Remedial training for an Anatolian/Pyr/Akbash and me

bonbean01

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Looking forward to how it goes for you and Biscuit with the lead work Southern suggested....truly could not believe how quickly this made a huge difference with Keera!!!! And what a treat to have a huge dog act so beautifully on a lead when you need to use a leash...and for real....thought I couldn't bond with this baby (yes...she is still my big baby too)....but the lead work....yeah...we're glued now ;)

These are awesome dogs...yes????? :)
 

Poka_Doodle

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I hope all goes well with all. I came from BYC because this place sounded cool.
 

Wisher1000

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I took off work last Thursday and Friday. Thursday, I brushed and bathed my old dog, Docker. He always loved his baths, like no dog I've ever seen. He realized that even though he got wet, he also got scratched all over. He thoroughly enjoyed the grooming and I stretched it out to over an hour. He rubbed his head in the warm grass and laid in the sun to dry. Then, we went for a slow ride in the Ranger (four wheel ATV.) Once he was completely dry, I let him inside the house. I have let him in many times over the last 15 years, but he never really felt comfortable there. He paced a bit, and had a hard time walking on the hardwood floors. I called him to the area rug in the kitchen and we had a gourmet dog meal. I gave him Spam, Vienna Sausages, cheese, and some leftover ground beef. He was fine as long as he was eating like that, but as soon as it was gone he paced some more and was ready to go back out. I opened the door and he walked out, felt the heat, and turned around and pushed past me back inside. I put a blanket on the floor but he opted to lay on the hardwood. I let him stay all afternoon, with an occasional walk outside to keep the floors dry. Between the slick floor and his lack of muscle tone, I would have to help him get to his feet. Friday morning, I called the vet but couldn't get an appointment for him until 3:30. We spent the day together again, except for the time I spent digging a hole down by the creek. At 3:00, I backed the truck up to a hill and let the tailgate down so he could load up. He was happy to get in, and liked the old sheet that I put on the bed liner so it wouldn't be hot. The only thing he liked better than a bath, was a ride in the back of the truck. I rode back there with him and my son drove. I had to support him because his old legs couldn't keep him balanced with the turns, starts, and stops of the trip, but he kept his nose to the wind and his ears (and his tongue) flapped in the wind. People in cars, and especially truck drivers, would smile and wave at me and my old dog in the back of the truck. I don't know if they could see the occasional tear that slid down my cheek, but their smiles were oddly comforting. The doc came out to the truck and said that he looked good, I think he was surprised that Docker was not in bad shape. He was fully fleshed, maybe even borderline fat. His coat was thick and shiny, but his teeth were all but gone. He had worn the canines off to less than a half inch long and all the others were worn off even with his gums. He couldn't hear, and had developed a chronic cough from his enlarged heart. He struggled to lay down, and struggled even harder to get up. Lately, he had been staggering and sometimes he would stumble and fall. He panted constantly. About a week ago, he stopped wagging his tail when he greeted me. He would just come to me with a look that asked me to help. It was time. The vet gave him some anesthetic and he went to sleep. He then administered that pink liquid that stopped his heart. We buried him down by the creek where he loved to cool off in the water in the summers. I'll miss that old chicken killing dog. It is obvious that Biscuit misses him, too.
 

Latestarter

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I'm so sorry Wisher :hit:hugs I'm sure he's in a better place now and more comfortable. It'll be hard for you and Biscuit for a while. But then there'll be a time when something will happen that will remind you of him, and it'll bring a smile instead of tears. Really tough to have to let them go.
 

mikiz

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Oh Wisher that's such a touching sad story, I'm sure he had the best time of his life in those last couple of days and he would thank you for it. I'm so sorry :hit:hugs:hugs
 

Shorty

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Wisher I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like you made his last days wonderful. Again I am sorry :hugs
 

Poka_Doodle

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Wow, I felt a tear run down my eye, that is so heart touching.
 

Mike CHS

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Every time I have had to put a pet down I swear there won't be another one but they give too much of themselves to keep those thoughts very long.

Your thoughts of his last days was very touching.
 

babsbag

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What a wonderful way to end a good life and I am sure your old boy appreciated it all. It is hard to let them go but sometimes it is just what we have to do. Facing it with a kitty right now and I told my husband that when her purr stops it is time; just like you and Docker's tail; they give us signs. :hugs
 
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