For anyone who actually reads this.... Just wanted to let you know that I am closing this blog. Since the focus has changed, it's really kinda silly to continue the blog.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Update on Jake
I didn't take Jake to work Wednesday, as the evening prior was so traumatic for him. And we both stayed home Thursday, and I did prep at home, while I still ate a lot of Motrin and ached. So today was the first time I asked him to get in a car, to go to work. For the first time ever, he didn't want to get in.
I didn't force him. I took his harness off (he had been eager to put that on!) and let him stay home. But this evening, I bribed him into the car with treats, and took him to knit night. He loves knit night, as everyone wants to take turns loving him up. But when we went to leave, there was a car parked quite close to my car again. However, it was a normal car, and it wasn't running. Jake moved between the cars a bit hesitantly, but not too bad. When I opened the front door, he automatically moved around so I could open the back door, and was actually in a hurry to get in. He got lots of treats for doing so. Perhaps there will be no lasting effects of Tuesday night, other than to my brace!
In the meantime, Reilly had a recheck at the vet for the prolapsed urethra and urinary crystal issue. The prolapse is down, which is good. We opted to go ahead and do a full urinary check, so she sent urine off rather than do it in-house. We'll see what the results are when it all comes back. His breeder sent me some links to alternative information on the special food, but I haven't had time to do more than skim it. Hopefully we can find something solid to try. But, he's a happy guy. He was so funny at the vet. He had urinated that morning, of course, and really didn't have anything else to offer when we got there, so they asked to keep him for the day so they could get urine. I told them he will go on command, and figured it'd just be a couple hours. At 4:00 pm, I called them, because I know they try to close at 5:00. He had been walked hourly, but no urine! So I zipped over there, and walked him myself, with one of the techs following with the catch pan. We went to the grass, I told him to go...and he did. He just needed the right inflection in the potty command, I guess. They were shaking their heads over him. But he was very well-behaved while we waited in the lobby for our turn to check out. He did a nice down-stay, while other dogs were walking past him, pulling their owners about. But he did break his down-stay when a child came in. All my dogs love "people puppies". He was trying to reach her, and I was telling him no. But the girl's mom said something to her, and she came and asked if she could pet him. She got an enthusiastic response from us both. Reilly loved getting attention from her!
So, this is where we stand on the Boys right now.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
I didn't force him. I took his harness off (he had been eager to put that on!) and let him stay home. But this evening, I bribed him into the car with treats, and took him to knit night. He loves knit night, as everyone wants to take turns loving him up. But when we went to leave, there was a car parked quite close to my car again. However, it was a normal car, and it wasn't running. Jake moved between the cars a bit hesitantly, but not too bad. When I opened the front door, he automatically moved around so I could open the back door, and was actually in a hurry to get in. He got lots of treats for doing so. Perhaps there will be no lasting effects of Tuesday night, other than to my brace!
In the meantime, Reilly had a recheck at the vet for the prolapsed urethra and urinary crystal issue. The prolapse is down, which is good. We opted to go ahead and do a full urinary check, so she sent urine off rather than do it in-house. We'll see what the results are when it all comes back. His breeder sent me some links to alternative information on the special food, but I haven't had time to do more than skim it. Hopefully we can find something solid to try. But, he's a happy guy. He was so funny at the vet. He had urinated that morning, of course, and really didn't have anything else to offer when we got there, so they asked to keep him for the day so they could get urine. I told them he will go on command, and figured it'd just be a couple hours. At 4:00 pm, I called them, because I know they try to close at 5:00. He had been walked hourly, but no urine! So I zipped over there, and walked him myself, with one of the techs following with the catch pan. We went to the grass, I told him to go...and he did. He just needed the right inflection in the potty command, I guess. They were shaking their heads over him. But he was very well-behaved while we waited in the lobby for our turn to check out. He did a nice down-stay, while other dogs were walking past him, pulling their owners about. But he did break his down-stay when a child came in. All my dogs love "people puppies". He was trying to reach her, and I was telling him no. But the girl's mom said something to her, and she came and asked if she could pet him. She got an enthusiastic response from us both. Reilly loved getting attention from her!
So, this is where we stand on the Boys right now.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A view of the world from a different angle
After a long day, Jake and I went off to doggie school. On the way home, we stopped at WalMart to pick up a few things. Jake has not been to WalMart more than once or twice, and only when it's fairly quiet. It wasn't bad this evening, so we stopped. He was a bit nervous of a guy breaking boxes, which should have given me a clue that he was tired. I didn't pick up on it, as I am also tired.
