Erny

Thank you, Shek. I think Kal is my inspiration. And I've said it before, the support I have received here has helped keep me going too. Hi Pampa I have thought of you too. Haven't had the chance to contact, but will soon if I get to beat you to it.

Thanks Wolf & Shek .... No, it's not easy and somewhat all consuming at times, but yet again Kal is my teacher and I'm amazed at the level of patience, tolerance and determination for continued caring (I guess this can be what it's like to be a 'carer' .... I've always respected and admired those people who do this, now even more so) she has raised me to. It's part of the responsibility you accept when you take on a pet (or for that matter, any living being who shall be dependant on you). It is Kal I take my hat off to. Kal still looks forward to and loves her meals and still has enough grunt to put Monty in his place when he's over the top with her (rare, as Monty is actually very gentle and quiet around her) and the neighbour tells me she put up a good show at barking at the trucks that were arriving to the other next door neighbours, who are having a swimming pool constructed. There's life in the ol' chick yet, for a while anyway and I make every effort to do what she wants to do when she wants to do it.

Actually, we were hoping the bloods wouldn't come back all clear. We were hoping for a Cushing's result because in that case, it would have been possible to deal with the tumour/s with drug therapy. A "normal" result means there's nothing else we can do, short of the paliative (sp?) care I'm already providing. Kal had another mini-seizure early hours this morning (she could well have had multiples of mini-mini seizures during the night, but they are very quiet and I might have missed them during my sleep, even though she's right next to me). Oh well, I got all my washing done whilst I was up keeping an eye on her compulsive pacing phase ..... and I tidied the kitchen (ready to cook up her next meal ). At one stage this morning, though, she did have the presence of mind to come fetch me when she needed to go outside to the toilet. That's a good sign, because there's been times when she seems to have forgotten her toilet training. She's having a mini-mini seizure now. Head 'taps' that can't be stopped even by holding the head. These last for a few seconds to a minute, but after a few seconds to a minute's pause, commence again. This might go on for 15-20 minutes overall.

I would suggest the dog needs more training ...... to understand that the owner will not provide drive satisfaction until it is heeling as required. This might require a step back in training (ie dog heels a few steps without skipping : prey item is delivered). Perhaps the owner jumped too quickly in time increments to getting the dog to heel? I think timing of delivery of the prey item would play a good part in this too. And/or perhaps the owner needs to randomise where the prey item will appear from. Mind you, I say this without having seen the vid. ETA: Sorry if I've jumped in on your tune, Steve. But the above are my thoughts on the answer to this question.

Does Yank have false teeth?

Thank you Bloss344. Kal's bloods are confirmed as normal ..... so not Cushing's. Will wait it out for the next week or two to give the phenobarb's a chance to make a difference. Kal's well cared for and doted on in the meantime. If she could speak, I'm sure she'd be deeply gratified for all the well wishes, prayers, support ..... as I am. Thank you.

Good news. Glad everything's ok and that he's now on the road to recovery. Bet he's relieved too.

Thanks for your thoughts all ...... Spoke to Kal's Vet last night. Remaining blood tests have come in and are essentially normal . However, there is one of the results which shows cortisole levels in the high end of normal. Guy Yates (Vet) is going to double check them (and check the research books) to see if this might be read to indicate Cushing's type tumour/s. Although I hope so, it is going to be a very very slim chance that it will, given the other tests showing normal. Waiting for Guy's phone call today or this evening. Kal's having multiples on multiples of mini-seizures. This is not good. And her behavioural changes indicate a tumour affecting the brain cortex. This is not good either. Kal is feeling very low today. I would imagine the seizures are draining her. Short of the little remaining hope on the blood test result, all I can do is give it until Saturday week to see if the phenobarbitone makes a difference to the seizures and to see if that, in turn, makes a difference to her general tiredness/weakness. One of the fellows at the kennels where I train made her a wooden box/step ..... this was so she could manage to climb into the back seat of the car with dignity, something that's been a bit of a problem of late. Bless his soul for his thoughts. I trained today. When I'm doing that, my mind is off Kal's current health issues (although not ever very far away from thought). But I'm always pleased to get back to her as quickly as possible. She still loves her meals and this is good. Speaking of which, better go check to see if her chicken fillet is cooked so I can prepare it for serving.

