Doris Leeper Again

Corrine you are doing the best for Henry to make him happy

Some days are going to be different than other days, good days and bad days - hope there are more good days in store than bad.  As Sue VDB wrote, a simple car ride or hanging out in the yard might be just the ticket.
#HenryLovesMomandDad

For Henry now———- just being with his family is a good day!!! I think you are giving him
many, many good days.

You are giving him the best of days.  Poor little buddy, he is just confused, but, as long as he has you, things should be good.  Henry, stay strong, sending you tons of good juju.

This breaks my heart.  I know how hard y’all work to make every day a Henry Day.  But I agree that maybe “adventures” are a thing of the past.  As long as Henry has his people and the occasional ride in the car, I bet he will be just fine.  Too much change, adventure, outings might be doing more harm than good.  Just my uneducated guess.  #I’mnotadoctorbutplayoneonTV!!!
#HenryRocksNoMatterWhat

I like Sleighbelle’s “#HenryRocksNoMatterWhat”

Even when he’s “just there”, he’s still happy. It’s only us humans that think there should be more. As long as he’s not unhappy or stressed. It’s OK just to be around each other. Looks like a beautiful day, and you got a nice upper-body workout as well.

Some comments that I feel need some reply to….

Danielle—Yes.  We have a stroller.  We have tried it.  Doesn’t work that great for Henry. Unless one of us physically has their hand on Henry, there is still a possibility that he will jump out.  And even then he’s not too keen on it (especially since one of his favorite things to do is to smell that one special thing for lengthy whiff) and this is not possible from a stroller—-thus he tries to jump out.  That could be a serious problem.  We have tried walking next to him with a hand on him while the other pushes, but he still has not grown to like the stroller.

Those who think Henry’s adventures are almost over.  We mostly agree.  We know every day does not need an adventure.  But we also see how his adventures wear him out (and thus lower his anxiety and help him sleep through the night).  So, it is for sure a double edged sword.  One which we continually strive to find the exact right balance for.  There are days when it is a mere car ride.  Other days he seems up for more but then fizzles out, so yep, just a car ride from there. 

Too much “in the house” time has been shown to build his anxiety.  It starts slow…..pacing the house, staring out the front door but then builds, whining, barking, howling (if we let it get to that point which now that we recognize the early signs, we try not to let it get so rough).  I guess it is hard to explain (and really it must be us since hardly anyone else sees it (or they don’t interpret as such).  But since his rough patches happen only an hour or 2 before bedtime when we are home alone, no one else would really see it.  The best comparison I could give is a person with Alzheimer’s disease who suffers from the related “sundowners” syndrome. 
We know that he has lost some of his cognitive ability since his seizures/brain hemorrhages and that ultimately this is a side effect of his brain issues but that doesn’t mean we give up trying to capitalize on the moments when we can.  And when he just wants to chill, chillin’ we will do.
It is mostly that we cannot seem to predict which he will be up for.

For example, last night was amazing for him!  He was completely on point.  Today not so much.  You just never know which it will be and just go with whatever state he is in.

Thank you all, as usual for your positive comments. 

~GP

Thanks Sleighbelle.  I don’t feel doubted (and geez, I sure hope that it did not come off ungrateful….ugh) it’s more that I am trying to fill in gaps in the original story that I felt that were perhaps misunderstood so as to give clarity.  We agree with all of the comments and ideas and would recommend the same.  (But we have indeed already tried—-especially that dang stroller!  He just won’t love it!  Solsey ended up loving it, and Benny & Luna did too!!!! But Henry…well, he’s rebel.) And it’s hard to explain some of the idiosyncrasies until someone jogs the memory by asking questions or making suggestions.  We all want what is best…..for all of our pugs (and other family and friends) to be forever happy & healthy. 
~GP

Corrine-sorry to hear that the stroller doesn’t work for Henry.  He’s a stubborn boy not realizing the benefits of it.    At least you gave it a shot.  I wouldn’t be able to live without the stroller for CoCo.  The minute I got her in it, she loved it!  All of our little Pugs are different with their own cute ways.  Stay happy & healthy, Henry!