just brute strength his way through. He did need micromanaging, and still had to haul him out more often than I liked.

However, the best way for the dogs to learn is experience. I don’t micromanage; they inevitably fall in a tiny bog next to the path first time out, where they can discover how difficult it is & I can help them out, so they actively avoid in future. It’s also why I only take adult dogs up the moor!

If they fall in, the dogs have to worm their way out, which takes a lot of effort. If they were alone in a large boggy section, they’d get so exhausted that they’d eventually drown, even though they’re not underwater. I ensure this does not happen!

preemptive grief is terrible, but it does make that final day a gentler day, because you’ll know you and she made the most of every moment before it ❤️