It’s been cold here just like everywhere else in the U.S. Because it has been in the single digits, Nemo hasn’t been getting his daily hike. His brain does not do well with this.
(Side note – I see a lot of clients with dogs with behavior issues who discount my questions about exercise. If I had a NemoDog and wasn’t in the habit of walking him a lot everyday, I’d have major behavior issues with him. A tired dog is a happy dog.)
He had to go to the groomer the other day. It was up to 20 degrees so I stopped by the dog park and told him to run for a few minutes to just burn off a bit of the energy. This dog actually ran in circles while he growled at the sky. Then when we got to the groomer, as soon as I stepped out of the car, he jumped out of the back seat up to the front seat and out of the driver side door. The parking lot is beside a busy four lane road. I yelled his name and he dropped to the ground. I scooped him up. Took a few years off my life. I carried him in and handed him to the groomer. I said, “I’m sorry. He has demons in his brain because he’s been cooped up.” She laughed but said later that he tried to go home with everyone who came while he was there. I like cold and dark weather but I’m gonna need it to warm up a bit so we can get out on trails for everyone’s mental health.
At least he looks cute.
The husband and I chased him through the house this morning, changing directions and splitting up and going different ways. It made him so happy. He’s really missing his pack hikes!
Speaking of mental health, I ended up being a mental health counselor at work this week. Trust me, no one wants that. I’m not good with feelings. I’m much more of a “suppress your feelings until you feel better” kind of person. I just happened to be the person who was there when the breakdown happened. I’ve been trying to find a doctor all week who will get this person in for mental health treatment. No one will return calls even though everywhere says they will call back within 24 hours. The most immediate crisis seems to have passed but things are still not good. I don’t know how human health care gets away with this. At one point yesterday we were running 10 minutes behind schedule and had multiple people yelling at our receptionists. If we just didn’t call people back they’d be showing up at our doors with weapons.
One of the things that did make me happy in this was that when we were on the text version of the suicide hotline, there was a prompt in Spanish and I just read it. I was so proud! Then I remembered to focus on the task at hand and wonder at my increasing ability later. I’ve been doing Duolingo for over 600 days but that is best mostly for vocabulary. I heard a tip recently to talk to yourself in Spanish to help practice. I decided to only talk to one of the staff dogs who comes to work in Spanish. It is helping. There have been a lot of things I want to say to her in passing that I have had to look up. I’ve learned some grammar that way too.
Last week on the blog
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Are You Surrounded by Readers?
Do You Talk About Reading in Real Life?
Make sure to check out all the great entries in January’s Foodies Reads before February’s link up goes up this week.
We have to do some creative playing with our pup as well to get him worn out. Ours usually involves a ball on the stairs. 🙂
Yes… that sort of weather is tough on everyone, but particularly dogs who can’t understand why they have to stay in all the time. Have a good week.
Your dog is adorable!
The best tip for learning a language that worked for me was to not worry about good—just talk to anyone you can the best you can…You will get better, they say.
Your dog is adorable! I have never felt so cooped up as I have these past few cold weeks.