Going forward and more about saying goodbye sort of

As most everyone knows, I have moved to our new home in lovely Manteno, Illinois:

Here, surrounded by family, nature, and my many animal friends, I am working hard to establish the latest aspect of my long career, training service dogs for wounded United States Marines through the Semper Fi Fund.

Before this, since I was 15 years old, I have focused my efforts on teaching human family members to better understand and communicate with their companion dogs. I spent the last 18 years in Lemont, Illinois, where I enthusiastically raised my children, enjoyed my life, and trained many dogs and their people, to the irritation of my neighbors, who grudgingly tolerated me running my business from my home.

Now, we have accepted an offer on that home, and will be closing the doors on that chapter of our lives in mid to late spring, 2015 (Ill be occupying the house and will continue to offer some classes and lessons there until that time).

In keeping with all of these changes, I want to let you know about the training services I will (and will no longer) be offering to my existing and new clients, going forward.

First, the "no longer", and this is where saying goodbye comes into play; as of this past Sunday, I have ended my long-standing "501" class, which has been meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:30 for many years. We had lots of great discussions specific to matters pertaining to both canine and human behavior, and it was loads of fun. All of the classmates were good friends, and I am sorry to say goodbye.

That being said, anyone who wants to evolve and transition forward with me is invited to participate in the programs I am adding and/ or continuing to offer. These include:

• Spring/ Summer/Fall field trips in the Lemont/ Downers Grove area. These will be enrolled classes, rather than drop-in, with preregistration required, and will be offered on Sundays at 9:30, weather permitting. They can be signed up for one at a time, rather than committing to a series of lessons, and Ill create an online enrollment form on my website.

• Half-day training and play workshops, offered in two blocks (morning and afternoon) on Saturdays, weather permitting, at my new place. Again, preregistration, up until an hour before class, will be required and available online. These will replace current 201 and play classes.

• 101 level group training, taught in a concentrated, three-lesson curriculum, meeting every other week over a five week period, in Manteno. 

• 101 level group training, taught in a concentrated two-lesson seminar curriculum, meeting every other week over a three week period.

         (Both 101 classes can be repeated at no charge, and crossover attendance between either                       curriculum is permitted.)

• Topic-specific clinics, including: sniffer dog, canine disc, agility, musical freestyle, herding, carting, and competitive obedience.

Going forward, Monica will continue to offer in-home training, and also in-home care and training for people who prefer not to board their dogs.

I look forward to an exciting, fun future with you and your dogs!

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Saying Goodbye is Never Easy

But the time has sadly come:
Goodbye, Air Buddie.

You were wonderful and made everyone who knew you happy!

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Saying goodbye

Zola  

2/6/11 ~ 6/19/14

a.k.a. "Poopy"

     

I expected to be sad when Zola left us, I did not expect to be devastated. I should have known though, nothing with her happened by the book. She was a special case. Taken in by us when we heard a very sick pug needed a home. Who else should take in a sick dog but someone who works for a vet? What can I say, we met her and fell under her spell. She did that to people. Her life expectancy wasnt known, and may have only been weeks. The kids were warned. Considering how down and out she was when we took her, we didnt expect it to be very long. 

She had other plans.

     

Once she was on the proper food and medication for her defective liver she felt better and maintained pretty well. And once she felt better she was joy incarnate. Aside from her moments of pure bitchy-ness towards Jenny, which had to be managed closely in the end. In my 20 plus years with experience in akitas I had no dog fights, a couple of years with 2 female pugs and my skills in behavior modification were tested. I learned a lot about the power of health issues in dealing with behavior problems. All the behavior modification in the world will not work if the medical issue isnt addressed.

     On top of the liver shunt was a jaw that lacked full mobility, a bad eye, a bad knee, a misshapen skull and when overheated, a tongue that covered her nose if she panted. The worst possible design flaw in a dog with breathing issues. She loved going for walks but I had to be extra careful when I could take her. She was only 10 pounds when we took her and 8 months old. She never grew bigger than 13lbs. She drank a lot and peed a lot. And I mean a LOT. Not always giving us enough warning to get her outside. Some days she was a real pain in the ass. But her cuteness trumped all that. We forgave her for everything. 

     

She went downhill fast at the beginning of the month. I could tell she didnt feel well. She stopped wanting her meals. Thankfully a good supply of fresh duck eggs from a friend could coax her into eating something on the days she refused her special food. Her bloodwork showed progression of the liver disease. Not a surprise, but I thought we still had more time together. We tried medication for her appetite but it didnt help. Then the seizures started. It may have been from the toxin build up. We werent sure. 

She stopped wanting to cuddle. 

     That killed me. She would stand there and look at me and I couldnt make her feel better. Her breathing got weird. I took her back in to see the doctor and found out she was going into heart failure. Something we couldnt slow down. She still greeted each new day as she always did, the cheerleader of life. Joy personified. But then her energy was spent. It wasnt fair to keep her alive and miserable, just because we couldnt imagine life without her. I knew it was the right thing to do. We all knew it was the right thing to do. 

It still sucks. 

     I try to focus on all the joy she brought us, and the lessons she taught. Live in the moment. Be happy. Tomorrow isnt promised. Be grateful. Cuddle more. Sometimes you just gotta pee.

She was joy. 

She was love. 

We were lucky to have had her in our lives. 

     There is something extra hard about losing a high maintenance dog in a household. So much of our schedule revolved around her. Preparing her meals, her medication schedule, the multiple potty breaks throughout the day and night. Those empty spaces makes us feel her absence that much more. I am fortunate to work with an awesome veterinarian who is also a friend. She was there for us in the end. We got to let her go under a beautiful blue sky surrounded by buttercups. It was beautiful and horrible and I still cant believe she is gone.

We love you Poopy.

And even miss your puddles. 

  My kingdom for just one more puddle. 

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