In an effort to enrich *my* enclosure, we adopted a new furry friend who needs enrichment, attention and supervision 24/7. Needless to say, our apartment has turned upside down in the last four weeks.
Welcome to the family, Sevro au Barka!* He’s so lucky he’s cute!
Sevro is super smart and needs things to do constantly. I work from home, so I’m the natural provider of these things to do. Oh, if only he could answer emails and take Teams calls for me!
Our first two weeks together were rocky, Sevro and me. I tried holding his beautiful little face in my hands and explaining very carefully to him that I needed to work so I could continue to support his toys and chews habit. He in turn tried to bite me into playing with him.
This is a comprehensive list of everything Sevro has chewed on in the 34 days he’s lived in our home:
- Tennis shoes
- My books
- My husband’s desk
- Our board games
- The poop bags from his leash
- The remote controls
- Our entertainment center and side tables
- Our $200 bar chairs from IKEA
- The fanny pack I carried treats in one time
- My irreplaceable photo albums
- My succulent
- Just about every blanket and pillow
- His crate bars #breakthechains
- Me
Here is a comprehensive list of the things Sevro hasn’t chewed on:
- Any of his stuffies or squeakers
- 99% of his chew bones (he has exactly one he likes)
The last month has required a whole lot more patience than I was prepared to expend. Sevro was a stray and this is his first experience living with humans and abiding by human rules. He’ll get it and be the best dog ever, and someday I’ll look at all the chew marks and cry because he’ll be gone. But until then, here’s how I’ve been trying to preserve my sanity while living with a Goblin:
Making the Most of the Pax Sevrus
Sevro naps, or the Pax Sevrus as we like to call them, are long and glorious. But, they only happen ~3 times a day. This is my flow chart of priorities when I have peace:
- Do I need to sleep? Sleep is number one in setting me up for success, giving me focus and concentration for work, and giving me the most patience I could possibly have to handle the pup.
- What work task absolutely needs to get done? I get cranky when I’m not attacking my list, so, if I don’t need sleep, I prioritize and tackle a work task while Sevro sleeps. Checking email/Teams chats can be done while he’s awake.
- What house task would be easier without a dog? If I have my high priority work tasks done, I tidy my space and get ready for the next Sevnado (Sevro tornado).
Routine Helps My Brain, Too
After Morph passed, one silver lining I got was no longer adhering to a strict routine during the day. I even got to a place where I didn’t need an alarm to wake up in the morning because I was getting enough sleep!
A dog’s routine is a thing of beauty, though. Now that we’ve figured each other out, I know exactly what’s going to happen each and every day. And there’s a comfort in that: Because I know when I’m going to be able to get work done, my brain is more ready to focus during those time periods because they happen at the same time every day.
I’m in Charge
When everything feels out of control in my house, I have to remind myself that I’m in charge of Sevro, not the other way around. I’m Howler One, so to speak. Sure, whether you’ve got a pet or a baby, or any big responsibilities, there’s a certain way you organize your life around that.
But I am the dealer of crate time as much as I’m the dealer of snacks. What’s best for me? What’s going to allow me to keep my cool? Like I always say, I have to put on my own oxygen mask before I help someone else with theirs. The keeper who makes sure I get my cups of kibble, naps and potty breaks is also me. Taking the best care of myself is how I’ll take the best care of my little Goblin.
If you have any other sanity savers for working while caregiving in any capacity, I’m, like Sevro, all ears!
*The name Sevro au Barka comes from Red Rising, a beloved science fiction series in our house. The character’s name is Sevro au Barca, and we think we’re funny. Book Sevro also goes by “the Goblin,” which couldn’t be more apt for pup Sevro. IYKYK.
If you don’t know, go read it.
Liz Armbrecht 
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