[nagdu] owner training was hi

[the Pawpower Pack]

Toni and all, I have retired three dogs; two from a program one owner  
trained.

I never got input from the program when I made the choice to retire my  
two dogs.  The first one died of cancer when she was three so there  
was no choice for me to make there.  The second dog developed  
degenerative joint disease in one of her legs so badly that she could  
not walk on it.  The program wanted her back to evaluate her, possibly  
rehabilitate her, then maybe rematch her with someone older and  
slower.  She was six years old and I had obtained ownership of her by  
then so I put my proverbial foot down and said that no, she was  
retiring now and she would receive medical care and rehabilitation  
with me, in my home, and that I would pay for it all and not ask them  
for help.  In this case the program was not helpful at all and I  
actually had to be the one who made the choice to retire her.

My border collie Gracy retired last June and I knew it was coming.   
Like Julie's Belle, Gracy was never so involve with her job that she  
wanted to work more than anything.  For the six months preceding her  
retirement, I could tell she
was enjoying her work less and less.  She began really slowing down  
and it was obvious that she was finished.  I had hoped to retire her  
around september of that year because training a young dog in the New  
Orleans summers is very unpleasant.  However I chose to retire her in  
early June because I knew that she would begin to be unsafe if I would  
have kept working her.
She now lives with my best friend across town because she has always  
loved the outdoors-- running around and barking.  If she would have  
stayed with me, her outdoor time would have been very limited.  It was  
hard to let my friend keep her but it was what was best for her.  She  
still comes to visit every couple weeks and stays a weekend with us.   
It is great to still be so involved in her life.

Owner training is a great deal of responsibility.  You don't have a  
program or a favorite/respected/trusted program trainer to tap you on  
the shoulder and let you know when you are not doing the right thing.   
However through careful record-keeping and through input from fellow  
trainers you can gain the same the of information.
Rox and the Kitchen Bitches
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD and Laveau SDIT CGC
When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

  pawpower at cox.net

MSN: Brisomania at Hotmail.com
AIM: Brissysgirl Yahoo: lillebriss