I just finished meeting with Karolin Klinck and I have been given new insights into Bella. I had many tears during our meeting, but I am grateful for the guidance Karolin has offered. All of her thoughts rang true to me, and I am very glad to have her help assessing Bella's needs.
I'm going to ratchet back even further with challenges due to Bella's extreme fear. From now on, no one will be invited back to visit Bella in her room. She needs to have choice. Just as in the case of humans, having choice will help her be empowered in the face of her trauma. If she wants to meets someone, she has the option to come out of our room.
I will make no attempts to vary Bella's walk. Karolin observed Bella's extreme fear during her walk. Bella's fear is demonstrated in her rapid pace, her tucked tail and her rigid adherence to the edge of the road. Her affinity to the border between grass and pavement may also explain her circumnavigation of my yard. She is simply keeping to the periphery where she detects an edge. This may make her feel safer. When Bella is ready to explore, her readiness will be apparent. She will be sniffing more, and will have the option to choose a new route.
For one of her two meals, I will allow Bella to eat without me in the room. This meal will be placed a few feet from her bed to encourage her to learn that she can walk around in the space.
I won't pet Bella anymore. She has been accepting my touch but not asking for it, and she needs to have choice. For the same reason, I won't sit on her bed. Her bed is her safe space.
I will be connecting with Sarah Dayon, a veterinarian who Karolin thinks highly of. Hopefully Sarah will do a home visit and prescribe medication to help Bella during this period.
My job is to provide Bella with the opportunity to heal. I will grant her that chance, and back off where necessary.
I'm going to ratchet back even further with challenges due to Bella's extreme fear. From now on, no one will be invited back to visit Bella in her room. She needs to have choice. Just as in the case of humans, having choice will help her be empowered in the face of her trauma. If she wants to meets someone, she has the option to come out of our room.
I will make no attempts to vary Bella's walk. Karolin observed Bella's extreme fear during her walk. Bella's fear is demonstrated in her rapid pace, her tucked tail and her rigid adherence to the edge of the road. Her affinity to the border between grass and pavement may also explain her circumnavigation of my yard. She is simply keeping to the periphery where she detects an edge. This may make her feel safer. When Bella is ready to explore, her readiness will be apparent. She will be sniffing more, and will have the option to choose a new route.
For one of her two meals, I will allow Bella to eat without me in the room. This meal will be placed a few feet from her bed to encourage her to learn that she can walk around in the space.
I won't pet Bella anymore. She has been accepting my touch but not asking for it, and she needs to have choice. For the same reason, I won't sit on her bed. Her bed is her safe space.
I will be connecting with Sarah Dayon, a veterinarian who Karolin thinks highly of. Hopefully Sarah will do a home visit and prescribe medication to help Bella during this period.
My job is to provide Bella with the opportunity to heal. I will grant her that chance, and back off where necessary.
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