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What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing
Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Oct 1, 2023 | Replies (237)Comment receiving replies
Where do I begin? As a dog trainer since age 10, I have trained dogs for disaster response, guide dogs for the blind, etc. and my own service dog. Maybe I will start with my last dog, whose picture represents me on Connect. He was an incredible dog..... and yes I know everyone says that about their own dogs, and they are truly right. When I officially made Tani my service dog, I think he laid awake nights thinking up things he could do for me. He came up with stuff that I wouldn't have known how to even begin to train him. I did teach him to get me the cordless phone in case I fell. One day I did fall, and I was bleeding profusely so I couldn't call for help with my cell which is always on me. He brought me the phone, and then while sitting on the floor waiting for help to arrive, he brought me HIS pillow! I did NOT ask for it. That was his idea. Oh yes, he was a Smooth (short haired) Collie). I had smooths for 57 years, all related as in the beginning I did breed. I had many smooths that graduated from one of the established guide dog schools. At the school where I taught, when a person is ready to graduate with their dog, they have a final test. THey have to say what they will go to buy and then come back with that item. THey had about a mile to walk to the stores . And another trainer was following them for safety. Three people with their dogs were walking together, and they stopped at a corner before crossing the street. While waiting for the handlers to ascertain the traffic before telling their dogs forward. suddenly all 3 dogs started to back up!!!!!!! The trainer had no idea at first what was happening, but a car coming down the street ran up on the sidewalk. How in the world did ALL three dogs know that was about to happen!!!!!!!
Replies to "Where do I begin? As a dog trainer since age 10, I have trained dogs for..."
@jimhd, gailfaith again. SOOOOOOOooooooo glad to hear that her wounds are healing well. But stick with her around other big dogs and almost try to ignore them.... just walk past them at a distance and get closer with time as you see her less stressed in their presence.
@gailfait
At the park, we're often alone. She doesn't like the dog park, and neither do I. She heard a big sounding dog across the street from the park, behind a solid fence, and the tail tucked under, and I reassured her, but moved away. The dog park is very unpredictable, of course, and because I have been training her to ignore other animals, she doesn't mingle, but comes and sits next to me. Dogs can be almost as much work as kids.
Jim
@jimhd gailfaith again......I don't go near dog parks......most of those dogs have no training so they are totally unpredictable. That is why I recommended going to an obedience club where dogs are pretty predictable and CONTROLLABLE. Remember dogs can "smell" body chemistry, so they can detect another dog's intent well before even physical clues are present. Right now I have no dogs and because of my age and physical disabilities, I don't intend to get one. In short I don't want to leave a dog ( and pet except maybe a fish!!!!) an orphan.
I've observed the same thing about dog parks. We've only been to them a few times, and either we've been alone or there have been exuberant, uncontrolled dogs. I kept Barnabas on a leash and walked where there were no dogs. Usually, they aren't very nice places.
Sorry you're not able to have a dog now. I imagine you miss the companionship. It is a big deal to me having my Sadie at my side all the time.
Jim
@jihd...gail here again. Please do me a favor. SInce in the beginning,when I thought McNab was one of your dog's names,I'm a little confused. Please tell me ally our dogs' names, age and gender . Hopefully I can get them straight. AND remember them. Are all your dogs, McNabs? And from above, Sadie is the one that was injured who now is tense around dogs. I don't blame her! Smart dog!
Hi, Gail. @gailfaith
I found Barnabas in 2007, the day before he was to be put down because he was the runt of the litter. His litter mates had all found homes, and I adopted him. During his first few years, I trained him in the basics, then I gradually moved him into being my service dog. He was an Aussie/Border Collie mix, and died a week after the vet gave him a clean bill of health.
While Barnabas was living, our daughter, living in Seattle, found a rescue dog there that had been flown up from San Bernardino. We drove up there and brought him home. He was quite underweight and was afraid of men. He got to a healthy weight, and is past his fear of men. A Manchester Terrier, as far as we can tell, Pete and Barnabas were great playmates. Two years later, when Barnabas died, Pete mourned for several weeks. He'd sit and look over at Barnabas' bed, and moped around.
It took a few weeks for Pete to accept Sadie into HIS home, but they love to be together now. Sadie is a McNab, and the employees at the shelter thought she was about 2 at the beginning of 2016. My wife is Pete's human, and I'm Sadie's. I think it was two months ago that Sadie was attacked. I haven't yet had time to find an obedience club. Yesterday, I had 3 appointments with doctors and today my wife had trigger finger release surgery #7. Not sure what tomorrow will bring.
So, that's the story of my last 3 dogs. Love them all.
Jim
@lisalucier Is your cavalier a blenheim too? I love the tri-color ones.
JK
@ jimhd Thanks for the summary. How long did you have Barnabas? Are YOU a pro dog trainer? ...or just a natural like me, . but I did train guide dogs for the blind with an established school for about a year. Back then I walked about 17 miles a day training dogs. Now with my disability, I can walk up to a 80% of a mile a day. I've been in weekly therapy now for almost 4 years and my therapist and I have a ball together and I work hard to see him smile. And I have trained all the smooth collies I had for 57 years to have many AKC obedience, rally, agility, tracking and sheep herding titles. , gailfaith here.
@contentandwell we had a ruby named Phoebe. Loved her.
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@gailfaith
I'm pretty sure I read that McNab is recognized by AKC. Sadie's injuries were multiple flank bites, a few that penetrated enough to concern the vet. She shaved the area and cleaned it, and I gave her a medication for a week or two. She didn't stitch the cut, though she could have, but I kept it clean, and it healed well.
The bite marks are gone, but the fear of large dogs remains. I think it will work itself out over time.
I had appointments with 3 doctors today, and she laid quietly on her fleece blanket as usual, in the waiting rooms and exam rooms. She's a very sweet dog. She won't win the awards Jody did - an amazing record - but she has my heart, for sure.
Thanks for your guidance with the emotional part of Sadie's encounter. I'll keep you posted.
Jim