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Sunday, January 12, 2020

Black Dog Sunday

Winter! It hasn't snowed much in the past week but I wanted to share a favorite photo of our Black Dog taken late last spring. I love seeing him running with his sister.

This week has been lower key for our Black Dog. He is still grappling with the decline in his vision. We are learning to help him around the house. We are seeing the patterns in where and when he seems to get lost so we can anticipate it. We are working on placing guides like carpet runners for him to help him find his routes.

I am continuing to play games with R that I know that he loves. He's been doing his "chair crawling game" every few days, and I've been setting up nosework searches for him.

I videoed one of the nosework searches for you to see. In it, the metal tin with birch oil in it is stuck to the propane tank. The search shows how R's lack of vision forces him to use his nose, even when he's within a foot of the source. When Shyla did this same search, she followed her nose until she was close to the tin, and then she used her eyes to finish the search.

I think that nosework will be a big part of R's life. It really makes him happy! And that makes me happy!

In general, R has an exuberance for life that this latest hurdle has not dimmed at all.

Here is the video of R's nosework search.

17 comments:

  1. I cried all the way through the search, he is so smart and sweet and my heart hurts for his vision loss. I am so glad he is with you because you know how to deal with it and keep him happy and hunting. good job R...

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  2. We love seeing you run with Shyla too, R, and you look so handsome in red. You're such a smart boy!

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  3. Hari OM
    Yaaaaaayyyy, supersleuth R!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  4. We all love you R and we love watching you do your searches!

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  5. I just love to see the tail wagging :)

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  6. Good job R. You looked like you were having fun trying to find that scent.

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  7. Well done R.... the nose....knows right.
    And might I add...I give your mom a treat for such a very very straight line up of chairs!!!
    Hugs Cecilia

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  8. He certainly looks like he's enjoying himself.

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  9. Losing one sense usually heightens the rest. It's great you had been playing this "game" with him before his eyesight failed.

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  10. Awww, sweet R!!! All that work you did teaching him nosework is now paying off. It is great to see him being so confident walking around trying to find that scent.

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  11. You have done an awesome job getting R to adapt to the new normal.

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  12. Great job! I always enjoyed my dog's search games. I miss them now.

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  13. It is wonderful that you do all you can to make sure R continues to have the best life possible
    hugs
    Mabel & Hilda

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  14. Oh R, I loved the video!!! I just knew you had an inkling, butts had to check out everythings just to be sure. Sendin' lots of {{{hugs}}} for your Moms ~ she has done a FABulous job working with you and letting you live your best life!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  15. We know that R will continue to find his way with your loving help. ♥♥♥
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  16. Sweet R :) I may have mentioned it before, but sandpaper tape is really helpful, especially outside on decks and steps to help the blind dog feel where steps start, etc.. But also to make pathways or mark boundaries for them.

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