Today we're off to the vet for the fourth and last anti-inflammatory injection that is part of Penny's recovery from extracapsular surgery on her left knee, so in anticipation of the trip we practised using the new ramp to get into the car. I thought getting in would be easy, as she is used to the see-saw and the 'dog walk' in agility, and also because we have been using our own makeshift ramp for weeks now.
But she surprised me at how quickly she decided it was not scary to walk down the ramp!
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
a ramp for getting the dog in and out of the car
At our session on the underwater treadmill today I could feel my back aching from the effort of lifting Penny into the car at home and out at the therapy centre, so I was ready for anything that would make life easier.
And there it was on the shelf - the Trixie Pet Walk. The therapist let me take it out to the car to see if it was suitable.
I did a rather silly thing, at this stage. I had already lifted Penny into the car, so I had the bright idea of setting up the ramp at the door and asking her to walk down it to the ground.
Now, I ask you... would any self-respecting dog walk down a scary, steep black thing that suddenly sprouted from the side of the car?
Of course not! She would take a few steps, freeze in fright and back up into the car and cower in the far corner, refusing all blandishments and entreaties (or offers of treats) by her human.
I had forgotten that we need to introduce our dogs to new activities in a logical way. So, when we got home, I put the new ramp on the kitchen floor and we played with it. Tomorrow we'll try it out on a steeper slope, maybe even as an entry to the car.
And there it was on the shelf - the Trixie Pet Walk. The therapist let me take it out to the car to see if it was suitable.
I did a rather silly thing, at this stage. I had already lifted Penny into the car, so I had the bright idea of setting up the ramp at the door and asking her to walk down it to the ground.
Now, I ask you... would any self-respecting dog walk down a scary, steep black thing that suddenly sprouted from the side of the car?
Of course not! She would take a few steps, freeze in fright and back up into the car and cower in the far corner, refusing all blandishments and entreaties (or offers of treats) by her human.
I had forgotten that we need to introduce our dogs to new activities in a logical way. So, when we got home, I put the new ramp on the kitchen floor and we played with it. Tomorrow we'll try it out on a steeper slope, maybe even as an entry to the car.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
new toy available in Australia for intelligent play by dogs
I'm a sucker for a good dog toy, so today I just couldn't resist the wooden Seek-A-Treat, when I visited Murphys to buy one of my favorite dog foods - Ziwi Peak canned tripe, venison and lamb.
Perhaps I was attracted by the bright packaging - after all, that's what it's for, isn't it?
Penny found one part extra easy, because she is used to moving parts in slots to get at what's underneath. But this one had another, not-so-familiar aspect. She had to turn a little lever in order to get at a treat under a separate flap. It was great to see her puzzling over it, but when she began to chew on the toy, I solved it for her this time, as I don't want her starting bad habits with her puzzles.
Perhaps I was attracted by the bright packaging - after all, that's what it's for, isn't it?
Penny found one part extra easy, because she is used to moving parts in slots to get at what's underneath. But this one had another, not-so-familiar aspect. She had to turn a little lever in order to get at a treat under a separate flap. It was great to see her puzzling over it, but when she began to chew on the toy, I solved it for her this time, as I don't want her starting bad habits with her puzzles.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
the big underwater treadmill for dogs
Penny had physiotherapy last Tuesday and we learned some gentle exercises to practise at home. Basically they consist of helping her to shift her weight to her injured leg, which has lost about a third of muscle mass since she injured herself, or maybe since the cruciate repair operation 22 days ago. For instance, one exercise is to get her to stand and to then gently press on her right hip so her weight shifts subtly to her left rear leg. It's such a small movement that it would be impossible to see whether it was working, if not for the fact that her fur has been shaved off and I can see the tiny tensing of her thigh muscle.
Another exercise is to get her to stand on three legs for one second, by lifting her front right leg off the ground. We were making heavy weather of this one, as she would always sit. But then inspiration struck and I realised it is just like the 'marching' routine we practised for canine freestyle. Hsin-Yi and Honey the Great Dane have a video of how to teach this trick. As a therapy move, Penny needs to do it standing, not sitting, of course, which is the final stage of Honey's video.
The good thing about the exercises is that Penny has fun, and I feel as if I am helping her to pass the time and to recover her muscle tone.
The big event of the week, however, was our session on the underwater treadmill after our first physio appointment. I was a bit disappointed that Penny was fearful of the experience, given that she was so confident on her first try some weeks ago, before the surgery. I think I gave the therapists an overly optimistic opinion of how she would go. Also, she didn't have a weak knee last time. And, thirdly, this treadmill is larger.
There were two positives about the experience, though. One, the therapist got into the water with her to help her settle down. And, two, Penny got some delicious treats to make it a pleasant memory.
We're going again tomorrow, but to a different location. I won't take videos this time, but will focus on helping Penny to enjoy it.
Another exercise is to get her to stand on three legs for one second, by lifting her front right leg off the ground. We were making heavy weather of this one, as she would always sit. But then inspiration struck and I realised it is just like the 'marching' routine we practised for canine freestyle. Hsin-Yi and Honey the Great Dane have a video of how to teach this trick. As a therapy move, Penny needs to do it standing, not sitting, of course, which is the final stage of Honey's video.
The good thing about the exercises is that Penny has fun, and I feel as if I am helping her to pass the time and to recover her muscle tone.
