dealing with deployments
for those of you who have had your significant others deploy, how did your pets deal with the separation? Baden is so attached to my other half and im worried about how he will deal with it. 6months is a long time and everyday he looks forward to her coming home and waits by looking out the window once 3pm hits as she comes home around 4 and with her not coming back im wondering how or what I can do to make this easier on him and me as well. when shes at work he get depressed the moment she leaves. he loves me and we have a great bond but with her I feel like it runs deeper as shes has these certain chase games he will only play with her and shes also the one who taught him many commands. He also he starts to become very protective when its just me by myself, like when out on walks he is observant of everyone and watches them closely and if theres someone near by he will stand n front of me with his hair raised until I let him know they are not a threat by saying "its ok" he also reacts to every noise outside and will growl and bark until he sees whats making the noise but when shes here with us he could care less. so im wondering what stages of emotions hes going to go through during this time and shes wondering how he will be when she finally comes home. I keep telling her that he will not forget her and will be happy to see her but she feels like he will be angry with her and want nothing to do with her. so what have u experienced with this? what did u do to get through this tough time and what did u do to comfort your pets?
my cat could care less though lol
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on
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I know I asked about what u did for deployments but this could also go for people whos husband/wife works nights or long hours at work
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Mail home stinky socks, T-shirts or underwear -- well-sealed in plastic to preserve the scent. CARE packages.
One way to find a dog lost in the woods is to place a well-worn article of your clothing on the ground (with a sign advising your intentions). The person who posted this found their dog days later, curled up on their old shirt.
I spent 10 days in the Utah desert once -- no water for bathing -- at the end of the trip, I triple-bagged my socks and underwear for the dogs to roll in when I got home. I think they liked it almost as much as cat poop.
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lol this is actually a good idea, I think this will actually help baden with the separation. thank for idea, since apparently no one else has any advice
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Permalink Reply by Nick Horishny on
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Ours would sulk around the front door for the first week or so, then migrate to sleeping on the side of the bed of whoever was gone. Eventually, they would get back to a 'normal' routine. BUT once it started getting close to return time and we'd be reminding them mom or dad would be home soon, they really would begin to get antsy as time grew nearer. When the actual reunion would occur, they would shake their tailless butts off and be a shadow for the next couple days. It would take about a week after a long separation for things to return to the usual routine. We would just talk to them like any other person during the absences and they seemed to appreciate it.
Don't want to address the stinky clothes thing.....they were happy with a slept on pillow.
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I think that's what baden will do too. just stay by her side of the bed and keep going to the door waiting for her. ill make a routine though to tire him out and so he knows what to expect. I head of hiking trails here so im thinking twice a month just to take him to tire him out.
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Theres's a whole genre of videos of dogs welcoming vets home; here's my favorite:
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im now balling my eyes out, this was so sweet though. I know baden will be just as excited
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Permalink Reply by Laura and Tommy Jefferson on
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Hi Rebecca, I don't have any advice on this one, but my best to you and Baden both. Man, six months is a long time to be gone. Military families certainly sacrifice a lot for the rest of us! Thank you to all three of you (and the cat haha)!
Hope time passes quickly!! ... and for a safe return!
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thank you for your kind words :) its hard to think of her being gone for 6months but Im going to try my best and keep us both busy
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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Rebecca....I think it's a case of not many having a separation of that length. Neither of us alone or together have been away from the dogs for more then a week. I was gone a week taking care of my mother, my husband said Max ate and did all the normal things but he would only lay by the front door. When I came home I was knocked on my backside by a 37 lb corgi and then the other one jumped on me. When we go to visit our daughter they stay with a family friend but once home Max is my shadow for a couple of days...I'm his person.
I think the clothes with a strong scent is a good idea. It will give him comfort.
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your right, I really do apologize for sounding rude about this its just the stress of her leaving had gotten to me but I realize me being depressed and moody wont change the fact that shes leaving.
hopefully with a set routine and Skype things will go better. im hoping that after a month he will get used to her being gone for a bit at a time. she left for a TDY last week and was only gone a week but for 5 days he sat waiting by the door :( but after skyping he heard her voice and began to perk up which was comforting, I even took him to the dog park for 3 hours to hopefully tire him out so he wouldn't keep going to the door and it did for that day. the next morning same thing. on the 6th day he began to settle better. the only real problem I had was getting him to eat as he will only eat when shes home. Idk why that is?? so by the 3rd day I put chicken broth (homemade) in his food and he finally ate but very slowly
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