Inside the Mind of a Dog

[slightlv]

3. I'll look forward to this! I need to understand

my dog a whole lot better. He's a very opinionated, strong willed mutt. Three "adoptions" in three months, with people bringing him back to the shelter each time as a failed rescue. That's when we adopted him (altho we didn't know about all the prior failures). I can understand why, we just refuse to call him "failed." And he has learned and adapted pretty well. There are just some things we're arguing about when it comes to his place in the "pack". I'm hoping this will give me more info.

I'm not well, and on a lot of days that leaves me with no energy at all and a depressed mood. I'm afraid I'm making it worse (harder) on Lexy than it should be. Although on my "good" days I make sure to give her all the love, pets, and adoration I can give her. And I've seen the difference in her on those days. I need to make sure (at least to myself) that she's not thinking my "bad" days are because of her. IOW, does she feel empathy with my bad days, as I do with hers? Gotta tell ya, my cats are easier to understand than this one dog! (LOL) I miss the almost automatic empathy and understanding I had with my border collie and my Leonburgher. They were such smart, intuitive dogs. I know on some level, Lexy is just as smart. She just displays it in different forms. (sigh)