The big event of the week, however, was our session on the underwater treadmill after our first physio appointment. I was a bit disappointed that Penny was fearful of the experience, given that she was so confident on her first try some weeks ago, before the surgery. I think I gave the therapists an overly optimistic opinion of how she would go. Also, she didn't have a weak knee last time. And, thirdly, this treadmill is larger.
There were two positives about the experience, though. One, the therapist got into the water with her to help her settle down. And, two, Penny got some delicious treats to make it a pleasant memory.
We're going again tomorrow, but to a different location. I won't take videos this time, but will focus on helping Penny to enjoy it.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
a dog supervises the gardening
It's been beautiful weather here in Melbourne today and I headed out to the garden to work. And I took Penny with me.
She lay in the shade near the garden bed and watched me pull out (oops! I meant, harvest) the weeds.
Penny was on her new Snooza Orthobed, which is advertised as being good for older dogs, or dogs who have had surgery. Who could resist? The amazing thing was that as I carried it into the house from the car when I bought it last week, she was nudging me and following me and as I dropped it she walked onto it and lay down - before I could even tear off the label.
The advertising says:
Anyway, Penny kept an eye on me and on the neighbourhood. She checked out my method of 'harvesting' the weeds and throwing them down as mulch - the weeds that don't have seedheads, of course.
And she found an interesting stick to take inside as a souvenir.
She lay in the shade near the garden bed and watched me pull out (oops! I meant, harvest) the weeds.
Penny was on her new Snooza Orthobed, which is advertised as being good for older dogs, or dogs who have had surgery. Who could resist? The amazing thing was that as I carried it into the house from the car when I bought it last week, she was nudging me and following me and as I dropped it she walked onto it and lay down - before I could even tear off the label.
The advertising says:
OrthobedI could certainly recommend it so far.
Perfect for older pets who have trouble getting in & out of kennels or baskets. The low profile convoluted (egg carton shaped) foam provides the ultimate comfort for post surgery, older pets or those with hip ailments. The removable hidden zippered cover is washable with a sturdy polyester drill back & a cosy mock lambswool top. Lightweight & portable - you will travel easily with this bed.
Anyway, Penny kept an eye on me and on the neighbourhood. She checked out my method of 'harvesting' the weeds and throwing them down as mulch - the weeds that don't have seedheads, of course.
And she found an interesting stick to take inside as a souvenir.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
criminals and dogs
There was an article in The Age newspaper today about crooks and their love for animals, especially dogs. I'm not sure how long links to articles in The Age stay active, so just in case you can't click across to it, I'll mention a couple of the incidents in the article.
The writers, Andrew Rule and John Silvester, say
Another story is about a man called Bazley who was hired to kill two people involved in the drug scene, in 1979. He was ordered to kill their dog, but he didn't, instead turning the dog loose. He later said he wouldn't shoot the dog because it hadn't done anything wrong.
And on one occasion another man was saved from a sharpshooter on a roof because he noticed his companion dog was staring out the window at the roof of the house next door.
There are more stories in this interesting article, but I'll let you read them for yourself if you want to.
The writers, Andrew Rule and John Silvester, say
For every psychopath who pulled the wings off butterflies and tortured kittens on the way to his corner of hell, there are plenty of hard men who would happily break (human) bones to punish cruelty to animals.They give the example of the murder of Les Kane in 1978. When the Kanes came home from a restaurant to the house where they were hiding out from their enemies, their dachshund, Simon, was on a chair beside the front door - a chair he was not capable of climbing up onto. One of the three masked killers (who then pushed Mrs Kane and her children into a bedroom before shooting Kane and taking away his body) had apparently let the dog out and put him on the chair out of harm's way while he waited to commit murder.
Another story is about a man called Bazley who was hired to kill two people involved in the drug scene, in 1979. He was ordered to kill their dog, but he didn't, instead turning the dog loose. He later said he wouldn't shoot the dog because it hadn't done anything wrong.
And on one occasion another man was saved from a sharpshooter on a roof because he noticed his companion dog was staring out the window at the roof of the house next door.
There are more stories in this interesting article, but I'll let you read them for yourself if you want to.
Penny's human is in Turkey
While Penny's been resting and recovering from surgery, one of her humans has been gallivanting around Turkey. We understand that she can read this blog but not comment, so this post is specially for her, to show her how well Penny is doing. This morning we set off down the front ramp:
Notice that the ramp is now only two planks wide, instead of the previous three.
And Penny is still steadily losing weight on her restricted diet, as you can see. She is now 15.7 kg, instead of the 16.9 that she was two months ago.
Next we headed down the sideway, to relieve herself (not a stressful business these days, thank Dog). A little pause to sniff at the buried compost from the Bokashi bucket - which I had the forethought to cover with well-stamped-in soil.
And then we headed out into the street to browse the delicious fresh possum poo. (Obviously her humans aren't feeding her enough!)
Notice that the ramp is now only two planks wide, instead of the previous three.
And Penny is still steadily losing weight on her restricted diet, as you can see. She is now 15.7 kg, instead of the 16.9 that she was two months ago.
Next we headed down the sideway, to relieve herself (not a stressful business these days, thank Dog). A little pause to sniff at the buried compost from the Bokashi bucket - which I had the forethought to cover with well-stamped-in soil.
And then we headed out into the street to browse the delicious fresh possum poo. (Obviously her humans aren't feeding her enough!)
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