Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone, and a Happy Memorial Day to you all down there !!
A quick follow up on Serge.. He gets his sutures out on Wed and appears to have adjusted really well to being a new tripawd....I posted earlier about his splayed foot when he hops around. I forgot one of the most important aspects of working with dogs. Simply by carefully observing behaviour, the dog can teach you so much. When I was training Raven for Schutzhund obedience, I was teaching the 'down in motion', and as she was coming towards me this one time, I raised my hand palm out in the classic "STOP" sign, before giving the verbal command, and she cued on the visual signal. If I would not have been very focussed on what I was doing, I would have completely missed it. Raven taught me, that in fact, she responds more readily to visual, rather than verbal cues.... Now, remember Serge ???.. (I said in one of my first posts that I come from a nation of teachers and preachers !! )
We were outside playing with a ball yesterday, and I was watching Serge "hopping" after the ball. The big light suddenly flashed on with the realization that Serge is running/hopping as if the dragging left leg is still there. We will need to rewire the way he learnt to compensate for the dragging foot..... I also saw that we will need to work on straightening his rear leg, which is pointing in all directions...Psychologically quite interesting, the shift in focus from our worries in the immediate post amputation time, to "let's get him on his feet (all three of them), and see what he can do..
A worthwhile piece of advice.. By observing your dog, he/she will teach you more than you will ever learn elsewhere..
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
gandalf said
A worthwhile piece of advice.. By observing your dog, he/she will teach you more than you will ever learn elsewhere..
AMEN to that, on many many different levels 
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
That is awesome insight! Yes, I agree completely. It's so hard for us verbally-inclined humans to remember that animals are visual creatures. They are our best teachers, actions can convey so much more than words!
It will be so interesting to watch your journey with Serge unfold.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
That is awesome insight! Yes, I agree completely. It's so hard for us verbally-inclined humans to remember that animals are visual creatures. They are our best teachers, actions can convey so much more than words!It will be so interesting to watch your journey with Serge unfold.
Hi Jerry,
What I forgot to mention, was that when I held my hand up in the "STOP" sign, Raven actually stood still, which triggered the realization that the dog had just taught me a lesson. "WAIT" was the command to stop whatever she was doing, and to stand still.. (some people confuse "WAIT" and "STAY"). Now we use a number of visual cues for Raven, but still have to "bellow" after her, every now and again...
Teaching the 'Send OFF', is one of the most difficult exercises for a dog to grasp, because under normal circumstances, you are calling the dog to come to you, not the reverse. As Raven was tearing away when she finally got the idea, yelling "DROP" was supposed to put her into an immediate down,, Raven, playing the part of the stubborn female GSD immediately pivoted on her back legs, and dropped into the down, facing me !!! Not 100% correct, but apparently in competition they do allow it, on the grounds that the dog is looking at you for the next command.. A nice piece of sophistry...
Training Serge is going to be a challenge. One no-nonsense (even at this early age) male GSD, high drive, and tripawd or not, he has real working dog potential.....He has to be taken into hand once he is completely healed, or he will be all over us, and everybody else. It is a huge mistake to underestimate high drive dogs like German Shepherds... Luckily, he is very highly treat motivated, but the 'recall', is the first thing that has to be rock solid. There is no point in teaching a dog fancy tricks, if he doesn't come back when he is called.. Holding a piece of cheese and shouting "come back buddy" when he has already taken off, just won't hack it !
It will be an interesting, difficult and and I'm sure a trying time...
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Very interesting topic! I had not spent much time on hand signals until Tani started going deaf. With her brain damage she was never very easy to train. She was willing, and very food motivated, just not too bright. For example, it took her three months to learn to 'shake'. For comparison it took Maggie one day, and Obie about three days so it's not just a pug thing 
.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when Tani learned hand signals relatively quickly, and I was stunned when she learned two different commands (after she was deaf) in a day each! Seems I should have been doing hand commands all along with her as it is a 'language' she understands. I have worked on both voice and hand commands with Obie, but unfortunately he does not see well and is almost blind in bright sun.
I have a friend that has Portuguese Water Dogs and he does all kinds of events with them including water trials. He has to train his dogs to take a float and swim out to a marker, then leave the float. As you said,things that that are sort of opposite of what you usually train! I pick his brain quite often for training ideas.
I wish more people would work on re-call! There are sooo many people who frequent the park that think they have control of their dogs when the come after 'only' calling them 5 or 6 times!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Oh boy we can relate Richard. When we first got Wyatt, he was an out-of-control, high-energy, prey driven, slightly aggressive GSD 8-month old with no structure or boundaries, nothing (you'll like this post!). He wasn't lucky enough to have such kind people as Serge does to nurture him from a young age, so we have some extra challenges even 5 years later, but his GSD smarts are his saving grace along with his willingness to follow basic obedience. He definitely missed his calling as a working police or military dog, but we do our best to keep his mind working harder than his body. I've often thought about learning Schutzhund training with him, is there a basic book or dvd you'd recommend?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Oh boy we can relate Richard. When we first got Wyatt, he was an out-of-control, high-energy, prey driven, slightly aggressive GSD 8-month old with no structure or boundaries, nothing (you'll like this post!). He wasn't lucky enough to have such kind people as Serge does to nurture him from a young age, so we have some extra challenges even 5 years later, but his GSD smarts are his saving grace along with his willingness to follow basic obedience. He definitely missed his calling as a working police or military dog, but we do our best to keep his mind working harder than his body. I've often thought about learning Schutzhund training with him, is there a basic book or dvd you'd recommend?
