Pretty Miss Emma

Another thread got me thinking about this. I don't know if it fits here or elsewhere, but this is where I'm starting! So, Emma has had her myriad of illnesses over the past little bit. Recently she had pneumonia, ended up with a shaved chest due to testing. She's getting better but I still need to be a bit careful about her getting too chilly. Anyway that's where a minor problem lies!! Since being hospitalised I've been keeping her inside basically all the time so that she doesn't get cold. The other day I left her outside for about 1.5hrs (when I went to work and a friend who is staying with me I knew would be home within 2 hrs), it wasn't super cold but it was a Melbourne morning! So my friend came home to find her huddled up in a corner on the concrete. She only has 4 different cosy beds she could choose to sleep on outside!!! When my friend brought her in she was quite chilly, even deep down in her thickest fur. So I'm back to leaving her inside again as we can't afford to have a relapse with the pneumonia. That leads me to the question... Do you put a coat on your dog when they are outside on cold days? Is there any sort of coat that may be ok for her? Emma is a long haired BC, so I'm reluctant to put a coat on her when she is not supervised by me as I also don't want her to get too hot. But I'd love for her to be outside when we have nice days (I think she misses being able to sniff around the garden and hang out with Kenzie - who is outside during the day). She's virtually blind, so sometimes gets a bit lost in the yard and just hangs out where ever she ends up. What other management strategies would you try? She can cope with being inside all day while I'm at work, but I'm thinking that it's all pretty boring!

We use either Sasha's or Goochey's. I also give Em a fish oil capsule each night - they're supposed to be good for general health and apparently can help with joints. They definitely get a beautiful coat from it!!!

I have a similar problem to you! Emma seems to be a bit of a nuffy when it comes to finding the warm/cosy places. She always chooses to sleep on the concrete even though she has 3 different types of beds to choose from outside. And if it's raining she'll also just hang out in her favourite place getting wet! Today she was left outside for about an hour or so and my friend came home to find her curled up on the concrete trying to get into the tiniest ball she could to keep warm. And she was cold when she was brought inside. So it looks like I'm going back to her staying in the house all the time unless someone is at home with her and can supervise her going outside and not getting too cold. Unfortunately she's long haired (only unfortunate in this respect, otherwise I love her silky locks!) so I'm really reluctant to put a coat on her. But if anyone has any recommendations of a way to deal with a long haired dog in this sort of circumstance I'd love to hear about it!!

Miss Em is a little in the same boat as your Cherry. To be honest I just work around her. When I could tell she was starting to lose her vision I started teaching her some useful commands for walking ('crossing", "step", "careful"). And now due to her recovering from her pneumonia she needs to stay inside every day (something she is not at all used to), and barks! I'm hoping it's not too bad during the day, but I think she misses being outside with Kenzie during the day (but if I leave her out she sleeps on the concrete and gets cold - just can't let it happen). So I pretty much just work around her, it makes life a bit less stressful for me and I think lots less stressful for her!!! I just wish I'd had her since a pup, I want as much time as possible with her!!! I got her when she was 9yo and she's already 12.5yo, time goes too fast have to make the most of it! I like the pet loo idea.

Laundromat - the machines cope with bigger items so much better.

I'm in a similar situation, and to be honest it really is just easier to walk them separately. I find there are so many issues that are just that bit harder to deal with when both are there. In my situation Emma needs a slow walk around the short block, as she can't see well I need to watch her and warn her if there are steps, etc. Kenzie does not want anything to do with a slow walk and needs to go at least 10 times the distance!! When she has to walk slow she ends up being more reactive to things, and also reactive to things that she normally isn't (too much time to focus on things). So I've just resorted to walking them separately. When I take Em out I know Kenzie sits in the back yard and howls for about 5 min, but tough luck. My neighbours have said it doesn't bother them because she stops after a few minutes and they know it means I've taken Em out without her!! I usually take Em first because I don't go as far or long with her, and after that she's tired enough to have a bit of a rest. Then Kenzie gets to go out for hour or so walk. I guess it's a bit of tough love, but I enjoy my walks this way and can fulfil both their needs. I think another benefit is that it actually gives them some 100% devoted 1 on 1 time with you. If you are looking at getting a walking training aid, see if you can go to a shop that will let you try on a few different ones to see what fits your dog best and that you like (on Kenzie I was able to try on the Halti, Gentle leader, Infin8, Black Dog halter, and there was also another one - we settled on a Halti which only gets used very occasionally because it fitted her head shape best and she found it least "offensive"), also there are the various harness type aids (Kenzie also has a Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness - we are currently trying to wean off this and on to her normal flat collar!). For Em, she also can't be let off lead in many places any more because of her poor vision. But in all honesty I don't think they really mind that much so long as they have a good interaction with you and if you take them for a decent wander to do lots of sniffing and pee-mailing while they are on lead. It's a juggling game having 2 dogs of differing ages/health levels!!!

