In the days before computers, I kept a book (now its all carefully entered in to special folders on the 'machine' and provides me with a complete history) - total sickness record, including jabs and innoculations (and cost of pills / treatment), of each dog. Weight at birth of puppies, ease of whelping. Onset of seasons, boys starting to react (chuddering and showing interest), date relative to onset of color of the first time the girl's tail went over. Just about every aspect of each dog is carefully logged and catalogued.
Anybody Have Experience with an Inverted / Recessed Vulva in a Puppy?
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I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well. She appears to feel okay, eats well and has energy to spare, but all these infections have to be causing discomfort. Maybe this is why she is so restless at night. Neither one of us ever gets a good night's sleep, because Ava just won't lie still.
Goodness yes. That's why I think allergies are a HUGE consideration for breeders. Being itchy and uncomfortable all the time has got to be a miserable existence and that in turn has to cause temperament problems. And training/concentration issues. And lack of sleep, I can attest that that makes concentration very difficult the next day.
(I should clarify, that when I said "breeders" I was not talking about Ava's or even any basenji breeders. I know of some non-basenji breeders who treat allergies as a minor consideration in their breeding program. sad. )
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I won my first BOW when I was 17 and knew very little.
I finished Cody myself and really would love to do the same for Elliot. It's fun to show your own dog but yes it is much easier to get points when a pro or the breeder handles. Tad will handle any of his dogs so I'd ask him.
(if you lived closer I'd LOVE to do it.. I'm no pro but I love it and I REALLY wanted Ava's brother! haha)We are currently treating a Greyhound (retired racer) with a recessed vulva who is already spayed so waiting for a heat cycle is not an option for her. She's had many UTIs and her owners are planning on having the surgery done. We also have a huge hound mix with the same condition but her's is most likely due to her extreme obesity. I think I'd wait for her first cycle if she were my dog.
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If you think you would like to show her, send her home to her breeder when she comes in season and he will train her for you, that would solve your problem of having the boy dogs next door going nuts too. We scheduled our vacation last yr for when our two girls would be in season and dropped them off at Tads for the 3 weeks while we went to Europe. Came back and Tempest was already done her season and Gambit on her last couple days. They had a nice vacation with their Daddy and we did not have to worry about anything happening at home with potential roaming dogs outside our fence. I would recommend walking her in your yard on a leash for extra safety when she is in season.
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Sorry to hear about poor Ava, so hard when we as dog owners can't help our pets when they are suffering and can't tell us. So important to have other dog friends and the internet to help us along the way. Must say I am learning sooo much being on this forum and think it's really great everyone helps out, hoping Ava gets through this easily and clears up the other problems she's having. Stay strong.
Jolanda and Kaiser
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Thanks for the suggestions and support, everyone! Ava has had her share of issues– infections, food allergies, anal glands, confinement anxiety-- which have made for a stressful puppyhood, She's been through a lot, so maybe I'm kidding myself that she could be shown. She's not a calm dog, but she's a pretty girl and likes all dogs and people (so far!). I can hand her off to anybody, and she rolls with it. She is NOT good on the leash, so she needs someone more skilled than me to help with that and other things.
At this point, I'm just wondering if she's not going to be spayed for a while, would it be something she would like, that could teach her new things and give her confidence? Great suggestion, Lisa.
Or we might just go ahead and start agility training in the fall. There's a good agility center here, and we've already visited.Wow, Becky, that's great that you had success with Cody at such a young age! Elliot's a beautiful boy, and I'm sure you'll finish him quickly. Was Grant the brother you wanted? Or was it one of Ava's other brothers?
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Grant was the only one I got to meet. I had planned on waiting for a pup from this year's litters but when he offered me Elliot I couldn't resist! I actually prefer getting an "older" puppy. It's worked out twice and is better for my lifestyle. Cody was 4 months and Elliot 5 months. I love love Tad and told him he has to pick my dogs out for me every time because he knows just what I want.
Elliot is maturing slower than Cody did and is thin due to his pickyness so he will not be finishing as fast as Cody. That's fine with me!Definitely ask him about handling Ava! Worst he could say is no or not now! Elliot pulls on a walk but is very good on a show lead.. they learn the difference.
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Like me, he's concerned and has had no experience with this. He hasn't even had a dog with a UTI. It's just one of those unfortunate things that happen, and nobody seems to know why. It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
And you're right, Pat, the dogs next door aren't fixed. They're only two years old and have irresponsible owners. I can see this being a problem, because they already bark like crazy whenever Ava goes down on that side of the yard.
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
She would NOT be considered to have a deformity… and she certainly could be shown
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I'm not sure we have those on this side of the pond.
I did wonder - are there no Dog Shows for non-pedigree dogs then? That seems a shame…perhaps they are called something else?
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Elliot is maturing slower than Cody did and is thin due to his pickyness so he will not be finishing as fast as Cody. That's fine with me! Elliot pulls on a walk but is very good on a show lead.. they learn the difference.
Elliot looks great in his pics! He's a beautiful boy, and you can't tell he needs to put on weight. Have you tried sprinkling a little Brewer's Yeast on his food? Sounds like you've tried everything, but if not, it might be worth a try.
She would NOT be considered to have a deformity… and she certainly could be shown
That's great to know, Pat! I'm a total novice at anything to do with showing, but I'm finding it fun to learn. I'm glad that Ava's RV won't stand in her way, if I do decide to show her. Hopefully, it'll be gone anyway, with a heat cycle.
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I did wonder - are there no Dog Shows for non-pedigree dogs then? That seems a shame…perhaps they are called something else?
I Googled and didn't see anything. It sounds like a great idea!
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Thanks to all! You were a big help, and Ava and I really appreciate your support!
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She is so pretty!
Elliot is thin and is so picky he's slowly killing me. We are doing kibble/wet in the AM and raw in the PM. Down for 10 minutes and gone til the next meal. Yesterday he skipped breakfast and ate all his dinner. Today he ate some breakfast and barely 1 bite of dinner. @________@ He likes it one day and hates it the next. Lovely little brat he is!
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The "little miss" is no longer little! Time flies…she is beautiful..love the expressions..looks like she telling you off under her breath in the first.
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Elliot is thin and is so picky he's slowly killing me. We are doing kibble/wet in the AM and raw in the PM. Down for 10 minutes and gone til the next meal. Yesterday he skipped breakfast and ate all his dinner. Today he ate some breakfast and barely 1 bite of dinner. @________@ He likes it one day and hates it the next. Lovely little brat he is!
I know how you feel, Becky. Just a year ago I was in that same position, begging a thin dog to eat. It's very worrisome and stressful. I hope Elliot gets over whatever it is and starts eating soon. I'm surprised that he doesn't like raw. Poor guy.
The "little miss" is no longer little! Time flies…she is beautiful..love the expressions..looks like she telling you off under her breath in the first.
Hard to believe, isn't it, Chealsie? She's all grown up… and yes, that's probably exactly what she's doing, saying, "Are YOU telling ME what to do?" Girl's got attitude, no doubt about it.
