ME/CFS and Puppy Parenthood: One Year Reflection

Captain Pip is now 15 months old! Me and my chronic illness have survived puppyhood! Celebrating his one year birthday and his gotcha day, I look back on the past year and how I have managed my ME/CFS around puppy parenthood. In this vlog I share how I have navigated pacing my energy, managed my limited mobility, and developed a routine that allowed me to look after myself and poodle Pip. I also share loads of clips from the year of this gorgeous growing pup!
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Hello, I'm Finn, and welcome to my channel! I share first-hand experiences and practical advice on topics of gender transition, LGBTQ+ life, mental well-being, and lots of personal updates and daily life. Every video is served with a ton of honesty and a touch of humour! if that sounds like something you'd enjoy, please click subscribe and enable notifications to never miss a video! For instant updates, follow me on my social media accounts! Welcome to the FinnFam!
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Outro Music - 10,000 Reasons (For Finn)
By Kind Permission of Sonni Regan
• 10,000 Reasons (For Finn)
Contents
00:00 Introduction - about Poodle Pip and about my chronic conditions
04:32 Bringing Pip home - crate and toilet training
13:05 Sharing tasks, setting roles & using dog walkers
21:00 Puppy School is vital!
22:16 Low energy indoor games
27:10 Good training investment makes energy management easier!
32:17 Socialisation and Walking with my wheelchair
35:24 Recall and loose lead walking - work in progress!
39:24 Current challenges - teenage phase!
43:08 Summary and final hints and tips

Пікірлер: 32

  • @FinnTheInfinncible
    @FinnTheInfinncible2 ай бұрын

    Don't forget to subscribe for more imperfectly random and honest updates, and If you would like to say thanks, and support my work, please join our loving Friends of Finn community as a supporter or member ( And get Discord access and exclusive extra bonus content!) finlaygames.com/memberships-and-donations/ If you'd like to support me in other ways (and get awesome stuff!) you can : Buy my memoir: finlaygames.com/my-books/ Buy T-shirts: finnspirational-designs.creator-spring.com/ More T-shirts/accessories: www.zazzle.co.uk/store/finntasticmerch Visit my Ko-fi store : ko-fi.com/finlaygames

  • @rainbowtropolis
    @rainbowtropolis2 ай бұрын

    You should have put a warning on this video about the intense the cuteness content! OMG 😍😍😍😍😍 🥰🐩 It's amazing how much he's grown in one year, and changed too! I never would have thought his hair would be as curly as it is from looking at his first puppy pics 😊 I'm so glad this all worked out for all of you, you got a fur baby, he got two great dads! 😊 It's wonderful to know and see how prepared you were to get Pip as well, very wonderful planning for sure. Thank you deeply from my animal loving heart! 💖 I have a cat, and my friends tell me all the time how much I spoil him. He's around 19 years old and he gets monthly vet visits for pain management (he's currently the oldest cat they're treating!), and he's very happy to have stairs and ramps to his favorite places for mobility aids! 😁 "Count Pupula" 🤣🤣🤣 Wonderful video, great for any owner as well as someone with any limiting condition! Thank you for the information as well as the adorable, love filled happiness of the whole process 🥰👍

  • @SummerSaysSo
    @SummerSaysSo2 ай бұрын

    He’s so good! And so handsome, too. I’m across the world, never met him, and I love him, I can only imagine how much you absolutely adore him. ❤️ I have two standard poodles, and one who’s passed on. They’re so full of love.

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    I love that you love him! Poodles are the best! So inquisitive and intelligent and they have the funniest personality! I'm sorry you have had to say goodbye to one of yours. My heart will break in two when Pip leaves. Can't even think about it. He's my absolute world! Thanks for watching and for your lovely comment

  • @SummerSaysSo

    @SummerSaysSo

    2 ай бұрын

    @@FinnTheInfinncible I got thirteen amazing years with him. He was my heart dog, and my first service dog. His name was Radar. ❤️ Murry, now retired, is 11 and was my second service dog. Luna is 6 and was supposed to be my third, but the pandemic interrupted her training and now she’s a wild child who stays at home, which is fine because so do I now! (Stumbled onto your channel while researching ME/CFS.) You are so right about poodles. They are something special.