And that's why we give out FREE information on the net as to how to work to avoid aggression? :D Rob6014 ..... what a crack up. Are you expecting people who pay (dearly) to learn and study to become knowledgeable in the ways of dog behaviour to NOT charge for their services? Are you suggesting they DON'T care BECAUSE they seek some income for their services? How else are you going to have these good people out there for those who do need them? They'll be too busy trying to eek out an income doing something else entirely. I suppose you expect your caring doctor to attend to your health needs for nothing? And your vet? It is a way to regularly reinforce leadership ..... after all, only the leader has the right to govern. Besides, the skills you speak of (except perhaps for the "roll over") are skills when taught well, are useful given that we integrate dogs into human civilisation. Of course, there's the "drop" and "recall" too. True .... But smacking isn't an action the dog comprehends. It is bond diminishing. Oh ..... except for all your four dogs. But you have implied that smacking is a good part of the routine. If this IS as YOU describe, then these people are not 'experts'. The training tools you refer to are "Prong Collars" and "Check Chains". Used properly they are very good training tools. Like you suggest, good training shouldn't just about corrections, IMO. However, smacking dogs is completely foreign to anything remotely resembling the actions of a higher pack member to an insubordinate. In respect to the highlighted portion of your quote - yes they do ..... often around the neck. I'd suggest the prong collar (used appropriately) is closer to mimicking this than a smack would be. A tap for a major offence? What do you consider major? Do you expect a tap will make a difference to a dog in defence aggression to another? So, is it a smack or a tap?

I like a Vet who knows when they don't know. It's a rare quality (not just amongst Vets) and she has my respect just for telling you how it is. Good luck with your boy. Poor thing. Sounds somewhat ouchy. Hope you manage to get it dealt with and your boy is ok quickly. PS. Can't they use ultrasound or some such to make the stones explode? Don't they do that in humans?

Thanks all, for your continued support. Since the Phenabarbitone, Kal hasn't had another GM seizure, but I'm sure she has multiples of these smaller (Pettit Mal?) seizures. A lot easier for her (and I) to take, though. I took Kal and Monty to the local park late this afternoon. Kal had some runs (! ) and even grabbed the stick Monty was carrying in his mouth as he ran, and took it from him! She fairly easily managed one full lap of the park. Last night, she pulled out many of Monty's toys from his toy basket. Tonight, whilst I was tidying Monty's blankets on his bed, Kal kind of leaped up and over to the corner of the room, and then lept back. Ears pricked, typical Ridgy forehead wrinkle very evident. These moments are like as if she's back in her puppyhood (not that I had her as a pup) or something. She is normally such a sobersile (sp?) ..... has been since I've had her anyway (apart from very rare 'silly' moments) and she NEVER, I repeat NEVER, plays with toys or runs after them! If this wasn't all so tragic, I'd be delighted! But alas, I do think what I'm seeing isn't "Kal" in the here and now. There are other things such as her poor seizure weary legs letting her down, and some disorientation leading her to pee inside (something Kal was always VERY careful not to do) .... but hey, , who cares about a bit of dog pee here and there. However, her "puppy like" antics do bring a smile to my face and if she believes she's a youngster, then that's great as far as I'm concerned. It's all quite weird and fascinating at the same time. Gotta love her. She's a big dag.

Well done Ollie dog!!!! Happy birthday to yooooouuuuuu! Well done Jodie .... only for you he is here to celebrate it!

Thanks Christina. And thank you for the "white light" ..... directing it towards Kal. ;) Gave each of the dogs a bone to gnaw on. Kal was still on her beanbag under her blankets and I was a bit alarmed to see her chewing her bone, but still laying on her side and not using her front paws to hold the bone steady. I tried to encourage her off her beanbag because I was suspicious that her legs had become paralysed. She wouldn't get up. I let her be, under her blankets for 5 minutes. It's ok! Seems she was just a bit too comfortable to move. ;) She is now inside (as is Monty) and having had her mid-day meal of cooked chicken, is resting on Monty's (she always favours his stuff, even though she has her own ) cushion bed, in front of the fire. :p

Thanks Cody. It's a loooooooong thread, as it's turned out. Much of it has been the support Kal and I have received from the many good people here . I had held off posting here over the last few days. Was hoping to be able to put up some mind blowing good news. "What will be, will be", though. We're both doing ok. Hangin' in there for each other, I think.

