Bet you can't wait to go and collect her x Good luck with the recovery ,quite a challenging time ahead but you know to pop on here is you need some cheer leading and support x
Hoping all is going well, that Mabel is recovering nicely and you are all okay. Continued good thoughts and prayers being sent your way!
Just catching up with Mabel's ED as I've been away on holiday and I can guess how you've been feeling trying to understand everything the specialist says while feeling devastated that you little girl is suffering - I know how I felt when Juno's diagnosis was made (fragmentation of the coronoid process, together with some malformation of the joint and an ulna which is longer than it should be). We've been through surgery, recovery, hydrotherapy and gradually back to having fun. Juno loves retrieving, particularly from water, running to retrieve her ball and playing on walks with her bestest friend - oh and mad bumtucks around the garden when she feels like it. So try not to let it get you down (easier said than done I know) bit with a good plan Mabel can still have a full and active life. Please let us know how she is after her op, fingers crossed that all is well with her.
Thank you, I have read some of your posts and Juno is such a little star. Mabel is so chilled she has taken everything so well. We collected her yesterday and I was expecting this poor little lame puppy. No chance she came bounding towards me doing massive body wriggles never mind wagging just her tail. The nurse said she's gorgeous full of energy and raring to go. She wasn't worried about anything just wanted their attention and to play. I'm hoping it will continue knowing Mabel I think it will. She is now on restricted exercise of 4x5 mins walks a day. After which gradual lead exercise is to be increased but no off lead walking. I'm going to have to be really imaginative with our walk destinations as the park is going to be out of bounds. Her little friends are super boisterous. How it should be I'm actually really concerned about the socialisation side. I've worked so hard since she was 11 weeks my girl has been everywhere. I'm just going to have a little rant, you may want to skip this bit. I'm lucky at the bottom of my curl de sac is a small green with a brook and a public foot path running alongside. I check first that there is no one about and take Mabel for her first little walk. There is a women who lives in the next road to me, as she approaches she lets her 10 month cockepoo off the lead to greet Mabel. Jumping all over us. Mabel things great, puppy frenzy starts. I have Mabel sandwiched between my thighs one arm on her chest the other arm pushing this puppy away. Woman says oh I didn't know your dog was frightened and you have mud on your shorts. I explained about Mabel and she said that's all to do with their genes. Can't believe you bought a puppy with faulty genes. I'm speechless. Walk back in the house and shout to my husband life is B *****ks. He says I know give us a hug. Feel better now. I'm feeling really positive now, as I have seen from other posts this is a battle that can be won. She has a brilliant specialist I'm following his instructions to the letter. Fun things in life may be hold for now, we are missing our training school fun day next week. It won't be for ever. Thank you for all your continuing support. Xx
Hey,feel free to rant away - it's not a problem for me as I vividly recall the tears, despair and disbelief to begin with but that now seems so long ago . You showed a lot me restraint than I think I would at the cockerpoo's owners ignorance and lack of understanding let alone letting her dog off to jump all over Mabel. One thing I try to remember is that even clear x-rays for the parents (Juno's both had perfect elbow and hip scores) does not guarantee a pup without HD or ED as according to my specialist it can throw up after 4 or 5 generations as it is just the luck, or lack of it, of the genes inherited. I'm feeling jealous that you get 4 x 5 minute walks a day, that's one more than we were allowed and we weren't allowed to start increasing 's the duration until 4 weeks after the operation but I guess it's all down to the different surgeries. It was only when Juno was diagnosed and I started researching Elbow Dysplasia that I discovered how complex it is and how many different forms it can take. I so agree with you this is a battle that can be won, we just fight it one day at a time . If you ever feel like a rant, always feel free to message me
So forgot to say, I would limit exposure to other dogs at the moment, particularly if it would involve jumping around. We didn't really go out with Juno until she was upto a 10 minute walk, one of the downsides of being so rural, it used to take half our walk time to get to the bottom of the drive. Can you take Mabel out in the car and park close to a park for a short walk? If Mabel is like Juno she will come through with out too many problems even if she doesn't socialise very much over the coming weeks. Juno, as we described it, had "forgotten" some of her manners when she was first going out and seeing the big wide world, but nothing serious which wasn't smoothed out over a week or so of walks and high value treats.
Thanks MaccieD, exposing her to other dogs is a massive no no, that's why I was so upset I've just seen a lady with a greyhound and she just shouted from 50 yards I'll wait behind this hedge until you've passed. Nice and thoughtful. Within 5 minutes of my house it's completely rural I've just bought an ordnance survey map so I can check out some obscure footpaths. I'm so thrilled for you Juno is going well. Xx
Have fun exploring, but work out a plan of action in case you meet other dogs although of course you don't get very far when it's 2.5 minutes each way. One suggestion I found in a book recommended by JulieT is to have an umbrella with you so if you see another dog you can raise the umbrella in front of your dog to block sight of the other dog. Might seem a bit weird in hot sunny weather but worth a try . I guess the upside of being rural was once we could get out we could walk along our country road with no chance of meeting another dog but could see sheep, cows and horses as went walked along plus of course the local farmers on their tractors. How long are you on restricted walks for?
