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*

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

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.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Juicy!

Juicy turned two years old on Monday! She enjoyed some treats in the yard during our photo shoot. 

Here are a couple of outtakes.

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.

Pup Training

Mini Dogs Are Lucky

Mini dogs, toy dogs, small dogs, vertically challenged, whatever you call them, they have it best in this weather. Wow. It's been like monsoon weather lately! Crazy blowing sideways winds with rain, rain, and torrential rain. The little dogs are lucky. They can run, wrestle, chase, and generally do anything it takes to burn off steam and they don't require space. Space is at a premium in our house and they definitely are more fortunate than their big sis....who can barely race through the tunnel in our living room and not run into the front door.

Lucky dogs....