[nagdu] Doggy B.O.

[Robert Hooper]

What is his response when you try to wash the area? If he won't let you use a wipe on it, how will he respond when you try to bathe it?
I guess I'm confused by the "won't let me" part--does he squeal? Bite? Bark? Try to run away? Some dogs are just uncomfortable with their handlers trying to do something and will try to get out of it by dramatizing--especially shepherds. I remember at TSE, we had to practice giving our dogs pills--they were Vitamin E pills. Bailey didn't like my hand down his throat, so he would squirm and wriggle and make it seem like I was making him do something horrible. However, after I communicated to him that I didn't care how much he complained and did it anyway, he eventually realized that if he accepted it quietly, things would go better for him--usually with lots of praise after the pill was swallowed. Many people have told me that shepherds are drama queens. This seems to be true--at least in Bailey's case--he can make a stepped on tail sound like a severed tail. Bailey has also had the runs before, getting some chocolate pudding under his tail. This did make him quite aromatic. However, I calmly laid him down and cleaned the area with a warm soapy rag. The dog shouldn't be "not letting you" do anything--you are its master; however, if you believe that the area is actually painful and that he is not just trying to get out of an uncomfortable experience, then never mind. Just some food for thought.
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 11:34 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggy B.O.

Hi all,



Thanks everyone for your response, I will ask the vet. I think it may be an anal gland or skin issue. I am going to take him to the groomers tomorrow, and see if I can solve it by washing him. The issue arose on Friday when he got extremely sick and had the runs wicked badly, for some inexplicable reason. I am hoping it is an issue of having some stuff stuck in his thick fur. He won't let me brush near or use one of those pet wipes on the area in question. I am hoping that if when I bathe him if I pay particular attention to his belly, the inside of the back legs, and under the tail, I will hopefully alleviate the smell. If this does not meet with success, I will bring him to the vet.



Thanks,

Mark




_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/hooper.90%40buckeyemail.osu.edu