I'm still dizzy.
The herbal medicine tablets I have work. For about six hours, then the world starts spinning, I get a weird headache and have to take another one. Both me and Boyfriend are getting kinda worried about this thing, even though the doctor seemed rather unconcerned. The fact that it's a possible side effect of stopping one of my medications too quickly after and I quote "long-term or high-dosage use" (Been taking the stuff daily for two years. Oops!) could have a lot to do with it, in which case I'll be taking this Vertigoheel stuff for another two weeks or so. And not taking the stairs after eight pm, when the dizzy gets really bad.
In other news, we're also worried about Iggy. Yes, he's doing his business closer to us, but I'm having trouble getting excited about him doing what I think is a pee to convince us of how submissive he is. We still haven't made it to the pet store, so there's no doggy harness either to drag him around the town in in a more acceptable fashion. So we went on the internet and googled 'fearful puppy'. All sources say it's not the end of Iggy's potential as a happy dog, but that it'll take time and today is probably a momentary setback. The setback probably has to do with my angry voice at him for pooing in the kitchen this morning. It didn't stop us from implementing the new plan.
The new plan consists of praising him for everything he does right. Not just doing his business outside. Accepting treats, drinking water, playing with toys and walking into the open apartment door now get met with an enthusiasm just shy of a Mexican wave. Boyfriend has the tone of voice down to a tee. I'm too loud and squeaky most of the time, but I think he might be getting used to that. Iggy I mean. Boyfriend is definitely used to me sounding like I'm guzzling helium every time I get excited over something. We might be overly optimistic, but Iggy seems to be walking around with his tail held high more.
I'm honestly wondering why he's so scared. He's not scared of being dropped, since he jumps happily from heights where I'm doubtful it's healthy (solution: holding him by the scruff of his scruffy little neck until he's got four paws on the ground) whether he's being held or not. Like I said, noises are things he loves. He actually seemed interested in us earlier when we blew raspberries on each other.
What he doesn't like are hands. Or things being held being brought close to him.
We currently have strong-smelling treats shaped little sticks. He likes them. He knows what they're for and that they're tasty and he wants them. But if someone tries to put them near his face, he flees. He also wouldn't dream of taking food from someone's hand. I never thought I'd wish for my dog to be begging for food, but I am.
I wonder what could have happened to him to make him that shy.
The advice on that was, ignore the dog, get down on his level, let him come to you. Preferably turn your back on him, it's less threatening. Sadly, I've been conditioned by a certain lively cocker spaniel with the ability to come up with James Bond-esque food liberation and housetraining rebellion schemes. If Iggy makes a noise, I'm turning around. If he's been quiet for too long, I'm turning around. I'm turning around a lot to find Iggy staring at me in utter and total confusion, looking about as to why I'm suddenly focused on his direction. Maybe I have trust issues.
That set aside, I've taken an Iggy-related decision without consulting Boyfriend on it. I'm going to teach Iggy a commando. It's called 'Basket'. He doesn't seem to mind the commando, or my methods for teaching it. I basically go 'Basket, Iggy! Go basket!', repeat it once more if and when he doesn't have a clue what I'm on about, then put him in his basket with a treat going 'That's basket! Yay! Basket!'. If he happens to crawl into his basket by himself (which he does a lot provided he gets out, which he isn't doing much today) and I notice, I'm going 'Good boy! Good basket!'. Yes, I'm quite sure the dog thinks I'm nuts by now.
I'm not petting him much. He obviously doesn't like it (yet), so the rewards we're handing out is based heavily on sound happy with him and leaving him alone with treats. On the treat front, we need to find small, dog-tasty scented treats. As much as he loves Dentastix and the dried meat sticks, we can't keep stuffing him with those, unless we want him to turn into "Dogball! The Amazing Orb-Shaped Canine!" I tried giving him my home-baked treats, but they don't smell strongly and are usually way too big for him. No, Iggy, scared little Iggy, wants something that smells like meat and is not too hard to chew on.
Next week, we're taking him to the vet for some more vaccines, maybe a chip, and some advice on how to deal with him. We might even find him a harness so we can teach him to walk on a leash and take him places that scare him while we act unconcerned at his terror, the theory being that the nochalance at the situation will eventually rub off on him.
Or maybe we're horrible, horrible, undermedicated people with vertigo. You decide.
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