  • @Rubyisgrowing
    @Rubyisgrowing2 ай бұрын

    I love this video SO much! I have a dog too, and MECFS, and this would have been so helpful and encouraging when she was a pup, we have had similar journeys. I relate to what you said at the end about guilt, and then realising that you’re actually doing a good job. I think I’d have that however my health was though, a nagging perfectionist thought. And I tend to think that I spend more time with my dog than I would if I were well, so it’s swings and roundabouts. My dog is an absolute star, I started scooting for her, I used to do short walks, and she’s the reason I gained more acceptance of my disability and put that aid in place, to give me more options. She walks in front of my scoot, which we find works for us, and she’s a bit of a star. She’s really given me a positive focus in my life where I was struggling to find one, she’s been the most helpful lift in my health for a long time, just in lifting my mood. My cat was also amazing when I first got sick, company and support. But I think at this stage my dog gets me out and talking to people, so that’s helpful now too.

  • @kavitadeva
    @kavitadeva2 ай бұрын

    Pip is a Lovely pup. Yours and Chris' commitment to his training is why. You are turning his innate beauty in to a well trained exciting poodle. I love what you, and How you Are training your son Pip. Great training!!!

  • @Him_He_Me
    @Him_He_Me2 ай бұрын

    Hats off to you and Chris Finn. Your committment as fur parents is commendable. He was so cute as a puppy. I forgot what he looked like. Hope you're feeling good today. 🐋💙🏳‍⚧

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    We can't believe how fluffy he was! I love what a gorgeous boy he's turned into. Even when he's being a teenager 🤣

  • @miloraoof7654
    @miloraoof76542 ай бұрын

    Awe Thankyou for sharing these precious moments!!

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing them and loving them with us!

  • @flowersstorms8863
    @flowersstorms88632 ай бұрын

    That was such a wonderful, wonderful video! It's been fantastic seeing Pip from when he was an adorable bundle of fluff up to the confident and loving boy he is now. You and Chris have done an incredible job with him and I'm so happy he's enriched your lives so much. Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey with us xxx

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    Ah thank you so.much lovely! He's such a blessing. Even the hard work! It's nice hard work because it pays off on dividends! Love sharing him with you!

  • @oliverg6864
    @oliverg68642 ай бұрын

    Omg, I can't believe how well he's doing in his training! You and Chris have done an amazing job training him!! My brother's doodle still hasn't learned any recall at all and she's over 2 haha (not the dog's fault she just hasn't been trained). You guys are amazing paw-rents!

  • @kavitadeva
    @kavitadeva2 ай бұрын

    I really relate to you wanting to do this video about what it's like to raise a puppy with CFS. I want to let you know my dear friend that I have so much pain in my heart that I cannot fully train my service dog Finn. I have told you many times I was a dog trainer when I was when I was young. When I was young and I went to an academy called caring canine communications and now things have changed a lot and we use positive reinforcement training which is wonderful but I don't think it's really the best for everything especially when you have an illness as we do because with positive reinforcement training you must break things down into little pieces and it works for most things. But I know how you feel my friend and I think you're doing an amazing job really amazing and you're being you know strict in the sense of keeping it clear for Pip and not getting all messy and confusing and that is a very big important part but I have a dog that I want to train as my service dog he does a lot of things but when I was at the trainer for the first 6 months I was seriously having overwhelm and crying every session it was way too much for me. And I just cried and had to realize I can't do this, I cannot do this so right now I'm taking an online course from who I consider the best trainer on KZread. Her channel is called doggy U. and I must say she's amazing. I love the way she trains and she's a guide dog trainer a service dog trainer and a trick trainer. She's very thought out, easy to follow and doesn't show you a cue that is perfect. he will show you the steps and what to do if there happens to be some you know mistakes. Anyways bro I love you, think about you all the time and I'm so glad that you and Chris got Pip.