Other dogs running up are a total pain in the bottom. It's bad enough when your dog is off lead, but when they are on lead it's just awful. Charlie is, and has always been, super excited to meet other dogs but I can get him to stay calm now - apart from when they are in his face, as in right in his face, jumping all over him. I've tried the umbrella, and a water pistol - hopeless. I got in such a mess trying to work water pistol/umbrella and they just took my attention off Charlie and managing the situation. Might be good if your dog is a lot calmer than Charlie is though. Throwing treats can buy you a few seconds, but after the dog has eaten the treats it will head back toward you and likely make it harder for the owner to recall it. Still, it's useful if, say, you are putting your dog in your car or something like that (ie you have an immediate escape). The best bet, I think, is to: Keep away from places with a lot of off lead dogs - and as much as possible walk where it's reasonable to expect dogs to be on lead. If an off lead dog approaches, call out to the other owner right away to get their dog - firmly and politely, but don't think you have to explain yourself, you can explain later. Step off the footpath if another on lead dog is heading towards you, and if it looks like the owner is going to let their dog drag them over to say hello (or the dog is on an extendable lead), call out straight away to the other owner. If you are faced with an approaching off lead dog, I stand on Charlie's lead (with a knot in it) so he can't do much and ward off the other dog - usually by holding out my hand, taking a step towards it and saying "back off". It works often enough to try it but it doesn't always work. If there is no other choice, I'll take the other dog by the collar and hold it as far away from Charlie as I can (an arm) and do the same with Charlie with the other arm and wait for the owner to arrive. If there are two of us, we'll put the other dog on a spare lead and return it to the owner (if we can). As for the woman who told you that you shouldn't have bought a dog with faulty genes....I can think of many wonderful comments about the likely state of her children and her own Estimated Breeding Value, but they are best remaining in my head, I think.
Just catching up as been away for a few days. I'm glad the op went well and Mabel is recovering well You can get leads and collars that say things like 'in training' and other things - might be worth seeing if they have them saying 'just had surgery' or 'Injured'??
Glad to hear the op went well - that's the first hurdle cleared. Hope you can find some quiet places to walk.
Thanks Julie for making me laugh and offering such good advice. I can't walk past another dog with Mabel she is just so friendly. From the sound of it she is pretty much like Charlie (who I think is pretty amazing, with everything he has gone through) If the other dog isn't approachable I have to do sit, watch me etc until they had walked passed. I have a feeling that's not going to work I'm literally going to have to restrain her. The park is definitely to be avoided about 99% are off lead it is such a friendly fun place. I actually think we won't be back in the park for a long time. It's going to be the same with the woods sometimes Mabel and I haven't seen a person then other times it's been busy, so I can't risk it. She is on 4x5 min walks for 3 weeks and then I can slowly build up her on lead walking. I'm in no rush with her because in the bigger picture these coming weeks will shape the rest of her life, and I want them to be as full and happy as possible. She has had a good day, the 5 minutes walk are actually enough for her. She does get fretful during the day, kongs are invaluable they help immensely. I'm continuing with the training for our silver award. She really enjoyed the couple of minutes we did this morning and this afternoon. I just wish she'd sleep a little more. All in all reLly happy with her first full day at home.
Sounds like you've both managed really well today.If you don't mind the mess save up your cardboard containers,little boxes,toilet rolls,kitchen rolls etc and put a few bits of kibble in them,she can chew them up to get to the food.It's not an activity that lasts for ages but she might settle down to sleep after a chew and you haven't used up large amount of food like you can do in a kong x.
I've been keeping up with Mabel's progress, so glad to hear surgery went well. Felt so frustrated for you with the other dogs and owners issues. People love to offer all they "know" don't they? I have to bite my tongue every time people tell me about how chocolate labs are not as intelligent and are more spastic than mellow yellows. They seem to feel sure they know what they are talking about (and my crazy Myles does tend to make them think they have a case ). Mabel sounds like Myles in terms of loving everyone and wanting to play. I bet her socialization will be just fine. That's just my opinion with these pups that are very friendly and playful with dogs and people. Myles does not get a lot of exposure to other dogs or even people (admittedly it's easier to avoid when I know I will physically have to restrain him), but whenever he does it's always licks and body wags. I mean he has NO manners (not for lack of training effort, just SLOW progress), but he's still very loveable . Thanks for sharing with us about Mabel. I do actually pray for these pups and their ailments. She's on my list
I bought a couple of the activity toys for Juno while on restricted exercise and we played with them in the evening when we would normally be playing in the evening. I found the mental activity helped tire her out. Also used special treats so it was even more rewarding.
Thanks, I felt really silly when I read this as I'd had a green friendly lead until she had chewed it to bits one day while I had coffee with my friends in the local bistro . I've just ordered an orange no dogs collar and lead. I wanted the coat but it's fleece lined. I shall be saving up small boxes for her and playing games, I don't mind mess, it's her middle name.
Oh, bless her, it's amazing how much fun they can have with some boxes, paper and treats. I was lucky with Juno and didn't have to use a collar during the day, just at night when we weren't around, as she didn't try to touch her bandages, wound or stitches.
This lunchtime I thought I was going to have a heart attack. After our little walk Mabel runs in the house and starts doing a huge bum tuck. Jumped on the furniture but from the side over the arm, ran along the furniture and flew through the air landing on the carpet. I have never ever seen her do this before she was crazy. I managed to man handler her to the safety of the hall so she could calm down. Talk about scared, I am so worried but she seems fine!! I can only assume those joints of hers are feeling better than they have ever felt before. In future she after walks she will be confined to the hall and kitchen with a chew.
