Erny

I understand what you mean, Staffyluv, although I'm not sure I completely agree. I agree that it would perhaps prove best if Vets didn't jump straight to the worst in the absence of conclusive evidence, but I think they do have a responsibility to tell us what the list of possibilities are (the best and worst scenarios), as they see them at the time.

Again - not to give you false hope, but the person I spoke of in my earlier post also expressed weight loss and loss of appetite. I'm not sure if diarrhoea or inappropriate soiling were also experienced, but there are some strong similarities to what you have expressed and to what this other person experienced in her dog as well. I believe the appearance of the swollen lymph nodes was very fast as well and that there were numerous others that the owner hadn't initially seen, so don't be too hard on yourself. The best you can do is to try to remain as positive as you can be, just storing the possibilities of the worst to the back of your mind (as obviously it is impossible to dismiss them) and enjoy every single day with your dog, sharing the joys as you have done right up until this turn of health occurred. Is she still not eating? ETA: The person who I've referred to above also described her dog's lymph glands as becoming "as large as golf balls".

Dear Nina and Miss Molly - I'm really sorry for the cause of your thread .... I can feel your pain through your words. That your girl obviously has had a good life to be able to make the innings she has is of no comfort to you. It is hard to lose them at any time regardless of age. I don't wish to give you false hope. But someone I was speaking to yesterday (also a DOL member) was telling me of one of her girls whom suddenly showed enlarged lymph glands and so she rushed her to the Vet specialist. All indicators seemed to point towards lymphoma - the Vets were fairly certain of it - but none of the test results proved this nor did tests reveal a virus as the culprit. As a consequence the Vet specialists are baffled but her dog's lymph glands have receded and is/has returned to normal health. I wish for you and for Miss Molly the same outcome as the above, even though you do need to be prepared for news worse than this. My fingers and toes are all crossed for you both. Write here any time you need. It's a hard thing to face and a load shared is a load halved.

I sent dog bloods to the USA via FedEx Couriers a few months ago. I declared it, of course, and there were forms/triplicats of forms that I had to provide to satisfy customs (FedEx supplied the forms). Filling out the forms was a bit confusing at the time, but once done and sent I didn't have any problems.

Ooh ooh .... yes! I do believe I remember her . Why isn't her picture up on my website?? Was she camera shy? Naah .... it was probably because my camera wasn't taking great shots inside the building :p. Glad your insurance company honoured your claims Seagate. That's at least a big help .

Three that I have seen and worked with personally in the last couple of years, that immediately come to mind. So I don't think it is that rare.

I have often said that I don't understand why the VCA don't cater for this (ie similar to "hor concor" - pardon my spelling, in the horse competition world) and actually wrote to VCA about it a couple of years ago. I don't recall ever getting a response .... or perhaps I did but I think it was "passed over" to somewhere else. People still pay their entry fee but aren't up for any prizes or points. I don't understand why this is not taken up by Clubs. It is still a money spinner for them.

It's difficult if not impossible to tell the quality of a snap hook by looking. It's about knowing whether the metal has been die cast or not. I tend to find that the majority of leads that are commonly available via commercial retail outlets have the cheaper fitting and that it is especially the webbing/nylon leads that have them. I'm often explaining to people about the 'cheapness' of the snap-hooks on their leads and what can happen, but I think most regard me as merely being anal because they've never had this happen to them. Until one day it does. And there are two dangers involved : To the dog because it means you have lost your means of restraint and control. To the person, as it means the lead, being under pressure, can fling back towards and even in the face of the handler. I can easily imagine injury (potentially loss of an eye) through this occurrence. I too have a small stock of the leather leads that K9 Force sells, so that there is an availability to purchase by my clients. Both the leads (leather) and the fittings are excellent quality. I prefer the brass fittings than the silver ones (which are usually the cheaper fittings) however K9 Force has some newer stock (of which I have a couple) that comprise of the silver snap hook, but which I believe are high quality. It often does come down to you getting what you pay for. Although admittedly in some cases, you pay for more even though you get less (I've seen the prices on some of the fancy webbing leads, with their cheaper quality fittings). In my experience, the quality of the fittings isn't even considered when people buy leads. It's the asthetics of them (eg. fancy colours/weaves) that tends to sway purchase decisions.

Just to start him off by giving him the idea that the lead is ok (remember - restraint is a foreign consept to dogs), what about using some treats to encourage him forward on the lead. This method should only be used just to give your pup the idea. If you don't move away from it you'll soon have the problem of your pup not wanting to walk on lead UNLESS you have food in your hand. Once he seems to have a bit of an idea, move from having food in the hand, to handing him a treat from (eg) your food treat pouch when he's doing good. Avoid forcing the lead and making it an issue. Even just click it on and walk with him, just initially. Reward him with a tasty morsel for doing a good job (even though you're the one doing the work to begin with). This helps to build a positive association with the lead. Have little games with him when the lead is on. You don't even have to be holding the lead .... just let it trail on the ground after him. Do stuff he likes to do (eg. a couple of little "pup pup" recalls followed by a food treat or a little game of ball) and make the experience of having a lead on, fun.

