Day 35 Without Anxiety

Taking my dog on Public Transport


What's The Challenge?
Taking my dog on public transport for the very first time. 

Why The Anxiety?
Whilst having my dog (who is basically my emotional support animal, yes it's a real thing) accompany me relieves some anxieties of traveling by myself, it also piles on a load more. Yoda (my dog) has never been on any form of public transport before today. I have to take Yoda with me to another city today, the train journey would be less than an hour long which I think is a safe first-time travel distance. I have no idea how he's going to act, whether the train will be packed or empty or if he's going to decide to play up, bark, be ill or even do his business whilst on the train (please Lord do not let that happen).

Anxiety before? 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴⭕⭕⭕
I had made some last minute plans to go to a friends house in the evening, so in the morning I ask around to see if anyone can look after him, unfortunately, everyone was either unavailable or ill. I had two options, either we both go or we both stay. My friend was more than happy to accommodate us both and so my panic and planning began. It took a little while to find out that (according to the nationalrail.com guidelines) all dogs are allowed on trains if they are on a lead, or in a carrier. Perfect! I didn't have a carrier for Yoda but obviously had a lead and a mat that he could use to sit on (I didn't think anyone would appreciate the pug hair he would leave behind otherwise). I packed a few extra things for him: toys, treats, water, food, and a puppy pad just in case (I feel like I have a baby, he needs more stuff than me!). I walked him to the station, it's a little while away from our house and it gave him time to do his business and tire him out a little. I had worse case scenarios running through my head the whole walk there, he'd never even been near a train station before let alone near a train, I had no idea how he would react or behave. The lady at the desk loved him and reassured me that it shouldn't be a problem to take him on the train, she informed me that it's one dog per person and they are allowed on free of charge, she also recommended I sit near the door for the extra leg room or at a table, so we both had more space. The friendly welcome and reassurance calmed my nerves (people are always nicer when you have a dog with you).

Anxiety During? 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕
As I popped my ticket through the gate, we entered the station and Yoda was acting like this was a part of our daily walk. I underestimate my dog, he was a little weary about getting on the train but once he was on he was fine. We copped a squat at an empty table and he played nicely on his mat, not bothering with the other passengers, whilst I read a newspaper. I sigh of relief (perhaps a little prematurely), we're on the train, we've made it this far, we can do this, he's been as good as gold, bless him. When the train engine started up he had a little grumble and tried to get on my lap, he's a little scared, but after a little reassurance and a few treats he settles down. I need to keep calm if I keep calm, he stays calm but any time he stirs the 'worst case scenarios' pop back into my head, my chest feels tight and I get nervous. we're over halfway through the journey when he starts to bark, (oh no, we've come so far, it was all too good to be true), I start to give him reassurance and treats, and realise he's barking in the direction of a specific individual and smell (don't whatever you do, get on a train sit near a dog and start eating freshly cooked chicken!), unsurprisingly once the chicken had been eaten he settled down but wanted to sit in the aisle, I checked under the table and realised it was boiling, we'd sat next to the heater, I quickly moved him out of the way and once again he settled down and relaxed until we got off the train.

Anxiety After? 🔴🔴🔴🔴⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕
I was thrilled (I think we both were) to be off the train and walking along to my friend's house. Despite a few barks and needing some reassurance and a lot of treats, I think that went ok, he wasn't ill and didn't make a mess, he didn't upset anyone. I feel a little silly now for thinking he would be a nightmare and for jumping to worst-case scenario's if I had kept my cool and been little less anxious I think that would have run rather smoothly. Will, I take Yoda on public transport again? Yes, it's a little annoying to have to take so much stuff, a little carry bag may be easier in the future but I'm glad we took this little adventure today.

If you have any Challenge Ideas; Please comment down below and let me know.
Thanks for Reading
xo

Enjoy Day 35? Why not Read/Watch Day 34?

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