I’m frightening my dog.

[Injuredandoffwork]

I have a 16 month old rescue dog I’ve had her 10 months shes been poorly socialised around people and hates sudden movements loud noises etc but she was doing really well.
But I’ve badly injured myself and am walking on crutches and have a full length plaster on my leg am partial weight bearing and so sort of lumber around a couple of times I’ve nearly fallen over. Getting on and of a chair or even moving around making a cup of tea is an enormous physical effort for me and she become terrified of me and the crutches not helped by the fact they are always falling over and making a terrible clattering noise which scares her stiff.
Any suggestions? This could go for weeks.

Sorry to hear about your leg!

I'd get her up to sit with me (in the couch/bed) & let her sniff the cast etc & just reassure her it's still just 'me' .

id be extra careful to try not to let the crutches fall to the ground.

what training/socialising were you doing prior to your injury?

@MeltyMomenrs I live alone (so it’s a real struggle and I’m no agile spring chicken) and my life is usually very quiet and I normally have a strictish routine. I have another dog who she is very dependent on but even he seems a bit non plussed by the whole thing. I nearly fell down the stairs and scared myself and them and I came back from hospital tripped over the mat in the porch and fell onto the floor and the crutches went flying they’d just come over greet me they must have wondered what the hell was happening. I’ve done away crutches when cooking etc and can’t use them when carrying a cup of tea etc because it’s impossible so sort of hop around which also isn’t helping.
Ive never pushed her just taken everything at her pace I ignore her funny little quirks and use lots of positive reinforcement treats kind voice she just loves have her ear scratched and then really relaxed she just falls over and loves tummy rubbed she sort of goes into a trance. But because my leg is meant to be elevated all the time Im not sitting in my usual place where she would normally join me and I have swing my leg up onto another chair and that not normally there so that worries her she hates any change. She usually sleeps on the bed with me but my leg is elevated and turning over is difficult and this has upset her.

Honestly, having had to do crutches with a similarly badly traumatised dog, you just do whatever you need to do to manage your leg first, and she'll figure out what she makes of it all.

No, it's not ideal because you know she's worried about it but you can't change the cast or need for the crutches so she kind of has to get on with it....

Let her have a good sniff of the crutches on the floor away from you - drop them down and go sit on the sofa or whatever you can manage.

Can you have something to elevate your leg onto in your usual sitting spot?

Hand feeding her her meals when you're sitting?

And get rid of the rugs until you can bend your leg again!

Would a walking frame give you more stability and be less unpredictably clattery?
Or perhaps a wheelchair in certain situations?
I am worried about you falling and injuring yourself further as well as your nervous dog!

Does she like food treats. Can you put your crutches on the floor and tock a couple of treats into them, for a few days. Then try propping the crutch on a low stool, over carpet, so that it doesn't make a big noise, but knock it over and have a treat ready. Get her to associate the crutches, then your cast, with rewards . . .

Thank you all for your kindness she does like treats and I keep giving them to her when she comes near me and or the crutches.
I’m due back in # clinic next week am going to ask for a zimmer frame (with a tray for my plate mug etc). If necessary I’ll buy the tray!
Hopefully she’ll settle down over the next few days.

Can't help with the dog aspect, but for moving food & drink from your kitchen to the lounge/bedroom etc, I recommend a small rucksack and a thermos flask / water bottle or tupperware.