What's new?

It's been quiet here on the blog for quite some time and it has been a rollercoaster for me healthwise, doctorsappointments here and there. But I want to update what's been going on with each dog.

Digger: He has gained his weight back and his health is really well right now.
Andy: He has improved with his food aggression but still lashes out sometimes over food or what I believe is pain related. He has alot of arthritis in his body and is on pain suppliments. He almost moved to his original mommy, the one that took care of him for 10 years of his 11 year old life but at the last minute that plan fell through so he will be staying with us. His vision in his bad eye has worsened and he is probably completely blind in that eye now. The spot on the ear where he was in poison ivy is naked so it scarred a little but otherwise he healed nicely.
Ixxi: Currently has a double sided eye infection that I am treating with chamomile tea. Otherwise healthy.
Apache: Had a while where he didn't want to work and I thought of retiring him to a pet instead of my workdog but it turned out it was the heat that made him sluggish. Who doesn't? So I got my workbuddy back!
Frodo: Had to be shaved down due to burdocks in his hair and I am now waiting for the crest to grow out again. He lashed out at people when we had visitors so I will be working at his social skills.

That's all. Not much to update but that's it. :)

Difference in the brush

Apache's fur is so thick that the mars coat king tugged the hair and furminator slid ontop of the coat which made it difficult to help him shed. I bought a good slicker brush at fleet farm that could grab the bulk and the other 2 could do the finer job. Here's the result and the huge difference. :) His coat is so thick it takes three or four different brushes to help shed him. Normally I bathe shedding dogs with espree shedding schampoo to speed it up but Apache is terrified of the tub so I avoid stressing him with it if I can. Enjoy the before and after pic. :)

Apaches great success

I will update you all on what's been going on in my dog pack lately but this post is all a celebration of Apache! He was so badly kicked and abused that when I started trainging him he didnt trust humans and could not be close enough to eat a treat out of my hand. Teaching him to trust me and to sit next to me in a heeling position with me standing still was hard, but teaching him to not flee in terror when my leg moved into a step was even harder and the first time I succeeded I cried in joy, it was HUGE!

Here's his first steps that was caught on video but not the actual first steps that made me cry. Still huge!

It's almost difficult to comprehend that it's the same dog I have today. This is our heelwork today.

And he was also beaten with a cane. This is where we started out in february 2014.

And this is what he learned in ONE session yesterday, august 2nd 2015.

I can't believe it's the same dog! I am so proud of his progress that I have tears in my eyes just thinking back on our journey! Apache, I love you! And now that he has conquered his fears of sticks, there is SO much we will work on the rest of this summer! Yay!!