Fingers and paws crossed for little King Tip!! Thankyou for doing such a nice thing for him, while some of us don't have it in us to ignore such a situation many people would have walked past and not thought twice. Good things come to those who do good things!

Emma got to go the whole way around the lake and I think was patted by more people than she ever had been previously in her life!!! She had to walk the really muddy sections (mainly just getting to and from the start!) and the rest of her "walk" was quite warm and comfy - she was envied by many!!! Hope you all had a good day walking! (Oh and I can't make the pic any bigger because it was sent to me this way - sorry!)

At least they "woke up and yawned", could have been so so much worse. Hopefully they survive the ordeal and get to be placed somewhere that can adequately care for them, poor little bubbies.

My young one also behaves in a similar way sometimes. A good book is "Click to Calm". I've used some of the techniques in there and we are seeing good progress. It won't be an overnight fix no matter what technique you use. When we walk I mark and reward all calm and attentive behaviour when there is a distraction. We used to have problems lunging at buses going past, people walking past, etc. But now when a bus is approaching Kenzie just looks up to me and waits for her reward. I still put a treat under her nose when a person walks past to keep her focus close to me rather than on the approaching person - but I think this is more my insecurity than her behaviour! As for approaching other dogs, I usually cross the road or walk the other way so that there is distance between us and she doesn't get the chance to get worked up/over excited and I reward all her calm and focussed behaviour. There are a few breeds of dogs that she has had previous bad incidents with that she still can be reactive towards but she is now muchh calmer towards the general dog population and there are many dogs that we can walk past with no reaction. Same as you, at dog school she's usually an angel it's just out and about that it becomes a bit over stimulating! But mark and reward all wanted behaviours and you'll start seeing them more frequently.

We'll be there!!! Look out for a bevy of BC's (plus some GR's, a lab or 2 and some schnauzer x's) with the most beautiful one sitting in her lovely decorated trolley when she gets tired and doesn't want to walk anymore!!! That will be lovley Emma - I couldn't bring myself to have her miss the day just because she's been unwell (especially as she's an RSPCA rescue) so we've made alternative travel arrangements for her. Although it will be my friend pushing her along, I'm still not sure if I can bring myself to admitting I have a dog in a trolley!!!! There might be reps from your council there that cna let you know when they're doing free m-sipping. In the past several councils have sent AMO's along.

Hope your vet visit went ok. I had a scare like this a few weeks ago and it ended up being pneumonia and Emma was rushed off to be put on oxygen and fluids immediately (and from the vets reaction it seemed that it was treatment that couldn't really have waited). She has a few issues so any behaviour like you describe equals drop everything and get to vet immediately. Hope all is ok.

Well, I didn't name Emma (she came with her name). Apparently it means "whole, universal, all containing" Not sure how to interpret that, but she is perfect and everyone loves her and she is wonderful at all things particularly at dealing with change. So if I think broadly about the meaning of her name then I think it fits!!! Then again maybe she was named after Jane Austen's "Emma" - haven't read it so don't know if she's similar!! Kenzie means "handsome" or "fair one". And that she is, she always gets comments about how gorgeous she is!! Her registered name is Trick or Treat. Again, that she is sometimes she's a little ratbag trickster and then other times she's a delightful treat!!!

"Before You Get Your Puppy" and "After You Get Your Puppy" by Ian Dunbar (at least one can be found on the same link poodlefan sent you). I found them invaluable as a first time puppy raiser. There are quite a few good resources (and quite a few not so good!!), but these 2 seemed to cover everything I needed to know and at a level I could deal with.

Love it.

I'm currently trying to teach Kenzie to flip a small box over which I've been shaping using a clicker. What about teaching them to push a ball with their nose? What tricks do they know? Can you extend any of them? I taught Kenzie "sleepy" (lying on her side) after she knew "roll over".

I've just come back from 7 weeks in Africa and left Miss Em (and young Kenzie) here at home. Before going it was immensely stressful. Emma is diabetic and with her eye problems was on about 8-10 different medications at least twice daily!!! I was at the point of thinking I should cancel my trip, but realistically life does have to go on. But I went and I was able to have a very good trusted friend (who is a stay at home Mum and also a nurse) stay in my home to look after the girls. Emma also had a 2 week stay with my parents. I'd already discussed with everyone the "what if's". But I knew that she was with people who love and adore her and if I couldn't be with her then at least she had them. Being the wonderous girl she is, she was fine the whole time I was away!!!! Of course I got back and her health had some major hiccups (on the road to improvement at the moment!!!)! I have to say the first week I was away I was worried I'd come home to only 1 dog, and the last 2 days that worry came back. But the rest of the time I jjust enjoyed myself - you still need to have a life. But in short, yes I think all of us dog people with an older dog worry about what will happen. If you have someone who you trust with your dog then you'll find that really there is a lot less to worry about!