Kal's not been doing well, I'm afraid. Another GM seizure at 12.45am on 7th June. Then another at 5.15am on 10th June. The discharge from her right nostril returned (but no blood). This seems to have since stopped and is now running clear again. I had to leave her for a while that day and when I came back there was evidence of another GM seizure. Judging by her behaviour, I would guess this would have occurred at about 2.00pm. Beyond that, I'm guessing she had at least two (if not three or four) pettit mal seizures - I'm not sure, I haven't seen one of those before. Well, I have seen a video clippage of one. Kal's wasn't like that. I was sitting with her on her mat. She started to whine and was looking around ... at times towards her rear end. I was thinking she might have been feeling pain. Her eyes were very open and round. Reminded me a little bit of what she can be like coming out of GA. This went on for about 20 minutes (?). Then she went into her pattern of "I've got to walk; I've got to go through my regime of routines". Her legs and feet didn't belong to her, so as usual, I followed her around to help her out from time to time. Normally this "pacing" behaviour lasts for 1.5 hours following a GM seizure. This time it only lasted for about 1/2 hour. In these days in between I have been communicating with Kal's Vet. He's been great - very supportive, and has made himself contactable over this long weekend. Due to the frequency of the seizures, Kal is now on phenobarbitone (anti-convulsant drugs). We were hoping not to have to go on these until we at least get the results of the other blood tests we're waiting for, but there've been too many seizures, so she began on these last night. The Vet explains it can take 2 weeks for them to 'kick in'. And, of course, it's a matter of finding the right doseage. A couple of the blood test results have come in. Unfortunately they are "normal". We are waiting for a couple more - expected next week, but unless these show a specific rise in certain hormones, then drug therapy for the tumour/s will not be indicated. If then, the phenobarbitole doesn't help considerably, I know Kal can't live like she is presently. I'm really only giving time to see what the results of the remaining blood tests are, and to see if the seizure frequency begins to lessen. There have been some small changes to Kal's normal behaviours. Eg. Doesn't quite lick the food bowl clean as she used to. Has begun to pee inside if I'm not right there to open up the front door (at what ever time). Urinating more frequently. And in the last couple of days, drinking excessively. I'm not sure if phenobarbitole would cause that. She seems to jump easily at the smallest of things (a cough; or a leaf falling). At times her hearing seems to be super sensitive, and yet I've noticed the considerable general decline of her hearing over the last couple of months. Poor, sweet Kal. She is presently enjoying the sunshine on the verandah (under her blanket, of course ;)). If she is up for it, I will take her for a drive and a visit to one of our local parks .... just for her to have a sniff around and suss out the news in her neighbourhood. I am presently dog sitting my sister's dog "Monty". He's been very good about everything. Seeing Kal seizure. Not getting a great deal of attention from me given that I'm fairly pre-occupied with Kal. I do talk to him throughout, though, and show him what attentions I can. He seems to be fine with that. Last time he was here, he was starting to push his dominance status over Kal. This time, he seems to simply allow her her space. ......... Dogs are great. :p Edited, because I mispelt the medication name ;)

Ain't that the truth .... has happened to me. Sliced the tip off one finger and sliced through a couple of other fingers. "Pain" was an understatement. Worst of it was, it wasn't my lead ;) .... I was saving the guy's dog from running across the road after the dog got away from him. In the absence of having something else more suitable on hand, on one occasion, I used a horse lunge line (webbing). Far too heavy and tangled much more easily than the lightweight long-lines ADT sell. Oh, HR, I think they come in 9 metre lengths too, if you wish, although I enjoy working with the 7mtr length.

