nfowler
Posted : 12/11/2007 12:03:57 AM
Thanks--it's good to be back, especially among hound lovers! I've been preoccupied with my boy's health issues lately.
Murphy, my male, hurt his back (not sure he ruptured a disk or if his arthritis is spreading some more) and it's all quite serious--just another step toward his body breaking down. Seems to be happening in pieces. At 4 years old, my poor buddy has the body of a super old dog. I've been conferring with vets and ortho surgeons as to what we can do, if anything, and really taking care with him to keep things running along in the "sweet spot" we've been in with him. (He's seen so many vets and surgeons in his short life but I'll never give up and now he's on lots of supplements and is getting massages and acupuncture so he's coming around.)
Clicker training could never ever have come along at a better time. When he learned it, it was before his osteoarthritis got as bad (as it is now). We learned so much and practiced so much. I do keep my dogs on separate leashes for sure so that, like Diegro (sp), one doesn't inadvertenly hurt the other when we're out and about. I don't dare tug on Murphy given all of his issues (he could topple over) so using praise, treats, and the annoying "eh eh" has been very helpful.
Oh what we do for our dogs. Makes me smile.