Stella's Blog (18)

I haven't been super active on DK in recent years, but I know that some of the older members will remember my dog Chase. He was helped over the rainbow bridge today after a sudden illness. 

He was the dog that was sent here to teach me. We had a difficult relationship in the early years, a combination of his anxiety and reactivity and my inexperience. Over time people came into my life to teach me and as I learned more about behavioural problems in dogs and came to understand him…

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Today (Boxing Day) is Hartley's tenth birthday. This dog is my heart dog. He is definitely slowing down a little, but still loves to play and even still competes at agility from time to time. 

I can't believe it, but Chase turned nine years old yesterday. This dog has a bunch of health issues, the worst being his mental health. I have almost had him euthanized more than once because of his behaviour, but we've battled through and the last year has actually been pretty good. On a good day he is funny, cute, snuggly and loving, and these are the days I try to focus on. Happy Birthday to the craziest dog I know!!!!…

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I am exited beyond belief! Hartley (and I) achieved his Agility Trial Champion of Canada today!! Here we are getting our ribbon from the judge.

www.doodlekisses.com/photo/agility-trial-campion-of-canada?context=album&albumId=2065244%3AAlbum%3A592061

http://www.muskoka.ontariospca.ca/adoptions-dog-muskoka.html

One year old F1 labradoodle needs a new home, currently at Bracebridge SPCA in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

I was competing in an agility trial this weekend at the place I take lessons at. Every year at the trial, Lynda (our teacher) organizes a raffle to raise money for a good cause. Last year they donated the money to one of the girls who takes lessons there who had two dogs (brother & sister from the same litter) develop cataracts. Both dogs had to have both eyes operated on, and one of the dogs had to have further surgery after complications.



I am working towards a canine… Continue

I took both boys today to do their Sporting Detection Dogs Association Designated Odour Test for Wintergreen and they both passed!! They both did really well. Hartley gave a beautiful indication when he found the right container, and Chase did so well amongst some difficult distractions for him. I am so proud of both of them.

(I wanted to add pictures of them both with their certificates an ribbons, but I am doing tips on my phone and can't work out how to do it!!)

 

My poor DH had to rush Hartley to the vet today while I was at work.  We had some contractors removing old, bat poop infested insulation from our attic.  They were wearing gloves and when they were done just took them off and dropped them on the ground.  Hartley gave in to his Lab. genes and thought they looked pretty tasty.  My DH caught him as he was…

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Chase had his first hiarcut today!! His coat was lovely, but was gettting to be such a challenge keeping it mat free. After much persuading, my husband agreed to let me get him clipped. After talking with the groomer, we decided it would be good if we could get away with having him done twice a year - great. But, this means taking him right down!! He looks so funny!! I asked her not to… Continue

Chase is now seven months old and just in the last week has suddenly begin to mat. We usually brush him once or twice a week. But, he was only brushed two days ago and this morning it took me over an hour to brush and comb him out. I am thinking that maybe his coat is begining to change from puppy to adult and this is why the sudden matting. I think we need to get a better brush and begin brushing every day. At the moment we have been using a… Continue

So, we have had three really really hot and humid days here. The dogs have been too hot to do anything and have had to be dragged out on walks. All of a sudden this evening, the air cleared and it cooled down (well, relatively speaking!!). Apparently my two had been storing energy over the last three days and suddenly went crazy!! I opened the door and ket them out into the yard where they spent the last 30 minutes running around the garden chasing each other at full speed, jumping in and out… Continue

Ok, so we gave up on the cream from the vet (not nasty enough), the Bitter Apple (I think it stung), my husbands boxers....etc. He would not stop licking, so it was off the the vet for a collar. He does keep walking into things, so I do feel bad for him. I tried to take it off and he went right back to licking, so it went back on. Hopefully we will only need it for a couple of days and then he should leave things alone. While he is wearing the… Continue

Chase went for his surgery today!! He did really well and came home full of beans. When Hartley was done he was spaced out for the rest of that day and the next day. You wouldn't even know Chase had anything done!!.... Apart from one thing - he is licking and licking at his incision. We tried the supposidly nasty tasting stuff the vet gave us to discourge him, he licked it off quite happily and carried on! We didn't get a lampshade cone thingy… Continue

So proud of my boys today. They have been getting along much better lately, especially since we began to trust them to sleep together in the living room (I couldn't take Chases crying at night anymore!!). We had a good morning at the Farmers Market and both dogs were mellow and tired. So, we decided to go for it and load them both in the trunk instead of one in the trunk and one on the back seat. Today was a good day to try as my husband was home and… Continue

After the stress of ending the week by being told by my husband that our two doodles got into a fight with each other, I was a bit worried about how this weekend was going to be - he is working all weekend and I am home with the dogs, just them and me. Today they played in the garden, very boistrous but still it was playing and nothing else. Then we went for a lovely long hike together. I like to hike "hands free" and when we had just the one dog tie his leash around may wait for a more… Continue

So today was vaccination day for both boys - final shots for Chase (four months old), annual check up and shots for Hartley (16 months old). I was so proud of both of them. I ended up going on my own, husband had to work, and I was a little anxious how it would go - the extra pair of hands would have been nice! But, Chase stood nice and still for his shots and actually turned his head to watch what was going on!! Hartley excelled himself, standing nice and still for his examination and shots,… Continue

Hartley (15 month F1 LD) was a very very bad boy yesterday!! We went to a local park to play fetch, something we have done many times without incident. And for whatever reason, he ran after the ball, picked it up and ran off with it. He would NOT come back. Everytime I got near him he ran off again, he even teased me by running up to me and stopping before charging off again. I had our new puppy with me (14 weeks old), so I was a little hampered in my attempts to catch him. I was so… Continue

I started a discussion tpoic about introducing our new puppy to our older (14 months old) dog, and thought this would be a more appropriate place to post updates on our progress!! There are small victories every day. We followed advice and removed all toys, now they only get them when we go out and they are separated, or when we are supervising. The most succesful so far has been a Wubba that our older dog never really took to when he was a puppy.… Continue