Comments on: One Sick Doggy

By: woofwoofarf

woofwoofarf — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:35:55 +0000

In reply to kellic.

Nope, I was with him every step of the way, or just a few steps behind, anyway. Watching him making his rounds, though, it's easy to see how he could come across a nasty bug. As repellent as the thoguht might be to humans, dogs sense both by smell and by taste. One lick at the wrong thing, and you've got intruduction of a nasty bug, very easily.

The good news is that he's well on the road to recovery, though!

By: kellic

kellic — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:47:12 +0000

Did you ever loose sight of him while he was running around? Wonder if he got into something or ate something he shouldn't have?

By: graywolf769

graywolf769 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:58:20 +0000

Glad to hear he is doing better. Hopefully it was just some lingering stress of moving to a new home and all of that.

I don't trust Jack off leash at all (When I first found him he escaped from his collar several times and led me chasing him around), but if there is a large area I want to give him more freedom to run around, I found these 15ft or 30ft "training leads" at Petsmart and let him run around still attached to that.

By: hartree

hartree — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:56:37 +0000

You're far from the only sort that has animal children. The Carspeckens often write of their feline kids.

Good that Buddy is doing better!

By: rustitobuck

rustitobuck — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:43:51 +0000

I've been enjoying all the reports of raising your "son." Glad Buddy is better.

By: genet

genet — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:21:08 +0000

In reply to berin.

Seconded. As I mentioned on IM, Briana had the same issues, and I think it was so many distractions and the sheer joy of being free... she forgot that Mom and Dad were trudging along behind her. ;)

Treats help with the recall, and as your bond grows stronger, he'll associate you more with things he likes, so he'll be better about the recall.

Also, right after we got Briana, we had a $500+ vet bill when she pulled a muscle in her neck. So... this is all pretty par for the course in dog ownership. ;)

By: pinkleader

pinkleader — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:17:00 +0000

Oh, I'm glad to hear he is feeling better. It is tough dealing with sick/hurt animals we're responsible for. I was the same way when Ladybug determined she was pterodactyl bait (tore her sides up alternating two weeks apart,) staying home sick with the drugged up pup. There was actually a New Year's Eve once down at Corby and Thjora's where Maxi had to go to the emergency vet that afternoon and was stumbling around more than the drunks at the party, but refusing to lie down.

I also won't let Ladybug off leash, since I don't trust her not to follow her nose to Texas, but she's great at the Dog Park. When she's tired (usually after an hour) she stays near me/the gate and I know it is time to go. Don't make the mistake of having treats in your pocket, but perhaps keep some in the car just in case for luring.

As far as training, one of the great things our trainer insisted on was the stand-stay command. She may not come to me always when I call, but she will stay put when I'm firm and let me catch her. This was tested and worked well one time when we left the gate unlatched and she went on walkabout. She wouldn't come when called, but she stayed when Thjora told her to and let herself be caught that way. Stay is a savior.

By: berin

berin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:56:13 +0000

I'm quite familiar with the "Look! There's all this space and I can stay just out of reach of Daddy!" game. I have a ten-year-old German Shepperd mix(it's been that long?) and she still likes to play that game. To make matters more fun, my neighborhood borders fallow farmland and scrub forest on three sides and a limestone quarry and cutting shop on the forth, so I either end up picking my way through brambles and low-hanging branches or picking my way over waste rock and gravel. Thankfully, more often it's the scrub and farmland.

Do try the dog park. The socialization with other dogs will actually make Buddy easier to round up and take home in two way. The first: He'll be tired out from the play. The second: He'll be so distracted that he'll forget about the "make Daddy chase me" game. You'll still want to work on the recall command (good luck), but lack of it shouldn't keep him from the dog park. It just calls for more caution.

As for being sick... Dealing with it is part of the deal. It's good to hear that Buddy is feeling better. Obviously you're feeling better, too.

By: aerofox

aerofox — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:54:35 +0000

Merf, hopefully, this is past and Buddy is all better now. poor doggie.
Yeah, I remember dealing with Minuette and Madeline's problems from time to time.

*hugs*