@windfire, I also heard about the not petting and not making a fuss, but that seemed to make his condition worse. Now we can watch tv and I can get him to lay on the floor next to me and I will just pet him every now and again to reasure him all is well. It did take about 3 months - I started keeping him on a leash near me so that he couldnt run off to chase his tail. And now we can sit without the leash. So it just takes time and being patient and very importantly being gentle. Yelling at her will just aggreavate the issue and it will lead to more and more things triggering her. I found the petting and a hug is good. Just make her lay next to you and keep your hand on her. That is all she really wants. Just someone to tell her its ok. Strangely enough Kegan hated storms and now if there is a storm he just goes to my mum and instead of his manic trying to crawl into her lap he just sits next to her. Ok almost on top of her but still its an improvement. Ive found with dogs that has been miss treated to be patient and gentle. To tell you the truth before I started working with Kegan daily, he didnt even know how to play. He is now wrestling with me - gently tho, he now can play fetch - altho he hates to give the ball back. He is also slowly playing tug of war, at least he isnt dropping the rope like a hot potato anymore
thats great @Wyvren. Avril has come along way too and i attribute alot of it to the agility training we have been doing, it gives her a major confidence boost especially to have the other people clap for her lol. its been a year since i got her and she's really almost different dog its just the storms that really set her off and then she panics and loses all reason. but we'll sort through it and the rescue should really help. my mom was telling me about this collar that you get that releases the hormones a mother dog does to comfort her pups or something similar but i think its a gimmick an wouldnt really work, i'd rather stick to the rescue since i know it works and is herbal so not dangerous.
And I am sad to report that our old lady Dusty will be going to the Vet this afternoon to be put to sleep. She reached the ripe age of 14, old for GSD, but over the last 2 weeks she developed massive issues with her ears - She has been on antibiotics that hasnt done a thing for her the past 10 days. Then her lower back and one front shoulder has started giving her pain. She still has a will to live, she wants to play but we can see the pain is to much for her. Its been a fight the last week just to get her to eat something. She also doesnt drink unless we help her. Its going to be sad to say goodbye to her
Thanks @Donny, we tried to make her comfortable the last couple of days, but we decided due to her age its better to let her go chase her rabbits in doggy heaven than to make her suffer any more. She is such a loyal loveable pooch that we will miss her.
Aw! Sorry to hear that Angie! I know exactly how horrible it is... but you're doing the right thing, as I'm sure you know. :bawling:
Dogs is my life. I am also a GSD fan, but decided to go for short hair dogs for a change after I have put my last GSD down. Reason is I do not want to let my dogs sleep outside again. A GSD can easily be kept indoors, but my wife can not handle the hair and I hate grooming to the extend that hair is not a problem. And GSD's (pure bred), always have some or other medical issue. IMO, that is. I think the not so pure bred dogs have a better resistance to these things. I am talking about things like ear infections, skin diseases, joint problems etc. But they are lovely dogs and I miss mine a lot. But! I now have 2 GSP's (yes, German again, the short hair pointers), a Jack Russel and Dutch Hound. All sleeping in their own beds in my room! I am a bird hunter, so my dogs is used do gunfire and therefore loud noises, fireworks and thunder is nothing to them. The Dutch Hound is a stray that just arrived at our house, last year after the fireworks of the new year. The dog used to be terrified of storms and things, but after a few shooting trips, seeing how the other dogs love it, she is a changed dog. No more issues. I just want to reiterate what has been said above, as tips to prospective dog owners. 1. Discipline training at a dog school, socializing your dog and training you to train your dog. 2. Indoors with you as much as possible. 3. Regular walks. These 3 things make any dog a pleasure to own. If you are not up to it, please do not get a dog.
Hehehe see the hair never has been an issue for us. We know its part of having them and just vacume the house every second day during their heavy shedding weeks. (aka right now ) We also brush ours once a week as well. All our dogs have been very healthy and have all lived to about 12 or 13. We had only one lost due to complications during her pregnancy - that is another reason why we stopped breeding. Dusty has lived a very full and happy life, and it is sad to have to put her down, but we dont believe in making any animals suffer. And due to her age, any medical procedures carries a bigger risk for complications. Her ear infection was a fast stricking and painful event. We immediately took her to the vet (for anyone who lives in cape town, the BEST vets are at the Panorama Vet clinic - they have a specialized section for cats as well). The people who work there do everything to help out but they warned us if the meds didnt work within 10 days there isnt much else they can do without risking her life. Every single pet in our family is part of the household and treated as such. Altho they are not allowed to lounge on furniture, they each have their own spot on our bed where they spend 10 - 15mins with us every night. Otherwise they have their sleeping beds arranged in my parents room (we dont know why but all three HAS to sleep there or else they get very upset.)
I'm very sorry to read this @Wyvren its always sad losing a furry family member for what ever reason. my thoughts are with you. and thanks so much for the rescue remedy tip its really helping Avi deal with storms. @TomK hear hear! i agree and would like to add that the spca's are full of unwanted adult dogs because people dont do their research. research the breed your interested in to see if it fits in with your lifestyle and for pitys sake dont get a jack russel if you have a small yard and are not prepared to walk it daily. the last time i was at the spca there were 8 jack russels looking for new homes. and finall adopt dont buy! you'll never find a more grateful dog than a rescue.
@windfire thanks We took her to the vet this afternoon to do the deed, she hadnt moved all day from where I placed her at lunch - I had to pick her up and carry her to a spot where it was cooler in the house. She couldnt walk at all. Except at the Vet she was running about as if to show us shes ok, but the vet looked at her, took an xray of her ear, and gave us the news we suspected. She has a tumor in both her ears, blocking them, causing the pain and it was pressing on her brain. So in the end we chose to let her go rather than suffer anymore. I still hate it tho, Its honestly the one part of having pets that i truly hate, loosing them for what ever reason. Glad to hear the rescue remedy is working tho, its great to hear that the advice I got is helping someone else!
ai tog! for some people a dog is a dog, and then for us its a child! very sorry to hear @Wyvren ! like they say, you have to be cruel to be kind!
@TomK - http://www.natura.co.za/index.php?q=selfmed|productview,86,Rescue It is used in most dog show circles to help calm dogs down. We are using it now to help our neurotic male to be calmer during stressfull events, aka when we watch sports or some such = he freaks out for most loud noises, or anything he doesnt understand. If you read this thread : http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?8940-E-collars-shock-collars As you will pick up we have loads of experience and decided not to go for the e collar in the end. The Rescue remedy has started working, but he doesnt get it every day - maybe once a week
Yep it is, we are glad about it tho, he is chasing his tail less. That is all that matters to us. He is learning to be woof again.
We only give it to him on his really manic days. But we have noticed both the remaining dogs are missing the other one
