By Cohen + Ming Bérubé-Sam

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Hey there! My name is Cohen, but my friends call me Coco. I'm a dog. A Montreal-born Portuguese Water Dog to be exact. 

In celebration of National Pet Day, The Trim called on me to write a little bit about myself and my relationship with CBD. So here we go! 

It all started about two years ago. I'd like to think I’m a pretty chill dog, but my owners decided to label my exuberance as “separation anxiety”. I've experienced periods of mental distress as a result of being left alone and moving seven times. We finally settled into what I *hope* will be our forever home. The sense of instability was quite traumatic; my therapist says this was the root of my anxiety. But there's so much more to me than just that! I'm a pro cuddler, an excellent prancer and a queen at napping. I'm happiest when sprawled across one of my parents' laps, getting belly rubs and watching Rupaul's Drag Race (I even know a variety of tricks inspired by the show).

In my worst moments, I'm a barker, inopportune urinator and chewer. The latter began soon after we started moving. Since it was out of character, my owners got worried. They began to introduce new modalities into my life. We tried a variety of solutions together from “relaxing herbal drops” and behavioural training (a.k.a. my therapy), to changing food and adhering to a stricter workout regimen. Despite our best efforts, I'd still occasionally feel bits of fear and anxiety when I was left alone. Luckily for me, one of my owners works for a cannabis company, so we decided to try CBD. 

I’ve always really loved terpenes, and am quite partial to myrcene. I'm pretty educated when it comes to cannabis! Since CBD tends to be higher in myrcene, I was excited to try it. My owner also consumes daily, so we started a little routine. Each morning, we'd take our CBD together; mine with food, and hers with a matcha latte. However, finding my dose was a learning curve for both of us. After some trial and error, we found the right amount based on my weight and how fast I synthesize CBD, which is about 5-7mg. 

At first, I wasn't sure about CBD. I’m a neurotic pup and didn't know what to expect. But it worked. A blissful feeling came over me. Now that I'm used to CBD, I quite enjoy it. I feel less afraid of being alone and as a result, don’t seek out things to chew. My favourite thing to do after taking my dose is enjoy a nice long nap on my couch, followed by a chill moment looking out the window, people watching. I rarely feel the instinct to bark at them or alert the world of their presence. My owners also seem more relaxed and don’t refer to me as an “anxious dog” as often. 

Interestingly enough, I haven’t needed my CBD in the last month. It seems my owners have finally seen the light. For the last three weeks, they've been home all the time; it’s been lovely and I feel so safe. I'm fully adapted to this new, upgraded, reality! Although I do miss the taste of myrcene…

Anyhoo, thanks for taking the time to read my story. I'm due for a snuggly nap now. 

Love, cuddles and belly rubs,