Molly (our springer spaniel) and her relationship with our sofa!

Molly settled on the sofa

Molly at the end of a good graunge on the sofa.

Hello again. I couldn't resist sharing with you some more Christmas photos of Molly my springer spaniel.

In my first blog about Molly ("introducing Molly") I told readers how Molly was very nervous as a pup due to a deprived puppy hood. The two springers I had before molly used to love to sleep one either side of me on the sofa. This for me was very comforting and relaxing. So.. When I got Molly I tried to encourage her to join me on the sofa - but she would stare in a threatening way, warning bit my had- then try to climb on the back of the sofa behind our heads - she was plainly terrified by it all.

She is now 9 years old - and has come to understand me a little better. We have come to a happy compromise regarding the sofa!

So when I first sit down on the sofa she will jump up beside me and have a little lean on me and accept some fuss and sloppy conversation . Then she always has a a happy graunge - on her back - rolling and kicking her legs out and up and making sure the sofa is well and truly covered in her scent.

We then move on to phase three of her relationship with the sofa - she may settle for a little ( the top and perhaps even have a short dose if my attention is fully on the TV rather than on her.

Then she obviously feels she has fulfilled her duty as my pet and takes herself off the sofa and into her bed. where she sleeps well 

I have come to understand that too much interaction stresses her but that the little that she chooses to have does make her happy (and me !).

All the best

Caroline

x

Keywords: Dog Springer Chair Sofa Cuddle Anxious Pet

Molly, our springer spaniel and the Christmas wrapping paper

Hi - Hope you enjoyed Christmas!

As a family we unwrap our presents straight after breakfast - big kids that we are. Molly gets very excited by this - we have to screw up the wrapping paper in balls - then play fetch with her - she catches them mid air - then proceeds to tear the ball to shreds very quickly - then up she sits watching intently for the next ball of paper to come her way, as you can see in the photo below!

  The top photo  is after all the unwrapping has been done and she is surrounded by paper she has shredded.

I realised (midway) that I might be being a bit mean - occasionally I play a game where I wrap up her dried dog food in layers of paper and she has to rip them up and find each little piece to eat it. So just in case this is what she was hoping for I made sure that  the last ball of paper we threw to her had some dog biscuits wrapped up in it!

She is a gorgeous looking dog don't you think.

Thanks for dropping by
Love
Caroline
xx












Keywords: Dog Springer Game Christmas Pet Spaniel

Christmas on the spectrum

Hi

I do love Christmas - my favourite time is Christmas Eve. We have tea in front of a real fire accompanied by Carol's from Kings.

To keep my anxiety levels down tea is quite simple as follows:

Nice bread - I like Hovis seed sensations wholemeal
Real butter
Hummus
Cherry tomatos
Free range ham or chicken slices
Good crisps
Peppers ready cooked from a jar in olive oil or similar
Chutney
Tapenade.

People can make any sandwiches they want to out of the above at the table.

Ready made Christmas cake and chocolate log
Clementines
Grapes

Pot of tea ( or in my case redbush as I can't do caffeine)

With the tree lit, everyone round the table, the fire and the carols there is always a little Christmas magic about it all.

To keep my anxiety and even depression at bay - I can't have more than a sip of alchohol, have to watch my blood sugar, no late nights, and also make sure that am assertive about only doing so much socialising with the wider family.

There are 15 of us and mum likes us to be all together every day - but as I find this very stressful I have to be firm that I'll be sociable on Christmas Eve and Christmas day but Boxing day is quite and at home.

I substitute lovely spiced apple fruit teas, or earl grey redbush for the alchohol or make a hot spicy drink with apple juice and I don't miss the alchohol. To keep the blood sugar low I have to make sure I eat equal amounts of mince pie and extra thick cream!! Honestly it works. 

Happy Christmas to you all.

x

Keywords: Autism, ASD, Spectrum, Aspergers, Social Anxiety, Depression Alcohol, Caffeine, Blood sugar, Christmas, Stress,