Couple finds the cutest way to help soothe their dog’s anxiety
A rescue dog named Myko loves wearing his old Halloween costume. It helps him overcome the anxiety he has faced since he was just a puppy. The costume also makes him look just plain adorable as well.
Myko was adopted by a woman named Elena and her husband. They knew immediately when they found him online that he was special. They were right.
Myko is a very special dog.
Myko’s adoptive parents rescue him from a high-kill shelter.
“He had been rescued from a high-kill shelter in South Carolina, and prior to being at the shelter, there had been some kind of neglect,” Elena said to The Dodo. “When we saw photos of him, it was love at first sight … His little face on the screen with those enormous brown eyes instantly spoke to both of us, and we knew that we had to rescue him.”
Unfortunately, the trauma that Myko likely experienced in his early life left its mark on him emotionally. He is very sensitive to loud sounds such as fireworks or thunder.
Even deer coming in the backyard and ceiling fans can provoke anxiety for the rescue pup.
Myko’s anxiety required some creative problem-solving.
When Myko is frightened he’ll often bark for long stretches of time. Elena and her husband decided to get creative with how they attempt to calm the little guy down.
As it turned out, the solution was an adorable puppy Halloween costume they had purchased for him months earlier.
Elena had read about how pressure placed around a dog’s ears can be calming for them if they are in an agitated state.
“We had read about how clothing that is form-fitting (like a ThunderShirt) or pressure around their ears can be calming for dogs who are in a high state of arousal,” Elena said. “We had purchased an Eeyore Halloween costume for him a few months back, so we pulled out the droopy ears portion of it. We put them on him and he instantly became very quiet and calm.”
The donkey ears have had a tremendously positive impact on Myko.
Myko’s special “quiet ears.”
Myko knows that the costume is his “quiet ears” and he will instantly relax anytime he sees it come out of the closet. That he always gets a treat around the same time he puts the costume on doesn’t hurt either.
“If he gets a reminder that he will need to wear them, he may just become quiet and then walk away to do something else,” Elena said. “When we pull them out or he sees them, he also may quiet down.”
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Myko teaches his humans lessons every day.
The amazing thing about rescuing a pet is the growth you get to witness them make every day. Sometimes, the way these animals overcome adversity is inspiring to people.
Myko’s human parents love him so much and he teaches them about courage, second chances, and kindness every single day.
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“The way he expresses himself, his feelings, his thoughtful reactions to things, is so inspiring and a reminder that it’s OK to feel things and look for help when you need it,” Elena continued to say. “The lessons we have learned from him about courage, second chances and kindness are endless.”
Myko has a popular Instagram account and TikTok page.
Many people love following the inspiring pup’s journey. He has over 380,000 followers on TikTok and over 81,000 on Instagram.
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Source: mykomushroom/MykoMushroomTikTok