Anxious Moments

#0009
My dog gets anxious in certain situations and so do I. He gets anxious on the way to the groomer. We have about a 30 minute drive to get to our groomer and as we get closer he gets worse. He shakes, he tries to hide and when we get there he even tries to run away. Not sure what is so traumatic about a shower and shave, but the anticipation of it gives him anxiety.

For me, my anxiety flares up the night before I have travel for work. The anticipation of leaving my house, my family and my dog for even just a 2 day trip gets me every time. Not sure what is so traumatic about traveling for work. Maybe its the fear of not packing enough underwear or not waking up in time to get to the airport and make my flight.

I can only assume that what happens to my dog at the groomer it isn’t bad, it’s necessary and he always comes back looking good and smelling great. I have traveled for work for the past 5 years. It isn’t bad, it’s necessary for my job, but after a few hours on an airplane I don’t think anyone smells great.

When I take my dog to the groomer I am always humored and heart-broken by his anxious antics. I think my wife feels the same way about my non-sense the night before a business trip.

It’s hard to communicate to your dog that everything will be fine and that he is wasting his energy by being anxious. So why do I do the exact same thing?

Last night when my wife explained to me that my anxiety was unnecessary, I tried something different. Instead of obsessing over the number of boxer briefs stuffed in my carry on, my nervous energy and I went to the gym. We had a great workout, came home, finished packing, set 2 alarms and I had a great nights sleep.

As I headed out the door this morning I saw it on the calendar — groomer appointment 10:30am — maybe my wife should try walking the dog before taking him.

Please share this message with someone who needs to hear it today.