update on Xena

[kristina]

Xena had her stitches out on Friday just gone 6th June the vet said she was just fine and could resume her usual activities!!!! I was just a bit concerned on this as thought well she has had quite a big op here similar to our own hysterectomy that some women have so I have not her pushed at all she seems fine but have noticed that she tires quickly after playing around for awhile.I have taken her for short walks but that tires her for a bit then she is up for it again.I took her to school today she was quiet and reserved worked well but nothing strenuous for her.I feel she needs a longer time to recover so will be doing no fly ball for at least at 3 weeks.The trainer that took us today has suggested a couple of routines for Xena the weave is 1,between my legs,the other for her to just walk backwards also concentrate on the mat sending her onto it and getting her to just stay there until recall,nothing full on like bat and ball but just catch the ball from a short distance.

B-|Have to say she jumped the side fence today bout 3' high straight into my neighbors garden as my neighbor was chatting to me  (front garden)I was horrified and panicked and ran round to get her Xena not concerned at all and enjoyed her visit.


Also forgot to say that the beautiful Coskian shepherd pup (sorry can't spell it) well her and Xena sat together in the car park at the dog school while the owner and I had a long chat this morning this is truly a beautiful dog but very big.Well I just look forward to getting back to normal with Xena and her agility stuff and some good long walks,big thunder storm this evening too she never even blinked,me I hate them.Kristina

[Adrianne]

I love reading your news with Xena, don't ever stop....we have a soap opera of our very own in Xena' story its a great documentation of your ups and downs, the emotions and realities. priceless. x

[kristina]

Thanks Adrianne well here's the latest this dog of mine certainly has a mind of her own and I feel she is winning here,always said she has a  stubborn streak well today she proved it hands down.Took her for her morning walk on her Halti!! well she hates it full time,pulls against it like a train I then think this is so not good so I take it off and she is on her collor,she still pulls like a train with all the will in the world and tit bits to die for she just hates the lead.I was beside myself by the time we got home an hour and half of constant pulling I am pretty much worn out my arms are killing me.So this evening I took her out just on her Loopi no clip on her collor just on this harness,well she was ace,she felt I thought 'free', and she was good just ran by my side she won't come CLOSE/HEEL unless we get to cross a road but we both had a really good walk I let her just run well trot in the grass verges down the road,my commands to her were sharp and positive and she responded instantly-wait-sit-come.Have to say I actually did some trotting myself few mins at a time,then steady some slow walking then again trot she knows whats what here.She was happy and so was I but I don't like this Loopi harness it's thin no body to it and I don't feel it's that safe,any ideas on an improvement? Kristina

[Jordan]

Can't help you Kristina but I know what you mean about the loopi, i got one for Domino way back and apart from trying it on him its never been out the box ! Like you I didn't feel it was up for the job.

[Adrianne]

I have a couple of lupi harnesses, I think that they would chaff if a dog has one on for a long walk, the fact that they are so lightweight helps some dogs and I only use mine for demo reasons - and on dogs with any neck/spinal/hip injuries, but they fall off easily cant be used wth a seatbelt, have limited control....I used one on a hyperactive dog last week (I had forgotten to pack my halti body harness)and it did demonstrate that a control harness was better than what she was using, changing the posture of the dog worked well but I directed her to using a front clipping halti body harness...they are nicely padded and easy to fit ..I have used a medium on a large gsd when I left my large at home...very versatile ...my first choice is a gentle leader ..but its not right for some.

[kristina]

Totally understand what you mean about the chaffing it worried me too so I tend to keep it as loose as I dare but then she could so easily just slip out of it too,going to do some hard research now on different harnesses I feel for her it will be a compromise right now I will do just about anything to just keep the pulling to a level I can deal with and keep this dog happy.
This morning a road walk on the Halti well for goodness sake we got so far and she layed down and refused to move!!!! several people stopped in the cars and asked if she was OK!!! I know what she's doing just a protest,however today I did not give in so we stayed for about 20mins until I put her training on the full length and just started to walk away without saying a word she got up and started to follow me it was then loads of praise and encouragement  and she sulked all the way home but I won this morning.Kristina

[Adrianne]

having a giggle at that .. it is common in young adolescent dogs to just stop walking! you did the right thing , it can often be attributed to 'growing pains' sore knees etc.. but often a bit of teenage behaviour about wanting to do something else instead ( like stay at the park for five mins more fun) in the latter, it is remedied by just choosing a new route home, in the former, a little rest and rewards for moving on once more when ready.. can be awkward - Kaiser one of my gsd's weighing in at 45kilos lay down in middle of a main road! got him up for him to take two steps and back down he went! Thanks Kaiser! traffic was held up for a few minutes - while a concerned driver thought I was attending a dog that had been hit by a car...I love dogs!

[Kimmikins]

Bless little Xena, she's clearly entering her adolescence isn't she Great work on standing your ground and getting her moving...even if she did sulk all the way home (I keep giggling when I picture her sulking!)

My last dog was incredibly lazy; loved the process of going for walks, loved leaving the house etc etc...but he'd get to the end of the road or slightly farther and then he was done. He would just plop his little butt down and that was it - he'd end up in somebody's coat for the rest of the way! He loved it!

[kristina]

Thanks guys,well today I gave Xena a real treat and drove to her favourite  road,have to say I was nervous about the fact I knew I would be on my own here no one around apart from the odd tractor but hey one has to take a chance anyhow she went on her Loopi very loose fitting and we walked for 3miles it's a very long lane  and she just loved it and was good I enjoyed it myself,played bat and ball this afternoon did some sort of training!!! was too hot to do much, this evening we went up our own road again with just the Loopi met Barley she was over the moon to see him and he was the same but after about 5 mins they both settled down and sat and Barley's owner and I had a chat,a really good day for both of us she is now a contended  little girl curled up under my feet,her little stitch marks are fading fast  and her coat is growing back over her belly.Kristina