Well our latest challenge has been to help Conkers get used to travelling in the car.  She is fine sitting on someone's lap, however I don't think that this is entirely practical if that lap belongs to the driver!

As we have a hatch back, we bought a dog guard and thought that we would try her out sitting in the back.  Unfortunately our first trips out were rather unsuccessful, she was howling and jumping around the back, clearly unable to settle, and her panic lead to other even more unpleasant emissions!

Knowing that she was fine to travel on someone's lap, I knew that it was not the car travel itself that was causing a problem, so it was much more likely related to her not being able to have the same security and comfort in the back of the car.

We invested in a rigid dog bed with a very snuggly fleecy cushion which she absolutely loved, and once she realised she could settle there, and not be sliding around, she settled down and slept for the whole journey.  Whereas our 10 minute local journeys had been less than successful, the simple addition of a new bed allowed us to travel the 50 miles each way, to Basingstoke to visit a friend and some dogs and we spent a lovely afternoon together.  Conker's confidence in travelling in the car is growing with each journey she does.

This prompted reflection that by making very small changes to help improve the physical comfort of a situation can completely transform one's attitude to something that one had feared. A personal parallel with this that I have experienced is when I have been worried about important presentations  is to ensure that I always wear my favourite outfit that feels and looks good.  Although this can't in itself make the presentation go well, I know that looking good outside gives me confidence from inside to handle anything.  Maslow's hierarchy in action!

Until next time!