- Oct 13, 2025
- 54
- 44
I live alone with my little rescue cockapoo, Brodie. He's my dad's rescue, but when he moved into senior housing, there was a no pet clause.
He's always had separation anxiety, but with snuffles and distractions we were managing it great. He would howl when he was bored and lonely, but it was way better than where we started at. Suddenly he was blind and being alone felt more alone than ever, and he went from a little bit of howling to just being MISERABLE. If I was late coming home it was worse, and walks were becoming super difficult even on the same route we walked every day for five years.
So we concoct a plan to get him a service dog, of sorts. A house companion who can guard the house FOR Brodie, and who we can attach him to so that he can be led on walks and still feel somewhat independent.
And so a deposit is put on Chasey over in PEI and I begin making a year long plan to get these two to love one another.
I set up Chasey's crate in the bedroom so Brodie could get used to it. After all, this is a dog who fearlessly bit a Pyrenees on the nose. ZERO FEAR. The more familiarity, the better.
The day comes that Chasey is delivered, I have a flu and our introduction plan is completely bungled by other people's puppy excitement, so Brodie snaps at him. I spent the whole night going "how bad did I just mess up? Do I send him back?"
I promised myself a week, and if there were no changes I'd contact the breeder, who had assured me Chase was always welcome back if it wasn't a fit.
The crate in the bedroom was a horrific idea and Brodie LOST it. That quickly got moved to the living room where it remains today for when I'm at work. If Chase was in crate, Brodie was grumpy but wouldn't charge the crate or growl, so...that was decent. Right off the bat he was just upset about Chase exploring the space, not about his existence.
Chase would have a LOT of play and interaction outside on the lawn, and in the evenings I would train him in the bathroom with the baby gate up so Brodie could be at the gate smelling him. We also purchased an Adaptil collar which helped Brodie IMMENSELY when he would get nervy. With all these little things in place, Brodie over four days got better and better. I would put him in place on the couch and he began letting Chase walk from his crate to the door without charging him, and made SURE he was there every time to watch it all.
Then, magically one day he came over while we're walking to the door and sniffed Chase, no hostility. It was time. I know Brodie, and that was him saying, "I'm ready". I came back in, unleashed Chase, and let them sniff for the first time since that bad meet.
And they played and wrestled while I cried because Brodie FINALLY accepted a friend. Chase understood fast that Brodie needed moments to collect himself - he had been a lone dog for 8 years and he was REALLY giving trust here, it was a big thing, so Chase would come over and play with us, then revisit.
Obviously it took time until Brodie let Chase into the bedroom, but the fact that they were having daily play times! And sleeping near each other in the living room! I was overjoyed. The progress in four days was equivalent to what I had expected in a few months time.
Chase still annoys Brodie sometimes, but we reached "Chase is a puppy and is annoying" territory. He has not howled in loneliness or had an OUNCE of separation anxiety since Chase came home. They sleep snuggled together now, they share treats, they comfort one another, lick each other's mouths for 20min at a time, and Chase is incredibly gentle with him overall. He learned he's old and fragile and while he WILL scrap, Chase can't come at him full force.
Side note: a puppy who vibes with old dogs has zero idea what to do with fellow puppies. Chase has met MANY older dogs and is very kind and gentle with them and enjoys the laid-back energy, but he gets nervous of young dogs who are super excited and over friendly because he just doesn't know what to do with that energy and just chooses to ignore them.
These days we're training Chase to walk alongside Brodie's stroller so we can all explore new places, and he's learning to walk next to Brodie on a regular walk so our daily route is less scary for Brodie. Our only issue is Chase is very "Brodie Brodie Brodie" when they're together and doesn't let him breathe alone, so we're working on dialling that back.
His confidence walking with Chase is insane, though, and he has no issues walking anymore. The great part is when Brodie reacts, Chase plays warden. He watches the other dog, makes sure there's no trouble (they can bark but they can't approach, I assume), and then relaxes and just ignores all of it. Obviously I am correcting Brodie, I don't let him just bark. He doesn't see dogs now which helps a LOT, he can walk next to a calm dog and not realize they're there, but if the dog barks first we have reaction.
I went from being sure Brodie was unfixable because of his horrible history fighting for food (pre-rescue) to having an inseparable pair of besties. When Chase is in crate, Brodie is in his bed next to it sleeping like a baby. He kisses Chase through the crate. He steals food for the big lug. They're literally so close now. I have clients who are still gating and having fights a year in. I PREPARED for that!