Studied undergrad zoology Became a science teacher (and started putting animals into classrooms asap!!) Volunteer/casual at RSPCA as animal attendant, behaviour/training assistant, education officer (which also means beautiful Miss Em gets to come and be an education dog on those days!) Little animal foster carer (kittens, reptiles, pouch young in the past) - aka sucker! Delta Pet Partners pet therapy Train in obedience - hoping to compete later this year Train and compete in agility Volunteer obedience instructor And all round dog (and almost all other animals) lover!!!! At school the kids call me the "animal lady"!!

If it were me I'd be doing anything I could to get there and get them first thing in the morning. I was of the understanding that until the claiming/quarantine period was up that they were not allowed to do anything to stray animals unless it is a life saving measure. Maybe I'm wrong? And I would probably be inclined to ask the council ranger who my lawyer is to name as the person I would be sue-ing for performing an unauthorised medical procedure on my animal that is not due to a life-threatening injury/illness. (Probably even better if you can get someone from the legal fraternity to do this) Whether that would hold any weight I don't know, but I don't know what else I would do!!!

Aha, yes I've also been told this!! It's the egg yolk that does it and has to be raw. (You've reminded me that's one of the reason my girls get raw eggs every so often!!!).

Glad to hear you had a great time! Training becomes a bit addictive once you start seeing your dogs successes - be careful!!!!

I would say get in as soon as possible. They should be running puppy schools in a location that is safe for puppies that are not fully vacc'd if it is a good puppy school. But I'd definitely want to be starting puppy classes before 12 weeks old.

My dogs always get complimented on how beautiful their coats are (1.5 and 12.5 years old). I think fish is the key!! They oftten get sardines with their dinner, and Emma (12.5yrs) also gets a fish oil capsule every night - theoretically also good for joints, brain function and general body maintainence! They have beautiful soft, shinny, glossy coats!! But don't forget to take into consideration other health issues where you might see an impact on coat if your dog is older.

There are some dog friendly accommodations at Dinner Plain, however I don't know if you are allowed to have dogs up there (non-resident) during the ski season. I have a feeling the property rental place is called Dinner Plain Accommodations - they don't list places as being peet friendly but last time I was up there in the office they had advertised places as pet friendly. I'll see if I can actually find out the right name!!!

I was in your position almost exactly 2 years ago!!! I spoke to everyone at my dog training club who had a dog of the breed I wanted and got recommendations from them about kennels they had dogs from or who they thought were reputable. I was lucky enough that a couple were also breeders and the most important things they told me were the questions to ask any breeders who I spoke to, and what sort of answers I should be hearing from them (so mainly to do with health testing that is done, being able to see results of health testing, being able to meet some of their dogs before necessarily looking at any pups, recommendations from other puppy buyers, etc). They also discussed with me the questions that good breeders should be asking me. I then went to a couple of shows and had a chat to a few breeders and just had a look a the dogs that were there. Then... I short listed about 10 breeders who I thought could offer me what I wanted and contacted them primarily by email with a bit of a blurb about me and what I was looking for in a dog and asked a few questions. Anyone who immediately replied saying they'd love for me to have one of their dogs was immediately struck off the list (I hadn't included what I thought was enough info about me in my first contact for someone to be happy to sell me a puppy - so I sort of felt like these people may not really be the places I wanted a dog from). So I ended up speaking to 3 different breeders all who were excellent. They gave me a lot of information, they asked me a lot of questions, they also recommended other breeders that I may be able to contact. In the end 2 of them had litters at a time that worked well for me, one of them slightly better and that's where young Kenzie came from!! In all honesty it was a decent 6 month process, partly to do with me wanting a pup at the start of my summer holidays (I probably could have had one earlier but I wanted to spend time at home with her at first). If you have a local dog club you can get to ask people who have the breed you're looking for. Speak to breeders even if they don't have a litter right now because good ones will be happy to talk to you about what you MUST know and how to interpret information - they want to promote good breeding and people buying healthy pups of their breed. When you do finally short list the breeders you're interested in there will be an element of "gut-feeling" and usually it's right (just make sure you listen to it before you set eyes on any pups!!!). And as was also said, speak to people in the poodle thread as they will be worth their weight in gold in terms of information. You will end up learning more than you thought was possible on your puppy journey - especially because you've started it on DOL!!!