DOG DAYS!

This is my sweet girl Delilah! She came to us from a lady I visit taught in MO. I had no idea she even had a dog and I visited her, for two years.  Long story but we ended up with this sweet beautiful girl who wants nothing but to please and make you happy.  She is so good! She could definitely be a therapy dog that you take into hospitals. All she does is sit on the bed and would love for you to pet her all day long. She does not mind small children either.  I have also used her as a therapy dog to help other dogs who have social anxiety with other dogs. She helped our neighbors dog. He was very aggressive stemmed from fear but because of her nature and she being able to listen so well to me, he did well with her. Our neighbor a few doors down, also has a dog that can not get along with any other dogs.  We started talking and I brought Delilah out and handled her and we slowly worked Miles into being good with her.  Now, he can walk the neighborhood and not have fear aggression and his family has even open their home up to fostering dogs! WOAH! and yes, I am seriously known in our new neighborhood as the dog whisper and a dog trainer! I can train dog obedience and I can train your dog to be social but I can not train dog aggression or fear aggression based. I would love to take classes to learn how to do this. But, it is above my capabilities and I do not want to be held liable for anything that could go wrong! Delilah is a sweetheart and I'm so glad she has entered our lives!

Nala, entered our lives from a church member who breeds neapolitan mastiffs. After losing our dog. I was not ready to take another puppy in. But, 6 months later their was a need for this girl to come into our lives. She was originally bought and the owner returned her and we ended up having her. We got her in December and it had not been but 6 months when we lost Kekoa. But, we took her in and she captured our hearts fully.  She is the smartest dog. She entered our lives in December, about 15 wks old?? not sure! I had her potty trained in 2 days! She's such a good puppy and then around the 4 month mark we noticed we needed to take her into the vet.  I noticed her back was growing with a hump. I noticed that with our other mastiff and our breeder ran him and stretched him out. I think she called it ricketts.  But, It wasn't that. WE were cautioned not to have her go up and down the stairs and for 7 months I had slept on the couch because she was constantly going to the bathroom.  

What brought us to the vet was she began moaning and crying at night as if she was in pain, a good deal of pain. Now, she is a Neapolitan Mastiff. They are known for their extremely high pain tolerance.  I noticed as I rubbed her back and massaged her leg muscles it seemed to bother her but in the end make it better. I also noticed that laying in the sun was like medicine to her. She laid on that hot concrete and let her body soak in the rays! She was also peeing while walking so I instantly sensed we had a bladder infection.  

Brought her to the vet! Yes, she has a bladder infection. She also has a vulva that is out and inverted! I just thought that was what a Neapolitan nether parts should look like. I mean she is wrinkly and everything, thought that was part of her. It's a defect. She will also always fight bladder infections because of how she is built down there. The only thing that would help is re-constructive surgery. UGHHHH! 

But that wasn't the worse news! Her pain and curvature in her back is caused from her not having hip sockets. It causes a lot of pain and surgery is about $1200 per side. The doctor said with surgery she will be pain free but she may have permanent damage to her spine and they basically knock the socket off and it allows it to fit where it should! Our family has been so sad and her vet feels she won't make it to see a year before we have to put her down. We said we would enjoy her while we could without having her in pain because paying for a surgery that will still not change her spine issues, seems counter productive.  She has gone home on a heavy antibiotic to clear the infection, and pain meds to help her deal. 

:: Hindsight many months later, It is Sept 2, and she is doing wonderful! she is happy and still puppy like. We still battle the bladder infections but she is playful and stronger. WE have noticed that her body has seemed to accommodate and she has stopped growing. She has grown but not as quickly as before. She is taller than our Portugese Water dog and weighs more than her too. So, they are both great size medium dogs! To be as big and fierce as she is. She is a chicken and is a dog that needed heavy socialization to new things, people and dogs while she was young. WE had her in puppy classes but because of her legs she was extra sensitive to other dogs jumping on her and we had to stop attending. Now, she is displaying certain acts of fear aggression and barking and skiddish around new people or new things. Where she does bite first ask later. She is extra protective in her back yard and in the living room.  Outside of her fence she is super friendly and she loves small children! She's our little grey elephant who is stubborn and sassy just like the other Solomon women in the house!