Boundary Issues
Photo courtesy of Gratisography
Saturday, November 15th, 2025My dog, Wally, went away to boarding obedience school nearly two weeks ago - one week left to go. With Wally gone, our other dog, Willow - Wally’s emotional support dog - has been living her best life.
She’s a filthy little mop with a giant overbite and an itty bitty brain. She has a 1:1 eye-to-nose ratio - three black holes hinting at the vast emptiness inside. Her helicopter ears sit perfectly horizontal, curving up like horns with her morning bedhead. She walks with a friendly little trot and always looks happy with her overly long tongue sticking out of her mouth.
She likes to chase the squirrels, the bunnies, and the birds. She stops to sniff every individual leaf and blade of grass that’s ever been pee-ed on. She would go home with anyone.
I’m glad she’s living her best life right now. I take her on walks and give her lots of treats and she’s luxuriating in all the extra attention and space on the bed. I know she’s wondering where Wally is, but I also get the feeling that
…she’s taking advantage of his time away. I think we all are.
Wally went to obedience school because he nipped someone a few months ago and while he didn’t draw blood, that’s not a behavior that I want to allow to escalate. The last thing I need is for him to be a liability to me or other people.
I love this little dog with every fiber of my being. He’s adorably cute – if he knows you. Otherwise, he can come off as surprisingly vicious. He knows he has me wrapped around his little toe beans.
Yet I’m surprised - and feeling a bit guilty - about how little his absence is affecting me. I didn’t realize how much of my energy revolved around managing his every need until he wasn’t here. Perhaps he’s not the only one with “boundary” issues.
Meanwhile, when this post is published, I’ll be in Mexico for a few days with a friend. She was heading down for a visit and asked if I wanted to join. The timing is the last possible acceptable moment at work, before the grit hits the fan with the new season. I'll take a hot second of fun in the sun before all that begins, thankyouverymuch.
In the last year, I myself have gotten a bit unruly. My diet has slipped. My gym routine has been spotty at best. My alcohol intake has increased. Any boundaries i had, have gone out the window.
If I were younger, it would be less of a concern. But I’m older now and how I take care of myself makes a difference.
I am better at taking care of me, when “me” is the only one I need to take care of.
Willow is enjoying the extra space she has right now. I hope that when Wally comes back, he can better respect her boundaries and give her the space she deserves – all of us in fact. I think we all could use a bit more space.
If Wally can spend three weeks learning how to create boundaries, then I think I can, too.
Stay Gritty