Folks, I had a hard moment today. Runcus and I (and lots of other dog and handler teams) had signed up for a "Conservation Dogs" program in late 2019 to be a detection team in search of the elusive and endangered Wyoming Toad. The online training was underway and Runcus was excelling in most all the benchmarks she needed to reach to be accepted into the program. (I was doing ok too) We were to meet the trainer face to face in March of 2020. Of course that didn't happen, and the "Toad-Sniffers" study was eventually put on hold.

I received word tonight that the program is still on hold, more or less indefinitely. I don't know exactly why it hit me so hard, but it's certainly one thing she'll never be able to do,  and she would have been brilliant at it.

Even if we lick this dang cancer, she'd have had to work long hours, following her nose for miles each day, and it just isn't a reality for Runcus on 3. A mile or 2 a day? I have absolutely no doubt we'll get there some day, but 8-10 miles, all day, every day for a few weeks in the spring and summer? It just felt like such a blow letting that dream go. 

I know we are blessed by every moment our beloved dogs are part of our lives, I'll never belittle that fact. But there's richness that's been lost in the course of this dreadful disease and it hit me full-force tonight. 

I don't expect any sage advice or words of wisdom,  I'm just grateful for a place to pour my heart. 

Thank you,

I dunno what Nosewrk is, actually. I figure it's Nose work of a certain type. Do you work in teams, as a pair, what are they sniffing...? We certainly need something we can do together! I've been the one doing all the "mean stuff" lately, and while I know she trusts me, she is worn out with all the poking, prodding, soaking and trips to her personal "worst place ever." 

She is healing, the fluid pocket on her elbow is greatly reduced. As I've said she's still a happy, happy pooch, but I sense a difference some how. She's a little guarded, I suppose would be the word. A fresh bonding activity would probably do wonders for both of us.

It does seem prudent to wait until she's stronger though. I'm sure she's getting stronger every day, but I think she'd push herself too far pretty easily right now. 

As far as tag teaming with the Toad -Sniffers, it really wouldn't work. The dog picks up the toad scent she's been trained to recognize and pursue, and follows it, hopefully to where the actual toad is. Since they are so criptic and hard to see us poor 2 leggers don't have a very good chance of spotting them without a good froggy doggy companion. So no good way for someone to really pick up where someone else left off. 

Anyway, it's less about her not being able to work the long hours, and more about the reality of how different our lives will be, and how it hit me last night. Don't get me wrong,  I know we have lots of rich, rewarding days ahead, but how changed they will be suddenly was made real. 

Thanks for your kind words and gentle suggestions. I'd like to know more about the Nose work you brought up and check out how to get involved.

Thanks everyone! I did look into this a bit and seems like a great fit for Runcus. I live in a small town so will probably do most of this via internet and those in the "Nose" about it. I am so fortunate because my company actually has a dog detection program for some of the work we do and we have a great trainer "in house" so to speak. I even have a friend who's dogs were part of that program. It's been under my nose (sorry, had to) this whole time and I had my pity blinders on! Thanks for helping me see past them. 

In other news... Runcus is headed back to the vet today. The split in her elbow has continued to spread and it sort of went in a circle. She has a thick piece of skin that is about to detach completely. It will leave a big ( maybe 3/4 inch across and 1/2 inch deep) hole in her elbow. It's just not healing up. She'll have it debrided today and then on to wound care until we can get it healed. With it being in her 1 remaining elbow It's getting tons of use and jarring as you are all well aware.  It is likely to take a good long while to completely close over. 

I did devise a rather brilliant bandage for it if I do say so myself. I snipped the toe out of one of Hubby's socks, pulled it up over her leg until the heel was at her elbow. Then pinned a couple wide strips of elastic to the top, across her back and then pinned to the other side of the sock. It's so much less bulky than the t-shirts have been. And she is so, so patient with me while I mess around getting it place.

God bless our brave, strong-hearted, impossibly loyal canines!

I'll post again once we're on the other side of this procedure.  

Well yesterday's procedure went well, they were able to excise all the "mushy"tissue and stitch the elbow closed. They did leave a small hole in the bottom for fluid to drain. She definitely felt better afterward. Even my friend commented this morning how much better she looks! 

However, as this morning wore on the leg below the bandage swelled up. We are headed back to the clinc to have it re-bandaged, wrapping to to just above the toes. Have I mentioned yet how weary we both are with trips to the vet...? 

She's going to need more time on the antibiotics. Does anyone have suggestions for probiotics,  prebiotics, anything that will help reestablish a healthy bacterial flora? 

Thanks as always for reading!