Let’s start with an assumption, mother nature never designed the immune system to protect us from chemicals or even to work under these toxic conditions. This has occurred over just the last 50 years or so and this can hardly be called a normal time line for the adaptation of the immune system. Rather than calling Dylan’s immune response abnormal, I am calling it normal and it is the toxic man made chemicals on the ground and in the air that are [More...]
Recovery from a serious soft tissue injury, such as a ligament tear/strain, or maybe a meniscus tear can be a long process, but in some cases using rest and slow rehabilitation without surgical intervention is much better than the surgical alternative. Recently a study in people demonstrated the long term process can be better in fact than using a surgical procedure. In some cases it is easy to get through a minor injury, but on the other hand there is a lot [More...]
Feb 11/2012 Last update on this fight for Dylan’s life. I do believe she has used up a couple more lives in this battle. At first I was not sure she would survive the anemia, then the frantic reductions in prednisone to save her from paralysis. I did way too much planning on ending her life, including arranging a last vet visit. I hope this is the last I will see of this ugly disease. It really takes a lot out of [More...]
Recently I have been trying to get back into writing more often and although a friend once said I might be writing too much about Dylan and her fight with Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (also referred to as Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia); this has been the only important thing going on in my life over the last 3 days. Most people can only imagine what it is like and quite frankly, without the experience of having been through it, the imagination cannot [More...]
The value of being able to calm my anxious dog Jimmi, was far more important last Saturday than it was a few weeks ago during our dog agility trial in Kelowna. That was a voluntary exposure to stress; at least it was my choice to put that pressure on her and a very good reason to know the result of that pressure and to help her deal with it as part of my responsibility. In this case; however, it seems she had [More...]
I hate writing about life and death of dogs, but once again this subject is occupying all my thoughts as my friends John & Lisa struggle with the recent diagnosis of inoperable liver cancer in their beautiful Pit Bull rescue, Muay Tai. This is basically the same kind of cancer that likely killed my first dog Jagger. Getting this news this morning is especially hard as it is 1 year to the moment that my oldest dog, Dog Dylan, lay on my [More...]
One of the most common problems I see with all dogs in general and certainly many who compete in dog sports is the lack of skills to deal with stress and the lack of ability in people to recognize and understand their dog’s reaction to stress. I am not sure if they have ever thought about what it is like for their dogs going from a practice with familiar dogs and familiar faces and zero traffic to a dog agility trial. I [More...]
I had a productive day yesterday despite several intense flashbacks and emotional moments thanks to the 1 year anniversary of Dylan’s Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) diagnosis. It sure was an intense roller coaster ride of emotion and certainly life changing for both of us. I am so glad for each good day and every great moment. Soft and cuddly Dylan, and certainly happy. I love her her dearly! Today I started experiencing panic attacks as I get vivid, extremely real flashes of [More...]
Since the death of my friend SallySue’s dog Bentley (affectionately known as “Mr. B”) from Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) and my Dog Dylan’s subsequent attack of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA; a specific form of IMHA), I have been unable to write much about anything, so I thought that maybe writing about Mr. B. and his struggle for life and SallySue’s struggle for love and some of the choices we all go through, might help me understand why. There is no doubt [More...]
First, let me qualify this guide. In its current state it is a document in progress and has been written solely from my own experience with Dog Dylan and discussion groups I have been involved in since she was diagnosed. I would like any comments, additions, suggestions etc. There is still a lot to be added in areas that impact others in which my Dog Dylan had no experience. This is important for you to remember when reading, as there may be [More...]
Dealing with Ring Stress in Dog Agility for Bullseye Performance
One of the most common problems I see with all dogs in general and certainly many who compete in dog sports is the lack of skills to deal with stress and the lack of ability in people to recognize and understand their dog’s reaction to stress. I am not sure if they have ever thought about what it is like for their dogs going from a practice with familiar dogs and familiar faces and zero traffic to a dog agility trial. I [More...]
Dog Agility Contact Obstacle Criteria for Bullseye Performance: Part2; The Teeter
Teeter Criteria: The ultimate goal is to have my dogs get on the teeter straight on always, no matter what the course might dictate as the actual approach; drive to the very end as hard and fast as they can without hesitation into a crouch as they go past the pivot, until the teeter hits the ground, then release straight forward once on the ground. No leaving before it hits. No sideways motion. In the case of the teeter I may choose [More...]
Dog Agility Contact Obstacle Criteria for Bullseye Performance: Part 1; Common Ground
One simple rule that applies to the performance of all obstacles for all of my dogs is that it is my dog’s job to recognize and perform any obstacle that I have placed in their path, according to how they have been trained to do so, from the instant their focus is placed on the obstacle until they have completed it. I can and do assume that my dogs are fully intelligent enough to look ahead; recognize and perform all obstacles and [More...]
| © 2011 Bullseye Performance | Bullseye Performance - Richard Ford M.Sc. | Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha |
Recent Comments – Bullsyeye View