Hi All
This brings up a situation I am going through, but the other way around. My dog, Buster Brown, has cancer. He is currently going through chemotherapy and has a fairly good chance for an excellent outcome. But I am afraid my anxiety about the situation is wearing on both of us. He is having alot of intestinal issues and weight loss (which his vet doesn't think is due to the cancer).

As Cesar always talks about, the dog's state of mind, I am wondering what a sick dog needs. I am doing my best for my dog- but every little complication comes with a fear that this is the beginning of the end. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing the opposite of what Cesar advocates, and that is that I am trying to control nature. Moreover, my dog has his own behavioural issues and I want him to be as happy as he can be, but I am stuck between feeling like I am being harsh on my sick dog, and being a strong leader that will help him live out however many days he has left.

Any tips?

Thanks

Yagodog, just yesterday I saw an episode from season one where Cesar talked about how energy is communicated to the dog - that it doesnt matter what the words are, the dog knows the truth of the energy.
I have been through cancers with my last 5 dogs, the last passing just a month ago, if you go to yahoo looking for a dog whisperer list, there is one there that has open archives you can look through - and if you search for the word Foxie and cancer, you can get some really great ways to help with your situation. There is also a yahoo group for cancer dogs - I was on it for the whole time and they embrace both traditional and alternative medical support!

Most importantly - and most difficultly, - focus on the moment - DO NOT pregrieve their death. Cesar in his book talks about how he feels death is no big deal to them (you can find the pages from the index in the back - it really helped me alot!
This experience was the best and most difficult teacher of all of how I as an owner needed to stay in the moment.

I am SO GLAD to see Cesar showing a segment informing people about this new and growing category of assistance dogs. With the baby boomers moving into the retirement catregory with disabilities are growing by the year, having a service dog could make the difference with the Senior's ability to stay independent. Fortunatly, here too, there are growing self help groups for people who are willing to train their own assistance dogs - many of them come as rescue with problems not experienced until the owner is into the training, and emotionally bonded to the dog! Failure to correct the situation promply, as we have all seen with Cesar's demonstrations, lead to continued escalations of the problems!

By taking away the fear and mistique of assistance dogs, more people will be willing to undertake this worthwhile endeavor!

Here too, the lessons learned can be PRICELESS to a newly disempowered person, weakened by disease or injury. The necessity of being a 24/7 packleader WILL result in re-empowerment in their life activities AND HUMAN relationships as well! Dogs will not let us lie to ourselves, so pretending to be on top of things when we are really in victim mode (or feeling victimized by cicumstances will not work!

The benefit of emphasising these teachings and techniques will truly be incalculable to this special population group!

I'm so confused!! When is the Sugar episode on? It sounds like "A Dog Owner" already saw it.

I had a dog named Sugar, she was the pup of our queensland healer mix & minpin poodle. she was white & fluffy with some blk spots on her, her hair would grow long , but we would take her to the "poodle parlor" for a haircut. she would come home all proud of herself & growl at the others.she liked to smile & lay outside, she preferd people over dogs, she was full of energy, even at 11yrs old. she had a tumor removed when she was 9 & recovered. we used to take her to the local large park where there are alot of hills & let her run up/down the hills to see how long it would take her to get tired. we always tired first, so we never found out. she was very sweet, loving. she began to limp one day & i thought maby her nail was too long, so we cut it, then the next day she was whining & limping, so we took her to her vet. The x-rays showed bone cancer & a tumor in her lungs. We put her on pain medication & decided to give her 3 more weeks with us. she couldn't go down the 2 steps to get to the backyard b/c of the pain, so we increased the Rx, on the forth day, she was in more pain, so i gave her the max dose & put her in the car to the vet to put her down, as we loved her so much & didn't want her to suffer. she loved to ride in the car & was sooo happy to go for a ride & was feeling no pain b/c of the max dose of Rx. she was put on the table & the staff, the dr. my daughter & I pet her, she was very happy, as she loved people & attention, as they started the I.V., I sliped out of the room, as we had to put down her mother, father & a doberman rescue in the last 3yrs, due to old age & sickness & felt I couldn't stand to see her go. She was one of my most beloved dogs & I pray I will see her one day again.

Bootsmutt, That is so sad... all these months of "posting" with you and I never knew about Sugar.

Thanks for all your sord of support and sharing. I feel I have really heard your suggestion to live in the moment. And thank you so much for sharing your heart filled stories. It REALLY means alot to feel I am not going through this alone. THANKS

Mia, I hope the best for you. I hope that you can forever keep your beloved pitbull. I know how you must feel right now; I had to once make a very hard decision.

My dog acts JUST like Sugar except when you correct him he puts his mouth on you and when you correct that he gets worse and worse to the point of breaking skin. Anyone know what to do>?