01/18/2024
Since I stopped posting not too long after getting her, I would like to officially introduce my whole heart
Siena came to me at 9.5wks old in August of 2020 through and had already faced some enormous challenges in her very tiny life. I knew she would have some tough feelings to work through as she grew up, but I didn’t know where that would take us.
It’s a good thing the she’s so cute, because her puppyhood and teenage years were *really* hard. I’d never known a dog who experienced such a rollercoaster of generalized fear, anxiety, and stress - let alone from such a young age.
I’d wanted a dog in order to pursue continuing education opportunities, but those kinds of things couldn’t even be considered until she felt safe in her world. So I let my expectations go and leaned into learning how to care for a sensitive dog.
Now an adult, Siena is the most resilient version of herself. A combination of the right environment and routine, the right resources, a rock-solid support network, and daily medication has expanded her world in ways that those who knew her as a puppy never assumed possible.
Sure, her behaviour is still far from “ideal” in a lot of circumstances - she has severe separation anxiety, she’s sound sensitive, she struggles with environmental contrast, and she is VERY reactive towards unfamiliar dogs.
But all that is fine because perfection will never be our goal. We’re far more concerned with safety and happiness than obedience and control.
And although she didn’t turn out to be the service dog candidate I deeply hoped she’d be, she still supports my disabilities as my doctor-prescribed Emotional Support Animal (ESA) by accompanying me to hospitals, pharmacies, and doctor or physiotherapy appointments.
Kiddo also recently earned her Novice Trick Dog (NTD) title through Do More With Your Dog, and helps me as a demo dog for BTD clients.
So sure, our journey didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. But she’s the dog I needed, and she’s my whole heart♥️
