Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg57329#msg57329 date=1393446382] Just think of how many lovely walks you will be having this time next year, and not to mention our meet up sometime in summer, i have 10 weeks off for summer this year, so lots of spare time to have a meet up [/quote] Yes, for sure. I'll finish my work, and Charlie will finish his recovery - then we'll play all summer! That's the plan, anyway...the worst case scenario is my busy work lasts until August (but I'm hoping to get lucky and finish up in July again, I've managed that the last 2 years now). But even August is not too bad. I love late summer.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg57333#msg57333 date=1393446722] [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg57329#msg57329 date=1393446382] Just think of how many lovely walks you will be having this time next year, and not to mention our meet up sometime in summer, i have 10 weeks off for summer this year, so lots of spare time to have a meet up [/quote] Yes, for sure. I'll finish my work, and Charlie will finish his recovery - then we'll play all summer! That's the plan, anyway...the worst case scenario is my busy work lasts until August (but I'm hoping to get lucky and finish up in July again, I've managed that the last 2 years now). But even August is not too bad. I love late summer. [/quote] August will be fine, my holiday starts mid june until the end of august i think, but not quite sure. Puzzle will have a wonderful time playing with charlie, barley might come depends on what he is like and how his allergies are holding up.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg57341#msg57341 date=1393447407] Puzzle will have a wonderful time playing with charlie, barley might come depends on what he is like and how his allergies are holding up. [/quote] I'm back in August!!!!!But of course with no dog!!!!Maybe I could borrow Puzzle for the Doggy Date?then Barley could come too......I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try it the other way round Annabelle ;D ;D Mind you,I'm back to be at a wedding in Scotland so maybe it will be a case of so near ,so far,come on Scottish gang,we need to get a Doggy Date sorted!!who can I borrow up there? ;D x
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie ooh on your august trip you can borrow brodick in the heavily populated with breeding wildlife area of the hill if you like ;D. the duck families will be back with us in the summer. Brodick's favourite...how are you at catching labradors sprinting through muddy bogs on a duck promise..... . so glad Charlie is in such good hands...you're going to have a lovely summer of playing...
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=debsie link=topic=4619.msg57376#msg57376 date=1393482855] ...how are you at catching labradors sprinting through muddy bogs on a duck promise..... . [/quote] I'd try! don't rely on me for success though!think I'd bring him a camel and see if I could distract him back with that ;D Julie,have a great visit with Charlie,photos,videos if you can manage please xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I will be dog sitting last week in July/first in August. But my friend has 5 labs to choose from ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Dexter link=topic=4619.msg57370#msg57370 date=1393468665] [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg57341#msg57341 date=1393447407] Puzzle will have a wonderful time playing with charlie, barley might come depends on what he is like and how his allergies are holding up. [/quote] I'm back in August!!!!!But of course with no dog!!!!Maybe I could borrow Puzzle for the Doggy Date?then Barley could come too......I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try it the other way round Annabelle ;D ;D Mind you,I'm back to be at a wedding in Scotland so maybe it will be a case of so near ,so far,come on Scottish gang,we need to get a Doggy Date sorted!!who can I borrow up there? ;D x [/quote] Yes sure, she won't mind as long as she gets a ball and food she will go to anyone ;D ;D No, i don't let my brothers walk barley let alone someone who just met him, he is hard work but his handsomness makes it all worth it . I am in suffolk, so a bit far from scotland, but could be a day out to come meet ginger nut and grumpy, and of course chocolate charlie for a doggy date
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Just been to see my boy. I'd say he is doing about fine. He is in a low, smaller kennel because guess what? Yup, as soon as the sleepy drugs wore off, and he was in a full height kennel, he put his paws up on the mesh door to better see what was going on. : He did it once and faster than you can say "oh no you don't" they had him moved to a crate type kennel. Physically, he is quite good. He stood on his right, injured leg to have a pee! And I'd say he is now as comfortable on it as before the op. There is some swelling and bruising now, as normal, and if his assessment this afternoon goes ok (which is to sort of "base line" his physical state so they know if various treatments make him better or worse), he'll start having his leg iced - which they think he'll be ok with. His skin is obviously a bit itchy (he was sent home with treatments for clipper rash etc), and the second I took his cone off he reached for the wound (cone on, then). He spends a little time settling down on his fleece getting comfy, but he is bending his leg ok. In himself, I'd describe him as "subdued" - which is not surprising, he is in a kennel with a cone on his head. But definitely not depressed. There is nothing to suggest he is anxious, or fearful. He wasn't as engaged with me as normal - it was interesting. He was super interested in his surroundings - intense attention to any person or dog that walked by, or a noise anywhere else in the cottage (it's a small place, the kennels are in a modified cottage) but I didn't have that level of attention from him. I think it's a reflection that, suddenly, other people can also be the source of food, play, and activity. He reminded me a bit of a prisoner waiting and watching out for the good bits in his routine! His routine is documented on a clip board down to the amount of water he has taken in, and even whether he was wagging his tail or not after his ear drops got done this morning! They continue to describe him as "as good as gold" and say he has been absolutely