Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
What a Pooey Night
I ran out to do a couple errands last night. I neglected to put a bag of pepperoni dog treat sticks up out of reach. I live with a Great Dane.
I came home about 90 minutes after having left to Leo finishing off the evidence. Out of nine treat sticks, just half of one remained.
At 2 am he woke me to get a drink of water. I've never seen him drink so much in his life. At 4 am I awoke to horrible sounds of bodily fluids. On the floor. On carpet. In my bedroom. In front of the door. Ugh.
Tossed Leo out and cleaned up. Let him in and cleaned HIM up. Went back to bed.
9:30 am, rinse and repeat. More bodily fluids on my carpet in my bedroom. Mind you I had put down a wee-wee pad for him to use should he need to. Apparently he didn't get the memo.
What an awful night which makes for a tired Sunday. Ugh.
I came home about 90 minutes after having left to Leo finishing off the evidence. Out of nine treat sticks, just half of one remained.
At 2 am he woke me to get a drink of water. I've never seen him drink so much in his life. At 4 am I awoke to horrible sounds of bodily fluids. On the floor. On carpet. In my bedroom. In front of the door. Ugh.
Tossed Leo out and cleaned up. Let him in and cleaned HIM up. Went back to bed.
9:30 am, rinse and repeat. More bodily fluids on my carpet in my bedroom. Mind you I had put down a wee-wee pad for him to use should he need to. Apparently he didn't get the memo.
What an awful night which makes for a tired Sunday. Ugh.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Unknown Ouchies
I'm beginning to dislike the veterinary medical profession. I know it's not necessarily logical, but damn if "unknown affectations" aren't difficult to swallow.
Leo started acting "off" last night. He had a hard time eating his dinner and then acted lethargic. He flinched if you reached to pet his head. I checked all of the typical things - mouth, ears, lymph nodes, put him through a range of motions - legs, neck, back, hips, front legs, all to find nothing in particular. I gave him a dose of dexamethazone and went to bed. He was clingy a bit, falling asleep snuggled beside me on his back, still more than willing to accept tummy scritches.
This morning he struggled again to eat and even cried out and walked away from breakfast. I was able to break up his food into more manageable bites and he basically swallowed them but finished. I made an appointment for him this evening and took him to the vet.
They ran through the same gamut of tests and checks I did and found nothing notable other than some pain responses seemingly localized to the right side of his face.
So now we're home with four days' dose of metacam syrup to see if he gets over it, the best guess that he may have strained his jaw opening his mouth too wide or some such thing.
I really dislike mystery ailments and no diagnosis/pinpointable problem for which we can find a solution. *sigh*
Leo started acting "off" last night. He had a hard time eating his dinner and then acted lethargic. He flinched if you reached to pet his head. I checked all of the typical things - mouth, ears, lymph nodes, put him through a range of motions - legs, neck, back, hips, front legs, all to find nothing in particular. I gave him a dose of dexamethazone and went to bed. He was clingy a bit, falling asleep snuggled beside me on his back, still more than willing to accept tummy scritches.
This morning he struggled again to eat and even cried out and walked away from breakfast. I was able to break up his food into more manageable bites and he basically swallowed them but finished. I made an appointment for him this evening and took him to the vet.
They ran through the same gamut of tests and checks I did and found nothing notable other than some pain responses seemingly localized to the right side of his face.
So now we're home with four days' dose of metacam syrup to see if he gets over it, the best guess that he may have strained his jaw opening his mouth too wide or some such thing.
I really dislike mystery ailments and no diagnosis/pinpointable problem for which we can find a solution. *sigh*
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Photo Catch-Up
This year has been a whirlwind. Too much going on and never enough time. But there's been time for photo ops! Here is a bit of what we've been up to and I'll try to catch up on the real goings on soon.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Bones in the sunshine
Bathtime
Smiling wet dog
We get bones a lot...
Jump!
Pool?
Bobbing for raspberries
Oh my fur!
Freshly groomed and gorgeous
Bow!
Swimming with Julie
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Agility CLASS for the Mighty Maniac
Yes, it's true. The Mighty Maniac has begun agility classes. I enrolled her a little while back and her first class was last Monday.
Taking a step back, she IS learning already. You'll remember she's come with me while I taught classes the last session. I had introduced her to jumps, the tunnel (straight and curved), the dog walk, the a-frame, the tire, the teeter, and the weaves a bit. I tried the chute but didn't have any extra hands to hold it open and keep her at the entrance so she could understand.
