Starkehre

Thanks Trina, Oonga, Flaves and BP. Mark and I are coping OK after Jess passing. We know it was the best thing for her, but we do miss her terribly. She is residing with Mark's parents now, and I know that gives Mark some relief. And I am certain that Jess and Lila will catch up if they have not already. Jess was a very wise old soul. You could just tell she had been around before, many times I believe. She will greet all new chumbs in heaven and give them guidance I feel certain. Much appreciated guys. XX ;)

I have always felt that when feeding sogs long chewing treats like pigs ears , bones or similar it is putting too much pressure on them to be given them whilst they are in the same area. I always separate my dogs for chewing time, so they can relax and not worry about what the other dogs are doing. My opinion is .. Always set yourself and the dogs up for a "win" rather than trying to fix things when problems occur later.

Well that all sounds quite positive Erny. Hope more signs of improvement come soon, and no doubt it will take some time.

How's Mandela this morning Erny? Any changes?

Sounds like you have got it sorted now, which is terrific. However, can I just further add to the info about running water pumps and doing damage... Most water pumps (definitely all impellar driven ones) must have water running through them or you definitely risk burning them out. Some pumps that use diaphragms as opposed to impellars are designed to run dry without doing damage (though it still is not a good practice to get into the habit of doing). The sort of things that can occur when running water pumps dry when they are not designed to do so is burning out the impellar and/or the motor. So, though you were nervous about doing the wrong thing and damaging your pump, provided there is water from one or the other reservoir running through it (unless it is a pump that can run dry) you will not do it any damage. It may be a good idea to ascertain which type of pump you have from the manufacturer.

I have to agree with mercedes here. I have always crate trained my pups (Rotties) straight to soft crates, and never had any issues. I will say that some extra vigilience in initial stages is required, but when puppies are young, if you train quickly and sensibly in the first 2-3 weeks, then they are not likely to damage once they are strong enough to do so. Always set yourself up for a win, and you are less likely to create the pup's mistake. Also, if training to soft crates, the pup should not be allowed access to the crate. Pup is either locked in or no access to the crate at all. The pup should not be able to access the crate at all if he is not locked inside until he has grown out of the chewing stage, otherwise he will chew it from the outside or the open front door zipper. He will treat the soft styled crate as a chew toy as there are yummy plastic attachments that feel wonderful in a puppies young mouth. IMO it is all about assisting pups to become comfortable and confident in their own company and calm with and accepting of confinement in as short amount of time as sensibly possible when pup first comes home. Consistence, persistence and calm, quiet yet firm leadership. Do homework first, then have a plan in place, and stick to it. There are several other tips that can be implemented to assist with crate training puppies to soft crates. If anyone is interested, please PM me

Oh bugger Ernie. Hope Mandela has some success with the accupuncture. Good luck with it all. I have yet to have a ned to or opportunity to go down that path as yet with the dogs, but am very interested. Let us know how it goes please.

why do long distance when hands on and practical training is available? I think your trainer is not the right one for you and your dog. Contact Mark. Yep agree completely. Steve from K9 force is a great trainer but why do a distance course when there is someone equally good available to you that can show you practically (best way for me to learn personally) what might work? No reason other than Steve is the only one that I can recommend, and OP was asking for advice. And secondly that not many people would be prepared to travel a great distance to learn something that is so simple when it can be learned equally as easily via correspondence. I am not saying that hands on face to face training is not better. I would personally prefer that also. I was simply forwarding the trainer that I would recommend from my own experience. I got caught up writing my original post, and by the time I loaded it, many others had responded. So, perhaps it looks to some as though I might be saying my idea is better, when what I am actually saying is that this is what I would do if I was in OPs situation, with the knowlege and experience I have. At no time am I or was I trying to be argumentative. Just offering my opinion. Many of you are giving Mark singer a good rap, and I have no doubt that it is well justified... just that I cannot comment as I have not used him before.

I would recommend you contact Steve from K9 Force (as poodlefan mentioned) and do a Long distance Module on Loose Leash Walking with him. Not expensive and very simple to follow. Lots of support and in no time you will have it down pat. Using his method it would really not matter what product you actually use on the dog. The method simply works and is easy to master. Works along the same lines as what APBT says, but goes into excellent specifics and explanations. :D

One thing I would probably be checking if you were looking to change to liquid would be the dose rates. I am unsure about glucosamine, but with mostly all other products where there is an option for either, the liquid version is a watered down version of the more concentrated powder. Therefore you often find that the liquid version turns out being quite a bit more expensive. As a suggestion, you could always water down the powder yourself with some warm water and honey or just warm water if it is not a palatability issue. When I use the powdered glucosamine each night I just pop my scoop of powder on top of the meal once made, then add a small quantity of warm water over the top just to moisten the powder. I don't mix it in or anything, so it is very easy.

For me, whenever it comes to decisions regarding treatment or surgery for my dogs I weight up everything... age of the dog, prognosis post treatment/surgery, quality of life etc. In my opinion, if this was my dog, I would be doing what the guys is doing, letting the dog enjoy himself whilst he is feeling well and happy, and when such time comes as the dogs goes down hill, look at when the right time to euth is. It is never easy, but quality of life is very important to me. I do totally understand that everyone has their own thoughts and feelings on these topicas, and rightly so. We are all different and that is terrific and what makes the world go around. My husband tends to be the type to feel more like treating anything at any cost in any situation, if there is a possible glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. He and I differ here a bit. But we always seem to manage to get ourselves on the same page when the crunch comes. I feel it a privilege and responsibility that we as humans can make these decisions for our pets, that we are more limited with when it comes to ourselves and human life. We have to live with our decisions also, so it is important that as people we spend time learning about how we feel in these situations, so when we are called upon to make choices in these situations, that we can do so and be comfortable with whatever we decide upon. I am in that place now, and feel good about decisions I make regarding my pets receiving treatment/surgery for illness and comfortable with it. And I also would not judge anyone else for their own decisions, unless of course cruelty became obviously involved. Having said this I did treat one of my dogs with IMT last year, as she was young and vibrant, and I felt we could get her through it. We did, and she is still with us now. A Very expensive exercise and I would do it all again had I had my time again also.

