I took Charlie to the hydro centre today. We went into one of the little grass paddocks to have a wee before his turn on the treadmill. After a few minutes, he was upset. He was quiet, and still, didn't want to walk round, was drooling a bit, and was whining a bit. I called him, and he came to me but spat out his fav treat of a sliver of dried duck filet! Not known for Charlie to do that (unless he is super excited and distracted or we are trying to put his ear drops in - not the case here). There wasn't anything obvious that could have upset him. There were some dogs barking in the pool, but apart from that, we were alone in a quiet grass enclosure. Both OH and I were there with him. He had his harness on, but he'd travelled in it, so had got over the shock of having it on. When we left the paddock, he was fine again. Happy as anything in the treadmill. He sulked when his lifejacket went on, but that's normal. :-\ ? Really unusual for 100 mile per hour enthusiastic Charlie....bit worried that his restricted routine is having a negative effect now...
Re: upset charlie... Could he have just been saying *just get on with it!*? He sounds from what you have posted that he is calming down a bit Julie. Or is he still as hyper at home and on his walks?
Re: upset charlie... Oh that's not nice to hear after such a wonderful experience the other day..... He was drooling?is that a sign of stress?dexter has only ever drooled when he first arrived and we took him out in the car....that was accompanied by whining too,he wasn't distressed but he wasn't having a great time. Charlie might have just had an off day....he's had an awful lot to deal with and although he's dealing with it well he might have been experiencing some pain and was just a bit apprehensive?tired?I really hope so xxx Try not to worry that he's showing signs of reacting to his routine by just a one 'bad day' incident (easier said than done ,I know I know you will be watching him like a hawk )If you are seeing significant changes in him more and more ,you will be onto it straight away,you know him so well and then it will be a case of something else to come and seek advice on and we will all help you as you tackle it Hope he's ok when you have got him home and you aren't feeling too down x
Re: upset charlie... Charlie's lasting impression of the afternoon will have been one of great fun on the treadmill with lots of lovely therapists' ears to kiss. I think it is highly unlikely that it is his new routine that caused this - much more likely that his keener senses picked up on something that you two mere humans did not. Scent from another animal, some sound... something that momentarily unsettled him. He'll be fine, I'm sure, and if not - you will pick up on it quickly and sort it out. Remember - you all have your respective weekend breaks to look forward to! Clare
Re: upset charlie... [quote author=ClareJ link=topic=4109.msg48230#msg48230 date=1390066221] much more likely that his keener senses picked up on something that you two mere humans did not. Scent from another animal, some sound... something that momentarily unsettled him. [/quote] That does sound likely doesn't it?....especially if it was just in the paddock.
Re: upset charlie... It might have been something in the paddock, but I didn't get that impression. He was sticking his nose through the gate, towards the dogs barking in the pool quite a lot. I wonder if he was frustrated - the only time he whines really is when he is frustrated (eg watching another dog go for a retrieve). Anglea, yes, drooling is a sign of stress I think. Hmmm... He has been super quiet today, but that's normal after a treadmill session, he's shattered. Is he calming down? Well, definitely after the treadmill and the day after. Then he is back to normal. Oh well, I'll try not to worry....
Re: upset charlie... We walk up the hill from our house past a few gardens and their fences. Riley has always walked to heel well. A few weeks ago he got to one stretch of fence and refused to walk to heel and swapped sides....nothing obvious but he's done it every day since and so did my inlaws dog. Obviously something going on.....no idea what but I just accept it and move on. You may never know what it is/was. I hope he's fine now though - big kisses x
Re: upset charlie... You are all so kind - listening to my worries. Only another 4 months to go... It might just be one of those things, ie nothing. Or too many harnesses in his day! Stacia - he has never been car sick. He has always done long journeys to and from London and Cornwall, since he was just a few weeks old, and normally has a kong then is on his back snoring the whole way. But it's true that this has been at the middle of the car on the back seat. I think I read somewhere it's more common to be sick at the back of the car, where he is now in his cage. I'll keep an eye on that. He was grumbling a bit on the way, but only for about 30 seconds, before he went to sleep - and I thought it was just a bit of excitement at looking out the window. So don't think he was car sick.
Re: upset charlie... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4109.msg48261#msg48261 date=1390071134] Only another 4 months to go... [/quote]
Re: upset charlie... Just curious Julie, is it a flotation jacket Charlie wears, or just a harness/vest? And will he graduate up to actual swimming rather than the treadmill walking (assume this isn't also a half-swim)?
Re: upset charlie... Julie, sounds to me he is probably very tired, any exercise in water is super tiring x
Re: upset charlie... I'd say that it was something he detected in the vicinity. Scent or barking or whatever. Sounds situational to me - just a reaction to that moment. I wouldn't worry
Re: upset charlie... Thanks all, as always. It's a worry, that this narrow, restricted, routine - with hardly any new experiences - will be problematic since he is still so young. There haven't been any other indications of any problems - he is as keen as ever to meet other dogs and people. [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=4109.msg48264#msg48264 date=1390071473] Just curious Julie, is it a flotation jacket Charlie wears, or just a harness/vest? And will he graduate up to actual swimming rather than the treadmill walking (assume this isn't also a half-swim)? [/quote] I'm not sure - thinking about it, it's probably just a harness vest rather than a life jacket. It's just something for the people at the side to hang onto. Yes, he'll get to swim in the pool, but not for a while yet. The treadmill keeps his knee stable. First because there is a bit of pressure on his foot, and second because his personal assistant is behind him, getting whacked in the face with his tail :, making sure his leg stays straight. About 1 month after the op, he goes back on the treadmill. For the first month it's just walks and his physio exercises. Then a month after that, he can swim in the pool with a therapist guiding him round. At month 3, he can swim free, chasing balls - I cannot wait. There were 2 choc labs in the pool today - one was older and had arthritis, the other was there for fun and to keep the first dog company. They had the best time! Swimming out for their balls again and again! Charlie is going to love it. O - I asked why they wear wetsuits since the water is warm? The answer was that it's practical, since they are out of the water as much as in, swimsuits would be freezing when they are out. Also it gives them protection against getting scratched. Charlie was not a problematic dog - all they had to do was teach him to use the treadmill while getting their ears licked. Other dogs are much more problematic, and the therapists get raked with claws - the wetsuits protect them. And finally, the wetsuits have special knee pads, which they need as they spend a LOT of time kneeing down to control the movement of the dogs.
Re: upset charlie... Free swimming, chasing balls, the stuff of dreams Julie He will get there in no time. Roll on springtime
Re: upset charlie... We're all looking forward to Charlie at liberty again too. Love that chocolate boy
Re: upset charlie... Julie, I know that finding the time for the treadmill visits puts your week under pressure, but just in case you have any interest at all in beer, it did occur to me that Greyfriars must be very close to the Hog's Back Brewery http://www.hogsback.co.uk/about-us/ just in case you felt like stocking up.... Next time you're back for a treadmill session, don't be too surprised if Charlie seems slightly spooked again in the paddock. As Barbara said in her post about Riley remembering the same spot of the fence, dogs do remember these things... and their memories can be long! Clare
