patch

I don't really know the answer to that t-time as both conditions can exist separately? The nerve condition did come from his brain tho so maybe they were related? All I remember is that the first time it happened was in the middle of the night and I have never been so terrified - I thought he was about to drop dead. The vet however wasn't half as concerned. lol I think he lived about another 18 months after that? It was as a result of the increasing degeneration (the vet likened it to alzheimers that started in their back legs and would eventually work it's way up) and the continued strokes that I gave him his wings tho - he was almost 14 mind you - a good innings for a GSD.

I think from memory that the tilt has something to do with the balance issue which is related to their ears - the stroke affects their inner ear? The vet called it vestibulitis or vestibular syndrome...

Yes t-time. My old GSD (now RIP) had 3 strokes (or vestibular syndrome) and recovered reasonably from each. He did retain the tilted head somewhat but it wasn't a major issue. Unfortunately, he also had a degenerative nerve condition that affected his back legs, so his last year did require management from me - he couldn't use my back stairs in the end as his balance wasn't good enough but he could manage my front stairs which are wider and less steep. The vet said that the majority of dogs recover quite well.

Rest in peace sweetheart. Sincere condolences to Paige's family and friends.

Oh so sad. ;) My thoughts and prayers are with them all.

Good on you Roody!! I only just found this thread and isn't Jackson the lucky baby to end up with you! I hope his progress continues to be so positive and yes, where are the photos????

Ah geez Rozzie another one :rolleyes: Bless you for looking after the darlings.

sorry BL I'm not going to add anything helpful except to tell you that my friend's black lab has Tbone beat - Milo has twice stolen a LARGE HEAVY ELECTRIC WOK from their benchtop plus numerous other food and food related items..... I was there one day and saw him bring a ceramic dish from the bench out to the grass... then there was her husband's 'sample' that went missing when they were starting fertility treatment.... they never did find out what happened to that.... :D Sigh. I hope Albert never reads this thread. ;) hey when are we going to get these mentals together??

Isn't it just lovely??? Not! :p It has been suggested to me to try the Bach flower essence Crabapple. Can't say whether it works or not cause I haven't done it yet! I'm assuming I would add it to his food.... Luckily I only have two dogs and he only seems to eat his own.... man I've never picked up poo so fast in my life!

Cactus are you buying the patties or making your own? I buy the patties now (cause I got sick of pulping veges!!) and there are feeding guides on the packets. Also as Poodlefan said, there is info on the website and also in the BARF books - he talks plenty about how to work out how much to feed. Having said that, I didn't worry too much about trying to work out percentages of body weights and all that stuff - I just go by how my dogs look and adjust their amounts accordingly. Good luck :D

Hi Jezebel, That was great info from Tassie - I read the clickersolutions list and there's HEAPS of info there - although sometimes they seem to be speaking a different language when they get right into reinforcements schedules and the like! My dogs learn really quickly with the clicker and like Tassie said, it is a great way to mark exactly the behaviour that you want so the dog knows what it's being rewarded for. The shaping stuff is a spinout!! Go for it!

Oh wasn't he handsome! RIP Cooper..

Oh we need a warm fuzzy smilie!!

Good on you PF!! I've borrowed a few of those books from a trainer at the moment - it's a great way to get an intro without spending all the $$$ yourself! I really enjoyed 'The Other End of the Leash' - I thought it was really easy to read and Patricia McConnell has border collies so hopefully your dad could find stuff to relate to. Mind you, I don't think it has all that much in the way of practical exercises... so maybe not what he's after I tried looking on the BCC elibrary site to see if I could find any of these so your dad could borrow them but unless I put in really bad search criteria (which is quite possible! ) there doesn't seem to be much available there. bummer. I'm about to start the Positive Training for Dummies book - will let you know if there's exercises in that. Good luck to him - it's a lovely story about how he's turned his thinking around - I've gone through a fairly similar change myself

Oh how dreadful for you!!! My deepest sympathies to you and your family. RIP Kuda

:D RIP Molly

Nah Mana you explained it well! i do like the idea of creating that difference between 'wait' and 'stay'. The first time I went to a positive training class it was 'stay' that I noticed the main difference in training - and it was exactly what ppl suggested in that you return to the dog to release rather than getting the dog to come to you. Luckily I fluked on the thing of using 'wait' for dinner etc instead of stay... I am also now just learning clicker training and yes as ppl have said, I am being taught to do very small steps and click/treat after a few seconds while being right with the dog... later will start to increase both distance and duration but not both at the same time....

Hi GA, Check out Turid Rugaas' stuff on calming signals - Amber may actually be displaying quite appropriate behaviour to an approaching dog to say that she's friendly and/or nervous and wants a nice interaction. Her book 'On Talking Terms with Dogs' is a really easy, interesting read in my opinion. she also has lots of questions and answers on her website www.turidrugaas.com

RIP Cadbury. You will be a little puppy angel looking after your brothers and sisters now.

Thanks for posting this Holly - I am contacting them also - Northgate is just around the corner from me... yay!