Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-Up Friday, the post where I highlight reader’s comments, answer questions and in general just wrap up the week.

You Make Me Laugh – March 30, 2014

Most of your dogs know the names for the creatures they hunt in their yard or on their walks.

This one was unusual.  Kim said, “This is really crazy, but for some reason, known only to Josh, since he was a puppy, the words ‘chop-chop’ have him doing something pretty similar to what Delilah does. It wasn’t that I taught him those words, because I really didn’t, he just seems to know them, and he’s the only one that reacts to it.

Chop-chop, huh?

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, “I think you should of dumped a bucket of water down the hole for chippie to come running out.”

Thank Dog I didn’t think of that.  Can you imagine the chaos?

Animal Couriers asked, “That must have led to a very muddy pup – can you see the mud on Delilah?”

I can see the mud on Delilah’s nose, but I don’t see it anywhere else.

The Dog is Not the Problem…it’s Me

Genevieve said, “That’s one of the first things we learned at dog school. It’s rarely the dog’s fault.”

I believe that with all of my heart, just in the midst of something that’s not working out, or something I haven’t foreseen, I panic.  How can I expect my dog to understand what I want from her if I can’t communicate it properly?

Carol Bondy said, “Yes…luke would act the same way..and it terrifies me when they come charging like that..and….you never know…some dogs will go thru that…and the battery might be low..who knows…cant trust those fences. We are terrified and know theres an elec fence…our dogs dont.”

I worry about that as well Carol, which is why I carry a pepper blaster.  I would hate to have to use it, but my dogs have both been attacked before and keeping them safe is my job.

Jan K said, “What’s even more difficult for me is making sure my hubby and I are both using the same words when training Luke. I was saying “off” and he was saying “down”.”

You hit the nail on the head with that one!!  I use “down” for when I want Delilah to lie down.  But Hubby says “lay down” and I think that is why she is constantly getting up. 🙂

Elyse and Riley said, “When I took Riley to her very first obedience class when she was a puppy, one of the first things the trainer taught us was to choose a word for a command and stick with that same word. He also told us to not make the mistake of “teaching our dogs to count” by repeating the same command 5 or 6 times until our dog finally sat (or whatever the command was). Every time I’m out somewhere with Riley (or without her) and we’re around other dogs and their owners, I kind of smile when I hear people saying “Rex, sit. Sit, Rex, sit. Sit. Sit. Sit! Good boy,” because I think “Wow, Rex can count to 6!”

I love that.  And yet, I find myself repeating my commands too.  🙁

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “Siriusly, though, I’m a certified dog trainer and I have to constantly stop myself from repeating the same cue over and over again, like “sit, sit, sit, sit.””

It’s easy to do when you aren’t getting the results you want.

Sampson Update

First the comments, then another update.

Rebekah asked, “Have you thought about Bach’s Rescue Remedy?”

I hadn’t thought about using that.  What I think the real problem was, I went to work then came home for the Holistic Vet and then went back to work.  So cone, no cone then cone again.  Additionally we got some warmer weather and I think the room was bit stuffy for him.  I’ve taken to leaving the window open and he seems much better.

Animal Couriers said, “Imagine removing the cone from the equation will be the best stress reducer – when can you do that?”

He has to stay in the cone until the staples come out which is next Wednesday.

Lauranne asked, “I know it’s not much but could you try making all (or the vast majority) of his meals out of his kong?”

We feed raw and I don’t think I would attempt his meals that way.  I could however fix him a fruity Kong.

2 Brown Dawgs asked, “Are you walking him and pottying him with the cone on?”

No.  The physical therapist said to remove the cone when we walk, that a dog will assume the correct posture when the cone is off.

Sand Spring Chesapeakes asked, “Do you at least take it off for a bit when you are by him?”

Yes.  The only time he is in the cone is when I am at work.  At night we sleep in the same bed and I attach a small leash to his collar and my wrist so if he moves I wake up and can make sure he’s not going at the staples.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom asked, “Do you have a radio or TV that you can put in the office with him?

I do and I have.  Thank you for the suggestion.

Peggy said, “When we first got Ike he was really stressed. We tried everything. And guess what worked? The CD Through a Dog’s Ear.”

I’m glad you found something that works with Ike!  I don’t happen to have that CD and we only have five more days to go, two of which are the weekend and one is half a day when he goes to have the staples removed.

Update to the update: Hubby and I noticed that Sampson’s inner knee looked abnormally swollen.  I took him to the Vet who drew fluid and observed it under the microscope.  Sampson has a Seroma the circumference of a small orange.  A Seroma is a pocket of fluid, our Vet does not recommend draining it as it tends to fill up again and it can become infected.  We are dropping his PT back to twice a day and hot compresses instead of ice.

Life Outside the Gate

We Live in a Flat asked, “How long does Sampson need to be resting?”

12 weeks of no running, no jumping and no off-leash outdoors. 🙁

Jan K asked, “Maybe if you switch around what you’re using to put the pills in….try liverwurst one time, something else another, etc., he won’t catch on that way?”

That’s a great idea.  I wonder if he’ll take the coconut oil again?  I’ll have to try it.  I think it helps that we eliminated three pills in the last couple days.

Jenna, Mark “Husky Crazed” Drady asked, “Can we vote daily? Or just a one time thing?”

I believe you are able to vote daily, however there was a problem with the Linky List and I know Jodi was working on getting it resolved, so please keep checking back.  I NEED THE VOTES!

Houndstooth said, “Would giving him some stuff in a Kong help?

I’m not sure, but it’s definitely worth considering.

Here’s the trick that Carol told me for the Liverwurst.  First I break the pills into two doses and wrap the Liverwurst around the pills so it looks like a small meatball.  Then I cut a third slice, I place them all in the palm of my hand and offer the first one to him, then the second immediately following and finally the third.  It works folks.

That’s it for me, I hope you have an awesome weekend and thank you all for the support, I really couldn’t get through this without you!