Expert: Norman Auspitz - 7/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Norm. I'm having good days, bad days and terrible days without Toby. He was such a charecter and I think that is way I'm not doing great without him. As if that wasn't enough for me I am having brown algea issues in my goldfish tank. The good  news is that tip you gave me worked because Dixie no longer chews anything electrical. She still chews on everything else though. I've gone through 2 collars and 9 leads because she keeps chewing them to pieces. I've gone through lots of tennis balls too. She eats everything. She is a nutter. I call her Dixie the vacume dog. Chance looks at her as if to say "what on earth are you doing Dixie?" Well I say looks. He can hear her so he turns his head towards her. She has even managed to figure out how to open my fish cavinet and steal the fish stuff.
Danielle. There goes another collar. Looks like I will be making another trip to the pet store oh and another lead.

ANSWER: Danielle,

You can try the lemon juice cayenne pepper mixture on the collars and leads also. A couple of times should cure the habit.

It sounds to me as if you are moving on with your life and all that you are experiencing is perfectly normal.  It takes a long time to work through grief and, even so, there are just going to be thoise awful days.  After a while, these awful days will become fewer and further between.  You just bhave not given yourself enough time.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Norm. I just don't see I'm moving on yet but ok I'll behave and give myself more time. Thank you so much.
Danielle.

Answer
Danielle,

It may not seem to you that you are moving on, but I detect a big improvement.  The way these things seem to work is that most folks feel they are making no progress and, then, one day, they realize that they have moved on.  They could not tell you when it happened, but, things are much better and have been so for a while.

So, do not dwell on it, but know that some point, when you least expect it, you will have moved on.  You will not forget Toby, and there may be the odd twinge now and again, but it will be different. This is just how we humans are put together.

Best regards... Norm.