Marilyn's Ricky 8/23 true conserv; Chi; GRAD 10/18

Going from 8 weeks of being a couch potato to slow and gradual into back to life means we will provide details and ideas of what that means after we hear your update report on 10/18.

Don't jump the gun.

Right now until graduation day, the focus is on the STRICT rest to ensure that disc heals well enough to have a graduation day.

Marilyn, it is a matter of untraining his bad habit.  You will need to learn to speak his language to make the training go faster.

Be aware that you could unintentionally be training for undesirable behavior.
     Dogs see food, attention, eye contact, talking to them, approaching the crate, and petting as rewards, holding them in your arms.
     Therefore, whenever you notice undesirable behavior, try speaking to your dog in his language to get him to calm down.
    Until he calms down and settles, turn your body to the side and avoid making eye contact.   Don't pick him up when he is excited. If he gets excited in your arms, then place him back in the suite and turn your body to the side, no eye contact, no speaking.
    Start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior.
    Give Ricky a reward of a loving, relaxed "good sit/lie" whenever you pass by or see he is sitting or lying quietly. Rickey will quickly realize that sitting quietly, etc. is rewarded and gets your attention

Good Morning,
lol I finally don’t have any trouble getting to the quick reply.
We are counting down the days!!!! 10/18 Graduation Day.
My friends send me daily text messages of how many days are left 😂
These 8 weeks have been HARD on Ricky and Me….but we did it!!
Ricky is feeling so good. We are very grateful to Dodgerslist!!
We wouldn’t have had this recovery without you wonderful people, Paula you have been great!!
It’s early here in Michigan and Little Ricky is eating breakfast inside his crate on his lick mat. He works on that for maybe 10 mins.
Later today he will get snuffle Puzzle inside his crate where I hid a little bit of dry kibble in it and he has to find it. He likes that too.
I will continue to use these puzzles after crate rest as they are good for his mind.
I LOVE this guy so much ❤️
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Sincerely, Marilyn

Good Morning,
Little Ricky and I are awake early this morning feeling the JOY like a child on Christmas Morning.
TODAY IS GRADUATION DAY!!!!
Looking forward to hearing from you.

**

Ricky
Has a normal Gait
Not Wobbly
No pain

He appears to be feeling fantastic.

Here are some ideas to help you with the gradual process of getting back to family life.  Living with Ricky's IVDD just means developing a "new" normal routine to accommodate his disease.

GRADUATION, A SLOW RE-INTRODUCTION
     For now you will need to determine how you are going to ease back into more normal activity at graduation from rest.

The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled (leash + harness) and  supervised (eyeballs on Ricky) conditions. Not free rein of the house and yard immediately.

      Ricky's muscles are soft and out of shape after the 8 weeks of rest period. Take a look at our information we share with you. Gradually building your dogs muscles over a month's time will have him safely running and having fun again!

SAMPLE REHAB SCHEDULE
Here is a sample schedule to safely and slowly introduce your dog back to family life and physical activity.  
    🚩https://dodgerslist.com/back-friendly/

DIY back PROTECTION around the house
1) Good ideas in making your home back friendly to block furnture access:   
    🚩https://dodgerslist.com/home-protect-ivdd-backs/

2) If Ricky is the slightest bit unsure of himself on smooth floors, this page gives ideas to help with traction until his muscle strength is optimal:  dodgerslist.com/traction-solution-improvements/

3) As mentioned to you a few days ago, you will need to teach Ricky to be safe and not jumping up nor down, but to use a ramp whether over steps leading outdoors or to furniture in the house. Also teach him to not take a shortcut when going down the ramp.

    Dogs are best at visual learning/training rather than verbal commands. Dog trainer Anna Jane Grossman says “Dogs learn in pictures. Inside your dog’s brain is a very simple algorithm – pleasant images in one place and unpleasant images in another."  Pro trainer explains how to:

Some tips with training and exercises:
--- Buy cheap cut of meat or chicken when on sale as really high value treats. Cook, cut into tiny treats and freeze to use as needed each day.
--- Do all PT where there are no other distractions of kids or other dogs.
--- Do PT slowly so that steps are deliberate- helps to re-train the nerves and muscles to work together
--- Surface with good traction such as carpet or use of a Yoga mat or rug runners
--- Do therapy at meal times. Feed dinner a few kibbles at a time, for stands, sits. Scatter some kibbles on a non-slippery floor.
--- reward for pushing up from a sit to a stand.
--- Single leg balance if you  detect Ricky has a weaker leg. While standing, lift the stronger leg off the ground for a few seconds-this will force bearing weight on the weaker leg. Lower and repeat with the opposite side leg.

And finally, don't be a stranger! Stop in periodically. 

i.postimg.cc/8P5FkBYy/living-laugh-love-in-spite.png

Please update as time permits. We DO love to hear how things are going. It's great inspiration to those just starting the journey to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

After the 8 weeks of crate rest the disc should have finished forming good strong scar tissue. Ricky has graduated and can now slowly go back to regular activity. He can safely go to the vet for a nail trim.

Hello,
It has been thirteen days after Graduation for Little Ricky.
Everything is going well. He is back to his happy self.
We Have been doing ramp training in the living room.
He catches on quickly with a treat involved.
We have our moments when he still jumps on something he shouldn’t, and I cringe.
We are closing off the living room unless we’re in it with him.
I don’t let him clear the yard of squirrels, and they are happy he leaves them alone.
He is so happy to be back basking in the sunshine, and looking out the front door.
We are slowly getting back to our old life together. We wouldn’t be here without your help. Thank you for giving me my little buddy back.

We are so very THANKFUL for the help given from you wonderful people at Dodgers list.
Little Ricky is pain FREE, and taking walks with me like a CHAMP.

Strick crate rest for eight weeks was so hard on me, and him. It was Soooooo worth it now.
I am so grateful for you all. ❤️