1 month with an emotional support dog (long sappy post)
it’s officially a month since i adopted zelda, my lovely little mutt, so i just wanted to talk a little bit about how she’s affected me already in this short time.
she’s adjusted my sleep schedule. before zelda i would stay up late, sleep in late, or sometimes wake up at 3AM and be completely unable to get back to sleep. now, we’re up between 6:30 and 7:30AM every morning. (sometimes a little earlier, but we’re adjusting.) my first act of the day is a walk around the block with my pup. i’ve loved reclaiming those early morning hours which for years i’ve been mostly losing to sleep.
she helps me sleep better. because of my OCD, bizarre non sequitur thoughts and images have been interfering with my ability to fall asleep since i was about fifteen. (probably longer, but that’s when i was officially diagnosed.) that half-asleep time of night is when my brain tends to run the wildest. i’ve been using the TV as a sleep aid for a long time. but within a week of having zelda sleeping next to me, it’s totally different. just feeling her there and knowing she’s with me has such a grounding effect, and all the sudden i’m asleep without even noticing, no TV needed. if i wake up in the night, she’s right there next to me, and if she’s not up, i shouldn’t be up, so back to sleep i go. it’s crazy.
gives my day a positive start. i’ve already talked about waking up nice and early, but what makes it so great is the wake up call. when zelda notices me starting to stir, she comes right up next to me, wagging her tail and licking at my nose, so happy to have another day ahead of us. i love it.
reinforcing the structure of my daily routine. when the dog needs water, i remind myself to refill my own. when i’m working at my desk, i’m committed to getting a good chunk of something done, because if i sit down on the couch i’ll be trapped under a dog for at least 30 minutes. if zelda needs to go out, there’s a chance for me to get a few minutes of fresh air. that leads into….
exercise. i’ve always loved walks, but i’ve never liked walking alone, so i rarely get the exercise i’d like to. but with zelda, i’m never walking alone. i have a purpose, i say hello to people, i enjoy myself, and i’m gonna get killer calves on top of it all. yes, she does need a little training when it comes to leash reactivity, but having those occasional moments of craziness when she barks at another dog are honestly good for me too, because i can see that those chaotic seconds don’t lead to a world of chaos; they’re quickly forgotten by all parties and we move on.
constant companionship. zelda and i bonded within minutes of meeting each other, as cheesy as it sounds. while she enjoys hanging out with mom or dad for a little while here and there, for the most part she’s next to me, wherever i am. as she settles in i know this will probably lessen a little, but we definitely have a companion relationship, something i’ve never been lucky enough to have with a pet until now. it’s amazing, and so special. she’s the first thing i see in the morning and the last thing i see at night. i love this little mutt.
laughter. a small thing, but it’s important; zelda’s personality is big for her 20lb body, and that personality leads to a lot of laughs in our day. from her habit of looking right at you and firmly sitting down if there’s something she wants and you’re not listening, to her frantic laps around the yard during playtime, to her amazing bug catching skills, she brings me lots of laughter every single day.
if you read all this soppy nonsense, thanks, and i hope you enjoyed it.
gummygunk
baratheonpilled
blakekathryn
jacobvanloon
romaincrisis
stormborns
titsay
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