Hope you are coping OK slushie. I am sorry for your loss.

Very glad Hamlet is fine Pers. Try not to beat yourself up. Accidents happen to all of us. We are but only human. Thankfully it was a good outcome.

That's so sad for you Lucycharzie. It rips a piece out of our heart everytime we lose our loved ones. You must have been devastated, poor thing. Glad Charlotte is well. I remember you saying you loved Rottis. Yes, they are very well thank you. Jag is huge now. He is 47kg and way taller than Dyz. He is still the same goofy puppy though, just bigger. Rose is good also. Unfortunately Rose never really paired offo with any dogs again after Ruby died. Ruby and her were as thick as thieves. I know Rose missed her terribly when she died. Sure she gets along well with the others, but they used to curl up in bed together and clean each others' ears. Hope you have a great weekend. We are showing tomorrow, so keeping our minds busy for distraction.

Thanks Lucycharzie. Yes, I think they would all be running and playing together in doggie heaven. My Rottie Ruby is there also, since 3 years ago. We have lost 3 dogs and a cat in the last year years. Lovely to hear from you. I hope Charlotte is well and still enjoying her swimming.

Thank you so much webdogs, poodlefan, chewy and Miss Danni. You are all so very sweet and caring to take the time to pop in and offer your gentle words of loving wisdom and support. We are overwhelmed with everyone's caring attitude. I was unsure whether to start the thread, not wanting to seem attention seeking, but I thought it would help Mark and be nice to say a few words for Jess ... and truely it has been wonderful. I show him the lovely posts people are putting up here and he seems to really benefit from it. He has a tear, which if you knew Mark, is a very rare thing, so I know it helps him let the grieving out rather than bottle it up. Thank you so very much. Hugs back to you all.

Thank you Silverblue. Yes, Jess did have a wonderful life. I know she is at peace now, which gives me some comfort.

Thank you for your thoughtful heartfelt words firestone. Much appreciated.

Thanks Allerzeit. You are an absolute sweety. I really must put one bowl away, as I keep pulling all 4 out at feeding time. I just temporarily forget, and then it all comes rushing back to me again, and I get that overwhelming feeling of loss and grief. Sort of takes your breath away for a moment. Just takes time.

Thank you carlibud. I am sorry to hear of your losses. I am glad you can now have that reminiscing smile that is sad but sweet. You are very right, we will be able to do that soon. I know Jess is where she needs to be now. It is a relief not to have to worry about her anymore. Just miss her terribly. Mark is coping a lot better than I thought he would, but like I said, he tends to keep it to himself, so it is hard to know. Hope you have a lovely weekend

Thank you Griff and Allerzeit. I am really missing her today. :D Have rung Mark a few times today (at his work) to see how he is. As usual, he soldiers on, doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve like I do. I know tonight he will literally wrap himself in the other dogs to for comfort. He and Jag are pretty tight, so that is lovely. The boys sort of stick together.

Thanks stolz, and for your lovely email also.

Hi Widget, all advice sounds great... I just thought of another possible scenario that might be going on with him - has he wanted to or needed to move quickly in the house, maybe when he was initially growled at for something when you first moved there, then as he behaved in a perhaps slightly fearful way and moved, perhaps he slipped a lot trying to get away. If you have a slippery surface in the main area where he spend time inside like tiles or polished floor boards, this may explain an identifying with slipping hen being growled at. Might be right off the point. I thought of this when you said he is fine on lead. The extra confidence of a lead can assist a dog to feel that he is not going to slip (although that is not necessarily correct). If I am way off, just ignore this, but if you have a slippery surface, you may wish to use big mats or similar to help him feel more secure. Slipping for young large breeds is dangerous anyway, for all dogs, but partifularly when growing. Sounds like he is making progress anyway, and well done for putting in the effort to rectify the problem. :D

thank you rmc

Thank you 3shepherds and kelpiepupmum for your kind and heartfelt words. It is very reassuring and sweet to know that people on here are so thoughtful and supportive. Yes, Jess did very well to make it to this age. When she was about 3 years old, she got very sick, and although it is difficult for Mark to explain it all, it sounded like some digestive thing. Apparently the vets did some sort of exploratory surgery, and then stated there was nothing more they could do for her. They did not expect her to pull through and recommended Mark PTS then. He wouldn't. She had lost a third of her body weight and was wasting away to a shadow, and had no idea why. But he nursed her back to health with chicken and rice, and she had not looked back since. So, a real tough old girl. Jess went quickly and peacefully this afternoon. The vet was beautiful and behaved exactly as I would have wanted and said all the right things. We are hanging in there, shedding tears and just 'being there' for one another. I really feel for Mark right now, although he is being very brave, I know he is hurting deeply. We also lost our Max late last year, so mark plans to scatter both his and Jess' ashes down at his parent's cemetary with their plaques are, once we get Jess' ashes back. We still have the other 3 dogs here to keep us from getting too miserable. It always brings you back to earth pretty quickly. Jess was a bit of a loaner, so thankfully I know the others will not be pining for her... one less thing to worry about. Thanks again to all the lovely messages guys.