Updates on the Dogs

This entry is part 4 of 8 in the series Cancer & the Fight

And here’s your irregular update on Shakespeare and Laevatein…. Laevatein has no idea she’s sick. Aside from lethargy about 36-48 hours after her chemo — during which she’s merely sleepy, and doesn’t seem to feel ill except for just once — she’s living a totally normal life. We’ll hope the… Continue reading

Waylaid by a Rimadyl Overdose

This entry is part 3 of 8 in the series Cancer & the Fight

Normally, the Rimadyl wouldn’t even have been in the house. I personally don’t like carprofen for my dogs, due to the potential liver damage (which, I’ve read, Dobermans may be more susceptible to than some other breeds), and we tend to use other anti-inflamnatories when necessary. But Shakespeare was given… Continue reading

Sad news: my sick dogs

After a bit of settling, Laev was able to take the toy and fluff it into a soothing pacifier. Good girl!
This entry is part 1 of 8 in the series Cancer & the Fight

Not quite sure how to start this one, so I guess I’ll just jump in…. Laevatein has terminal cancer. Lymphoma. She was just diagnosed, when a vet found somewhat-enlarged lymph nodes during a routine exam. “I have to mention the c-word,” she said, “but she really doesn’t present like a… Continue reading

Music and Memory: Classical Conditioning in Real Life, part 3

clickers
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Music and Memory

Last time I shared examples of an extremely aversive experience poisoning what had once been a pleasant, rewarding behavior. So when something outside of your control goes wrong, how likely is it to destroy the behavior you’ve trained? Continue reading

Cropping, Docking, Political Correctness, Opinions, Animal Welfare, Free Speech, and Dogs

Fair warning: most of my posts I at least try to keep civil and positive. No guarantees today. As regular readers will know, I have a breed which is in this country normally cropped and docked. Yes, that’s the actual AKC standard: “ears normally cropped.” There is some debate over… Continue reading