Happiness is straighter legs

We saw the original Doc today, Doc Julie.  She walked out into the waiting room to get Reilly for x-rays, and was thrilled with his legs.  I told her that I still would like base-line x-rays...paranoid soul that I am...especially since they would be on file if he needed to see our other Doc, Doc Kim.  She laughed, then sobered and said that was probably a good idea...since she's been recalled into the military and is being deployed to Afghanistan first of October!  Wow.  Between her leaving and my paranoia, we got x-rays of all four legs.  His growth plates are nice and big and show no signs of premature closing.  His legs have improved dramatically.  We have permission to do gentle walks...back around the ball field walks, no miles anywhere.  (I don't do miles well, either, so it's a good thing he can't.)  We've planned to do our ball field three days a week, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.  I don't have class on Wednesday or Friday, so I can spare some time in the morning easily enough, and Sunday instead of Saturday will keep us from having two sequential days.

I feel better now.

Doc also suggested I go ahead and cape him when he's out.  I have capes and vests for him when he's bigger, but had not planned on doing them just yet.  However, I went ahead and ordered one his size, with "Service Puppy In Training", and "Working Dog; Please Do Not Pet" patches.  He will start learning that he needs to get permission to talk to someone, and then WE need to approach the person he's meeting.  He can also start learning the difference between "work" time and "free" time, based on when he's wearing his cape.  Most service dogs learn this fairly quickly. 

Doc Julie is also  a dog trainer, so I was particularly pleased when she returned from x-raying Reilly and commented on his temperament and how good it appeared for a service dog.  She's a very straightforward person; says just what she thinks.  She'd say it if she thought otherwise. 

I do have a few pictures today.  Chris got home a day early from his trip, and the big dogs took turns getting puppy hugs.  Murphy is the leader of the four-legged part of the pack, so he gets his attention first.  Murphy adores Chris, and Chris adores Murphy.

After a bit, he has to get sent away, so patient Jake can get his turn greeting Chris.

And yes, I do have a couple of Sir Reilly, too!

The first one is him carrying a stick.  Chris and I had him "take it", "bring it" and "drop" back and forth between us today.  Reilly enjoyed it!

This one is something I should have shown you before.  Look at it first....

A couple things to notice here.  First, look how much better his legs look!  Yay!

Second...these are corner shelves in the kitchen, back behind Reilly.  Look what's on them.  The bag on the bottom, in front of the bread machine, contains Mother Hubbard dog biscuits.  You can't see them, but there are a couple bags of other treats on top of the breadmakeer.  On the shelf above are three old enamel pots, with different dog treats in them. All within easy reach of all dogs.  All easily opened by all dogs.  The dogs do not open them; not even Reilly.  If I ask the big dogs what they want, Murphy will choose the container he wants a treat from by bumping it with his nose.  If I open it, he will not get a treat out, but waits for me to get it and hand it to him.  When Reilly arrived at 8 weeks, he wanted to get his own treat.  Once. I told him no, and he has not touched them since, although he gets excited when I pick up a bag or open a pot.  As I've said before, and doubtless will say again, once a mastiff understands "The Rules", he will follow them to the best of his abilities.  They're just wired that way.

So, a really good day, since we got good news about his legs.  We will certainly be keeping regular checks on those legs, but I will be less nervous about it.

Meg and Reilly