We got the few things I needed, paid, endured all the jokes people make about being able to ride that dog, and how much it must cost to feed him, and headed back out to the car. The car we had parked next to was gone, and in its place was a large yellow Hummer, still running. It was parked right on the line, which of course narrows my working area to get into the car. So I left the cart with our things behind the car, and went to put Jake in first. He didn't want to walk between the cars, with the big one running. That was my second clue, which I didn't pick up on. He did come between them when I told him to. I opened the front door to my car. Then I opened the back door for Jake (The car has suicide doors, so you must open the front door to be able to open the back door.) When that back door swung toward us, it was the last straw for Jake, and he ran out from between the cars, toward the front. It wouldn't have been so bad, except we were using a hands-free leash. It wraps around my body. So, I ended up on the pavement, with a bleeding elbow.
From Jake's point of view, I had pushed him to the limit by not picking up on his cues. That won't happen again.
So I got to see things from his angle. Then I got another angle.
I can not get up off the ground if I fall. So, I'm lying there between two cars, in the dark, and one of those cars is running. Not good. The first thing I need to do though, is get Jake into the car where he's safe. I'm still attached to him by the leash, so I call him back to me. He's now concerned about me being on the ground, and comes easily. I tell him to get in, and although he wants to, he also doesn't want to leave me.
Now, I cried out when I fell. The people in the car next to me didn't so much as roll down their window. A teenager stepped around to see what was happening, then went on. A man did the same. Both of them looked at me on the ground between two cars in handicapped parking, and went on. I was still working on getting Jake to leave me and get in the car when a voice called to me from across the lane and asked if I needed help. I told the woman I did. She came over, and initially offered me her hand to help me up the way you would the average person who fell. I explained that she couldn't help me up, as I couldn't help her help me, but that first Jake needed to get in. She assisted with that (and I am grateful she wasn't someone afraid of dogs!), then she asked what was next. I know I can get to my knees, painful as it is, so I did that. Then I realized that the car we got in November had running boards! I managed to use the running board and steering wheel, with my back to the car, and use my arms to pull myself into the floor first, then the seat. I was going to ask the woman to get Security to help if I hadn't been able to do it, but it's nice to know that if I can get the car doors open, I can still get up by myself.
I thanked the lady...told her she'd gotten her week's worth of good deeds in! Then I thought.
When I first got diagnosed with this, I joined an online group. One of the members called me to say hello. In the course of several conversations with him, he told me about a fall he had taken in the WalMart parking lot. He had seen several carts near his parking place, and decided he could reach one without using his crutches...so he tried. And fell. This was broad daylight. People walked past him, and nobody would stop and help him. Most of us look normal. I do have a leg brace, which gives my needing help some "justification", but he didn't have one, and didn't have his crutches. People seemed to think there was a drunk man lying there, and treated him as if he were invisible. Tonight, the first people just came to see what was going on...then left. I was just something to look at. When I got to my feet, the person in the car next to me had turned her head away from my side.
It makes me wonder how many people would stop and how many would walk by.
I keep one of those Power Pack things for jumping dead batteries in my car. I've used it several times. Not once has it been used on my car. I've used it on the cars of people I've seen in trouble. All of them have been in parking lots, with their hoods up, and everyone is walking on by.
Thank you, Lady, whoever you are.
So, today I got to view things from the viewpoint of a tired and nervous dog, and also from a handicapped person on the ground. I learned something from both of them. And all it cost me was some skin on one elbow and a broken earring where the leash hit me. Although I believe I will have some sore muscles to go along with it all. What a day! But it's over now. Tomorrow begins a new one.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
next day...I'm editing to add...I was correct in thinking I'd be sore today. I feel like someone put me inside a bottle, then shook the bottle. Everything hurts. I have no idea why. I have no recollection of hitting as many parts as hurt. I even managed to bend my brace. It still works, but it's got new pressure points I'll have to have corrected. I'll be going to bed early, after yet another dose of motrin. And tomorrow I'm staying home, since I have no classes and no appointments.
M
We got the few things I needed, paid, endured all the jokes people make about being able to ride that dog, and how much it must cost to feed him, and headed back out to the car. The car we had parked next to was gone, and in its place was a large yellow Hummer, still running. It was parked right on the line, which of course narrows my working area to get into the car. So I left the cart with our things behind the car, and went to put Jake in first. He didn't want to walk between the cars, with the big one running. That was my second clue, which I didn't pick up on. He did come between them when I told him to. I opened the front door to my car. Then I opened the back door for Jake (The car has suicide doors, so you must open the front door to be able to open the back door.) When that back door swung toward us, it was the last straw for Jake, and he ran out from between the cars, toward the front. It wouldn't have been so bad, except we were using a hands-free leash. It wraps around my body. So, I ended up on the pavement, with a bleeding elbow.
From Jake's point of view, I had pushed him to the limit by not picking up on his cues. That won't happen again.
