Who couldn't love this face?

Today, I tried a new strategy.

In the past 36 hours or so Rosie has been in a high state of frustration and anxiety resulting in her breaking many of her colored pencils in half and ripping sequins off of her shirt. Why? Mostly because the therapist tried to work with her on her "I'm always right and must argue all points" attitude. Rosie doesn't care for constructive criticism. That was last night.

We weathered the storm fairly well. Each outburst requires a bit of strategizing and can never follow the same course. This time, I did carry Rosie to her room to prevent her from throwing more sequins on the floor, which were hard and sharp and could easily get embedded into the dog's paws--a point I explained and she ignored.

When she refused to take her meds, we calmly told her she would have to go to the hospital where they could make sure she would take them. We need to keep her safe and healthy. She doubted me at first until I started packing a bag for her. Then she quickly took them.

This morning she woke up still very much dying for negative attention and vying for a fight. I wouldn't give it to her, but today she reduced to tears out of her frustration in being unable to do or say the right thing. This is the first time this has happened in this kind of situation--where I have seen her struggle to comprehend what she could to to make things better, not ensure she'll win. Usually she just stays angry. When she's angry and in the mood to argue, there's no point in trying to extend the olive branch.

Rosie also voluntarily got dressed despite her mood, which is also a first. So when she started crying this morning, I gave her a hug, told her to go sit on the couch where I would bring her breakfast, her morning meds, and I would put in a movie--of my choosing. And here we sit watching "A Muppet's Christmas Carol" quietly. A new strategy for a new combination of behaviors.  If anything, at least I had a 1.5 hour break filled with some of the most lovable characters ever created.