Lollipup

Chester was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia in the left elbow when he was 6 months old. It was so mild that the specialist decided not to do the arthroscopy but to manage conservatively until he is 12-18 months old. Some dogs heal themselves in that time. He is 12 months now and last week he got out of his pen and ran around with the other dog all day which set him back and gave him an obvious limp. The specialist said give him until after the weekend and if he isn't back to how he was before he got out, we will consider the surgery. Chester did improve but not quite all the way. He had a set back again today and the limp is worse than ever. I called the specialist and he is now recommending the surgery. I don't know what to do. If we do it, he has an 80% chance of improvement, 20% no change. But I don't know how good it can get. If we wait until he is 18 months, he could improve or he could go backwards as soon as he has a big run around again. And in that case, the longer we wait for surgery the worse it could get. Should I just go for it? I trust the specialist and I want to do whatever will have the best outcome for Chester. But I so wanted to avoid surgery. I am so disappointed, things were looking positive for a while. :p

Too true, I could fill another thread with what other people say too! Not counting my dad. I need to find some of these dog knowledgable people in my area. I only know them on DOL or some who live far away. That is part of the problem because I am busting to talk about what I am learning but my friends and rellies either aren't interested or don't agree.

Yeah I can tell he isn't managing that with me even though I have been out of the nest nearly 5 years and married for nearly 4.

Ok, so that rules out panadol. I guess I could just use a herb but I would prefer something more useful is all. ETA: Also I don't think for the assignment that I am allowed to use human scent but I could always train it later on for my own purposed. One trainer suggested cigars or tobacco because the scent is really strong.

Very profound I see your point. Computers are his main thing so I always ask and listen to him on that kind of topic. He had a lot to say about a lot of things, I can deal with that. Just wish he would at least consider my views on at least one topic

Dxenion I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head there. He likes to be in control and be the one who knows the most about any topic. If I studied anything else he would be the same. I think it does threaten him somehow but because I am younger, to him there is no way I could know more than him on anything. I don't try arguing with much else but dogs is my thing, my passion. Just wish he'd let me have this one thing. He truly believes I am wasting my money on the course because I could just learn all I need to from him! Even if I quote something straight from the notes or one of the trainers he will have an answer for it or be like "well that's not always true because I have seen..."

This complete unreliabiity around people is the reason the GSD is the dog of choice for police and security work and for guide dogs. I mean its just luck if the police point the dogs in the right direction and get out of the way when they set them loose. Are you saying that GSD will always turn around and attack their owner? :p Leela I think poodlefan meant to put that in sarcasm font

Oh and I forgot this theory. It's a doozy. Chocolate being bad for dogs is a myth put out by the dog chocolate companies so that people will buy their product instead. It's a conspiracy. :p

So how does one dog produce two different breeds in the same litter? :p That's what I said. Got a deadly look

I will try but you know how hard it can be to ignore stupid...Funnily enough, although I have never met you but from reading your posts, I often imagine what it would be like to put you and him in a room together, bring up the subject and observe Practice makes perfect. Are you suggesting I don't mind an argument???? :p Haha well it would be good to see him put in his place! I think you may be equipt for it.

That would be fun, but as Nekhbet said and our trainer, money is the hardest to train as it has thousands of scents on it. This trainer is training dogs to sniff out money over $10k at the airport. Only $10k and over. Thats amazing.

I will try but you know how hard it can be to ignore stupid... Funnily enough, although I have never met you but from reading your posts, I often imagine what it would be like to put you and him in a room together, bring up the subject and observe :p

I was thinking panadol to sniff out. Would the scent be strong enough? She cant get to where I store it so it would be sending her to find it in a container. I don't know why I thought of that. Maybe because then I can say she is a drug sniffer dog :p

