Tag Archives: Tango

A sick dog disrupts everything

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Tango is one sick dog this week. At this writing (Tuesday) Fran’s been up with him for pretty much 48 hours straight.

The first day your dog is spewing from both ends, the routine is simple. Withhold food (not water), stick to routine as much as possible. Be there to hustle outside and/or clean the floor and the dog. Try to figure out what he may have eaten, where he’s been, what’s different that could have caused it. Nap when you can, if  you can.

By the second day, if there’s been no improvement (or worsening, in Tango’s case), it’s time for a visit to the veterinarian. Who asks where he’s been, what he’s eaten, has anything changed, etc. And the answers, every time Tango is ill, are the same: nowhere, nothing, nope. About once every year or so, he gets sick. 

And a sick dog disrupts everything.

Primary caregiver

Some dogs are “family” dogs. They have a strong and special relationship with every member of the family. If one person isn’t home, they’re content with whoever is there. Tango, like most Brussels Griffons, isn’t one of those. If Fran’s not home, he waits. He doesn’t settle for second best. He’s usually not annoying, he’s just not around. He’s waiting for Fran. 

When she is home, he’s close to her. For example – in the 12 years Fran’s had Tango, she’s never had to look for him. Ever. He’s right there. She’s never counted the times she’s almost/nearly/actually stepped on him, but it has to be in the hundreds. Because he’s always right there.

When he’s sick, it magnifies. And she’s the only one he allows to take care of him. Hope can supervise his outings (stand there and watch him decide on the perfect spot), but only Fran’s allowed to do the paperwork.

Broken schedule

That means that all the things that are supposed to get done, don’t. And there’s an added layer of stress because the things that should be getting done, aren’t. Errands and chores don’t jibe with caring for a sick dog.

There’s no question that Fran loves Tango deeply. And the fact that he’s sick is even more troubling since he’s an older dog. But when you’re sleepless and worried, adding a mounting pile of stuff not getting done is enough to cause anyone stress. Fran said it best herself: “I feel like a prisoner.”

And in a sense, she is. When a loved one is in the throes of a messy illness, you’re trapped. So you can start to resent the one who’s sick, even though you still love them. The other dogs aren’t helping. There’s nothing dogs adore more than routine, and that’s been thrown by the wayside, for now.

Everything’s going to be alright

When you know a situation is only temporary, you tell yourself you can deal with it for now. It’s almost more difficult than a permanent change. If your circumstances are changed for the long haul, you change along with it to make it work.

So the chaos and mayhem that’s a normal part of our life is a bit messier for the moment. We’re hoping by the time you read this that calm has been restored, as well as Tango’s health. We’ll keep you updated.

Update (Saturday): Tango is fully recovered and back to himself. The rest of us are still trying to catch up on our sleep. One reason Tango bounced back so quickly, according to our vet, is because he’s in great shape. See the training tip on our sister site: 2-Minute-Trainer.com.

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A breakthrough … almost

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Fran on Friday

081216_tangoTango is non-stop. Always on the move. You would think that at 7 years old, he’d want to stay still on occasion. Nope. This has served us generally well in agility and we coped through Rally Novice. But the higher levels of Rally and Obedience require a “sit-stay” and “stand-stay.” That means not moving. At all. For multiple seconds at a time. This is really, really hard for Tango. He can do the “down stay” very well. But the stand? On occasion, and more often than not in Advanced Rally, the dog is required to stand still while the handler walks in a circle around him. This has been impossible for Tango. He has insisted on following, or at least pivoting to watch me.

But today I tried something a little different. We were practicing our Rally moves and I put him in a stand position from the sit, which is how the sign I described above usually starts. I told him to “stay,” and I started walking around him, keeping my hand with a piece of cheese in front of him. When I was about halfway around I gave him the cheese. And he didn’t move! I’ll keep it at this for quite a while and then eliminate giving him the cheese halfway around, and then try bringing my hand to my side and standing up straight while I walk around him.

Slow steps. Baby steps, actually, but steps nonetheless!

While Tango’s away …

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Fran on Friday

Booker

Booker

Tango is at the groomer’s for a much-needed haircut. So Booker and I are here at the shop by ourselves. That means that Booker gets uninterrupted training and play-time. He seems to enjoy the one-on-one time with me.

I’ll take more but shorter training breaks with him. So hopefully he’ll be very tired when we go home later! I know that Tango will be tired (after his initial crazy puppy zoomies when he gets back) when I bring him back to the shop later. I know that at first he and Booker will race around the ring like lunatics, like they haven’t seen each other in years!

There’s nothing better than having tired dogs in the evening. They’ll be sprawled out on the couch or the floor, and Hope and I can watch TV in peace. Or take a pre-bed nap with our sleepy dogs. Yes, I’ve reached the age when I fall asleep on the couch after dinner. The thing that makes me feel better is that on the evenings that I go out for dog training, I’m wide awake when I get home. And usually stay that way until I decide to hit the sack.

Am I Proud of My Dogs?

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Fran on Friday

0620_tngo_mail1You dog owners who are somewhat active on social media have probably seen posts by people who have been “tagged” to post a picture displaying their pride in being a dog owner. I was tagged today, and I had a hard time with my comments.

As most dog owners do, I have tons of pictures of my dogs and I post lots of pictures of them. Sitting, lying down, chewing on stuff, jumping, you name it. But how does my pride in being a dog owner enter into it?

Merriam-Webster’s simple definition of “pride”:

  • : a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people

  • : a feeling that you are more important or better than other people

  • : a feeling of happiness that you get when you or someone you know does something good, difficult, etc.

The second definition doesn’t apply here – more important or better than others? I don’t think so. The first one – well, that goes without saying. So it comes down to the third definition. I do get a feeling of happiness when my dogs do things that are good or difficult.

I train my dogs so that they can be happy just “being.” With me, or in their crates, or at home with Hope when I’m not there. I want my dogs to be that independent, but still know that I’ll be there when they need something. I think that’s hard for some dogs.

I train my dogs to do what I tell them to do – both in the competition ring and outside of it. I think that might be easier than the hours we spend happily in each others’ company, just being.

I bring my dogs to work sometimes, and I’m lucky that I get to do that. Most of the time at work I don’t ask anything of them. Just to be. Or sometimes pose on a stupid mail table so I can take their picture (that’s Tango).