  • @natashamason3328
    @natashamason33282 ай бұрын

    Epic T-shirt 💜xx

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @natashamason3328

    @natashamason3328

    2 ай бұрын

    @@FinnTheInfinncibleoh those early visit videos 😍💜 So very cute 🥰 xx

  • @oliverg6864
    @oliverg68642 ай бұрын

    I have two cats and I love them so much, they're the cutest fluffiest things ever! Animals are so great aren't they. Our kitties are always so happy to see us, one of them is a lap cat and loves cuddles. It would be so sad and boring without them! Generally in Canada it's recommended to spay or neuter your pets unless you're specifically using them for breeding. It helps keep the stray population down, obviously Pip isn't a stray but if he ever got out for like 10 minutes he could get another dog pregnant! I assumed it was standard practice all over the world but maybe the UK is different? I'm sure you'll make an informed choice for Pip, it sounds like you've done a lot of research. Also, he's very cute!!

  • @BeverleyButterfly
    @BeverleyButterfly2 ай бұрын

    This was such a cute and very much needed video! I have my baby Maltese terrier Twig I just shared a video about him so I need this xx

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    Ah I need to watch that! I hope you are managing ok!

  • @BeverleyButterfly

    @BeverleyButterfly

    2 ай бұрын

    @FinnTheInfinncible I'm getting there he's in the bite mom's hands phase which is fun but we got lucky he was already toilet trained which was a big help

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    @@BeverleyButterfly ah not having to toilet train is a bonus! The biting phase is awful! So frustrating! I highly recommend getting some peanut butter and/or squeezy cheese and covering your hands in it. Taking food/licking food off you helps them to learn to be gentle. Also lots of play with a long rope too and as soon as any teeth touch you even softly, a loud ooch and all play stops for a few moments and no attention. Then restart and repeat! Sticking to this they will soon learn bite inhibition!

  • @BeverleyButterfly

    @BeverleyButterfly

    2 ай бұрын

    @FinnTheInfinncible oooh ill try those for sure thank you teeth like a piranha

  • @Sheree-qt1gp
    @Sheree-qt1gp2 ай бұрын

    You've both done so much good training with pip he's so intelligent and adorable.id love a medium size dog but I'm on my own with graves disease and cps ( chronic pain syndrome) depression/anxiety so I don't know if I could manage a dog.my cat is 10 and he wouldn't like a dog . My daughter has a rottwieller so I can be a nanna to her lol I looked after her for the first yr.of her life it was like having a baby to look after !! So happy one yr birthday pip 🎉😅❤❤ ❤

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much! Yes I know what you mean. There is no way I could manage Pip on my own. I couldn't even manage an adult dog, I can't walk him more than once a week and not even every week, I need a lot of support with him and witjoyChris I wouldn't manage with things like vet visits, bathing, grooming, shopping for food. etc. being a dog grandma sounds like the next best thing, and like kids you get to give them back when they are turning you gray 🤣

  • @Sheree-qt1gp

    @Sheree-qt1gp

    2 ай бұрын

    @FinnTheInfinncible haha yes very true oh I love how happy pip has made you they say a dog is good for people's mental health 😄

  • @mrsbabycakes5551
    @mrsbabycakes55512 ай бұрын

    Springers are a bit renowned for being hard to train with recall. So with Phoebe I did clicker training and no pun intended but it really clicked with her. Treats are great but she needed that audio, she done it right. With Rex he won’t take treats, when out, what worked with him was Kong squeakers. Firstly we got him very excited about having squeaky toys at home. So they had a high reward value. I bought a pack of six squeakers from Amazon. Then I just hold it up and squeak and he comes straight away. He can be a bit reactive with other dogs and this was enough of a distraction for him.

  • @kamsimschannel1612
    @kamsimschannel16122 ай бұрын

    Keep uploading new videos ❤

  • @FinnTheInfinncible

    @FinnTheInfinncible

    2 ай бұрын

    I do my best!

  • @scotscub76
    @scotscub762 ай бұрын

    Hey Finn, I have protracted prescribed drug withdrawal which causes horrible symptoms and post exertional malaise. 15 years now 😪 I don't know if you'd manage with POTS but I use a small folding Ebike to walk my furbaby. Also sometimes use an Efoldi scooter. Hope you're managing okay ❤

  • @samratsinhbhandari3051
    @samratsinhbhandari30512 ай бұрын

    Hello friend ,i am penile cancer survivor and opting for phalloplasty .i am gettig an implant will be able to have sex with woman inmay not orgasm byt i dont xare i want woman in my life and have sex with them is pentrative sex possible with implant