Even Dog Trainers Pay Their Dues

A lot of people seem to think that dog trainers always have perfect dogs. It's my experience that dog trainers often have flawed dogs, for the simple reason that they're willing to take them on, knowing what they're getting into. Such is the case with my herder/sighthound mix, Nestle.
He was in terrible shape when I adopted him from a shelter - shutdown, morose, and not enjoying the world one bit. We soon sorted that out, within a few months we were bonded, and training was well underway.
Nestle has titles in agility and freestyle, and looks good to the world outside. So much so that people have commented on how overprotective I am about him. But I know the truth - it only takes a tiny hiccup to shatter him into pieces. And a much bigger hiccup occurred late last year when I had major medical problems and, not once but three times, drove to a hospital emergency room, was admitted, and vanished form home for days.
This has resulted in Nestle being severely upset when left in the car. He has eaten bits and pieces of the interior of my Prius, as well as the wrapping of Christmas presents, a selection of water bottles, etc. So we have had to make a change in lifestyle. Sometimes the dogs have to be left home when previously they would have come with us. When they do accompany us, it's now at least partly a training outing. We leave the car, but one person stays behind to watch from some sort of cover (usually behind a parked van some spaces away - we're waiting to be arrested on suspicious of car prowling) and keep an eye on Nestle. At first we left for mere seconds. Now we're up to seven minutes, and we've been moving really slowly so as to avoid any setbacks. Each time we leave, Nestle is given a little blanket he doesn't see at other times, a Greenie chew, and a cue phrase to tell him we will be coming back soon. Each time we come back, he is greeted mildly (no big fuss).
And he is making progress. Yesterday as I was watching him, he managed to lie down for a few seconds a couple of times. He popped back up pretty quickly, but that was the first time he even tried to settle. He still is not eating the Greenie while we're gone, so that will be another big sign of progress.
We are taking a brief vacation, and it has been carefully planned to include the dogs on all possible excursions. We will have to take turns visiting the two indoor attractions - an aquarium and carousel museum - but that's a small price to pay to enjoy a trip together and continue rehabilitating my dog.