JaneW

I agree that a professional one-on-one trainer may be in order here. There is a risk of making it worse by doing the wrong thing or even of not doing the right thing consistently enough. Someone who understands dog body language is probably needed. When Greta sees another dog and then starts sniffing around and seems to be ignoring it, that's a huge red flag that she is preparing to confront the dog, and I have to step in immediately to get her attention and require her to behave. It doesn't seem that your dog will do that, but the behavior may not mean quite what you think it does. Greta is sort of the opposite of yours in her ultimate response, but it may require the same sort of dedication and knowledge I had to get in order to short-circuit the reaction and have a well-behaved and relaxed dog.

Surely it's absurd to say that material an animal's own body has already processed and rejected is nutritious and good for it to eat? But I'm not a scientist, so I could be wrong. This is also rather silly: "he goes on to say that dogs are: carnivore, vegetarian,... and omnivore." Any animal that eats both plant matter and meat is an omnivore, period. Any real animal expert would know that.

That's great news!

No advice, but I'll be interested to read other comments. Greta was a stuffy killer at the adoption foster home, and we took one for her when we got her and they laughed that it wouldn't survive the trip home, but she still has it and all the others that we've given her! She is quite gentle with them all here.

Greta played with a rabbit (played, not toyed!) yesterday! It was under a shrub near the fence and kept trying to run away, but Greta would pounce at it to make it dart back under the shrub and out the other side, then she'd repeat the action in the other direction. Over and over till the rabbit finally made a run for it. She just stood and watched it go with a "Oh, are we done?" look on her face. Then she sniffed around casually to see if there were any more rabbits under the bush before tending to her morning business. This dog thinks squirrels and cats are for killing, but plays with rabbits. There are often rabbits in the yard and I thought she was becoming somewhat predatory toward them lately, but maybe she's just trying to get them to play... And why are rabbits any different than squirrels and cats ! I don't mind--I'm happy not to have to euthanize an injured rabbit and they do surprisingly little damage in my yard (they can't get at the vegetables).

First, glad no one was hurt! Contrary to what some here have said, it's my opinion that Alex started it by persistently standing over the other dog and not backing off when it objected. Greta does this, too. Dogs don't do that by accident or mistake. If they don't mean to to do it, they back off when told to by the other dog. It's a rude, pushy, and bossy behavior. To people who don't know dog body language it looks completely innocuous! I caught Greta doing it to my sister's most dominant dog at Xmas. Even after he snarled and we told them both to stop it, she kept going over to him and standing right up against him in spite of his trying to walk away. To most people it would have looked cute and friendly, but was in reality just the opposite (We separated them for a while till Greta mellowed). I forgot to add--reading some dog behavior books can be very helpful. The Other End of the Leash is a good one.

Greta hates most stairs and has never set foot on either of the staircases in our house! She did learn to do stairs outdoors, mostly under duress.

It took Greta 18 months to learn that I wanted her to walk on leash without pulling! And another 6 months for her stop testing every day whether I really meant it. I had tried every humane dog training technique out there, including a class early on (she did fine in the class, but still not on walks). What finally go her attention was a combination of me forcing her to walk right behind me when she pulled, me jumping in front of her and putting my foot on anything she tried to sniff, and me pushing her aside whenever she stepped in front of me. When I implemented these techniques, which I just made up out of sheer frustration one day, she finally began to respond to me on the other end of the leash. Nothing else had worked, and again, I had tried everything! I had tried each technique for a month to be sure I had learned to do it right. She simply did not make the connection between her behavior and my reaction until I did those things.

Unfortunately she was not pushing to guide me toward home! If she wants to go home, she points her nose that way and refuses to move in any other direction. She appears to have learned the cues that mean I'll cut the walk short! I did cut it short because of the horrible wind chill that had me nearly shivering in spite of being all bundled up. With Greta, changing directions makes me dizzy and has no effect on her at all. Bumping her with my knee is very effective. In extreme situations facing her down with an angry expression/voice and walking into her chest straightens her out. She is not a timid, gentle, or eager-to-please dog ! Her collar has to be tight up under her jaw, I have to walk like I'm an arrogant jerk, and NILIF is so rigorously practiced that she will instantly sit when she really wants something (except a longer walk, obviously!). She is really very well behaved most of the time and very good on leash. So when she isn't, it comes as a surprise!

Greta decided the evening walk would be on her terms tonight. She is not allowed to walk in front of me because when I let her she thinks she can do whatever she wants--and with her that's not safe! She stepped in front repeatedly tonight! And we had a shoving match at one point when I shortened the leash so she couldn't. She tried to push me aside several times before giving up. Now, I did discover after we got home that I'm not feeling quite well, so my body language was probably already indicating that. I do envy people who have dogs that show concern when their owners are not well, instead of trying to take advantage like Greta does !

