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September 16, 2011

My absence and recent spike in stress wreaks havoc on Lilly. It’s a terrible feeling to know my actions and emotions impact her well-being. Lilly is hiding … a lot. While I recently discovered the peace of hiding in the dark, alongside Lilly, I still feel icky about her feeling the need to hide out … especially when I’m home so much less these days.

When we cannot find her easily and she chooses NOT to respond when we call her, here is the list of places we check:

  • Crate in the basement (even Ginko has taken to hanging out down stairs in his crate with the door open … howz that for a kick in the tummy?)
  • Crate in the dining room
  • Behind the toilet in the master bathroom
  • Inside her agility tunnel
  • Front corner of the garage
  • The tall grass that makes up our reversed crop circles in the pastures
  • Under the picnic table on the back deck

I try not to make a big deal of out of her hiding. Sometimes, I scoop her up and carry her to the sofa, where we hunker down together.

best dog blog, 2010, champion of my heart, tunnel photoI find the tunnel the newest and funniest spot … in part because of what I said in my 2010 acceptance speech for the Best Dog Blog Award about tunnels and troubles and dreams.

P.S. We announced it on Facebook, but we did NOT win again this year. Thanks everyone, nonetheless, for the nomination and votes. Congrats to Carol Bryant from Fido Friendly (and all the others) on the win. I said last year she was unbeatable. This year, I was right.

 

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. So sorry that you and your family are still under so much stress ;( Hunkering down on the sofa sounds like a nice respite. Hoping that you find some peace soon!

  2. It’s never a good feeling when you see your dogs displaying signs that your stress is impacting them.

    I remember seeing Daisy stressed out near the time I was shutting down my business and that’s when i realized that my stress was causing he to be more tentative and nervous. Oh the guilt!

    All I can say Roxanne is that I wish you and Lilly some moments of absolute peace together (and Ginko too!). There is not much you can do to alleviate all the stress that comes from caring for another when they are sick, but I do with you as many moments as are possible.

  3. I am so sorry things are still so hard for you and for family. At least Lilly is finding an outlet for her anxiety, even if it is one that is heartbreaking.

    Sometimes I feel like hiding too, but rarely do I allow myself such an escape. Perhaps I need to learn from Lilly.

  4. I know it doesn’t feel good to see Lilly (and even Ginko) expressing their discomfort. But hiding is a good coping mechanism.

    It makes me think of autistic children rocking back and forth. It’s sad that they need the comfort. But at least they’re choosing to do something that is actually comforting them.

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