Have you ever heard a dog cry?

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

I have twice.  Once was our 18 year old mixed springer spaniel.  She was in pain and running around.  That is when we knew it was time.  The other was yesterday.  Kate, nine month old labradoodle, decided to chew on electrical cord.  Couldn't tell if she ate any.  She also had unseasonable ticks on her.  Anyway, she threw up her breakfast then continued to try to throw up.  When my husband took her to the Emergency Vet our puggle whined.  When he came back at night without her - he cried.  She is now at our regular vets.  She was on IV.  She eliminated and wagged her tail.  Please, please by OK.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

For 20 years we lived in the country on 10 acres of land and we raised two kids and three dogs there.  Two of the dogs were allowed to be free after several months of boundary training them.   We literally walked the parameter of the land over and over and over with them verbally correcting whenever they started to stray.  Until they were fully trained they were on a long line.  There was one dog who could just never be boundary trained.  It was an Irish Setter who just wanted to roam, so for 14 years we had to be out with her on the long line.  I really do understand "country dogs", but I believe some of them are never meant to be free to run and others do fine as long as they have been trained.  Our daughter also lives on many acres in the country and she has a Golden and a Lab who who she had let run free.  The Golden does great.  The Lab just took a long walk and ate the electrical wiring out of a neighbor's tractor....it cost them over $1000 to have that fixed....thankfully the dog chewed but didn't ingest the wiring so she is fine.  Now she has an electric fence. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Glad to hear Kate is coming home.
We live on 3 acres in the middle of 150 to 200 acres of crop land. We installed an Innotek in ground fence for Haley five and a half years ago and love it. He is neve alone in the yard for more than a minute or two. My DH used a gas edger to make a slit to install the wire in and buried a piece of PVC pipe in the driveway and ran the wire through it. Last I heard this fence can be installed for up to 10 acres. We will never be without an in ground fence.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

I would like to give her at least five acres to run.  I saw online where you can buy supplies and install yourself.  My brother installed his himself.  Sad story.  He was helping a neighbor that raised greyhounds for racing.  They gave him a pup - his favorite dog.  She got on the ice in Iowa which wasn't quite frozen.  He rowed to get her and at the last minute she fell threw.  He installed the electronic fencing the next year to keep the his other dogs out of the water.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned chewed a the computer cord when he was a pup - it was the first and last one he ever chewed!  He was fine afterward, so I am hoping Katie is also.  I am sorry some of us city folk sound harsh about fencing.  We really don't have the same frame of reference and can't imagine letting a dog run 'loose.'

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

I am also in my sixth decade.  Attitudes toward pets have changed and thankfully have become more cherished.  At this stage Kate may be the last dog we get since some of ours have lived to 18.  Before my last surgery I always would walk the new pup for about a month so they knew where to go.  They learned some control on the leash and I got them into a routine.  That isn't an option.  I do drive with hand controls and can walk without a cane but I tend to use my walker in case Kate gets frisky.  She really is a very dear dog.  I have never had a dog that doesn't mind seeing the vet.  We will figure out a way to keep her safe.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

The vet did about four X-rays to see if the air pocket was moving.  It was moving slowly.  No obstruction was seen.  Surely the copper would show up easily on an X-ray.  She was on IV fluids overnight.  She peed and pooped.  She is at our vet now so I hope she will drink and maybe eat a little.  This happened in the "safety" of our home.  I had all the cords blocked off - so I thought.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like things will be okay...glad no obstruction.  Please let us know when you bring her home.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

We used to be on 80 acres but now 20 but the wooded part is a parcel of 60 acres with open land around.  I think she can learn boundary but not the puggle.  The beagle in him calls to him.  I always worried that they would run the neighbors cattle or like in a local town, someone shoot them if they were trespassing.  I found the things I worry about never happen.  I really though she was protected from cords and was content at night.  Nine months is still a puppy.  I hope we bring her home.  I spend most of the time by myself.  My husband works and his folks are 95 and 87.  I sometimes cook for my daughter but weather often prohibits me from getting out.  Anyway, she is one of the sweetest dogs we have had and I am awaiting a call from the vet.

[Karen Glassman]

Sure do hope Kate is okay. Hugs to you.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

Thank you so much.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

She's coming home!!! Gave her something for her stomach and put her on antibiotic. She is going to the bathroom and can come home now. So happy. She is just the sweetest dog. She is so good at the vet. So mellow. So happy!!!!!!

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

I will post a picture when she get home. Her coat is getting thicker and longer for winter. It catches fleas, ticks, seeds, grass. Can't wait. I might do a selfie but I had bepharoplasty (droopy eye surgery) and have the football player look.