No problems. We all have our 'freak-out' moments with our pups and dogs . The coloidal silver is good for many ailments, so it is worth keeping in the medicine cupboard

Giraffez .... Your pup is entering his teenage phase. You may remember what that is like - as though you know all about the world and feel as though you can handle it, when often you might feel easily threatened and so a bit too quickly respond with aggression ?? Your pup is similar, although not quite the same. It is likely he is feeling fearful yet simultaneously thinks it is up to him to deal with what is threatening him. I agree with the others that you would do best by him by engaging a trainer/behaviourist. One who can help you establish your messages of "leader" (a leader is the one whose role it is to protect) and who will be able to show and demonstrate HOW you manage the protection in such a way that your dog understands that's what you're doing and that you will do it well. It is important that what you do is not something that your pup can perceive as a reinforcement for his aggression. Please don't leave this too long - it will only become more difficult.

I tend to think it's more likely a case of the dog learning that it is ok to do stuff when we're not there/not looking and not okay when we are. Saying the same or very similar thing as you Aidan, but with a different 'slant' to it.

Is very possible that it is normal discharge. Using a tissue well dampened with Coloidal Silver (available from Health Food Stores and/or Pharmacies), gently wipe around and slightly inside the sheath to clear the discharge away. Once a day should do it. But as has been mentioned, if it persists, consult with your Vet. ETA: I'm thinking that using salted water could be a bit too drying for such a sensitive area - and one that is meant to be moist and lubricated.

I prefer for a dog to know and understand being OFF furniture (including the bed), before I train them to the PRIVILEGE of being on furniture. In the long term, I think this is easier for both dog and owner. If I had a dog that ever growled for the reason of someone disturbing him/her whilst on the bed, I'd be making it very clear that ON the bed is off limits and I would keep that up until the dog clearly showed me that he/she had accepted and expected his/her place was on the mat/cushion on the floor. I also don't allow a dog up on furniture/bed with me if there is any hint of the dog 'begging' or 'asking' to get up. Clear and distinct rules. I know that there are a good number - especially (but not only) in the 'positive only' realms of dog methodology - who believe that a dog being on the bed or off makes no difference to its thoughts for pack position. However I know first hand with my own boy that it does make a difference as, if I permit him up on the couch with me (has always and only EVER been on my command/terms) once or twice in a row, he will begin 'pushing buttons' in other ways in our day to day interactions. I've experimented with this ..... and it happens every time. And I know that I am not the only one who experiences these behavioural changes in their dog all for the matter of the dog being on the couch or bed.

LOL ... don't feel silly. Sometimes even the best (and even me! ) don't see the trees for the forest. I have two crates - mainly because I have a large breed and push/pulling a metal crate around would be a proverbial pain in the . The second one I have is a soft crate, but I only purchased that once my boy was crate trained.

KL - just popping up in here to let you know that I continue to follow the main of Chloe's health status (even though I don't always post a comment) and that I wish the very best to her and also to you for all your time and worry. Good luck wishes coming from here. Erny

A bit of this could be contributed to the affects of GA in his system. The difference being that with us, we can take pain relief but still be aware (because we're told) that we need to be careful with what we do/eat etc. etc. Animals can't have that explained to them, so for them some pain or discomfort is necessary. Can you imagine dogs who are into (eg) stick chewing or even having a good munch on bones (which they might retrieve from some forgotten hole that's been buried over) with an open wound in their mouth? I agree with pain relief in more extreme cases, but in those cases the pain relief is not as likely to completely remove the pain - just take the edge off. More milder pain - pain relief may have the animal completely forgetting there is anything there it needs to protect.

You can move your crate around to suit. Or purchase two, if you have the $$$ .

I'm one of those unfortunates who wasn't born with great teeth and I'd class myself as reasonably experienced in tooth extractions. I've never had nor never felt I needed pain relief after an extraction. I guess it depends on the extraction and any complications. I am presuming you are talking about pain relief post extraction???

You can contact K9 Force via his website - he sells them and knows the various types well.

Wow! What a correction THAT would be . Puts a different meaning to "Double Trouble". I didn't ever think about interference to explosive devices.

Hey! The Decoy in this piccy has the same hair 'do' as the dog!!! Matching set . ETA : *cough* . Oops .... re-read the "matching set" comment and realised ......... well - I was referring to the hair-do only.

Pity Schutzhund couldn't attract more of it. Would make for a lot more responsible ownership .

Sorry - didn't realise it had done the traps. I don't remember having seen it before.

I liked the "bark and hold", how the JRT springs way clear off the ground. Gives the JRT an outlet to do what comes naturally to them. I was watching the Judge's face - you could see he really enjoyed it and it must have been a holiday for the decoy. What a great dog though, and how mentally stimulated and satisfied he must be.