Last week, week 1, we started out with brief introductions. Then our instructor had us working on stays at the end of the leash from a few feet away. We then worked on the dog walk and a-frame contact zone only. I'll admit; it was very tame even for a beginning/foundation class. Juicy clearly wanted to do more and kept trying to take me to the equipment.
HOWEVER. The key to taking a class with Juicy is getting used to working around other dogs. It's good for ME to get used to it. She's 3.7 pounds after all. And I had bad experiences with Leo in class so I need to get over that so I don't hinder their progress. Call it proofing exposure. Call it noise experience. Call it confidence building. Taking a class was important for her. Plus, for me as a handler I can still learn lots from other people. Different approaches have different results and affects. I am adding to my instructor toolkit by taking classes from others, too. I need the structure for teaching Juicy as well. So there you have it.
Fast forward <> to this week, week 2. Juicy was chomping at the bit, raring to go. She knew where we were and drug me - all but literally (cause she simply can't due to her diminutive stature) drug me into the building. We started by doing heeling laps around the arena with periodic stops to get a halt and focus. We spent about 10 minutes doing that and then moved on to the tunnel. She started us with restrained recalls and moved into running into the tunnel with us along side.
We then worked on the wobble/buja board and attempted to work on our contacts on the edge of the board. Afterward we worked on the end of the dog walk just shortly and into a tunnel again after. And that was class.
Five more weeks. Juicy is loving it.
Taking a step back, she IS learning already. You'll remember she's come with me while I taught classes the last session. I had introduced her to jumps, the tunnel (straight and curved), the dog walk, the a-frame, the tire, the teeter, and the weaves a bit. I tried the chute but didn't have any extra hands to hold it open and keep her at the entrance so she could understand.
Last week, week 1, we started out with brief introductions. Then our instructor had us working on stays at the end of the leash from a few feet away. We then worked on the dog walk and a-frame contact zone only. I'll admit; it was very tame even for a beginning/foundation class. Juicy clearly wanted to do more and kept trying to take me to the equipment.
HOWEVER. The key to taking a class with Juicy is getting used to working around other dogs. It's good for ME to get used to it. She's 3.7 pounds after all. And I had bad experiences with Leo in class so I need to get over that so I don't hinder their progress. Call it proofing exposure. Call it noise experience. Call it confidence building. Taking a class was important for her. Plus, for me as a handler I can still learn lots from other people. Different approaches have different results and affects. I am adding to my instructor toolkit by taking classes from others, too. I need the structure for teaching Juicy as well. So there you have it.
Fast forward <
We then worked on the wobble/buja board and attempted to work on our contacts on the edge of the board. Afterward we worked on the end of the dog walk just shortly and into a tunnel again after. And that was class.
Five more weeks. Juicy is loving it.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Happy 2nd Birthday, Juicy!
Juicy turned two years old on Monday! She enjoyed some treats in the yard during our photo shoot.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Happy 4th Birthday, Leo!
My little man turned four today. I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed. I regret not posting about his "gotcha day" a week ago, but this is the important one. I hope to have pictures to share in a few days of his sweet sister, Glitter, on her special day, too. Her mom dresses her all up in dresses and has a grand ol' time of girly-girlyness.
So happy birthday, Leo! I had a delightful time with you this evening having special Leo time.
Just getting ready to leave. Sitting on the front seat of the truck. The priceless smile.
Post office was the first stop. Second stop, Beal Wetlands. Lots of ducks - and nutria.
All of the dark spots in the grass (how many do you count?) are nutria.
Leo meets a nutria...he was within 3 feet here. It barely gave him a glance, ballsy little rat-tailed fella.
Hi, Mama. I is so cute, huh?
Overlooking the water, brave as brave gets on the rail.
And then we went to The Farm Store for a little goodie shopping.
Enjoying a couple of yummy, heart-shaped, salmon biscuits.
And a most delicious buffalo strap.
He topped off the evening after one more errand with beef heart and is currently napping. A most perfect day in a dog's eyes.
So happy birthday, Leo! I had a delightful time with you this evening having special Leo time.
He topped off the evening after one more errand with beef heart and is currently napping. A most perfect day in a dog's eyes.
Monday, February 18, 2013
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