silent, which I'm pleased about, as there is another noisy dog nearby, and I don't want him coming home having learned to bark and enjoy the sound of his own voice - not that I mind dogs barking, it's just I like it more that Charlie doesn't bark). They also describe him as having being trained to stay very much under control - slightly hinting that I've over done it. Which I find a little odd. I have tried very, very, hard, but my assessment is that I've had only moderate success! I think they are seeing him with his "excitement" completely removed by the circumstances though, and not how he would normally be. Anyway, in all, I was pleased to see him, and he is pretty much fine, I reckon. I couldn't really get any photos or vids - as all I'm allowed to do is sit on a mat outside his kennel, with him on a lead and he is not allowed off the mat! Here is what I got just on my phone (obviously, just a bit of Charlie, a kennel and a bit of mat! Not super interesting!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie It sounds like they are doing a wonderful job with him, and that he is enjoying him self. I would not worry about them saying that you have gone OTT with the control work, he will soon start acting like himself and prove them wrong, that in actual fact he is a mad chocolate dog who loves stealing things and getting belly rubs, it will just take a few days or so for him to adjust to his new living quarters and take in all that has happend to him, he has been shuffled round here and there, from the vets then in the car with you then onto greyfriars it will all be a bit confusing for him, no wonder he is subdued and quite from what he is normally like, he will back to his normal self soon, i won't worry about it. Hope his physio assesment goes well so they can get him fully on the road to recovery. Best of luck to you charlie hope you continue to improve and get back to your normal checky self.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie A lovely update Julie, he is looking good too and dont worry, he wont stay subdued for long I`m sure
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Wow,the attention to detail of his care is marvelous....that must be very satisfying x All the work you did building muscle is probably helping his stability now being able to toilet on his recovering leg...it is really quite amazing.Is the ice to prevent swelling from the post op bruising? He looks so great Julie,bit puzzled rather than his smiley self in the photo you've put up but understandable he's been through and is dealing with a lot and doing it so well.Bet he loved seeing you and the settled down as 'good as gold' after you left until you visit next time xxxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg57457#msg57457 date=1393511500] They also describe him as having being trained to stay very much under control - slightly hinting that I've over done it. Which I find a little odd. I have tried very, very, hard, but my assessment is that I've had only moderate success! I think they are seeing him with his "excitement" completely removed by the circumstances though, and not how he would normally be. [/quote] Good to hear lovely Charlie seems to be on the mend, and they certainly seem to be doing a very good job of looking after him. I wouldn't worry too much about the 'under control' thing - he's certainly more subdued than he would normally be, but on top of that, as far as I can make out vets see a LOT of labs, and most of them have had no training whatsoever! My husband took our manic 9month old for a check up, and the vet nurse was amazed that she would sit and stay on the scales, and that he didn't have any horror stories of chewed furniture Their expectations for training are pretty low I think!! There's a lot of people on this forum who spend a lot of time and effort on their dogs, so I think it's hard to estimate how many other owners there are out there, who don't. We all think you're doing a great job with all things Charlie!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Dexter link=topic=4619.msg57491#msg57491 date=1393522889] Is the ice to prevent swelling from the post op bruising? [/quote] Yes, it's for the swelling. His leg is quite swollen, which is normal. I think the reason they wait a little before starting to ice is so the dog accepts it. If they start right away, everything is just too painful. They say they have a few techniques to make it a soothing experience, rather than a fight to get it done. Thank you, Merla, that's kind of you. I was a bit taken aback - thinking about it though, they have probably mostly seen me with a very, very, specific plan and tightly controlling Charlie in order to get him to walk through the swimming pool area and things like that. I haven't had any massive failures there, so they haven't seen him in his full on hooligan mode. So they might not quite appreciate why I do what I do! Hope it's that or similar, anyway.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie It all sounds and looks very positive, Julie!! It will take him a few days to adjust to the new place, the first few days we had Simba he was a very subdued, cautious dog until he got his bearings a bit. I'm sure Charlie will perk up once he gets used to the routine. You have done a great job with him so far, don't worry about their comments about him being under control. I think the others are right - they just aren't used to seeing a well-trained dog! Lovely to see him, every day is a day closer to full recovery, yippee!!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Nothing wrong with an under control dog!!! Yes, he's been taught manners in public, buy it's hardly a case of excess. In his normal (non injured) routine Charlie gets to have plenty of rollicking fun. You give Charlie a great balance between control and relaxation/fun. I'd just forget about that comment. Great to hear that it's all going according to plan and that he's not fretting
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Julie, everything sounds great and Charlie looks gorgeous. Give him a big cuddle from us xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Fab news that you got to see Charlie today and even better that he is doing well. I like your training is excellent and will help with his recovery x
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Sounds like Charlies at the ritz of rehabilitation. Great you got to see him, xx