So yeah... I have an excellent breeder who knew the exact little guy for the job, I STILL bungled the first meet between them despite months of planning, and somehow came out with the best set of boys ever.
He's always had separation anxiety, but with snuffles and distractions we were managing it great. He would howl when he was bored and lonely, but it was way better than where we started at. Suddenly he was blind and being alone felt more alone than ever, and he went from a little bit of howling to just being MISERABLE. If I was late coming home it was worse, and walks were becoming super difficult even on the same route we walked every day for five years.
So we concoct a plan to get him a service dog, of sorts. A house companion who can guard the house FOR Brodie, and who we can attach him to so that he can be led on walks and still feel somewhat independent.
And so a deposit is put on Chasey over in PEI and I begin making a year long plan to get these two to love one another.
I set up Chasey's crate in the bedroom so Brodie could get used to it. After all, this is a dog who fearlessly bit a Pyrenees on the nose. ZERO FEAR. The more familiarity, the better.
The day comes that Chasey is delivered, I have a flu and our introduction plan is completely bungled by other people's puppy excitement, so Brodie snaps at him. I spent the whole night going "how bad did I just mess up? Do I send him back?"
I promised myself a week, and if there were no changes I'd contact the breeder, who had assured me Chase was always welcome back if it wasn't a fit.
The crate in the bedroom was a horrific idea and Brodie LOST it. That quickly got moved to the living room where it remains today for when I'm at work. If Chase was in crate, Brodie was grumpy but wouldn't charge the crate or growl, so...that was decent. Right off the bat he was just upset about Chase exploring the space, not about his existence.
Chase would have a LOT of play and interaction outside on the lawn, and in the evenings I would train him in the bathroom with the baby gate up so Brodie could be at the gate smelling him. We also purchased an Adaptil collar which helped Brodie IMMENSELY when he would get nervy. With all these little things in place, Brodie over four days got better and better. I would put him in place on the couch and he began letting Chase walk from his crate to the door without charging him, and made SURE he was there every time to watch it all.
Then, magically one day he came over while we're walking to the door and sniffed Chase, no hostility. It was time. I know Brodie, and that was him saying, "I'm ready". I came back in, unleashed Chase, and let them sniff for the first time since that bad meet.
And they played and wrestled while I cried because Brodie FINALLY accepted a friend. Chase understood fast that Brodie needed moments to collect himself - he had been a lone dog for 8 years and he was REALLY giving trust here, it was a big thing, so Chase would come over and play with us, then revisit.
Obviously it took time until Brodie let Chase into the bedroom, but the fact that they were having daily play times! And sleeping near each other in the living room! I was overjoyed. The progress in four days was equivalent to what I had expected in a few months time.
Chase still annoys Brodie sometimes, but we reached "Chase is a puppy and is annoying" territory. He has not howled in loneliness or had an OUNCE of separation anxiety since Chase came home. They sleep snuggled together now, they share treats, they comfort one another, lick each other's mouths for 20min at a time, and Chase is incredibly gentle with him overall. He learned he's old and fragile and while he WILL scrap, Chase can't come at him full force.
Side note: a puppy who vibes with old dogs has zero idea what to do with fellow puppies. Chase has met MANY older dogs and is very kind and gentle with them and enjoys the laid-back energy, but he gets nervous of young dogs who are super excited and over friendly because he just doesn't know what to do with that energy and just chooses to ignore them.
These days we're training Chase to walk alongside Brodie's stroller so we can all explore new places, and he's learning to walk next to Brodie on a regular walk so our daily route is less scary for Brodie. Our only issue is Chase is very "Brodie Brodie Brodie" when they're together and doesn't let him breathe alone, so we're working on dialling that back.
His confidence walking with Chase is insane, though, and he has no issues walking anymore. The great part is when Brodie reacts, Chase plays warden. He watches the other dog, makes sure there's no trouble (they can bark but they can't approach, I assume), and then relaxes and just ignores all of it. Obviously I am correcting Brodie, I don't let him just bark. He doesn't see dogs now which helps a LOT, he can walk next to a calm dog and not realize they're there, but if the dog barks first we have reaction.
I went from being sure Brodie was unfixable because of his horrible history fighting for food (pre-rescue) to having an inseparable pair of besties. When Chase is in crate, Brodie is in his bed next to it sleeping like a baby. He kisses Chase through the crate. He steals food for the big lug. They're literally so close now. I have clients who are still gating and having fights a year in. I PREPARED for that!
So yeah... I have an excellent breeder who knew the exact little guy for the job, I STILL bungled the first meet between them despite months of planning, and somehow came out with the best set of boys ever.
