Last Monday of the year chat

well i am just sitting down after training the dogs for the past hour, barley 10 mins puzzle the rest, she was learning how to play dead and he was learning how do a special roll over :)

It's super slow at the office.  I need to get busy with some year end stuff but I can't seem to get motivated.  

I should get out the treats and do some training with Gabby.  What's a special roll over or should I even ask? lol  Gabby has a way of making many tricks "special".

i know the feeling..

Barley's special roll over is as follows: as he can struggle doing a normal roll over, i made an easier way for him to do it. He lays flat ready to roll then i step over him with one foot  and place it behind his back then he will push against my leg that is near his belly and in one fluid step he rolls over and i step over him (well thats the idea, it does not always work as he does have a tendancy to push with his feet in the wrong place) , sort of something you might see in a heelwork to music routine, but just for fun here

Busy day here, trying to finish year-end stuff so I can enjoy the half day off tomorrow and full day on Wednesday.

I took Buddy to the vet again as there was no improvement over the weekend. Vet did a blood draw to send out for a thyroid test, specifically to check for hyperthyroid, which can mask (and masquerade as) other problems. I probably won't get the results until Thursday due to the holiday.

I had to laugh about another client in the office with a GSD puppy. The ears were slightly bent at the tips and she asked the vet if broken bones in the ear flaps was the culprit. She had already sworn up and down she was familiar with the breed because she had one previously.

It's freezing cold here. We had such a nice sunny 41 degree day this past Saturday I felt a little spoiled. Yes, for all you southerners, I said 41 degrees was nice.

As I was reading the description of Barley's special roll over technique, I was thinking that sounds like freestyle dancing. :) Hey, Barley, I bet it looks adorable and whatever works.

Tina, sending lots and lots of vibes for Buddy.   Yep, sounds like that gal knows all about GSDs. lol  On another forum, someone with a GSD they adopted, said they thought their dog was mistreated because she was aloof with strangers.  Have they even  read the breed standard?

LMAO at both!  Says the lady who shared a 37 foot RV with SIX of them!

Hello all! My day is almost done here. Heading off to the chiropractor. Totally off the dog subject I fell of a horse this past weekend, kind of sore. Anyway...Hope you all have a nice and Happy New Year.

@JackieG

 I need to get busy with some year end stuff but I can't seem to get motivated.  

Apparently, we're having the same experience today, Jackie.  

We took Ruby to a very basic tricks class a while ago.  We struggled with the roll-over.  The teacher said it's not uncommon for terriers to resist it because they tend to lie squarely on their haunches, ready to spring into action, so getting them to roll over onto a hip to start the motion is difficult.  Ruby wouldn't relax into that position, and we weren't the most committed teachers once the class ended, so she never mastered that one!

My friend and I went to see the movie, "Philomena" yesteray.  Really, really good -- I"m still thinking about it.  It's based on a true story, which is quite heartbreaking.  Just one more thing to keep me away from the Catholic practice I was raised with.  But along with the sad subject matter, it actually had many funny parts -- the chemistry between the 2 main characters was unique.  Judi Dench is amazing, I always love her movies.

The line at the theatre was very long (it's a tiny place, only one ticket booth).  We stood for several minutes in the cold, and just as we were about to step to the booth, an older woman with a cane came up and said, "I'm very tired, can I go in front of you?"  My instinct was to say no, but I didn't want to look insensitive, so I paused for a moment, taken aback by her question.  Suddenly, the woman right behind me said firmly, "No, you can wait in line like the rest of us have done."  I bought my ticket, then turned to that woman and said, "Thanks for saying what I wanted to say, but was afraid to."  She waved her hand and said, "Oh, I'm in a mood."  I laughed and said, "I'm glad you were!"

Seriously, I'm not insensitive, but if standing in line was that hard for this woman, she should've arranged to get there earlier, or have a companion buy her ticket while she waited inside or in the car.   

Tina, I missed your post while I was typing.  Waiting for bloodwork  results is not fun.  I hope it shows something easily treatable, like thyroid issues.  Still sending good vibes to Buddy!

Okay, I'm not specialist in dog anatomy, but even I know that "broken bones in the ear" is a ridiculous way to explain floppy ears!

Michelle, I hope the chiro visit eases your back pain.  And speaking of broken bones, good thing your fall didn't result in any!

To her credit, the vet said, "Dog's ear flaps are cartilage, there are no bones in them." without snickering.

sending lots of good luck vibes for buddy.

In june  barley nearly had a blood test as he lots a lot of weight very quickly with no change in diet or amount of kibble, never found what it was but he soon began putting weight on again.

Barley has got x-rays in january for his hips, don't know what the results will say

Let us know what Barley's hip x-rays show.  One of mine (Rex, the dog in my avatar) has osteoarthritis in his hips.  The left is worse than the right.  He gets carprofen daily, fish oil, and joint supplements.  He's much improved with this regimen and is still very active and rarely limps.  

Tracy, I'm surprised that you didn't let the older lady with a cane go in front of you.  I'm pretty sure I would have, though my DH might have grumbled, as he hates waiting in line for anything

Michelle, I hope the chiro helps your back.  Ouch!

Off to play with the dogs.  It's cold here, for Texas.  brrrrr 42 F

There are conflicting views about what is wrong with his hips, one vets says it is arthritis , the other vet says it could be crutiate ligament and i think that it is hip dysplasia, so we will to wait and see who is right. He is already on cod liver oil tablets and some other joint stuff on its highest dose with no improvement.

Its around 3 Degrees here in england

Funny . . . It's mid-40s here, but I imagine it feels colder here because it's grey, foggy, and very damp.  Assuming there's sun in your area, Jackie, it must feel warmer!

I feel I need to explain a bit more my reaction to the woman asking to go to the front of the line.  First, it was her tone and attitude . . . She came off as demanding and entitled.  She was NOT frail, in fact she was stocky and strong looking, maybe 70 at the most.  Over 3/4 of the people in line were senior citizens, some far less hearty looking than she (The movie was about a senior lady, thus the audience demographic).  Letting her cut in line wold have been unfair to them, too.  And the long line meant the movie was already starting, so I figured she just wanted to get in there ASAP.  At any rate, we saw her in the theatre, so she made it in okay.

I can't believe there's no Monday Night Football tonight.  The regular season went by too fast. It doesn't seem possible that tomorrow is Dec 31!