[nagdu] A narrow escape

[Tami Jarvis]

Tracy,

I'm so glad Krokus is okay! That fact that you wouldn't have had a way 
to know about the pain patch until it was too late is just terrifying.

I started using a head collar for indoor public access training with 
Mitzi, and now it's part of her regular kit simply because it lets me 
know what her head is doing. It's not for correction, as you probably 
know, but I have used it with a firm, steady pull to stop her in the 
act. I loop the skinny leash attached to the GL over my little finger, 
so I can feel her head move and redirect proactively, at least most of 
the time. I can also twitch the finger to remind her to keep her nose 
within legal limits. If I do want to pull her head around, I can use my 
free hand for a firm, steady pull.

The head on the foot is a good idea, too. To be honest, I trained Mitzi 
to go properly under the seat at the bus stop, then on the bus... Then I 
began searching for other ways to meet the goal of keeping her safely 
out of the way and unobtrusive without getting all nasty sticky and 
having who knows what right under her nose while she's just lying there 
with nothing to do but be tempted by it. /shudder/ I miss public 
transit, but I don't miss that part of it. Having her sit between my 
feet worked in a lot of places, and keeping her head on my foot worked 
well in others. It seemed to depend on crowding and bus/train car 
design. They had at least a couple of different models in service over 
in Portland, so finding a seat and figuring out where to put the dog was 
always interesting, even when things weren't crowded.

Loki is big into memory foam, but so far he hasn't managed to ingest 
any, except possibly a couple of little pieces. He once had a nice pile 
of bits of memory foam piled on the bed, so we developed a firm policy 
of keeping the memory foam pillows where he can't get them unless we're 
actually sleeping on them. Scary. His pillow shredding phase seems to 
have evolved into a pillow cuddling and mouthing phase... If we both 
forget to put the pillows away, Loki will bring me one in the office and 
make sure I notice him, so that works. Whew!

Glad Krokus is still with us. Let us know if you learn any new miracle 
cures for scavenging in a young dog.

Tami

On 03/11/2015 06:19 AM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu wrote:
> Monday night, we brought in a memory foam cushion we had outside airing out,
> and left it in the kitchen for a bit.  Krokus decided to take a big bite out
> of it, and we took him to the vet to make him throw it up, since it was big
> enough to cause a blockage.  The vet said that with the foam he threw up a
> used pain patch, which is very poisonous and would have killed him.  I have
> no idea where he ate such a thing.  My best guess is some pig threw it down
> on the bus floor, or maybe the street. My husband was once stuck by a needle
> some idiot put in the window vent on the bus, so who knows.
>
> So now Krokus is wearing his Gentle Leader every time he's out working.
> Even with the GL, it's not easy stopping him grabbing trash off the bus
> floor.  I have to work on making him put his head on my foot, or maybe get a
> basket muzzle.  I've got a call in to TSE to get some advice on the matter.
>
> I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop his scavenging completely, but
> I've got to try.  I am disgusted at people who just throw down anything
> anywhere.  Didn't these people's mothers teach them anything?  It's
> revolting.
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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