Time

My human says it’s hard to remember when I’d lay outside the bathroom while she showered, breathing heavily under the door. Or, when she got up in the middle of the night, I jumped off the bed to follow her.

It took a lot more time for me to settle into our home than my human would have wanted for me, for her.

There was a time when she couldn’t even finish one sip of her coffee before I grabbed toys, ready to go, and needed to move before she was prepared to face the world. 

Now, when my human’s third-morning alarm sounds, she turns on the light and tells me, “It’s almost time to get up, sweet girl. ” She rubs my belly and tries to wake herself up, feeling so contented that I often softly smile while I sleep.

Like our walks, it took me a lot of trial and error to settle into our home, space, rhythm, and routine. 

But my human says we’re there. She’s grateful when she sits to work or relax that I stretch beside her or ask to snuggle under the covers. It makes her happy that she can leave the room, and I continue resting. Unless, of course, I think she’s sneaking a snack. I love snacks and must ensure she’s not eating treats without me.

She practices thankfulness every time she sees me nestled next to the pillow her sweet friend Pam sent her after her perfect Gavin left this world. 

So, if you’re still helping a dog learn to settle in, trust that it will happen. When Gavin first came home, it took him ten minutes to settle in, but it took me over a year.

Be patient with yourself, pivot softly, and know that we know all you do for us. And, if you need extra help, the fantastic humans at the shop are super stocked up, so they’re offering 15% off orders through the end of the month; restrictions apply, code march15

Love, Mabel Sweet, Good Girl Dog