Flash, the stooge dog

This morning, I brought Flash along to a client to work as a stooge dog for their lead-reactive dog. Flash has helped me before as a stooge, but not for a long time and not since his back issue that made him reactive as well. Well, he did a great job. He was pretty relaxed, showed good body language, nothing threatening and lots of sniffing. This way the other dog was able to relax and it all went really well. Very proud of Flash.

Flash also went for another physio session on 30th October, and chiro two days before that. He was getting quite "ploddy" on walks at times, but since the treatments he is back to normal again. Later this month he will start with hydrotherapy (treadmill) as well, I think that will make quite a big difference.

Happy birthday, shoulder problems, lipoma removal and horse training

Various things have happened since my last update about Flash.

First of all, Flash celebrated his 10th birthday on 30th August! Wow, I can't believe that my crazy boy has reached that amazing mile stone! He got a lovely birthday chew on the day.

He has settled in incredibly well and is really enjoying the country life. There is also a couple of areas where I can let him off lead now and he is very responsive!

However, he has had a problem with his shoulder. A few times he yelped when he hurt himself. At first I didn't think anything of it as that's the sort of thing that happens if you place your foot wrong by accident and you hurt yourself. But when it happened about the third time within a few days, I grew concerned and got him checked out. The vet couldn't find anything major other than some pain response in his shoulder.

I then took Flash to a hydrotherapy center (www.meadow-farm.com) where the first thing to be done was a thorough assessment and treatment with physio therapist Flora. She also found that there was a problem in the shoulder area, but not sure what exactly.

So when a couple of weeks later, Flash needed to have a lipoma removed that grew very close to his hock joint, I requested to also have x-rays done.

The x-rays came back clear other than some very minor wear and tear that wouldn't have any impact. So we now know that it is a soft tissue issue of some sort. Looking at chiro reports as far back as 2010, Susan even then reported a tight shoulder, so this is a longer standing issue.

Oh, and he also had titre tests before the physio and they all came back as fine. Parvo and hepatitis showed very high levels of antibodies and distemper was just borderline.

This is is when Flash came home from the vets. Unfortunately once the bandage was off, he had to wear a buster collar as he wouldn't leave the stitches alone otherwise. But last weekend I took the stitches out, so he is now back to normal.

Anyway, as Flash has not had any further incidents with his shoulder since the physio treatment, I have decided against further investigations with CT/MRI as I don't think it will help any further. So Flash will go back for physio and hydrotherapy soon - as soon as I have sorted out Dylan's oncologist appointments.

I am very glad that Flash is fine and the shoulder is not a major issue and hopefully can be strengthened up with physio and hydrotherapy so this doesn't happen again.

Here's a couple of recent pictures of Flash

 

 Flash spying on the left here.

The whole gang!

9th Gotcha Day

We moved to our new place in Norfolk on 25th March. Flash settled in very easily really, though was a challenge on walks for a while and is still mostly on a long line. But his recall and focus has come along nicely and hopefully he will soon be able to go off lead in some areas.

However, Flashy boy arrived exactly 9 years ago here! How time flies and what a fabulous dog he grew into.

KCGC Silver and Gold Award

Flash and I took the KCGC Silver and Gold Award today. Flash did so well and passed with flying colours! He really enjoys going to training and has a great time; it shows in his work! What a good boy he is.

So much progress

I am so so proud of Flash. I took him to my training classes yesterday (with Rima teaching) and he was just great, settled when asked (even when I put him on the stage with dogs coming into the hall he'd never seen before), joined in to the training and playing when invited and controlled himself beautifully even around the large dogs that worried him! What a star he was!

He has made so much progress over the last months. He ignores dogs when on lead now unless they come up to him. If they are small and medium dogs he says hello nicely, if they are large dogs I have to walk him away. He has played with dogs very nicely recently too - last time this Sunday with little Joey, Karen's sister's little bichon, when we went for a walk together.

He is also such a pleasure to walk again now. He keeps an eye on me, is more responsive than ever before and I don't have to worry too much anymore about other dogs around. I have taken them all to Lloyds Park a few times now and it has been great and given me more confidence for our countryside walks at our new home in Norfolk!

A little ouchie...

Last night, Flash didn't like to move and sat down when I came home rather than the jumping up he normally does which indicated that his back was hurting. I gave him a rimadyl before going training and by the time I got home he was fine again. I have however put his night coat on last night and will do so every night through the winter again now.

He is doing so well with his back on just the turmeric, but every few months he will cease up or even go into spasms. Poor chappie.

9th Birthday

I forgot my poor Flash's birthday, but wish him a happy one with all my heart! He was nine years old on Friday, 30th August! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my beautiful boy! Picture below taken today!