Had Ryo over for a staycation. Took him out for his usual morning walks, and he joined us for dinners too. I had to have a think about where to go. It can't be in high traffic areas that will make him panic. He needs space. What comes easy to Choya doesn't come easy to him.
Ryo's still not comfortable with dining out, and he's a tad afraid of the dark. While I want to push him out of his comfort zone, I can't stress him too much. He needs loads of reassurance to build his confidence. It takes time, but I will try to slowly acclimatize him. The positive thing is, he does respect me enough and trusts me to protect him.
Choya's calm and nonchalant presence assured him too. He doesn't need to sit near Choya or cuddle up to her. They're not cuddlebugs. He just needs to know that Choya is all right, and he will figure it out himself. Choya is the Jedi Grandmaster of chilling out at restaurants and bars. Once she's done observing the crowd, the noise level and getting used to the sounds at a venue, she pretty much goes to sleep till it's time to leave. It's not just because she's five years old and rather mellow. She's been like this after the first month of hanging out with us. She's uhhh... resigned to our shenanigans. Hahaha.
And now, Ryo is getting the hang of it. This round with us, at the restaurants, he settled down way faster than the previous times. It's almost as though he knows this is what happens when he comes out with Choya and her pawrents. Taking someone's dog isn't just a fun thing. When I have someone's dog for that few hours or overnight, I'm well aware of what I'm in for. I'm accepting the enormous responsibilities that come along with it — continuous training, house rules, walking manners, loose-leash but firm handling, food, pee breaks, cleanliness, wiping the paws, potential injuries, controlled interactions with other canines, etc. (This is probably why I have trust issues when it comes to Choya's care.)
Good job, Ryo. I'm proud of you.
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