Raven had no real boundaries when we got her at 5 mths from the kennel, and it was a long hard grind...Fortunately she is a people dog, and we had no aggression issues with people. We keep her at a distance from strange dogs, and that is one of the reasons, that even though I slogged away at the Schuszhund obedience, she could never go to competition because of her reactions towards other dogs.. Just like your post, I often think we should have given Raven to a hard nosed rehab trainer !!!
There is a you-tube video of a World Champion trainer called Ivan Balabanov, taking one of his Maliseets through a Schutzhund trial. Link : . It is fabulous to watch.. Sometimes in the walking phase, the judges will call out right, left, but it is a set routine that the trainer has to learn. The most difficult things are the 'focussed heeling', where the dog is looking at you the whole time, and the forced retrieve (with the dumbbell) Alternatively, type this in to the YouTube search bar"Qenny Ot Vitosha FMBB 2007 Obedience".. All his dogs are named "xxxx Ot Vitosha".. You'll notice in the last phase where he sends the dog away, the dog is looking from side to side in the down. Points deduction...It should be completely motionless, and not distracted, which indicates that this is one of his younger, novice dogs..
All I did was Google Schutzhund, and took it from there. A huge amount of written information is available on line, and there are numerous videos on line for 'focussed heeling', 'forced retrieve', etc.. Like anything, it is very demanding training, but it is good fun, if you don't take it, or yourself too seriously (unless of course you are heading for the competition ring)..
http://www.germ.....rddog.com/ is the main web site, of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America...
Have fun
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
krun15 said
I wish more people would work on re-call! There are sooo many people who frequent the park that think they have control of their dogs when the come after 'only' calling them 5 or 6 times!Karen
Absolutely,
It is the difference between life and death for a dog who takes off in the direction of a busy road. Unfortunately, recall is the last thing that a lot of pet owners worry about.. A dog has to obey the first time, and there can be no deviation from this rule. His boundaries are canine, and even though he lives in a human environment, his boundaries cannot be human. This is where the majority of pet problems arise, by owners setting human boundaries for their dogs.."It just don't work...!!"
There are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there ....
Take Care
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
There is a you-tube video of a World Champion trainer called Ivan Balabanov, taking one of his Maliseets through a Schutzhund trial.
Richard
Oops......... The dogs are Malinois (Belgian Shepherd Dogs).... The Maliseet people, are a native Canadian First nation, in New Brunswick, Quebec and Maine.... I have no idea what prompted that mistake !!!
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Wow finally had a chance to watch this. Pretty cool! Whatever they give that dog to help him/her focus, I want some for Wyatt Ray
! 
I think a Tripawd could do many of these maneuvers but the focused heel one would be super difficult because of their need for momentum. I could be wrong though, you never know!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tee heee......you German Shepard people are so silly!! Watch and learn from my Bull Mastiff Happy Hannah!!!
You want to see how we teach recall amd focus the Schuzmastiff way ? https://www.you.....ata_player
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Bhahaha! Give her the ribbon, she gets first place in the Shuzmastiff Olympics!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Wow finally had a chance to watch this. Pretty cool! Whatever they give that dog to help him/her focus, I want some for Wyatt Ray !I think a Tripawd could do many of these maneuvers but the focused heel one would be super difficult because of their need for momentum. I could be wrong though, you never know!
I agree....the speed changes would have to be less abrupt, to compensate for the tripawd. His method of the dog "skipping" back to the heel position from the front, would also be difficult. The standard "come around" from front sit, going behind you and coming to the heel position at the side looking forward again, might be a lot easier.... That is the method I taught Raven..It is actually surprisingly easy to teach...
The way I was taught to teach the Competition (off leash) focussed heel, is, firstly to get the dog to walk in a straight line closely to you in heel position, (without actually touching you ). The technique was to walk alongside a chain link fence, or a wall, or any other fence, with the dog between you and the fence. If he wanders, side to side, he bumps against the fence, or your knee "nudges" him back on line.. If he leads or lags, he gets the "knee-nudge" both times.. By keeping him "confined" as he is walking, he will also learn to sit parallel to you, and not at an angle, when you stop. The looking up is a difficult one, and is generally taught with food, or a favourite ball, or toy..Raven would hold it for a couple of minutes, and then look at anything, other than me !!!!
Have fun
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Aww...thanks for sharing a smile with me Jerry! Happy Hannah will aways have a "first place ribbon" in my heart!
Richard, thank you for sharing such valuable information and insight. Powerful and educational!
When do Raven and Serge reunite? Stitches are all out right? Have you noticed any difference with Serge having the sutures out?
Can't wait to see more pics!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I would love to teach that focused heel to Wyatt, drives me nuts when he sits in front of me. Thanks for the tips!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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