So good to read back from you, Debbie!

I am using my phone so I can’t look up Raynaud’s although I would like to. (my computer 🖥 was destroyed by Bogart the beagle and my inattentiveness).

Being surrounded by 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 sounds lovely to me. Being close to one beagle at night is nice, but not warm enough, particularly because he lies on the blankets so I am not covered enough.

No snow here this year, only a week of frost (it’s been the warmest winter I’ve known here).

Yes, Bogart is very warm right now, lying by the pellet stove. He’s adorable!!!

Glad you have electricity… Where’s you sixth dog..?

🐕 👩 Anita

Dear Debbie:

LOL, it didn’t cross my mind that Bogart was on an Internet Knowledge Pursuit (IKP)😀.

Reads like (Mayo Clinic), you suffer from Primary Raynaud’s which occurs on its own and often begins between the ages of 15 and 30.

I noticed an alarming cold sensitivity in my fingers a winter or two ago- I thought that my fingers were freezing to death when holding something cold or when the temp outside was very cold. I suppose it’s age-related: blood vessels becoming less responsive, the tiny arteries in the fingers stiffening over time: they don’t widen (dilate) as easily to bring warm blood to the fingertips.

With age (I am reading), overall circulation to the arms and legs decreases, and even a mild drop in blood flow can make cold exposure feel extreme. Also, skin gets thinner= less insulating layer. And nerves can become more sensitive or less precise with age (which explains why my fingers felt like they were dying, even though they were not).

But age-related circulation changes differ from Raynaud’s in that they usually don’t cause dramatic color changes (white/blue/red) or numbness, and they are not triggered by mild cold or stress.

Thank you, Debbie, for this opportunity to understand things better.

In regard to Lexie, the similarities between dog psychology and human psychology amaze me. So, I am reading that puppies have a developmental window (roughly 1-3 months) where they learn what people are, what normal household life looks like, how to handle new people and places and how to trust, and Lexie missed that window of opportunity.

When dogs don’t get early socialization- new people feel threatening, new places feel overwhelming, and their default response becomes avoidance or fear. This explains why she’s loving with her person (“It was a long road but with me she’s a normal dog, very loving”) but fearful of everyone else.

Also, chronic stress= living in overcrowded, chaotic conditions creates learned helplessness, heightened sensitivity to noise, movement, and unpredictability, and difficulty regulating emotions (my own reactions to growing up with chronic stress).

The most beautiful part of her story is that despite everything- she trusts you; she knows that you are safe, and she can now be loving, stable, and content at home.

You are making a positive difference, Debbie, big time 🙏 🎉 👏

🤍 Anita

Are you still here, Debbie?

Good Thursday morning, Debbie 🙂

Glad to read you’re still here, alive and kicking. How are your 6 dogs and 4 cats? Lexie’s story touched me, and you being the hero in her story.

Bogart is resting here with me, on my lap. A few weeks ago, there was an incident in the kitchen. I almost tripped on him and I screamed. But LOUD. Maybe all my lifetime trauma was in that scream. Bogart was very scared and for days behaved like PTSD whenever in or close to the kitchen

Of course, I regretted the scream, been mindful to keep my voice within a normal range, and there’s been progress with Bogart but he’s still not his normal self in the kitchen or around. Otherwise he is affectionate with me and sociable with other dogs and okay with people in general.

What do you think about what happened?

Anita

Hi again, Debbie 🙂

🙏 for rescuing a tiny, scared kitty!

And congrats for the ten years anniversary with Lexie 🥳

Bogart was 5 months back in Dec last year (now 11 months old) when purchased from a dog breeder where he lived since birth with his parents and dozens of beagles and other hounds. The breeder said he was “shy” and that he played with the younger dogs (not with the older dogs).

He was very anxious upon leaving his pack for days later, but over time and loving attention, he felt safe and loved in his new home.

I like your suggestions about how to behave with him in the kitchen. I practiced what you recommended except for sitting with him in the kitchen (and giving him treats while sitting). I will do that next, thank you for the recommendation and encouragement!

Yes, I think he was greatly alarmed by the scream because it was very different from how I normally sound. It was a shock for him and he probably felt like he did something wrong.

It happened and I can’t undo it 😔 but I’ll work on repairing the memory.

In the last few days, I’ve taken him to a dog park where he gets to be around other dogs unleashed. My first dog- park experience!

Thanks again, Debbie 🙏

Anit

* I just noticed the double posting- my mistake (fortunately, not a… traumatizing mistake 🙂)

Ha-ha, hilarious, you are funny, Debbie 😜

Since I talked to you last, I sat with Bogart twice on the kitchen floor and gave him trats, I think it’s working!