NESSIE

@nessie_mcnubs

Today we talk to Theresea about life with the super cute Nessie, the eight year old Chihuahua mix. Theresa tells us about her experience adopting a senior dog that was born without her two front legs and the challenge of teaching an older dog the new trick of using a wheelchair. 

Can you tell us what a regular day with Nessie is like?

Nessie gets up at around 5 am most mornings and then goes back to sleep for a couple hours before having breakfast with her human sister. 

Nessie spends her days napping and playing with her human sister and dad. Getting around with only hind legs is a challenge but she's pretty good at hopping and has also just started using wheels. She's is lucky that someone is home with her all day most days. A few times a week she also takes walks in her doggie stroller; she loves being outside and sunbathing is one of her favorite past times.

I get home at about 6pm and we have dinner together every day. Nessie also practices getting around with her wheels (ruffrollin.com). It's been a tough transition because she's about eight and has never had wheels before but she's getting better every day. 

Weekends are fun for Nessie. Most weekends we take a trip to the local pet shop to pick up a special dog treat. She really seems to enjoy the weekends because she gets to go just about everywhere her humans go.

What advice would you offer someone who has a dog in a similar situation?

​Peas are a great dog treat! Nessie is very food motivated which is great for working with getting her used to her wheels but it's also very important that she doesn't become overweight. The peas make a great, healthy dog treat.
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Taking care of a two legged dog can be a lot of work but the rewards far outweigh the effort. The most important thing we've learned is that having a routine is essential and helps our girl understand what to expect and also helps reduce anxiety.

Follow Nessie’s progress on instagram.

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