The dog musing/vent thread
- Thread starter Laurelin
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The book is both great and tedious. It was so eye opening though. She has personally bred a lot of top Elkhounds (and top all around dogs) of her era, and very much promotes super close breedings.
Yeah, especially in a rare breed like mine I don't see the point of limiting the gene pool even more. Most dogs are descended from the same handful who came to America after WWII anyway.
Watson has one dog as a great-great-grandfather on his dad's side and great-grandfather on his mom's. Then there's another dog in the reverse position. That's not too bad, and definitely enough inbreeding for me.
Yeah, especially in a rare breed like mine I don't see the point of limiting the gene pool even more. Most dogs are descended from the same handful who came to America after WWII anyway.
Watson has one dog as a great-great-grandfather on his dad's side and great-grandfather on his mom's. Then there's another dog in the reverse position. That's not too bad, and definitely enough inbreeding for me.
Because people like Westminster more. 
Thanks, guys! I'm still floating. Two shows so far this year, 2 BOBs, made one cut in a TOUGH group, one OHG1 and now a G2!!! There's another OHG1 that tacks on for points towards Eukanuba's OH competition points for 2014 as well. I think Mimi's doing her group placements in order. She got a G4 last year early, a G3 in the fall, now she has a G2… next up? And to top it off, she had a fantastic agility class today, took a break while Ezra had class, then did very well working on weave entries! Love my girl.
Thanks, guys! I'm still floating.
Two shows so far this year, 2 BOBs, made one cut in a TOUGH group, one OHG1 and now a G2!!! There's another OHG1 that tacks on for points towards Eukanuba's OH competition points for 2014 as well. I think Mimi's doing her group placements in order. She got a G4 last year early, a G3 in the fall, now she has a G2… next up? And to top it off, she had a fantastic agility class today, took a break while Ezra had class, then did very well working on weave entries! Love my girl.
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Ever have a concern about something but no one else sees it, so you aren't sure if you are imagining things or not? Yeah, that's how I feel right now.
I keep seeing little things about the way Talon sits, lays, walks does certain things that make me slightly concerned for his back end, not sure if it is hips, knee's or what. He's not limping or acting different than usual at all, and he doesn't *seem* to be in pain, though it's hard to tell with him. It's just these little things that keep nagging at me, but David thinks he's fine and see's nothing wrong with him at all. So now I can't tell if it's just me seeing things, or if it's actually something to be concerned about.
We've made an agreement that if I am still concerned on his 2nd birthday we will get a full set of x-rays and see what's going on, and until then he is not to do too much hard work just in case. Plus he's already on supplements as well and we don't really have the money to do anything about it (besides using care credit and our emergency money), so I think it's a good middle ground, but it's still nagging at me. *sigh*
I keep seeing little things about the way Talon sits, lays, walks does certain things that make me slightly concerned for his back end, not sure if it is hips, knee's or what. He's not limping or acting different than usual at all, and he doesn't *seem* to be in pain, though it's hard to tell with him. It's just these little things that keep nagging at me, but David thinks he's fine and see's nothing wrong with him at all. So now I can't tell if it's just me seeing things, or if it's actually something to be concerned about.
We've made an agreement that if I am still concerned on his 2nd birthday we will get a full set of x-rays and see what's going on, and until then he is not to do too much hard work just in case. Plus he's already on supplements as well and we don't really have the money to do anything about it (besides using care credit and our emergency money), so I think it's a good middle ground, but it's still nagging at me. *sigh*
I would go with your gut. After Mia was 18 months or so I always saw littler things about her movement at a walk I didn't like. But she hadn't been lame so didn't do anything about it and vet didn't worry, etc. Anyways, she has luxating patellas and still hasn't been lame.
There was a post on the BC boards recently about an owner being concerned about a dog's movement and the vets said it was fine. Specialist said it was fine but they took x-rays and he's got HD.
I don't know... I think gut instincts are worth checking out. I wish I'd acted on my suspicions with Mia earlier.
