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skipnchar's avatar
skipnchar
Explorer
Oct 12, 2013

The problem with being hospitalized

Shortly before my Motorcycle accident I left my little spaniel in the care of a grand daughter while I made my motorcycle trip across country. Lucky has a bit of separation anxiety and she sometimes will sit on my feet if she thinks I'm about to go somewhere. I knew she would receive excellent care from Beth and she did.

After I returned I picked her up and she was very excited to see me and everything was great. Then about a week later I had my encounter with the deer and ended up being hospitalized for almost a month so she was AGAIN abandoned by me and put in Beth's loving care. Since I've been in rehab I had Beth bring Lucky to me so she would know I haven't abandoned her and once again she was very excited and loving to see me.

I have not requested she be brought over again feeling this might be traumatic for her to be constantly in and out of my company (I know it is for me).

No real point to this post other than to say I REALLY miss that loving little dog.

30 Replies

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  • raindove's avatar
    raindove
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2013
    I always said our cockers wore little timex's. You could set your clock by them wanting fed at set times. Dogs are creatures of habit.

    That aside, in this case, I'd say see the dog. I agree, you both will be better off seeing each other. And no, you did not abandon her.
  • colliehauler's avatar
    colliehauler
    Explorer III
    Oct 12, 2013
    Dogs don't look at it the same way, there just happy to see you whatever time you have to spend with them. I think a visit will do you both good, just my opinion.
  • dfm's avatar
    dfm
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2013
    " Dogs cannot tell time in our sense."

    Our FurKid asks for her food at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the dot. It really causes a problem when we change to daylight savings time. If for some reason we did not feed her until 9:00 a.m.in the morning, she is reminding me at exactly 5:00 p.m. that is time to eat again.
    When I was still working she would go to the window to watch for me at 5:30 every day.
    When we are at a campgrounds she comes to the bedroom every morning at 7:00 A.M.asking to go for a walk. when we are home she doesn't ask for her walk until sometime after 10:00.
    I swear she has a watch hidden somewhere on her !
  • Pawz4me's avatar
    Pawz4me
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2013
    They say the first ten minutes or so of absence are the hardest on a dog with separation anxiety. But think about it -- ten minutes isn't very long compared to the joy and happiness I'm sure both of you feel when you get to see each other. So I wouldn't hesitate to have regular visits, unless *you* truly do find them too traumatic. My guess, though, is that the good it does both of you far outweighs the bad.
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2013
    As you saw by her excitement and unchanged devotion at your visit, there's enough room in your dog's heart for both you and Beth!

    See her as much as you can, and here's hoping you'll soon be permanently reunited.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2013
    By the way you did not abandon the dog. You made sure it was properly cared for.
    Good for all three of you
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2013
    darsben wrote:
    Dogs cannot tell time in our sense. To an animal there is just now. SEE THE DOG you will both be better off for it.
    You will mend faster and the dog will be happy for awhile


    X2
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2013
    It looks like a current TV commercial has captured this very thing with the dog waiting on his lady master to come back from long separations being in the Armed Forces.

    I even catch my dog laying on my foot sometimes as well. It is sometimes for wanting to go outside...

    We have three cats and one dog here. The cats won't even give it a second glance haha... One cat is an indoor/outdoor cat and when he wants to go outside he will walk up to the door and just stare at it haha... It works - one of us will open the door for him...

    Roy Ken
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2013
    Dogs cannot tell time in our sense. To an animal there is just now. SEE THE DOG you will both be better off for it.
    You will mend faster and the dog will be happy for awhile

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