Author Archives: Cynthia

Today is a good day!

Posted on by
7

Today is a good day! :-) We got our consult from Dr. Overall for Rogue yesterday. Right on schedule with what she said to expect, even though you all know that I’ve been dying to hear from her sooner. LOL

I have to admit, the first thing that she wrote had me in tears. She said, “This is one of the most anxious dogs I have ever seen on video, and she is distressed so much of the time.” Honestly, I felt like a total loser for letting her continue like this for so long. I just kept trying to train through it, hoping it would get better when I should have sought medication for her. After dwelling on that thought, (which wasn’t productive at all) I got through the rest of the consult which outlined her recommendations for the medication and protocols for modifying her behavior. I really think that with the combination of these two things we have a good chance of improving her quality of life.

So, receiving the consult and having a plan to work forward with makes it a good day, but I have another reason too. Something clicked in my brain today, and I thought I’d better write it down so I don’t forget it. I was thinking about what I enjoy about working with the dogs. Of course, I love competing with the dogs in their various sports. But when I really get to thinking about it, the times I have the most fun with the dogs is when we are training. I think it’s because it’s a learning process not just for the dogs, but more often for me. I really enjoy that. I love to learn new things, and I got to thinking what an opportunity Rogue is giving me to learn. The last thing that Dr. Overall said in the consultation was that “these are the dogs who show you the type of person you can–but never expected–to become”. I’m sure that even though I’m beginning to see the trueness of that statement that it will take on even more meaning as time goes by.

Impatiently waiting….

Posted on by
4

It’s been almost a month since we went to the Control Unleashed Seminar and came home with a recommendation from Leslie McDevitt to look into getting Rogue on some anti-anxiety meds.

In the meantime, we’ve contacted Dr. Karen Overall to do a fax consult with the vet here. She agreed. So, we had to fill out a pretty extensive history form for Rogue and then we also did our best to get video of her behavior to send along with it.

The video did not go smoothly at all. First of all, it’s nearly impossible for me to video by myself, so I was waiting around alot for my husband to have time off work, then the weather was cooperating, then when I was sure that I could predict a certain reaction from Rogue in a certain place, she seemed determined to prove me a liar. LOL Eventually, we got some video, although how helpful it will be…I don’t know.

Then the vet’s office temporarily lost Rogue’s records. Come to find out a few days later they had simply mixed her records back into the huge Sheltie Rescue of Utah file, under her previous name, “Bonnie Jean”. Anyway, that’s all straightened out, and I got the history form and video in the mail on the 21st. Supposedly the vet’s office faxed her records at the same time. So, I figure that it should have gotten to Dr. Overall no later than the 24th of Oct.

It normally takes a week to two weeks after it gets to her for her to actually do the consult. So…now I’m waiting. Last Friday would have been a week. I wish I could say that I’m more patient than I am, but instead I feel like I’m counting the minutes, and it’s making the days past awefully slow. LOL I am obsessively checking my email to see if there is any news. I’ll post as soon as I hear anything, and let’s all hope it’s soon! :-)

Roll a Treat Ball

Posted on by
2

Well, I’ve noticed that in the last little while a couple of the dogs and myself have put on some weight. So I thought I’d share something fun that I do with the dogs when I’ve got to reduce their food a bit. Too bad someone doesn’t make me work for my food a little harder too! :-)

One of the things that we do is use the Roll a Treat Ball at breakfast and dinner instead of their usual bowl. That way I can reduce the amount of kibble, but it takes the dogs longer to get it out and eat it. Plus, I like the fact that it gives them something to think about besides just scarfing down the food. They have to work at it.

Here’s Rogue figuring out how to play with the “magic ball”.

Picture 2028 Picture 1999

And finally…success!!!

Picture 2026 Picture 1997

Raven has done this before, so you can see she’s already excited to get started. LOL

Picture 1994

Anyway, it’s just a fun thing that we’ve found that seems to work well for our crew!

More Farm Pictures

Posted on by
3

I’ve been promising to post more pictures when I got home from my parents farm, so here they are. Here’s a couple of shots from the house of the lovely views.

Picture 2047

 

Picture 2094

Picture 2105

 

And here’s a couple shots of the sunrise from the front porch the last morning I was there.

Picture 2126

If you look close in this one you can see the lake that Penny likes.

Picture 2122

Here’s some of the usual characters from the farm. First, here’s the chickens. They have run of the whole 20 acres. Makes it difficult to find eggs, unless you really know where the nests are. LOL

Picture 2050 Picture 2058

Then here’s one of the goat kids from this past year, her name is “Lily”, and the old, (did I mention OLD) bull “Curly”

Picture 2070 Picture 2079

This is “Curly” again napping in the sunshine. He is the sweetest bull you’d ever want to meet.

Picture 2077

So, there’s a glimpse of the week at the farm. Hope you enjoy!

Back to the Farm

Posted on by
2

Well, posting on this blog is probably pretty unlikely this week. I’m going to be spending the week up at my parents place taking care of chores on the farm while they are in Oregon. I won’t have access to my computer or internet while I’m there. So…I’ll try to get some pictures while I’m up there and if I get a chance to come home during the week, I’ll try to get them on here. Otherwise, it’ll just have to wait till next week.

We have company

Posted on by
5

Our friends had to go to California, so we’ve got their Rottie, Meeka here visiting till Wednesday. She’s a loveable goof! I’d swear that she thinks she the same size as the Shelties, so she tries to follow them everywhere and bumps into and knocks things over in the process. LOL You couldn’t ask for a sweeter girl though. Lucy loves it when she comes to visit because she usually brings a stuffed toy from home. Lucy always steals it and destuffs it immediately. The last time Meeka came, her mom sent an old partially destuffed toy, (think she’s trying to tell us something?)

I have to say though, when she goes home, I never miss having a pool of water constantly sitting on the floor around the water bowls! Makes it dangerous to walk around without shoes, unless you like wet feet. I think half the water she drinks spills back out of her mouth onto the floor. Anyway, all in all, she’s a great guest! I’ll have to search through and see if I’ve got any pictures of her that I can post. If not, I’ll have to take some.