Embracing the Unknown with Holly Lozeau

Welcome to Beers and Biscuits, a Dogcast for the rest of us! In this episode, Karen and Nicole are joined by Holly Lozeau, a dog mom who shares her experience with dog mom anxiety. They discuss the challenges and fears that come with being a new dog mom, including integrating a new dog into a household with cats and dealing with leash reactivity. They delve into the anxiety and worries about health issues, the unknowns of rescued dogs, and the impact of traumatic experiences on dogs, and the importance of kindness, understanding, patience and grace. The struggles of being a new dog guardian and the self-doubt that comes with it are discussed. This conversation explores the challenges and anxieties faced by dog guardians. The discussion focuses on the need for validation and understanding, the pressure to keep pushing through, and the fear of overreacting. The conversation also delves into the importance of taking breaks and having time alone, the challenges of being the primary caretaker, the anxiety of being judged and the exhaustion of constant vigilance are also discussed. Episode Takeaways Dog guardian anxiety is a real and common experience, especially for new dog guardians Anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as worrying about the safety and well-being of the dog, fear of the unknown, and concerns about health issues Knowing your dog and understanding their behavior can help alleviate anxiety and make informed decisions Finding support from friends, professionals, and online communities can be beneficial for managing dog and guardian anxiety Rescued dogs may have unknown histories and traumatic experiences that can impact their behavior Kindness, understanding, and resilience are important in dealing with both guardians' and dogs' struggles and traumas New dog guardians may experience self-doubt and anxiety, but it is important to seek support and validation Social media can provide a sense of community and support for dog owners facing similar challenges Holly Lozeau is a first time dog guardian to Betty ( @bettythehousehippo) the sweetest pittie mix you will ever meet! Holly and her wife adopted Betty from the rescue Justice for Dogs (in VT) a year ago when Betty was around two years old. Betty struggles with frustration-based leash reactivity around other dogs and Holly struggles with generalized anxiety disorder. Holly went from never really wanting a dog to falling completely head over heels in love with her sweet girl, but the journey has not always been easy! That generalized anxiety quickly morphed into a new territory of “dog mom” anxiety all while trying to learn how to navigate this new life as a brand new dog guardian! We hope you enjoyed the conversation and please don’t forget to give your dog a biscuit from us. Until next time. Where you can find us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @beers.biscuits⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thetimelessdog⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@peterpiper_pickel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Ideas, Questions, Comments – Email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]