Lexx seizured last night around 12:30 am...
length: around 1 minute
reduced paddling from normal, no bowel control loss, excessive drooling present.
No post ictal pacing, he just fell asleep on my lap, panting and drooling.
no signs that he's any worse for wear this morning other than exhaustion ( on both of our parts! )
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Training update and improvements
First of all! A TRAINING UPDATE!
its been months I know, but here we go!
I decided that Lexx needs to do a little bit of obedience work. Not because he's badly behaved or impolite, but I'd like to think that being mentally stimulated is healthy for any creature, man or dog.
We cut up some cheese pieces, pulled out his training equipment and strolled to the one flat spot on the property where I used to train frequently.
Keeping in mind that Lexx now MUST wear a halter, I no longer have any control of his head, and NO ability to correct.
We started with some simple focus exercises. At first he was a bit skimpy on the focus, but over the course of a few minutes I built it up, starting with him in a front, then at my side in heel position. Once he realized that there was CHEESE involved, he was much happier to start "lovingly" into my eyes.
We then started working on heeling again. its been so long that I've gone right back to the beginning, re teaching him to spring off his hind end on the first step, to keep his head up and attention on ME. We worked one step at a time. He remembered the exercises well and performed them better than I had expected he would.
We then worked on stays ( difficult because I kept waving my arms around to get the bugs out of my face and poor lexx didn't know if that meant come, or what!) and started working on finishes to the left again.
His finishes were actually REALLY good, and after a few times luring him, he would do it all on his own.
The best news out of all of this? HIS SITS! They are still FAR from perfect, but they HAPPEN! and STRAIGHT! I have noticed lately that his trot has been much more even in the hind end. He still runs weird, but his trot is SO much better. Maybe the strangeness of movement in the hind is being corrected due to his surgery and this makes the sits easier. Maybe his brain is working better and he understands what I WANT better, I have no clue, but I'm happy about it.
I then decided to teach him something new, the moving stand. Its a strange thing to try since its not required until higher levels of obedience, but the move has always interested me, so I thought hey, why not.
Lexx doesn't have a good kickback stand yet ( same as the problem with the tuck sit... doesn't do well with hind end exercises here...) but he does know that STAND means STAND and stay still. I use it at the vet on a REGULAR basis ( being much more regular than your typical dog at the vet), I use it when i'm checking him for ticks, brushing him, or just observing his sutures etc.
So.. Here we go. Lexx FUS.. lexx STAND, drop the leash and I keep walking. Here I expect a little dober nose going mom? what? i'm here? what? Or at least some tentative foot moving, but no... I turn around and what do I see?
A square STILL standing doberman, looking slightly perplexed, but solid RIGHT where I'd left him. wow. WOW. Treats! lots of treats!
Lexx meanwhile is probably thinking, this is the easiest thing I've ever had to do! All I have to do is STAND!
I tried it a few more times and only ONCE did he shuffle his feet forward a step, he never sat, never downed, never kept with me.
VERY PROUD.
Obviously its a random accomplishment, but considering what we've been through in the last few months, it left me feeling warm and happy inside. Accomplished, joyful that Lexx was alive and still capable of learning new things.
its been months I know, but here we go!
I decided that Lexx needs to do a little bit of obedience work. Not because he's badly behaved or impolite, but I'd like to think that being mentally stimulated is healthy for any creature, man or dog.
We cut up some cheese pieces, pulled out his training equipment and strolled to the one flat spot on the property where I used to train frequently.
Keeping in mind that Lexx now MUST wear a halter, I no longer have any control of his head, and NO ability to correct.
We started with some simple focus exercises. At first he was a bit skimpy on the focus, but over the course of a few minutes I built it up, starting with him in a front, then at my side in heel position. Once he realized that there was CHEESE involved, he was much happier to start "lovingly" into my eyes.
We then started working on heeling again. its been so long that I've gone right back to the beginning, re teaching him to spring off his hind end on the first step, to keep his head up and attention on ME. We worked one step at a time. He remembered the exercises well and performed them better than I had expected he would.
We then worked on stays ( difficult because I kept waving my arms around to get the bugs out of my face and poor lexx didn't know if that meant come, or what!) and started working on finishes to the left again.
His finishes were actually REALLY good, and after a few times luring him, he would do it all on his own.
The best news out of all of this? HIS SITS! They are still FAR from perfect, but they HAPPEN! and STRAIGHT! I have noticed lately that his trot has been much more even in the hind end. He still runs weird, but his trot is SO much better. Maybe the strangeness of movement in the hind is being corrected due to his surgery and this makes the sits easier. Maybe his brain is working better and he understands what I WANT better, I have no clue, but I'm happy about it.
I then decided to teach him something new, the moving stand. Its a strange thing to try since its not required until higher levels of obedience, but the move has always interested me, so I thought hey, why not.
Lexx doesn't have a good kickback stand yet ( same as the problem with the tuck sit... doesn't do well with hind end exercises here...) but he does know that STAND means STAND and stay still. I use it at the vet on a REGULAR basis ( being much more regular than your typical dog at the vet), I use it when i'm checking him for ticks, brushing him, or just observing his sutures etc.
So.. Here we go. Lexx FUS.. lexx STAND, drop the leash and I keep walking. Here I expect a little dober nose going mom? what? i'm here? what? Or at least some tentative foot moving, but no... I turn around and what do I see?
A square STILL standing doberman, looking slightly perplexed, but solid RIGHT where I'd left him. wow. WOW. Treats! lots of treats!
Lexx meanwhile is probably thinking, this is the easiest thing I've ever had to do! All I have to do is STAND!
I tried it a few more times and only ONCE did he shuffle his feet forward a step, he never sat, never downed, never kept with me.
VERY PROUD.
Obviously its a random accomplishment, but considering what we've been through in the last few months, it left me feeling warm and happy inside. Accomplished, joyful that Lexx was alive and still capable of learning new things.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY LEXX!!!
Today is Lexxington's second birthday.
I get teary just thinking about all we've been through and the fact that we've made it this far.
He's on an upswing, post surgery dog is doing well. And he's made it... He's still alive at 2. It sounds silly, but there were days when I seriously wasn't sure that we'd ever make it this far.
and here we are.
Happy birthday to the absolute love of my life. Even with everything thats happened, I'm SO glad that you've been a part of my existence for the last two years, you've taught me more than anyone will ever know or understand.
I love you
xoxoxo
-Mom
I get teary just thinking about all we've been through and the fact that we've made it this far.
He's on an upswing, post surgery dog is doing well. And he's made it... He's still alive at 2. It sounds silly, but there were days when I seriously wasn't sure that we'd ever make it this far.
and here we are.
Happy birthday to the absolute love of my life. Even with everything thats happened, I'm SO glad that you've been a part of my existence for the last two years, you've taught me more than anyone will ever know or understand.
I love you
xoxoxo
-Mom
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