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I've been so busy it hasn't even occured to me to check the forum until today.

Bruno and I had a good weekend. Susan and the girls went to Penn for a track tourney. Bruno was outside most of the time as I was painting the walls. Last time he wound up with a white streak on his shoulder. We'd start the day with a long walk and I went out 3 times each day and played with him to keep him company. At the end of the day we'd sit together on the floor and watch TV.

His stitches are healing well but we have a question. With his balls being removed why are there still 2 little ball-like dealies on either side of the base of his penis? I've no doubt our vet did his job but I was not given any info on this and was wondering. I plan to call the vet and ask but like I said, life is flying by.

We're still feeding him a handful at a time. Sometimes he'll growl after the food is dropped. Simply walking away and letting him eat what's in the bowl seems like he won't understand why we aren't coming back because he is not refused food at the exact moment he growls.

Not to say I don't care anymore but I'm to tired to try and figure it out. We're staying with it and our appointment is in less than a month. He hasn't growled much with the exception of yesterday. I don't know what started it but Susan had his collar and he was growling at her. He'd growl and she'd tighten the collar and tell him no. As soon as she'd relax her grip he'd start again. The thing that comes to mind with me would be to grab his fur on his cheeks and look him in the eye and tell him no but he doesn't do this with me. I swear, I'll probably never own another chow after Bruno. Maybe a Newfandland or Bouvier. They may be spelled wrong, who cares. Can ya tell I'm exhausted? The military tempo just gets faster and faster. A smaller budget, less people and a heavier workload. I can't wait to retire!

C-YA!
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Bruno has been much better. I am not sure what set him off this last time (Eric mentioned it in his post). I called him over and started to pet him. He was fine at first then he started to growl and turn his head towards my arm. His growling was not the vicious snarl growl that he used to do but more of a low rumble. I grabed his collar because his head was turning toward my arm. Once he settled and no longer seemed interested in my arm I sent him to the corner and that was the end of it. Who knows. Maybe he was tired of the attention and wanted to be left alone. whatever the reason I must say the intensity of reactions are much less then in the past. Can't wait for the behavioralists input.

Susan
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Sounds like you guys are doing an excellent job. You can't expect 100% improvement yet, but the progress you've made is significant. The fact that you can get him to lay in the corner is very very good, because it would seem those would be the moments he would refuse, as Cookie does. When she's pissed at me, she doesn't do anything I say. We're working on it.
I think the behaviorist will help you eliminate the last of Brunos issues and will be a happy well adjusted dog. I am sure waiting is no fun as you want to work with him and continue to make progress, but progress is not a garauntee and you don't want to risk going backward.
Glad to hear you had a good weekend, I am sure you are exsausted from painting, but I'm sure it looks amazing! What does Bruno think of the smell?

The house REALLY smells like paint now! My in laws had an iron sided bench that broke just as we were leaving their house last year. I loaded it into the trailer and brought it home to MD. It sat around for awhile but they will be here this weekend. I decided to get off my butt and make it new. I bought 2 oak boards, ripped them to size and re-built the bench. I've been spray painting the last 3 days. The sides are gloss Navy Blue and the wood slats are gloss red and gloss white alternating. I also bought 2 small stick flags to mount to the back at each side. I ordered a brass plate which reads "Thanks Mom & Dad. Without your help this bench would not exist". When people read this they will ask what I'm talking about. This will give them a chance to tell people how they have given me most of the tools I use on a daily basis and how appreciative I am for it. I'm starting to make "shadow boxes" for military accouderments and medals etc. I never realized how many people want this stuff. I'm designing an outline of a KC-10 extender (refueling aircraft) which will hold nearly 100 coins my customer has collected throughout the years. These are unit coins from something like a Security Police unit in Nebraska to the presidents coin. It's a military tradition to collect coins from various units as a remembrance of where we've been and what we've done. We sometimes get a coin from dignitaries or officials high in the government for service provided to them during a visit to our base. It's to recognize the member for a job well done. I take these peoples coins and design a plaque from their specifications and either inlay or make some way to display the memorabilia.

Another one I'm working on is for my sister. We had to put our Pivo down in October. Shortly after she had to put down her lab, then 2 weeks ago she had to put down her great dane. I'm going to make a small shadow box that has a picture of these 3 dogs, sitting on her front porch, inside of it. The face will be a heart shape and it will have a protective glass cover. Then I'll have a small brass plate engraved with some clever saying that will make her cry but she will always be able to see her best friend.

Gotta go, I have my separation transition briefing again tomorrow.

Eric
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Wow that's amazing! It's great to see a guy getting intouch with his creative side! My sister has done some work with shadow boxes and modeling clay. I am sure your parents are going to love the bench, it sounds gorgeous! And your sister will love her shadow box, even though I am sure it will make her cry. When my sisters cat passed, we all made a huge collage of pictures of him and gave it to her for her birthday, she cried.
Well I am glad Bruno is doing well! Cookie starts her training classes at the end of the month and I can't wait! I hope she does well.

We talk so much about Bruno I forget to ask about Cookie? Sorry if we don't seem concerned. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own issues we forget everyone else is pretty much going through the same things. How old is cookie? What problems are you having with her? What class is it you are about to attend and are you having to seek a behaviorist as well?

Eric
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

No need to apologize! I asked!
Cookie is doing ok. We started using a squirt bottle to eliminate her barking at me and so far it's working very well. I also bought her an ultrasonic bark eliminator to help with her barking in the morning. Its not a shock collar or anything, just a box that plugs into the wall and ommits a high pitched frequency only she can hear when she barks. We are also going to try the shake can method with her jumping, although I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet cause she hasn't jumped, but that's good!
Lets see, what other issues does she have...Oh she started not wanting to go in her crate again, but I think it was my mood. I started getting more excited about it and she is doing better. For the mouthing, we're just going to be more strict. As soon as she starts biting, we have to stop playing with her and completely ignore her. She was pulling on the leash again too so we went back to using the Gentle Leader on all walks and she's doing much better, or at least has been the past few days.
The class is a group class for adult beginners, ages 18 weeks to adult. If the trainer recommends us getting a behaviorist then we will. But I am hoping since she doesn't have any aggression issues and doesn't resource gaurd, the class will be enough. We shall see!
Thanks for asking! I posted some new pics of her in the new puppy board and the mixed breed board if you want to check them out. Here is one of them

>>His stitches are healing well but we have a question. With his balls being removed why are there still 2 little ball-like dealies on either side of the base of his penis? I've no doubt our vet did his job but I was not given any info on this and was wondering. I plan to call the vet and ask but like I said, life is flying by.

OK, the left over skin from where his testicles used to be will shrink with time. I think it took 4-6 weeks with Ben (but that was 6 ys ago, so it could be less time)

If they has removed the skin and all it would have been a full castration...Correct Debra?
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Rachel,John,Angela
Big Ben,Jamie & Maggie
There is a time and a season for everything...Just remember what ever it is,God is always holding you in His arms.

Man! That C word sends a shutter down my spine!
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell