Hi, I’m Savanna! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my spunky Chihuahua combine, Penny.
In case you aren’t acquainted with the time period, a “helicopter father or mother” is somebody that tends to hover over their youngsters, being overprotective or in some circumstances, over-invested, attempting to regulate completely each side of their lives. While the time period often applies to human youngsters, I feel it’s doable to be a helicopter father or mother to a canine as effectively.
Why do I imagine that? Well, as a result of I feel that typically I is likely to be a helicopter canine father or mother to Penny. I can’t assist it! She’s simply so small and I really feel like she wants defending. After all, small canine are a bit completely different than huge canine, and there are much more risks they’re inclined to.
My husband thinks there are positively some areas the place I’m overprotective of Penny. But I’m somebody that all the time thinks of the worst-case state of affairs, so I’ve to be ready for something. Then I cease to assume, “Maybe I truly am simply overthinking and overreacting.” Here are some methods by which I would possibly be a helicopter canine father or mother, however I nonetheless assume a few of them are justified!
The 4 Ways I Might Be Overprotecting Penny:
1. I Don’t Let Strangers Pet Her… at All
Is this being a helicopter canine father or mother, or is that this widespread sense? Penny just isn’t what you’d name a pleasant canine… no less than to individuals she doesn’t know. She’s very protecting of her household, and he or she has proven her tooth earlier than to folks that have gotten too near us whereas we’re out together with her. Because of this, I don’t let strangers pet her in any respect.
I’m afraid she’s going to nip at any individual. Her bark is certainly worse than her chew, but when she nips on the flawed particular person, they could attempt to sue me or one thing, particularly if there’s a youngster concerned. In the uncommon occasion that I do let somebody pet her, I all the time give them a warning first that she doesn’t like strangers. But it’s higher to be protected than sorry and simply keep away from letting individuals pet her altogether. I’m even interested by getting her a type of harnesses or bandanas that claims “don’t pet.” Then if somebody tries to pet her, it’s their very own fault.
2. I Don’t Let Her Go Outside by Herself
Our road just isn’t tremendous busy with visitors, and he or she’s by no means as soon as left our yard. All she does is simply sit within the driveway and watch vehicles go by. But I nonetheless gained’t let her go exterior by herself. I feel that is completely rational since our entrance yard doesn’t have a fence.
But what could make me a little bit of a helicopter canine father or mother is that I don’t like for her to enter our totally fenced yard by herself both. She’s by no means as soon as tried to flee from the yard. But I don’t know, it simply makes me uneasy interested by her being on the market all by herself, particularly at night time. We have hawks and owls in our neighborhood, and whereas hawks and owls attacking dogs is rare, it does occur.
I don’t assume they might truly choose Penny up since she weighs 12 kilos. But to me, the chance remains to be there. I is likely to be overreacting a bit on this one.
3. I Don’t Let Her Get Too Far Away
When we take Penny on walks, I by no means let her get too distant from us. I maintain her on a brief leash, as they are saying, particularly when strangers go (refer again to #1 on this listing). It’s not simply strangers although; I’m all the time afraid she’s going to be bitten by a snake or one thing. We’ve taken walks earlier than in locations the place there have been alligators, and whereas a hawk or owl probably gained’t get her, an alligator genuinely would possibly.
I do let her sniff issues and discover a bit after we go on walks, however I attempt to maintain her near me always… I don’t assume that’s loopy.
Sometimes I’ll be afraid that the stroll is simply too lengthy or it’s too hot, and I don’t need to overexert her or for her to get heatstroke, so I find yourself carrying her for half the stroll. Is this an overreaction? Probably. But no less than I do know she’s protected.
4. I Cried When She Had Nasal Congestion
In my protection, I didn’t know that was what she had on the time. But one night time, she began snorting and “snuffling” quite a bit, together with licking the air and shaking her head. She couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t sleep. This was just a few months after we obtained her, and the primary time she had proven any indicators of one thing being flawed together with her.
I used to be afraid she had one thing caught in her nostril or throat, so I sat up together with her all night time, crying at the truth that one thing was flawed together with her and I didn’t know what to do to assist her. The closest emergency vet to us is an hour away, however she was respiratory simply high-quality, so I made a decision that we might simply take her to the vet within the morning.
When we took her to the vet, it seems that I positively overreacted. She had nasal congestion because of the altering of the seasons, identical to people get, and he or she was completely high-quality by the point we introduced her house from the vet. The vet prescribed an antihistamine in case it occurred once more, so the following time it occurred, I used to be a bit of extra ready.
I don’t assume this incident was helicopter canine parenting, however extra real concern, particularly once I didn’t know any higher on the time. But I’m glad we didn’t find yourself driving an hour to the emergency vet in the course of the night time.
So Am I a Helicopter Dog Parent or Not?
I feel that in some circumstances, I would possibly be a helicopter canine father or mother. But the best way I see it’s that I’m defending her since she’s so small. If Penny had been an even bigger canine, I won’t act this fashion, and I feel a few of my causes are completely justified. I do perceive that canine have been dwelling on their very own and fending for themselves for years. But my job as a dog parent is to offer love, consolation, and security for Penny, in order that’s all I’m attempting to do. I feel I’ve her finest pursuits at coronary heart even when I do overreact typically.