Laevatein | Page 2 of 4 | Canines In Action, Inc.

After a bit of settling, Laev was able to take the toy and fluff it into a soothing pacifier. Good girl!

Sad news: my sick dogs

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 cancer dog.” Indeed not; Laev is 8, but she’s quite active (she spent about 4 hours Sunday night circling and jumping, trying to work out how to reach a critter in a tree) and looks sleek and shiny. We figured some sort of tick-borne disease was more likely and ordered panels to test.

But the biopsies came back as lymphoma. Two weeks later, her lymph nodes are already large enough to visibly distort her silhouette in front and rear. Monday we met with the oncologist, discussed options, got further tests (cancer has likely spread to spleen and lungs, but not liver), and started chemotherapy.

Fear is Funny. No, really, it can be funny.

So I watched a scary movie, and while the soundtrack swelled and the people around me screamed and jumped in their seats and my heart pounded, I was thinking about behavior. There’s a good chance I need professional help. (But in the meantime, I have blog posts.)

Yes, a room full of people watching a horror film can be a great example of an important behavioral concept. Let’s talk about the third of the Four F’s.

Training Dinosaurs: Watching Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park (film score) — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remember a little film called Jurassic Park? It was recently re-released in 3D. I had forgotten that it first came out 20 years ago; it’s fun to re-watch it with my older, behavior-savvy eyes.

I went to the theater with Alena (also blogging regularly here), and as it was a late-night showing and we were the only patrons in the theater, we could indulge in a little chat as we watched.

Doberman Laev (and her brain) in prey mode

The Snake Kit Pays Off!

Longtime readers may remember that Laev is a weeeee bit predatory, and I have an annual springtime mission to keep her from killing my snakes as they come out of hibernation. I even wrote about one year’s “Snake Kit” and how I was handling her.

Well, a few minutes ago I was at the computer when I heard the telltale bark from outside. Laev had found and cornered a snake, the first of the year (our spring has been rather inhospitable thus far). I jumped from my chair, snatched the french fries left over from my Elevation Burger lunch — I knew I’d moderated myself for a reason — and ran out the front door.

Interview with a 5-year-old… Doberman

Remember a few years ago when the “interview with a 5-year-old” meme was running about social media? People asked their little kids questions about their mothers.

Well, I don’t have kids, so I obliged with an interview with Laevatein. And after totally forgetting it, I just stumbled across it again, so here it is.

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

Dobermann Pinscher from 1915 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 whether that line should be interpreted “are usually cropped but not always,” or “are cropped in a normal manner.” And when I say “some debate,” I mean wars have been fought over this ground.

Yes, at one point I could hold and cuddle the Laevatein. Wow.

Happy Birthday to Laev! and Musings on Arousal & Stress Relief

Hard to believe it, but my little girl is turning 8 tomorrow.

All Pets Want for Christmas

What does your pet want for Christmas?

We asked Shakespeare and Laevatein, who agreed to provide this guest post. You’d do well to read it; how often do you get to see a dog write in iambic pentameter? (That will be Shakespeare, of course.)

And down below you’ll find a Linky for the related blog hop and a contest for a $50 gift card. Check it out!

Busy Days and Lazy Days

We lead human lives in a human world, and nowadays that means computers, phones, etc.

Dogs don’t get that.

It’s That Time of Year, When the World Falls In Love…. Holiday & Seasonal Care for Pets

English: Rottweiler Head Deutsch: Rottweiler Kopf — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It may be the time of year when the world falls in love, but the holidays stretching from Halloween to New Year’s can be a particularly tough time on household pets, especially with parties, house guests, and distracted owners. This stress can manifest in a variety of unpleasant ways, from house-training accidents to chewing to even fearfulness or fear-aggression.

Fortunately there are a number of things we can do to mitigate the stresses and dangers to our pets. Read on, and with a little preparation, you and your pets can be full of good cheer.