Thanks Karen for your encouragement and telling us about your own experiencences.

When you said that dogs can be a mirror image of ourselves, it was an epipany moment for me.

To sum up all the behaviour of my pack in one - would be afraid of going out, scared of anything new, keeping others away from the pack. This is me to a T. I must be passing it on to them. To be honest l find walking the dogs stressful as l am always on the look out for trouble ( even though we hardly bump into a soul) - l must be passing this tension through to the dogs..

When l moved into this village nearly 20 years ago, l gradually became more isolated. I did'nt drive and always found money a struggle. l ended up with only a couple of real friends and the rest were more like aqaintances. I became almost happy if the children came home and stayed in. I loved weekends as that was when everyone was together. When they were away, l felt that l had lost control. Eventually l was diagnosed with depression and my daughter and l were both diagnosed with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). My sister summed it up to me that l would drop the drawbridge when we were all home!

Anyway l can see that l have to be stronger and more open to things myself or the dogs will never move forward. They are carrying on physically what l feel mentally.

Onto happier things - last night the dogs slept most of the evening and yet they went to bed and did'nt make a sound till 6-15am. I definatly think that my next door neighbour goes out that time. DH got up today, as we have decided to take it in turns for the moment. I think that the boys have finally got the message!

Well l have a lot of thinking to do today and plan a few things out. This scaredy cat is going to reinvent her 9 lives into positive ones - justy have to work out how!

Thanks Karen will be back later or tomorrow xxx Kittysoo