I seem to have to listen to a lot of misconceptions on dog talk lately. but none more frustrating than my dad. i could fill the thread with things he says that make me so irritated. because he is always right above anyone else. because i am studying dogs, he always brings it up. he thinks i am wasting my time and money on my course because he already knows it all. here are some of the more recent things he truly believes and gets angry if i try to say otherwise. 1. Black and tan kelpies and red kelpies are two different breeds. Australian cattle dogs, blue heelers, red cattle dogs and red heelers are 4 different breeds. 2. He hates GSD based on his extensive knowledge of them (yet he didnt know what GSD stands for). Part of his reason is bad experiences he has seen/heard of. But the other part is because he believes they are not a breed - they are too closely related to the wolf and if you dont keep breeding back to the long haired ones, they start to revert back to the wolf genes and turn on you. none can be trusted, they will always turn on you and attack you. I know, ridiculous. I try to take the calm approach and simply ask him where he got his information. he said his experience and he knows a lot. and to google such and such and i will see all the evidence. Since I started learning dog training, everytime i go over there he demonstrates something with his dogs to show what a great trainer he is. usually its using intimidation on the dogs. he tries to "train" my dogs even though i specifically ask him not to. He is always saying "leave them with me and i'll have them trained in a week for you" like he thinks i am incompetent. He has done things with my dogs against my will which has set them back in their training and inflamed existing issues - such as making Lola chase a laser light when she already has issues chasing shadows and such. And on the weekend he had her on his lap and was roughing her up making her growl and encouraging her growl at the other dog approaching. I was repeating over and over to stop it and said you are encouraging her to be aggressive. He just said I am not, I am just playing. I could go on but I think I better stop for now. Lets just say its stuff like this all the time. The worst part is that he passes on all his "knowledge" to others and some listen. Sorry its long. Please tell me I'm not the only one with an impossible relative!

Working on scent detection for my course. But before I get into it, wouldn't mind having something useful for Lola to sniff out for me. Money came to mind first of course but this is one of the hardest ones to teach! Any ideas? What have your taught your dogs to find?

Sorry for your loss. and sorry that you have had to join DOL on such a sad note

I signed it, although I am in QLD. I agree they should be harsher in every state. If only the offenders could have done to them what they inflicted on the innocent animal.

Did you see the replies underneath that article?? what a heartless idiot! I feel so sorry for anyone having to go through parvo, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Unlike that commenter on the article.

Hoping and praying for little Zoey. She is beautiful. Hugs to you

Yeah it was! That's the first thought that came to mind for me too :D

I chose either because it will all depend on circumstances at the time. Depends what other dogs I still have in my household and whether they would get along better with the opposite sex. In saying that, my family always preferred female dogs and for a while that opinion rubbed off on me. So when I got to the point of getting my own dogs the first was a female. then when it came time for the second we wanted another female at first (OH also had a preconceived idea that they were better). But as I researched I became a bit more flexible and open to the idea of a male. We ended up with our boy and he is so sweet, I may even lean towards a male again in the future. They have their differences I guess and you just have to find what will suit your family. ETA: I agree breed has something to do with it too. And to be able to have an entire litter to choose the best puppy from, male or female, would be the ideal scenario for me.

Looks like theres some chihuahua there to me ETA - very cute

Definitely not bringing my dogs to block training then, refuse to use check chains on them, because they are both really soft and there is no need. This has made me rethink doing block training in Qld, maybe I will go down to Melbourne and do it instead. Do you get to say 'I don't want to use this method', or do you HAVE to do whatever they say to do to the dog you are handling? What if you feel that the dog doesn't need it or is too soft for that type of correction? I Think you will get more out of it if you dont take your own dogs. That way you get lots of experience with all sorts of dogs. I think they will teach the use of check chains at either block location. Of course you can discuss any concerns with the instructor. If you feel the dog is too soft for a harsh correction then don't give it one. I understand your concern about check chains, at first I was concerned too. But I decided to go into the training with a fully open mind and I got a lot more out of it this way. Have fun whichever option you decide

Did you do block 2 in Victoria Lollipup? No I did both blocks in Queensland. In block 2 we had Boyd Hooper and Steve Austin which I was thrilled about. Also I don't know about Melbourne or Sydney for sure but at block training we used check chains almost the entire time. They explain and show all the tools and methods.

Are you doing this through the NDTF? Are you going to your block training in Queensland? I just got back from block 2. Its great. They will be able to give you more info. I think scent detection has more opportunites than assistance dog training. Even so, a lot of this work is through your own business. Dog training is a field where you will have more oppotunity for self employment than working for someone.