“Thanks.” She didn’t argue, knowing full well she could have done it, but also realizing it might have involved unpleasant bumps against the car door for Roxie.
Roxie walked with little difficulty, albeit slower than she had pre-surgery. She stopped at the ramp Aaron had set up on the front steps.
“Come on, Rox. This will make it easier for you to get in the house.” Tugging the leash, Rachel tried coaxing the dog up the ramp.
She wouldn’t budge.
For five minutes, they tried to get her up.
Rachel threw her arms in the air. “What do we do?”
“Let her try the steps,” Aaron answered, not missing a beat.
“But-”
His eyes met hers. “She’ll have to learn. If she wants to try now, then let her.”
She didn’t want to put Roxie through that strain, but she couldn’t carry her over the steps. Roxie would have to learn how to use the ramp or conquer the steps. “Okay.”
Aaron moved the ramp away from the steps and folded it. “Hold the harness like you’re about to put her in the car. Don’t lift her up the steps but be there as support.”
Doing as he instructed, she leaned to the side and held the straps. “Come on girl, you can do this.”
Roxie didn’t move but stared at the steps. Rachel had no way to verify, but she believed Roxie was forming a game plan, working out in her head how to make it up the steps.
Two minutes passed, and Roxie inched forward, her front paw toward her center, accommodating for the missing limb. She stood still for a few more seconds, then lunged forward. Her single front paw made it to the first step, but the rest of her body didn’t catch up. She fell, all three limbs splayed in opposite directions.
It happened so quickly that Rachel’s grip on the harness did nothing. A sinking feeling swept through her. She’d let Roxie down.
Aaron came to her side and took over. “Don’t worry. This won’t be her last tumble, but it’s how she learns.”
“I had hold of her. I should have held her up.”
“And if you always did that, she’d never learn.” He snaked an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t be hard on yourself. It won’t be good for you or Roxie.”
Everything he said made sense. She had a choice to wallow in pity or be strong for Roxie. In that light, she only had one option. She straightened her back and put a smile on her face. “It’s okay, Rox. You’re going to get this. Ready to try again?”
It took three attempts, but Roxie made it up the three stairs.
Rachel’s lips curved upward at the corners. “I always knew her stubbornness would come in handy one day.”
She unlocked the door. Tired after her efforts to climb the steps, Roxie laid down several feet from the door inside. It took her longer with having to readjust her balance, but she succeeded without sprawling out.
“I’ll bring her food and water to her.”
Aaron extended an arm to block her way. “You can’t baby her. She has to learn on her own.”
“But she just got home.” Her tone turned pouty, even though she knew he was right.
“Give her a few minutes to rest, then help her. She’s on the carpet so that will help.”
Her logic beat her emotions. “Did you see the kitchen? I covered it in rugs like you said to help her with traction.”
“I saw it earlier, and it looks good.”
She snorted. “It looks tacky the way it’s laid out, but if it helps Roxie, I don’t mind.”
“You probably won’t have to keep them there forever. Once she learns to get herself up and down with ease, she’ll be able to on the bare linoleum.”
