Avoiding Travel Triggers

In an effort to avoid creating travel-related fear/worry triggers for Lilly, I’m being beyond careful in my BlogPaws planning and packing this week. I do not want Lilly to associate things like suitcases or certain changes in my behavior with me leaving. We know, already, her abilities at pattern recognition.

Am I being overly cautious?

Maybe.

But, I’ve never left Lilly overnight before. (It’s sad, but true. There are many reasons, including having not yet found a suitable kennel.)

My strategies, so far, include:

• Keeping the suitcase in the closet
• Making clothes selections and packing look like usual laundry tasks
• Doing as much prep as I can when she is outside playing or otherwise occupied

Due to an O’dark-early flight Friday, I’ll have to leave the house well before anyone is usually awake around here. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll smooch on my girl before I leave (and risk a weepy goodbye) or if I’ll just slip out and let Tom tell her I’m gone later.

When he has traveled, I usually just tell her he is gone so that she won’t look for him and get frustrated. She adjusts well to his absence, but I’m not sure how she’ll do without me for a few days. Tom plans on letting both dogs sleep in bed while I’m gone, so that should assuage any sadness … for all of them.