New World Order

[leih merigian]

I always think of major changes in how you manage your dog's life or anything about it (new rules, new ways, etc.) as a New World Order. Geyser has a major New World Order on her horizon .

The time has finally come and I'm going to be having a total hip replacement in mid-March. It's one of those Yin/Yang thangs...I'll be so happy when it's all over and I can move more easily again, but the three months of being out of commission are going to be a major...b...hassle .

I've already decided that I'll be using the walker to protect myself from her . She's such a bull in a china shop, I swear. She's been taught never to jump up on me, or slam into me, and she's very good about that, but if you're sitting in a chair and she wants to pretend she's a lap kitty...kapow!

And, conceptually, it's the other side of the coin from figuring out how to keep your dog happy while it is under activity restrictions. Now, I've gotta be able to do that with her, but with me being the inactive one . I just have to think of it as a major Zen exercise .

I went thru this with my GSD, when I was on crutches and non-weight bearing for 8 months, but then, I had a robo boot I wore on my foot, and that protected it a lot. Not the same deal with a hip.

The worst part? I'm already pining for her during the three nites I'll be away from her in the hospital (I can just hear my husband thinking, "what am I, chopped liver?, but he gets to come and visit, and she can't )

At the very least, I'm sure I'll get some great stories out of this venture

[Dutchringgirl]

Id be scared too with being in that condition with Sadie, she is a bull in a china shop too !!! Do you have a fenced area to put her out in? I think I would be kicking sadie outside all day! I hope it goes well!

[vneerland]

Total hip replacement? Yikes! (So you are not OFA then?)
All kidding aside. Yes, good to teach what you can while you can. But I also think that most dogs that are bonded to us, actually know/feel when they need to be careful. I bet the dog part of the recovery will be easy. The rest? Ouch, I don't envy you!

[Sugars Mom]

So while your all laid up, she will be there cuddling you...hope all goes well with your surgery!

[alspyce]

Ouch is right! Hope everything goes well.

[kchristy]

I hope all goes well with the surgery, hopefully Geyser will be a good girl

[felixone123]

all the best on your surgery. Geyser seems to be well trained, so I'm sure she will be great. Dogs do know when we are under the weather and she probably will want to be your nurse

[Schlussdibusti]

All the best for the surgery. And I think too that Geyser will pick up on the situation and will be a very good girl.

[wahinelf]

Wow, I hope all goes well with the surgery.

Start enforcing the no laps rule now though. Better have that one down before your recovery period. That doesn't sound pleasant.

[Raven]

That's such major surgery...sorry that you have to go through it. And, of course, you're worried about the girl which doesn't help. At least you've taught her so very many things that while you're laid up, you can instruct her to do things, even if just busy things to keep her occupied and you relatively sane.

[Lauren]

How about Fetch the remote control or fetch the ringing phone?

I hope you have a speedy recovery!!!

[Marjolein]

Wow, that sounds like a major operation, good luck, I hope it heals well and quick!

How about Fetch the remote control or fetch the ringing phone?

Mhhh, but she might want to be able to still use them afterwards

[Christie M]

I am torn on how to respond to this thread. I am so sorry that you have to go through this Leih!! I have never even broken a bone, so I am a WUSS when it comes to medicine or pain. I do hope that your recovery is speedy and you are like most of my friends - in so much less pain, even right after surgery than you were going into it.

But the topic of New World Order is compelling to me. Recently I rehomed Balis (stupid, STUPID story that I may one day tell). So I was then able to commit full time to Ziva (Asheley's G litter - Borius/Arca). Balis was easy and fun to work, so I am ashamed that I probably gave her more time. Ziva is pushy and bites the crap out of me for food or during any game (I haven't had her since puppyhood). But since Ziva is my primary goal now, she has a whole new world order. I think the whole situation happened for a reason, and that was for me to focus completely on her. And my how in a little time, a lot has changed. We are almost literally attached at the hip (love leashes) and she is held very accountable. But she is also involved in almost every aspect of my life. I know that this would have happened eventually, but the circumstances stepped it up.

So we have a very important New World Order happening here and I couldn't be happier. This girl is smart as a whip, independent.....but settles in to cuddling times. She will try to self reward (foundation), but has been offering up behaviors more and more. I have wanted to raise "that puppy" again. The one who owns your heart. But I am finding that my adolescent acquisition is attaching herself more and more to me and we are going to be THAT team that I have been looking for.

Circumstances change for a reason. There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to find new and ingenious ways of stimulating Geyser. We will all learn from that!

[alspyce]

Christie--So glad Ziva is working out so well for you! Thought about her myself before she left Florida, but already had Lyric and wasn't up to 2.

[kchristy]

Awesome story Christie, so glad its all working out so well

[leih merigian]

Thanks for all the kind words and wishes

Alas, Geyser is not allowed to just hang out in the yard by herselfo...eventually, she'll mature enough to do so, but as it is, she'll reach the point where she's bored from chewing on sticks, and starts digging to China (or trying to; of course, mom intervenes).

@Judity...OFA poor . But, once I'm bionic, watch out!

Fortunado, I've been training Geyser as an assistance dog from puppyhood, knowing we'd be facing one surgery or another sooner or later. So, she'll be incredibly helpful when I'm not supposed to bend the joint more than 90 degrees (all those posts about teaching the dog to show you the pill versus pick up the thing? Not just for training kicks ) And, she does retrieve the TV remote when it falls under the bed, and without even changing the station . Lately, we've been working on her picking up her's and the cats' metal food dishes from the floor and handing them to me. The cats' dishes are very easy, since they're so tiny. Her's? Huge . She does it, but it will take a bit of practice for her to become totally comfortable with such an unwieldy object. (No problem with metal, tho, which is nice!)

Christie...I'm glad your New World Order is working out so well. Ziva sounds like an interesting young lady

[GSDNanny]

Leih, praying for a successful speeding recovery when the time comes. You will do just fine I am sure, both you and Geyser. I have followed your training with her and you are a very smart handler with a very smart dog so this will be a piece of cake.
Is your backyard fenced? I am thinking that if you can exercise her with a chuck-it or such (her chasing a ball til she drops), that she will be tired when inside and will settle easire. I also have one of those sling-shot ball shooters that sends the tennis ball a long distance, works well. With these type of things, you can keep remain seated with your walker around you while your dog exercises. Just a thought.
Best of luck.

[leih merigian]

Thanks, Denise. Yup, we have a fenced yard, and great minds clearly think alike

(wow...love the new smilies!!! Gotta use the fire eyes one!..oh, wait, those are hearts )

[vneerland]

I am pretty lucky to have a husband who is into dogs. We swap, a lot, actually. When I see that I need to give one more attention, he can grab the leash of another one who is well on it's way to being where I want him/her to be. The new order for my dogs is "yes sir" instead of "yes ma'am" and vice versa

[leih merigian]

The new order for my dogs is "yes sir" instead of "yes ma'am" and vice versa

I'm very lucky in that Dan will step in and help as much as he can with Geyser, which will save all our butts until I can take her out and sit in a chair myself.

He's gonna get a little training course the week prior to the Big Event in puppy management . She'll be back on a long line again...won't hurt her one bit, and I have some very very long lines .