I know we think about our kids and their special needs everyday as well as:
-and what we need to do today for them and with them
-and how those needs do affect every day of their lives.
We have made plans for school.
We have plans for their therapy.
Pretty much, we do understand that their needs affect all parts of their day, every day.
But I am just learning now. How special needs effects the taking care of a dog.
And the reason for this is that we have NEVER had a dog with Elizabeth or in any manner put a dog into the Elizabeth equation.
There’s probably so many of you out there who are probably saying Yes that’s true Michele we knows special needs affects this, why wouldn’t it?
But since we’ve never had a dog before, I think I need to give us grace in this discovery.
For starters, it is a good little dog 5 years old, so no “puppy” issues. I, myself, am learning all that goes into the care of a dog. And I am having a crash course in learning just how much teaching goes into this area of animal care.
For one thing, since those with Dyspraxia have a struggle with regulating pressure of touch, we need to teach how to always be gentle. Those with Dyspraxia may not have a sense of deep pressure or light pressure. So, we have to work with that base as well when approaching the dog
And for another: All the things we work with on a schedule for Elizabeth now need to include any animal- feeding, walking, playing
All of the things we talk about for sensory issues also have to include any animal. Again, teaching the dog needs space so even is she wants to hold, hug or pet all the time, she has to learn about space.
There is also the tiredness that our kids feel from just functioning every day that has to be taken into account.
Especially when it comes to remembering all that was taught AND all the actual work of a dog.
Like I said, never having had an animal, I was surprised at how to much her special needs needed factored in
So, we are working…
We our hoping things will work out while for us and the dog.
But we made it clear that there are special needs in our home and to understand if they proved an issue so we have a friend who will help us if needed.
So far so good….
But like I have said before, I am learning all the time… just like everyone else for every new stage we go through.
And I’ll let you know how it goes.