Five Dog Quartet

Basil had his last dog class last night, and it was much more work with him than it has been with my other dogs.

Buddy was a dream in his classes, he learns fast, and will work for almost anything.

Emma Lou had some issues with other dogs in the beginning of her class, but she learned quick too. It's hard to match a terrier for work ethic and trainability. Plus, since she has a little Schnauzer in the genetic mix she will work for almost any kind of food.

Curly never went to a class. He is one of those dogs that ruin pet owners forever. Curly is just good, he comes when he's called, he does what you ask, and when off leash does not run off. He is NOT typical, and people always think I am the dog training goddess when they meet him, because he's so good. Really he is just one of those rare dogs who need no training.

The Princess Pea weighing in at not quite 1.5 pounds has never been to a class either. She lays in her bed on top of a heating pad all the time. She uses a pee pad, eats, and sleeps. Once in awhile, she comes out to bark and demand attention. Her health and her size just make a dog class too dangerous, though socially she could really benefit.

Which brings me back to Basil. I feel he is one of the cutest dogs ever, though of course I am biased. Since he has been sick for the entire time I have owned him, he has never been to a class. I'm not talking about a little bit sick, I'm talking about I'm not sure he is going to make it sick. So sick that he slept with me so I could monitor him, so sick that I took him to work everyday just in case I had to run him to the vet, so sick I took him everywhere with me. People just had to deal with the fact if Ben and I went some place, Basil went to. However, all of this attention has brought about consequences, Basil has become that little dog people hate. He barks, he's demanding for attention, jealous of other dogs and people, and is basically an asshole. The worst part is, it's all my fault. I admit it, my dog is an asshole because of me.

So what now you ask? Well, he won't work for food, and he won't work for attention. He will work for toys, but that is a pain in the ass and I hate it. There has also been the debate about if he's deaf. I've had him since 4 months old, and he still doesn't answer to his name, or even act like he can hear me talking to him. Which makes everyone wonder if he can even hear the clicker. Basil is hyper, and LOVES to bark at the other dogs in class, lovely huh? So where in this is the training happening? A little at a time, day by day, one thing at a time, and he can not work at the pace the rest of the class is going. So last night was the last class, and he did graduate, though only because the trainer loves him, and despite everything he IS better, it's just going to take more time. After everything he was able to wear his little cap and gown, and get his picture taken.

All I have to say, is thank god we can re-take the class as often as we want for the next 6 months, because he is going to need it.

After much deliberation I have decided to try homeopathy on Basil again. After months of hearing he would always be chronic, would have to be nebulized for the rest of his life, and one day would most likely become untreatable, I felt I had very little choice.

The surprise was, after talking to the new vet, and going over Basils' history, he was placed again on Lachesis. The same remedy he was on when he crashed the last time. This time however, he is on a really low dose. Every week we evaluate him, and decide on the next step. So far he has done really well, and is making slow, but sure, improvement. Which I am really happy with. I don't want to rush him at all, I want him to heal at a pace that is good for him, and avoid any kind aggrivation if possible.

Overall I am very happy with the new vet, I feet very comfortable with him, and am comfortable with his treatment plan for Basil. My last veterinary homeopath was fine, I just didn't feel as comfortable with her. Plus, I was put off by the fact she didn't want to discuss diet or heartworm prevention with me.

Dr. Falconer has a really great site which you can take a look at here. I will post updates as Basil makes progress, for now at least he seems on his way to true health!

My best friend Kelly has decided to switch her dogs to a raw food diet. This is a huge step for her, especially since she has worked in the animal industry since the age of 16 and has very definate opinions on pet care. When I switched Basil to raw, she was supportive but skeptical. When I started alternative medicine, I could tell she thought I was crazy but she didn't say anything. Basil was sick, it looked like he might not make it, why quibble over food and medicine, when she knew I had tried everything and spent thousands of dollars trying to find out what was wrong with him? He was't getting better, and it didn't look like he could get much worse. So to her credit, she supported me, but thought I was crazy on the side.

I however, was determined to get her to at least start looking at a different kind of pet care, so here and there I would email her a web link, or send her a book. However, the real turning point was when she attended the ADPT conference, and much of the conference focused on natural pet care. After that she started bombarding me with questions, and I loaned her a whole bunch of books to read. Kelly then started her Pit Bull Mix Chauncey in agility and weight pulling. During these classes she met more trainers, and found out that many of the trainers she really respected fed raw.

Kelly has now gone raw, and I smile and laugh when she calls me everyday worrying about bones and choking, what kind of meat to feed, and how much to feed. Mostly because I remember myself being the exact same way. Worried about every little thing, and fearing I was going to kill or hurt Basil in the process.

For myself and Basil the raw food has paid off. People can't believe he is a sick dog when they see him because he looks to robust and healthy. His fur is soft and glossy, and his skin supple and smooth. His ears and teeth are clean and fresh, and he has no signs of "dog breath". For 10 months, he was the only one of my five dogs on a raw diet. I guess you can say I was experimenting with him since I really had nothing to lose, but about a week and a half ago I switched the other dogs to raw and they have never been happier. Emma Lou, who has always carried extra weight I could not get her to lose, has started to slim down quite nicely, and unlike other times I have tried to get her to lose weight, does not act like I'm starving her. Buddy, who has always been my picky eater, loves every meal and finishes everything, even his veggies. Curly, who has started to have quite strong "doggy breath" in past few months, crunches down his chicken necks happily, and I've already noticed his breath becoming sweeter.

Does the raw diet work for everyone? No, it doesn't. It takes commitment and extra time everyday. Feeding raw is not as easy as dumping dog kibble into a bowl, it takes some imagination, and some planning ahead. However, my dogs are reaping the benefits of their new diets, and though there are nights I would rather go to bed then make the dogs' dinner, I think about all of the benefits and haul my lazy ass into the kitchen to make dinner.

Will Kellys' dog reap the same benefits? I believe so, and I also think she will see a reduction in the health problems some of her animals have been experiancing. She is determined, has done her research, and once she sees the positive changes in her dogs, I know she will come to be a believer like me.