Thanks Kennelmom! The pics are a big help! I never quite know when I'm getting close and have nipped the quicks a few times.

I use one--Greta won't tolerate clippers. She used to not like the Dremel, but now she comes running and flops right down in the right place! I have no idea what changed her mind about it.

Thanks, I'll check them out! I used KV once years ago--it was definitely not a discount place then.

I need a new affordable supplier who sells Comfort Tabs, bulk glucosamine/msm/chondroitin (such as Ultra-Flex Plus powder) and prescription heartworm meds. I used Discount Pet meds a couple times and was perfectly happy with them, but they seem to be gone. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

Ok, Greta will have her blood thoroughly tested for all know strains of Bartonella (humans are only tested for 2! I want my blood sent to the vet's lab!). She had one blood sample taken today and will have one Wed. and one Fri. On the one hand, I hope she does have it so that I will have a better idea of what I most likely have, but on the other, I hope she doesn't because the vet says the treatment is very hazardous to the animal's health. He says Bartonella is becoming resistant to Zithromax, and stronger, nastier "cocktails" are needed. I'm on a cocktail myself and am too groggy from it to work.

Just adding my bit. I've had Greta 6 years and right now she will allow me to cuddle her a bit--she has an infected toe and doesn't feel too well--but she is not really comfortable with it. Normally, I know she loves me because of how happy and incredibly obedient she gets when I say "Let's take a walk"!

VPI has been ok for me so far, though the annual premium increases now that Greta is a senior are painful. The premium, which includes some coverage for well-care and inoculations, is up to about $400 per year. Where I am, veterinary care is VERY expensive, so just a few injuries and illnesses during the policy period usually result in my getting my premium back.

That much limping from no known cause--vet sooner rather than later, I think. Greta frequently limps, but not that much and there is almost always an identifiable reason (chased something, slipped while running, stung by a bee,etc.)

I am so glad I'm not paranoid about OS (no offense intended to anyone who is!) because I would be a basket case with Greta if I were! I'm here to tell you, there are many more likely causes. Greta has a "bad shoulder" from racing, a misaligned lumbar vertebra, a worn-out knee, and is constantly pulling or straining one thing or another (her groin, for instance!) because she has no idea that she is almost 10 and her body just can't handle the fast maneuvers anymore.

Luckily, the vet says the infection is really minor. Greta is tolerating the antibiotic very well--I think it makes her feel a little uncomfortable shortly after she ingests it, but not actually sick. I never skimp on the antibiotics! I recently had an antibiotic-resistant type of infection myself, so I am paranoid about "super-bugs".

The infection is not too bad, and she now has antibiotics to take. I will also continue to soak her toe in the antiseptic a couple times a day and keep her foot covered with a sock until there is no longer any danger of her compulsively licking the injury.

We have pet insurance--it covers less every year and the premium is skyrocketing now that Greta is a "senior". Greta tends to be allergic to topical antibiotics so I've been using a antiseptic wash instead. I used the socks to let the wound air--they are old thin cotton. Greta doesn't like wearing a muzzle, but I will do that if I have to. I do have the wound bound up right now to keep it from oozing all over--which it started to do after her very short morning walk--and to keep the toe from moving, which clearly aggravates the injury. I have done one warm water soak, but no Epsom salts. Greta is allergic to so much that I don't use anything if I don't know if it's safe. I will keep checking the toe and doing warm soaks until we go to the vet. She has a vet appt this afternoon. They had to figure out where to squeeze her into their full schedule, so I will expect a long wait in the waiting room.

A week ago Greta apparently got a minor cut on the side of her toe. I discovered it the next morning after she had licked it into a raw mess. I thoroughly washed and disinfected it and then made "booties" out of old socks to cover it. It was healing well--though she tried to lick it through the socks, which had to be changed several times a day--until Wednesday when lack of exercise got too much for her and she suddenly sprinted across the backyard and burst the cut wide open. I had been disinfecting it every time I changed the sock, so I just kept doing that, but now it's infected. Off to the vet once I get an appt. We are going to run out of money, that's all there is to it. Doctors, dentist, vets,... Well, this isn't the Rant forum.

I said "reliable". I worked hard with Greta after she got loose at my sister's house, and now "Greta! Come!" means "CHEESE!" to her. A command she will only ignore is she is so distracted the words don't penetrate. Even so, she is never ever off leash in a non enclosed area.

Sounds like my life with Greta! Dog body language can be very subtle--you notice Duke's (which is great), but the other dog may be posturing, too, and setting him off. Greta still ticks off other dogs just by raising the base of her tail a little! I require Greta to stop and sit behind me whenever she begins reacting too strongly to another dog (with me between her and the other dog and me facing the other one). Basically, I'm requiring her to be passive and letting me deal with the situation, not punishing her, just taking charge. I also put her on the opposite side of me from other dogs in order to walk past. Now, she will often just move to my other side when she sees another dog that she doesn't like.