I confess to being deeply impressed by my dog. Last yesterday we practiced to (he would) be alone again. Not in the same way as last time, but a little different. I have, Although just over two weeks ago I received my last chemotherapy treatment, got for me that I will be defeated at home.
Last week I have a moment at a time, when I had the energy and the desire at the same time, cleaned in the kitchen. This has resulted in countless bags of rubbish – and a large number of bags with various gadgets that I hardly knew I had. You know, that which is behind something else in a cabinet that you never open, collects dust and fry float and becomes disgusting in the end. Both that kind of man actually (if you are interested enough) can be useful and enjoyable in a kitchen, as well as other things such as Christmas decorations (which I don't use because I don't celebrate Christmas) and other little things.
So my whole hall has been full of boxes. Unfortunately I don't have a car, so getting rid of the misery has been a problem. But then I got help, yesterday, just. A person I hadn't seen in years came and helped me get all these boxes away.
And that is this is where solo training comes in.
Before this one the person appeared I decided to tuck Boyo into the bedroom, so that I could calmly shovel out all the boxes in the stairwell. This clearing has brought out all the dust and all the loose fur (both Boyo and Molly are shedding fur right now) to the hall and kitchen, and I had no desire to be ashamed. 😀 So – the stairwell. Boyo was probably a bit pensive when he heard me open the door and rustle, but I took the liberty of ignoring him.
And when the person appeared I went out, locked the door, took some bags down with me and talked a bit. It took a few turns up and down before everything was down, and I suspect Boyo was very, very thoughtful in there. But he could well be, I thought. Incidentally, I think it was when I was on my way out to lock the door that he actually barked a little and rapped a little on the bedroom door – but i ignored that too.
It didn't take particularly long time, this. I could not accompany this person, because the car was crammed full of stuff. I just couldn't get a seat. 😀 When I got up I sat down and smoked, then went to bed – and then I let my dog out, who rushed around the whole apartment to investigate what the hell happened while he was gone.
Because I already is of the attitude that it shouldn't be a big deal to come and go, so I actually pretty much ignore Boyo when I go in to pick him up. I don't like it when a dog meets me completely hysterically happy (stressed). I'd rather have the relaxed reaction “aha, that's where you were”, and nothing more. I do the same when I pick him up from my friend who stood up and helped me when I was away for treatments, doctor visits etc.
Right now, my biggest problem reasons to leave home at least once every other day, until it is time for my radiation treatment to start. That is when Boyo is supposed to be at home by himself, so for real. How he's been doing so far, then it's going fantastically well so I'm not worried at all. But apart from throwing away rubbish and going to Ica and buying things for home, so I don't have any direct reasons to go out. I'll do it anyway, but it's easier when there are actually reasons – for me, in other words. And yes, that problem is solely my own, it has nothing to do with Boyo. 😀
But then, I feel on the whole very satisfied right now. Both with myself and Boyo. With myself for finding a way that works for Boyo, and Boyo for actually being up to the challenge. He seems to have several things that speak against him (said with great humor). First, he is a man, and therefore quite windy (have I said that I think bitches are a little more fun, Now that I've tried both?). Partly, he is a shepherd, and therefore not very independent at all. Partly, I am his only person and his whole world. That we manage to get through it step by step so that he can manage to be alone, It's not bad pink.
Because it is certainly not that he can't. He can. After all, he can sit outside alone and wait while I'm in the laundry room. It's just that I haven't been able to find a way (to be alone inside) which worked for him in the past. Ella was much easier to train alone. But then she also had a completely different mentality, although she was also very dependent on me. That seems to be the shepherds' motto; let's sit together at the hip with our very own person. 😀