There was a post on the BC boards recently about an owner being concerned about a dog's movement and the vets said it was fine. Specialist said it was fine but they took x-rays and he's got HD.
I don't know... I think gut instincts are worth checking out. I wish I'd acted on my suspicions with Mia earlier.
I know exactly how you feel and I would definitely get it checked out if you can.
Watson has had a few periods of limping which we thought was Lyme, but I'm not sure. Now every time he holds up a foot, or seems tender with it, I worry. Our handling instructor also noticed that he was trotting wide in front, which he didn't do previously. I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it right now and he will have his hips and elbows checked in 6 months, but it's so frustrating, especially when it's so subtle.
Watson has had a few periods of limping which we thought was Lyme, but I'm not sure. Now every time he holds up a foot, or seems tender with it, I worry. Our handling instructor also noticed that he was trotting wide in front, which he didn't do previously. I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it right now and he will have his hips and elbows checked in 6 months, but it's so frustrating, especially when it's so subtle.
I think Jubel may have a cavity (or two). His breath has gotten bad over the last few months. It came and went at first but now it's pretty constant. Overall his teeth look pretty good and he doesn't act like any of his teeth are bothering him. When he yawns though... I can see a black spot in the "v" of his molars. On both sides of his mouth but slightly larger on his left side.
I guess I just need to call the vet and set up an appointment to get it checked out. I think I'd need to get a mild sedative from the vets first to give him before hand so he's kinda out of it when I bring him in. That way they should be able to actually get a good look at his teeth. He'll let you pull up his lips to see the outsides of his teeth but he is not cooperative with opening his mouth for a good look. He won't bite just struggle and wiggle away.
This is likely to be expensive I'm guessing but better to check it out and taken car of if needed than wait until it progresses. Possibly get a discount if there is an issue since it's national pet dental month.
I guess I just need to call the vet and set up an appointment to get it checked out. I think I'd need to get a mild sedative from the vets first to give him before hand so he's kinda out of it when I bring him in. That way they should be able to actually get a good look at his teeth. He'll let you pull up his lips to see the outsides of his teeth but he is not cooperative with opening his mouth for a good look. He won't bite just struggle and wiggle away.
This is likely to be expensive I'm guessing but better to check it out and taken car of if needed than wait until it progresses. Possibly get a discount if there is an issue since it's national pet dental month.
Might be time for Merlin & I to find a new trainer :/
her training style made perfect sense on paper but Merlin is not enjoying his training, and I know she says a lot of "It's not all going to be fun for him" but I want him to ENJOY his work.
The drills, the repetition....it's stressing me out (and boring him) and I feel like he is slowly but surely starting to lose the LOVE of training and I don't want that.
Making him "SD perfect" is a much harder challenge than I ever though it would be. He is still doing very well, it's just so much work and time, the reality of the hard work and energy this takes and all the socialization trips/practice is proving to be much harder than what I anticipated.
Bright side. He is still doing well, and even though we have set backs he still LOVES to learn and please and go places.
It's just my fault really. School and life gets in the way and sometimes I am too lenient with bad habits that wouldn't matter with a regular dog and then we need to go back and correct them.
I want his training to be fun again, for both of us.
Just feeling a bit inadequate.
Not sure what the point of this is.
her training style made perfect sense on paper but Merlin is not enjoying his training, and I know she says a lot of "It's not all going to be fun for him" but I want him to ENJOY his work.
The drills, the repetition....it's stressing me out (and boring him) and I feel like he is slowly but surely starting to lose the LOVE of training and I don't want that.
Making him "SD perfect" is a much harder challenge than I ever though it would be. He is still doing very well, it's just so much work and time, the reality of the hard work and energy this takes and all the socialization trips/practice is proving to be much harder than what I anticipated.
Bright side. He is still doing well, and even though we have set backs he still LOVES to learn and please and go places.
It's just my fault really. School and life gets in the way and sometimes I am too lenient with bad habits that wouldn't matter with a regular dog and then we need to go back and correct them.
I want his training to be fun again, for both of us.
Just feeling a bit inadequate.
Not sure what the point of this is.