So I got to see things from his angle. Then I got another angle.
I can not get up off the ground if I fall. So, I'm lying there between two cars, in the dark, and one of those cars is running. Not good. The first thing I need to do though, is get Jake into the car where he's safe. I'm still attached to him by the leash, so I call him back to me. He's now concerned about me being on the ground, and comes easily. I tell him to get in, and although he wants to, he also doesn't want to leave me.
Now, I cried out when I fell. The people in the car next to me didn't so much as roll down their window. A teenager stepped around to see what was happening, then went on. A man did the same. Both of them looked at me on the ground between two cars in handicapped parking, and went on. I was still working on getting Jake to leave me and get in the car when a voice called to me from across the lane and asked if I needed help. I told the woman I did. She came over, and initially offered me her hand to help me up the way you would the average person who fell. I explained that she couldn't help me up, as I couldn't help her help me, but that first Jake needed to get in. She assisted with that (and I am grateful she wasn't someone afraid of dogs!), then she asked what was next. I know I can get to my knees, painful as it is, so I did that. Then I realized that the car we got in November had running boards! I managed to use the running board and steering wheel, with my back to the car, and use my arms to pull myself into the floor first, then the seat. I was going to ask the woman to get Security to help if I hadn't been able to do it, but it's nice to know that if I can get the car doors open, I can still get up by myself.
I thanked the lady...told her she'd gotten her week's worth of good deeds in! Then I thought.
When I first got diagnosed with this, I joined an online group. One of the members called me to say hello. In the course of several conversations with him, he told me about a fall he had taken in the WalMart parking lot. He had seen several carts near his parking place, and decided he could reach one without using his crutches...so he tried. And fell. This was broad daylight. People walked past him, and nobody would stop and help him. Most of us look normal. I do have a leg brace, which gives my needing help some "justification", but he didn't have one, and didn't have his crutches. People seemed to think there was a drunk man lying there, and treated him as if he were invisible. Tonight, the first people just came to see what was going on...then left. I was just something to look at. When I got to my feet, the person in the car next to me had turned her head away from my side.
It makes me wonder how many people would stop and how many would walk by.
I keep one of those Power Pack things for jumping dead batteries in my car. I've used it several times. Not once has it been used on my car. I've used it on the cars of people I've seen in trouble. All of them have been in parking lots, with their hoods up, and everyone is walking on by.
Thank you, Lady, whoever you are.
So, today I got to view things from the viewpoint of a tired and nervous dog, and also from a handicapped person on the ground. I learned something from both of them. And all it cost me was some skin on one elbow and a broken earring where the leash hit me. Although I believe I will have some sore muscles to go along with it all. What a day! But it's over now. Tomorrow begins a new one.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
next day...I'm editing to add...I was correct in thinking I'd be sore today. I feel like someone put me inside a bottle, then shook the bottle. Everything hurts. I have no idea why. I have no recollection of hitting as many parts as hurt. I even managed to bend my brace. It still works, but it's got new pressure points I'll have to have corrected. I'll be going to bed early, after yet another dose of motrin. And tomorrow I'm staying home, since I have no classes and no appointments.
M
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The best breeder
I have to share that I got an email from my breeder late yesterday. I haven't even responded, because every time I start to, my email freezes.
I know she feels badly about the issues Reilly has. But these things are out of her control. She has offered to come get him and take him herself, so I don't have the physical drain.
So, since my email won't work right now, I figured I'd address this here. This is a wonderful offer and I couldn't appreciate it more. But....no. Reilly is family, and he stays. I will adjust to deal with him, one way or another. We are already learning how to deal with the separate food issues. And so are they. The rest of it we'll deal with as best we can when the time comes. Besides, you'd have to fight my husband to take any of the dogs. :) So, while it's an amazingly generous offer, we'll keep on with it. I may use this blog to do my venting, but things work out.
Here's The Boys waiting for breakfast this morning. You can see that Reilly (in the center) is a definite part of the pack here!
I know she feels badly about the issues Reilly has. But these things are out of her control. She has offered to come get him and take him herself, so I don't have the physical drain.
So, since my email won't work right now, I figured I'd address this here. This is a wonderful offer and I couldn't appreciate it more. But....no. Reilly is family, and he stays. I will adjust to deal with him, one way or another. We are already learning how to deal with the separate food issues. And so are they. The rest of it we'll deal with as best we can when the time comes. Besides, you'd have to fight my husband to take any of the dogs. :) So, while it's an amazingly generous offer, we'll keep on with it. I may use this blog to do my venting, but things work out.
Here's The Boys waiting for breakfast this morning. You can see that Reilly (in the center) is a definite part of the pack here!
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