Staffyluv

Chemo is the same - it doesn't cure them, it buys you time.. It will put them in remission and depending on the dog, the doses it has received and the spread and hold the MCT has.. Remissions can be short, medium or long term - with MCT it is so hard to tell.. We used a combination of conventional medicine, holistic medicine and finger crossing.. Ol had chemo for 6 months, was treated with improvements to diet and holistic supplements. High doses of Vitamin C, fish oil, a daily polarmine tablet and loads of what he wanted to do. He still wanted to go walking every day - so we did..

Monthly spot at the beginning of the month. I also use MS Outlook synced with my iPhone to keep a track of it all.

I used to get so frustrated being way out of the class but we slowly moved closer and closer and by the end of beginners (just 8 weeks), he could sit in the group of dogs and not want to get in each and every one of their faces.. See I have the opposite problem - I have that overly friendly dog.. That dog that will get right up in another dogs space.. He needed to learn that it was OK to just be around the other dogs without doing that. It was hard for us because everyone knew he was super friendly and submissive, so they all wanted to socialise with him - this used to throw his excitement levels off the scale.. He came first in his beginners obedience assessment. So it can be done... Patience, persistence and use your voice or walk away from the others..

:happydance:

My old stafford that had MCT was given a daily dose of polarmine (antihistamine).. He very rarely had MCT histamine release because of this.. Find out what the daily dose should be and give it to him every morning to counter it.

Keep her away - just outside her reaction threshold (even though it does appear as excitement/play). Work for "neutralisation" rather than "socialisation" per se and begin to teach her self control and appropriate approach - and these two things come from being calm and that's something you need to teach her first. Being calm in approach has her thinking in her front brain rather than in the hind brain and will see her taking her time to assessing a situation before she gets there, rather than getting there and then freaking out because she is so uncertain. ETA: If she's ready for the next level of training then don't hold her back. Use your training to keep her mentally stimulated and occupied. If you hold her back, she'll be bored (finding the exercises too easy) and will have more time to focus on her worries over the proximity of other dogs. Work with her so that YOU are the one she is excited and happy to be with, rather than her preferring to investigate other dogs. Also, maintain a sense of realistic expectations on your part. Ask for what you know she is capable of giving taking into account the different environments you are in at any given time. Having said that, make sure your training is solid before you move on. "Too far, too fast" is a problem I often see and results in training falling apart and problems setting in. Exactly my point - you are at training, not at a trial and it doesn't matter what level you are at, you don't have to stand right in the group. Stand your ground with 'friendly owners' - tell them, no - don't come closer, she needs space.. Firm but polite, will get you what you need.. You also don't have to explain why she needs space.. People should respect that you know what is best for your dog and act accordingly.. Zig is so much calmer after learning he can be in a group without being in every dogs face. He is the friendly mutt.. Working outside our group and getting closer and closer as his behaviour improved has what has made it possible for him to sit in a group of dogs, without running up to each of them (even off lead).

I agree with this.. Also as stated above - I would be working on your relationship with the dog. So that she feels comfortable no matter what other dogs or things are around.. You can be away from other dogs - we have a couple of dogs that have issues around other dogs. So their owners take both ends of the line of dogs.. They both stand further away than the rest of us stand.. I used to stand about 10 metres away from our class when he was younger because he was so dog focused and didn't listen to a thing I said.. As he got better, we moved closer and closer to the class..

To the OP, I am very sorry for what happened to your little one and hope it makes a full recovery. I also hope the ignorant owner of the other dogs involved is found and dealt with accordingly..

All the best for a full and speedy recovery.

Exactly, it doesn't all have to be outside or down at the park.. We do loads of stuff in ad breaks - short heel patterns, static work, stays (our biggest issue at the moment) from the kitchen to the lounge room all the time.. These are in addition to a the small sessions during the day but I have an advantage, in that my office is located at home. We play catch and fetch while sitting on the lounge - he loves to catch stuff.. It isn't all about formal sit, stay, drop, come - it can be fun.. Also the more fun you have with it, the happier they see you and the more they want to work for you - win, win!! For example, my marker word (when he gets it right) is 'yes'.. The response in Zig when he gets a 'yes' is amazing - he wants to do it again, to get another yes and a tug game or a ball to catch (yep, they are his rewards, a 20 second game of tug or to catch a tennis ball)..

I can walk/run my almost 3 year old staffy cross for hours and he will run/walk until I stop.. However, one hour at obedience training on a Sunday and he sleeps for hours. The behaviourist I saw for Zig when he was over the top told me 'running and walking him to wear him out is pointless, all you are doing is creating a very fit dog, that will eventually wear you out'.. He needs brain training.. Put his food in a ball that he has to toss around to get the food out (kibble). Obedience training has helped us heaps. Don't get me wrong, they all need a good walk at least once a day but since I dropped this down to half an hour a day and a few 5 minute obedience sessions - he is a lot happier (and so am I).. I agree with giving the dog stuff that they can destroy, like the cardboard box but take away all toys and just give them a few back (rotating them daily, so they have different ones).. Have you tried using kongs stuffed with food? You can also stuff these toys with bits of material for dogs that like to destuff stuff :) In summer I freeze home made chicken stock (sometimes with chicken wings or turkey necks in there) for him to keep him busy (a small ice cream container with 2 litres of watered down stock is a real treat).. The sand pit, give them somewhere they can dig - encourage it by burying treats for them to smell and find. Good luck - they sure do test us sometimes

How devastating, poor dogs, poor owners..

