The One With the Quick Update

I probably won't feel like writing for awhile, but for those of you on the edge of your seats about my dogs, I wanted to give a quick update.

Muggsy has a fibrosa lump, which is not malignant. If it continues to grow, they will remove it, but it could just as easily go away. It's too hard and perfectly round to be cancer. So if you find a lumpy, misshapen lump on your dog, get it checked out right away. I've found out two other dogs I know have cancer in the last week. One has only six months to live and the other should be fine after having the lumps removed. Just like you have to examine yourselves, please examine your dogs for lumps.

Chubbs didn't get his dosage changed. Many of his levels had greatly improved, but he has some levels that are still four times what they should be. So the lethargy is due to the fact that his body is really fighting to produce more hormones than it is used to producing. This is really wearing him down. Poor guy. I've decided to discontinue agility class until we both feel better. My doctor said that in four months, his levels should only be twice the normal level, so it looks like this will take about a year or so to level out, unfortunately.

On a positive note, the diet change to an all raw diet seems to be really helping Fenway's allergy problems. I hope to see those continue to improve.

The One With Highlights from my Lousy Week

Yeah, last week sucked. Chubbs continues to stay about the same with his health, I got sold down the river and embarrassed by my boss, my uncle died and I found a lump on Muggsy. Plus, it's that time again. Winter of an odd year. I'm starting to get depressed. I can feel it taking over my whole body. Yesterday, I didn't get out of my pajamas all day. But this provided me with a decent day. I read "Conversations with Tom Petty" in one sitting and made pretty good headway on "Dog Language" by Roger Abrantes. Nothing earth-shattering, but it's a good read. I also started the "Da Vinci Code," which I have never read. The first four chapters really hook you though. Great book.

I know everyone reading this who doesn't know me that well is wondering why I buried my uncle's death in with all that other news. Everyone who knows me knows that my uncle wasn't a very good guy and a terrible father. I used to be very close with his kids, and they were reacting with mixed reactions as well. Plus, they told him three years ago that if he didn't quit smoking, he'd die. I'm not heartless, and I know he loved all of us as much as he could, but really, the biggest effect that his death had on me was that I had to face some of my demons.

When I was maybe 12, his four boys (he also has a girl who no one in the family is very close with) were my whole world. They all range in age from 10-18 years older than me, but I looked up to all of them so much. They were my family. As I grew and developed into the person I am now, it became very clear that we didn't see eye-to-eye. They have very narrow beliefs of the world, and I can't stand the idea of writing someone off in such a terrible way because of someone's race or gender. (Quick story break, like Texas Tech fans storming the court during Saturday's win over Kansas and surrounding Russell Robinson and other players, flipping them off and yelling racial slurs at them. I cannot BELIEVE that still happens today. So glad I don't live in Texas anymore...) I eventually quit hanging around and didn't keep in touch. There's a lot more to that story, but I could never stand to write it all down.

So I called them all to tell them I was sorry about their dad and offered to come visit them this summer. It was hard to do, but I'm glad I did it. Their reactions to me varied a little, but they were all incredibly sweet and loving as a family should be. I think we're finally getting to that age where we can accept each other's differences and just really love each other for what we all bring to the table. I hope we can continue to have something of a relationship. You only have one family, and while it can sometimes be hard, it's important to be there for each other...

The One Where Muggsy Is Sick

Yesterday, Muggsy attacked Chubbs. It was my fault. Ross was in the kitchen preparing their food, which is an action-packed time, and they probably shouldn't be in the room together. Plus, I was in there, a major point of contention for them. But it was the first time in a really long time. We could check the blog archives to figure out when, but it's been a few months.

All the rest of the night, Muggsy was extra barky and would growl at Chubbs every time he got too close. This hasn't happened in months and months. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I kept wracking my brain all night, trying to figure it out.

This morning, I did. Muggsy vomited massive amounts of vomit, all over the shoes that I was going to where to work. The poor guy wasn't feeling good. Everything is fine now.

The One With the Business Building

Around the holidays, I took two weeks off, not because I had anywhere to go or even because I like the holidays but because it's the only time of year that you can get 10 days off for the price of 6. So I used the time to work on dog training.

Most of you probably know this, but the training company that I work for left the pet store chain that it had an exclusive contract with. So that means that we had to find new places to find classes and places to refer us. My boss, who is the only one who does it full-time, is nearly bankrupt for the first time in her 17-year dog training career.

To help rebuild the business, each of us who works for her has an area. Mine is the South Bay. We are responsible for going to any dog-related businesses in our area and finding out if they refer a trainer. If they don't, we try to get in the door. At first it was really hard because many of the businesses, especially the vets, which are like the holy grail of referrals because so many people listen to referrals from their vets, refer a company that uses Dog Whisperer methods. Those methods are very harsh and dangerous in the wrong hands. Our company is a positive-only company, and those of you who know Muggsy can just see how effective those methods can be. Yes, you can train an aggressive dog without beating the crap out of him.

Anyway, it was hard to get in the door. But one day last week, I scored two groomers, a boarding place and, yes, a veterinarian. All in all, I've found eight referrals. But I was so excited about the veterinarian because they're so hard to get, and once you get one, they're an incredible resource. This vet asked me to come back and meet with him about our methods, and my boss and I went on Friday. It went incredible. Not only had he already been giving out our brochures, but he wants to hold classes there, and he gave us his grooming room to use for training. I basically have my own mini-training center. Coupled with the pet store that I got right down the street to do a class at, I was joking that I have a monopoly on Crenshaw (the street). Then, my boss pointed out that the location was a highly-trafficked one, right across the street from a huge shopping center that has a Pet Smart and is at the intersection of two of the largest travelways in the South Bay. It's a premier location that will really help me build clientele. I'm really excited. Plus, this is something that if I do well, it will be a good starting point when I'm ready to own my own business.