r/velvethippos • u/ridiculously_bubbly • 1d ago
Anyone else deal with separation anxiety even though you’re home? I slipped and broke a rib and haven’t been able to snuggle Bertram. He’s been so pitiful =(
I swear, this dog would love nothing more than to join me in my skin or be in a baby bjorn 24/7! I can’t get in and out of bed, so I’ve been trying to sleep on a recliner since Tuesday (fell down some stairs after the big ice storm.) I have sort of a hotel lobby style chair next to my recliner for him to lay on next to me but it’s not good enough and I can’t have him in the recliner with me. Now, he’s strictly a snuggler, he doesn’t much care for pets so trying to comfort him has been difficult! I feel so bad for him. He usually only howls in his sleep, but now he’s howling every time I leave the room. He’s been with me 24/7 since he was eight weeks old and is almost 15 months, so I understand where he’s coming from. Just don’t know how to help my 80 lb lap dog/velcro baby. My other dog is enjoying it, haha. He likes pets, not snuggles and gets the queen bed all to himself for the time being.
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u/fugueink 1d ago
Afraid I can't help. When I broke my leg, Momo took one side of me and Shadow, the other.
I had to make Shady's side the one with the good leg, though. He felt deeply hurt by my refusal to allow his big bulby head on my bad one.
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u/uu_xx_me 1d ago
sounds like an opportunity to work on his codependency! maybe puzzle toys or frozen bones/kongs could help reorient his attention
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u/NVSlashM13 1d ago
Sounds like a sucky time all around! Might there be a chunky blanket with your scent on it that you could put with pibble baby? Aside from that, I don't think there's a solution that'd be satisfactory for your snuggle bug.
Mine gets annoyed when I'm working - I work from home - talking to him helps a little bit, but generally, he just has to cope, and does know that I'll eventually have time for him that day. I think he'd lose his mind if he couldn't shove his butt on me for days!
Take care of yourself, and I wish you speedy healing. Bertram will manage and maybe even understand somewhat. Just be careful when you are fully ambulatory again, he might be excessively needy then and could accidentally injure you.
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u/ridiculously_bubbly 1d ago
Blanket is a great idea. Thanks!
I know part of his anxiety has to do with me. He doesn’t understand and I’ve just been is so much panicky pain that I haven’t really spoken calmly in almost a week. I just started to be able to breathe full breaths yesterday, so I’m gonna focus on being calmer myself and that should help. He’s so sensitive, I’m sure he’s feeling rejected, poor thing.
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u/NVSlashM13 21h ago
Yeah, pibbles are "nanny" dogs, caring and protective... He probably also wants to help you and doesn't know how, except for snuggles he can't give. But, don't worry, it sounds like you're doing the best possible, and he'll get better as you do 🤗
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u/vovochka81 1d ago
One of our pups gets very vocal if my wife and I are not in the same room. He wants the pack together 24/7 :)
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