Nah. Wouldn't waste my time on that one either. Dare say it wouldn't change your attitude. Mind you, must return to my mentors and let them know all this study and practice and research into canine behaviour has been a waste of time ......... all one has to do, according to Rob6014, is smack the dogs. Yeah gosh Erny, you may be onto something there. And to think that all my boy's needed these past few months was a quick smack over the nose! I'll be sure to get onto that quick smart before any of those crafty experts try to change my mind. You were one of the mentors I was thinking about, HR! Is there a special technique to this "smacking" method, I wonder? Where do we go to learn about that? I've read lots of books, even going back to wild pack behaviour, but the wolves don't smack each other. Seems there was a better way to organise pack structure and learn about life that they didn't figure out for themselves.

Go easy, Myszka. Give H'nC a chance to show that she wants to learn. It's not going to help if we thumb our noses. If H'nC only wants to comment without understanding, that's a different kettle of fish. But give her a chance first.

H'nC ...... you are selectively grabbing at segments of what people are referring to which is still in the incomplete training stage for the dog. That would be the same as you grabbing at segments of other styles of incomplete training and suggesting it's wrong because the dog might still not behave as it should. And of course, when that's the case, you need to control the dog around children or other people. ETA: H'nC .... using K9's methods, the dog's natural prey instinct is channelled and controlled. Safer, IMO, than a dog who might not learn that drive satisfaction shall be provided by the owner, and therefore goes out to seek that drive satisfaction in its own way (eg. chasing cat; child etc.)

I got it too, Wyv. Thought it was well written. H'nC ..... rather than jumping on top of people for what they do or how they do it, when you're obviously oblivious to the full understanding of it, it would be better to query it instead. You'd then find you'll receive responses which are informative and which I expect you will find educational. Actually, even attending a seminar on working in drive would probably expand your horizons? One of the points of the "drive" training is that the dog learns you (ie the handler/owner) are the only one that is the source of drive satisfaction and hence will not be interested in anyone else (adult or child) - whether or not they are handling the "prey item". A dog trained in this way is likely to then be more reliable than one that is not. Appreciate your initial concerns, but IMO your approach in this thread was unjustified. I'm sure, if you'd care to re-phrase and question, there will be many a civil and helpful response to ensue. ;)

Nah. Wouldn't waste my time on that one either. Dare say it wouldn't change your attitude. Mind you, must return to my mentors and let them know all this study and practice and research into canine behaviour has been a waste of time ......... all one has to do, according to Rob6014, is smack the dogs.

No flaming here. Not worth the time. Interested to know how many dogs you're speaking of though. Are you talking experience with MAJORITY of dogs, or a very small minority, in the scheme of things.

True, it can be .... but not impossible. IMO, the first best question to ask is "does anyone know of a good trainer/behaviourist I can engage for xxxx problem?" I promise you that the value of engaging a trainer/behaviourist is far cheaper in the long term, than many of the mistakes (some irreversible) that are made by simply trying to string it all together by asking specific questions whilst precluding the benefit of opportunity for the trainer/behaviourist to see the "big picture". It's also FAR cheaper than the cost of becoming a good trainer/behaviourist (and staying that way) yourself. This is where asking for referrals is one of the first best steps to take. It's not that I don't like giving free information over the net ..... heck, if I didn't then I would've been out of here ages ago! . It's just I don't believe SOME people are really going to find the help they need, nor necessarily fix the problem they have, by a "1 + 1 = 2" type question and answer. With dog behaviour, some times "1 + 1 = 5" and this needs to be recognised.

Unfortunately, you're right JB. Which is why many people think that having (eg) one or two weeks of critical period socialisation remaining is pleeeeennnnnty of time! Critical period socialisation should comprise of as much introduction to new and novel experiences as possible. It should be don't in little short introductions, gradually building up the intensity so the pup is not traumatised. Even if you have a pup at 7 or 8 weeks old and figure on socialising until the end of the critical period (eg 16 weeks), a person would be hard pushed in exposing to every perceivable and possible experience the dog will be exposed to throughout the rest of its life. But if a person works to TRY to achieve that, they will at least have covered as much as possible and with the carry over effect early puppy socialisation has, there's a good chance it will be sufficient enough to stand the dog in good stead through its adult life.