This - it is so much easier than trying to hide tablets that so many dogs discover and spit out anyway :)

So sorry RMS - it is the hardest but kindest choice we will ever make for our beloved furry family members..

Really? How cool :) You learn something new each day. I love DOL I am inclined to agree with HW - it does sound more like car sickness, rather than anxiety. I hope your little one eats the ginger biscuit because it did work with my older boy.. That is exactly what Zig is like on a trip.. First half hour is fine then he starts to drool, shake, won't sit down, hangs his head.. I stop the car and get him out for 5 minutes and he is fine again.. We get back in and within 20-30 minutes he is doing the same thing again. Stop again etc.. I can't get him to eat anything, even when we stop.. I took ginger biscuits on our last trip to Sydney and he just turns his head away, when they are offered. I even bought him a lemonade ice block and he turned away from it..

I fell in love with a Frenchie the other day - had lovely, smoochy cuddles.. OMG, they are so incredibly adorable. Sadly, out of my price range.. I have no issue with rescues selling the cuter dogs for more money to help fund the dogs that are deemed not as cute.. There are always more costs to cover, than there is money, so make a bit extra on the cute ones - go for it..

You could also try putting a few drops in his water and giving him access to it as much as possible.

If you are interested in alternative treatments, it is best to consult with a good holistic vet - they can recommend any supplements and herbs in the correct dose for your dog, with his symptoms. They will often use the test results from your vet or do their own blood work to determine what is going to be the best route to take. I know there are supplements you can buy on line but in all honesty, I think it is better to go through an holistic vet. I used All Natural Vet Care in Sydney (I am in Canberra) - they were awesome and my old stafford was treated for mast cell tumours. His prognosis was 12-18 months and he lived 6 years.. He also had chemo for his cancer as it was the best course of treatment to put him into remission. The holistic stuff kept him well the rest of the time.. At first I put my boy into cotton wool but then decided that his quality of life was the most important. We still went to the park every day, he swam in his clam shell, dug holes and continued to live his normal life as much as possible. He was much happier, not changing his life due to his treatments.. If your lad is well enough for his play date - personally, I would continue it..

No, it is the trainers job to train you to train your pup.. Ultimately, you are the one going away, after class, and putting into practice what the trainer has shown you all in the class.. Move places - don't sit near them (refuse to do so, you have paid your money).. Even sit back a bit out of the 'circle' - even 30cm back can give your dog breathing space. If the trainer asks you to move back into the circle, just explain that your pup is more comfortable out here a bit - you can still see and hear what is going on. You could make comments to the other owners about their pups behaviour but in all honesty, that isn't going to help the situation - it sounds like they are viewing their puppy training session as a social experience for them, not their pups - it is really pointless wasting your time on them. Concentrate on you and your pup. Because that is the relationship that matters most. Most dog training clubs have puppy classes (once they have all their vaccinations) - if it is totally unbearable, maybe wait and just attend formal classes after full vaccination :)

BJ, I actually agree with most of what you are saying - but a little empathy for those that are not as objective goes a long way to getting your point across. Laughing at peoples emotions This is an animal we are talking about (on a dog forum, full of animal lovers).. How could a conversation about an animal being killed (when he could have been rehomed), chopped up (in public) and fed to lions, ever be objective? There are so many emotions out on display in this thread - it can't ever be objective when emotions are in play.. So many, like myself, see this animal in a way that is different to those that can see it as fodder for the lions, excess to requirements etc.. The clinical side of it.. It is hard for some to separate emotions from the necessity to maintain the status quo in the breeding cycle of zoos.

I feel the same OSo.. I understand he was surplus to the zoos needs and for some reason or other, he couldn't be relocated - that only leaves one sad option. The public display of that option is what I find incredibly distasteful..

Cheers Rae, I have replied :)

We use a tennis ball - Zig values a tennis ball over all other rewards (including food).. The next best thing to him is a tug toy.. As for food, the only things I have ever been able to get his attention with is home brand devon roll - that stuff is just plain nasty but he will eat it (if there is no ball around).. Some dogs prefer food and others prefer toys - just keep trying you will work out what your dog prefers.

I have 6 Advantix ampules here for dogs 10-25kg. The use by date is March 2014. I forgot all about it as I changed to Advocate when Zippy was here because of her demodex. I thought maybe a rescue had a group of medium to large dogs that needed worming before March, that might like them. Free and I am happy to post but otherwise I am in Queanbeyan if anyone wants to pick them up. I also have a heap (about 2 boxes) of frozen BARF patties (sorry can't post these) for any local rescue that wants them because Zig won't eat it anymore.

Poor baby.. I have no advice at all because I have tried so many things for Zig but once we hit that half hour mark, he starts drooling and you can see that he is really sick. However, if I stop and let him out of the car for a few minutes and then go again, he seems fine - until half an hour again..