Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Yay! Great to hear this!
Merlin update
- Thread starter MellowYellow
- Start date
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Just catching up with all Merlin's updates. It's really encouraging that you found such a great physiotherapist as well as the new class. Considering how important gun dog work is to you, I really admire how you've jumped into "The New Adventures of Merlin" (coming to a screen near you? 
) with such creativity and enthusiasm. HD completely stinks, but thanks to you, it won't mean that Merlin's life isn't any less rich. I love the therapy dog idea, he sounds like he would be wonderful.
Looking forward to your next episodes!
) with such creativity and enthusiasm. HD completely stinks, but thanks to you, it won't mean that Merlin's life isn't any less rich. I love the therapy dog idea, he sounds like he would be wonderful. Looking forward to your next episodes!
Last Sunday, with some trepidation, I took Merlin to gun dog training class, for the first time since the beginning of August. I was really careful, and left before I thought he had reached his limit. There were four dogs in the class, so there was waiting time between the exercises, and at one point I said I wouldn't do a particular exercise with him (stopping on the whistle while going for a marked retrieve), as I thought that would not be good for his joints (and also, actually, because I doubted the value of the exercise...!!! 
), and we said our goodbyes after an hour and a half, while the others were still working. Merlin was fine, both that evening and next morning with no limping at all. Yay!!!
Yesterday OH was in charge of Merly while I was out with Poppy giving my class. He took him into the wood and did searching for dummies with him, and then a couple of marked retrieves and blinds. That was all fine, but then he walked him over to the field where I was training, and threw tennis balls for him until I'd finished the class ... not a great idea and probably too much. In the evening Merly was a little stiff and hobbled a bit. OH was mortified and very worried, but luckily this morning there is no limping at all. We are nonetheless just having a very easy-going, restful day today, with three half-hour walks, and snoozing time in the garden in the sunshine.
Slowly but surely we are getting an idea of what Merlin can do, and what is too much for him. Of course we make mistakes from time to time, but we are learning as we go. I realize things may change as he gets older - he will get stronger, but also presumably he will start developing arthritis at some point. It really is a delicate balance - I don't want to completely stop gundog training, because he loves it sooooo much, but I know this will be very limited. I was a helper at a working test recently in the Open class, and it made me very sad to watch the beautiful big male labradors charging along, leaping over streams and galloping up and down hill, because I know I will never be able to allow Merlin to work at that level, even though he would love it; it is simply in his blood. But we are in a good place; I feel we are getting to grips with the situation, and with the physiotherapy, the hyaluronic acid, the additives, keeping his weight down, and lots of balanced exercise, hopefully he will continue to be pain-free for a long time to come.
), and we said our goodbyes after an hour and a half, while the others were still working. Merlin was fine, both that evening and next morning with no limping at all. Yay!!!Yesterday OH was in charge of Merly while I was out with Poppy giving my class. He took him into the wood and did searching for dummies with him, and then a couple of marked retrieves and blinds. That was all fine, but then he walked him over to the field where I was training, and threw tennis balls for him until I'd finished the class ... not a great idea and probably too much. In the evening Merly was a little stiff and hobbled a bit. OH was mortified and very worried, but luckily this morning there is no limping at all. We are nonetheless just having a very easy-going, restful day today, with three half-hour walks, and snoozing time in the garden in the sunshine.
Slowly but surely we are getting an idea of what Merlin can do, and what is too much for him. Of course we make mistakes from time to time, but we are learning as we go. I realize things may change as he gets older - he will get stronger, but also presumably he will start developing arthritis at some point. It really is a delicate balance - I don't want to completely stop gundog training, because he loves it sooooo much, but I know this will be very limited. I was a helper at a working test recently in the Open class, and it made me very sad to watch the beautiful big male labradors charging along, leaping over streams and galloping up and down hill, because I know I will never be able to allow Merlin to work at that level, even though he would love it; it is simply in his blood. But we are in a good place; I feel we are getting to grips with the situation, and with the physiotherapy, the hyaluronic acid, the additives, keeping his weight down, and lots of balanced exercise, hopefully he will continue to be pain-free for a long time to come.
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- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I do appreciate how you must feel with Merlin. Rourke has developed a couple of problems and this will/may inhibit the gundog training I do and want to do with him, so fingers crossed for both of us.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
It sounds like you are managing it all very well, both for Merlin and for yourselves. 
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Merlin couldn’t be in a better place.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
@MellowYellow I wonder how many of those other dogs leaping and running around have joint problems that their owners haven't picked up on Karen. You did with Merlin and now you manage his life to suit his condition to make sure he still has a fulfilled life, that's what counts. Do you teach gun dog training now? xx
Yes, I work as a trainer for the Deutscher Retriever Club. It's a hobby really, I only have one weekly class, but it's a lot of fun. Maybe when I retire I'll do more...
With regard to your point about the other dogs possibly having joint problems... This is very unlikely, because in the DRC we routinely X-ray our dogs' joints at a year old. Even if you are not intending to breed, this is very much encouraged - the breeders really push it, because it helps them make informed decisions about future breeding plans, and to be honest gundog work at higher levels is physically hard work and the dogs really need to be fit; it would not be fair to push a dog with joint problems to do the work that we do in the advanced and open classes.
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- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Sorry Karen I wasn't suggesting that any of these dogs have joint problems. Merlin looks wonderful xx
Oh Helen, I know you weren't! I just wanted to point out that most (though not all) owners who do gundog stuff here in Germany are usually aware of the state of their dog's joints by the time they are 12 months old.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
That's got to be good.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Phew!! xx
Do you think that you will use the skills you learn helping Merlin will enable to to develop a set of class specifically for dogs who have joint issues? There must be a lot of people out there with dogs who have similar health issues as Merlin. It would be great to go to a class with stuff designed to help dog who have fun without though hurting themselves.
What an excellent idea! I mean, yes our club does offer a 'Fit for Fun' class for dogs who don't do dummy work (which is the second class I am doing with Merlin), but I really like the idea of a dummy training class specifically for dogs with health issues... I'll have to think about that a bit more!!!
- Location
- The Hague, The Netherlands
For some reason I missed this thread. It is heartbreaking when they get it. For us the acceptance of the condition was the key to moving forward. It is lovely to read the progress and it helps other people to realise that it is not the end of the world when the health diagnosis is not as expected. We love Hunter unconditionally! We have chosen the quality of life path for him. Physio and weight is key to maintaining his elbows in a "healthy" state. He is limping slightly so off for a check-up/sonic therapy and a hip x-ray ray!
Good luck with everything!
Lorraine and Hunter
Good luck with everything!
Lorraine and Hunter
Merlin's Gundog training might have to be limited Karen but he's doing brilliantly at what he can do and he's doing a lot more than some labradors will ever do. What's important is he enjoys what he does even if he doesn't get to take part in working tests etc. I bet he doesn't think he's missing out. 
He certainly looks the part with his dummy so handsome. My friends dog was diagnosed with arthritis when she was two. She is now ten and has only recently had to reduce her exercise.
He certainly looks the part with his dummy so handsome. My friends dog was diagnosed with arthritis when she was two. She is now ten and has only recently had to reduce her exercise.
- Location
- East Sussex
OMG, Merlin is sooooo handsome @MellowYellow. Those eyes, the nose, the crinkles over the eyes. What a dreamboat.