Category: Animal House
Hi all, Yesterday I got some bad news about my guide dog Luke, he has Cancer in his back paw. In another post I said he had an opperation on the 11 of October. Now we just got the results of the biopsy yesterday. I phoned the guide dog people in Edinburgh and they are starting the ball rolling for me to get another guide dog. I don't know how long this will take. Luke was my first guide dog. They don't have any guide dog centres now in the UK, does any one know how I will re train? How long does it take to get another dog? I am not fussy what kind of dog I get as long as it isn't an alsation. Or are they good dogs to? But my mum wouldn't like an alsation in the house.
Hi I'm so sorry about Luke. My dad had cancer. Dad took a lot of chemo. I wonder if they have that for dogs? I can't imagine my life without my regular dog Daisy.
sorry to hear about your dog,, i don't know the status of training in the UK, but don't they home train now?
Sorry to hear that. I wish you luck with the next guide dog.
Oh, that's too bad.
I am going to get an Elsation from a school here in Us called Fidelco. I like the breed personally, but I know many people who feel unconfortable having one. The thing is, most of the dogs who go through training have good temperaments, although I'm sure a few slip through the cracks who really shouldn't be guide dogs due to aggression and such. I think it could be that way no matter the breed.
Well, I hope Luke can recover, and that you will be able to find a new gide should you need one.
Take care.
Oh, Michelle,I'm so sorry about the diagnosis. If you'd like to talk, feel free to send me a quicknote. Hope, I don't think there are chemo treatments for cancer in dogs, and even if there were, the dog wouldn't always be well enough to work. so, sometimes, it's best to ...
although it's never an easy decision to make, no matter the dog's age. I was going to say the r word in the last post, but I don't think now would be the right time, as i'm sure it hurts enough knowing what we know.
Michelle, I'M so sorry to hear about your dog. I know how you feel, I'd also be very sad if one of my pets died. All the best.
Man that's brutal here's hoping for the best.
There is chemo for dogs, they don't lose their hair or suffer as bad as humans. Alsatians are grand dogs, if you can stand the whining and drooling. Where will Luke be while he's treated..himself might not like the other dog.
Stevie.
Personaly I wouldn't mind an alsation. I know they are big dogs but that's okay with me. It is my mum who doesn't like alsations. She doesn't like animals at all. But she was more upset than me about Luke. I am sure an alsation would be good if he was a guide dog. Thank you all for the replies. I think they do home train you now. I am waiting to hear from the guide dog people to see what I do next. Luke is here with me at college today. He can stil work at the moment.
Michelle, I'm so sorry to hear about Luke. Feel sure that your Zone family is sending positive and vibes and prayers in both your and Luke's directions.
Lou
Oh I'm really very very sorry to har that about Luc. German shepherds can make brilliant guide dogs. My girlie, ag erman shepherd, is frightenly bright but they are extremely outoing, vocal and take time to setle with a new handler. If your down for a retriever or a lab I think you should expect to wait around 6 months upwards. However if you've got specific criteria then I know of people who've had to wait 2 years at the moment. I hate to say this but Edinburgh has a long waiting list!
Remember to drop me a note any time you need to talk.
Best wishes
Hi Michelle, Both me and my partner recently retrained with dogs. I waited 11 months for my replacement, and he waited less than 3. We both trained in hotels in Belfast. I believe they try to put a group of people in a hotel where possible on the mainland too. Good luck with it all. Its a bloody hard thing to go through.
Greetings to ChocolateGirl,
Sorry to hear of Luke's hurt paw..
Are there medical treatments available to help Luke's paw?
Oft times besides German shepherds there are also ~
Golden Retreivers for guide Dogs {a gentle like temperment dogie from pup to grown adult } **at least generally considered so
Hugs sweetie**
~*Thunderous MdNight*~
location: United States
Time Current: {Michigan} 3:47 PM
No, I think Luke will have to go in to retirment soon. But he is okay at the moment. I took him out for a walk today and he loved it.
I am so very sorry to hear about your Luke. Best of luck with his retirement and your venture to acquire a new guide. My first dog had cancer. It first showed up when he was about 3 years old. We treated him with surgery followed by a drug treatment (chemo for dogs) and he was able to work for about 6 years after that. His cancer returned then and he was not up for fighting it again. Every dog and cancer type is different, so you and your vet and your dog guide school have had to consider Luke's individualized situation of course. What an awful decision to have to make. I'm sorry that he will not be able to work.
I do not know anything about UK training. I got my third dog guide from Dog Guides of Texas in San Antonio and the head trainer there at the time, Mark Hartridge, actually had trained dog guide teams in England for years. My understanding is that he has since gone back to England, but I'm not sure if and where he is working with dog training now.
Cancer sucks! I hate it and regret that it has turned up in your world.
Pats to Master Luke!
Oh I'm so happy to hear that Luke enJOYed his walk {smiles*}
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
i had my guidedog for nearly 2 years. then i moved and she couldn't cope with the city life. she was a country dog and just plainly wrong for me. very sad considering i worked hard for 2 years gaining my independence and now for a while i was back to square 1. i was very down when she was reassigned. but also glad coz she was able to make someone's life just as happy as she made mine.
Sorry to hear about Luke. Give him a hug for me, okay?
The up date on Luke is his paw has got reder but he isn't in pain yet. The vet said he can stil work. But Guide dogs stil haven't made a disition.
Yes, as many people have said there is indeed chemo tharapy for dogs also radiation and they can run the range from completely ineffective to causing a full remission or cure: it all depends. I am so sorry to hear about your puppy, but it is great news that he is doing well for the time being and can still work for now. You may be able to work him after the treatments at least until they find you a new placement, or he may recover entirely. If the dog still enjoys working, wants to work then I say work them. After all they love it and it would make your life much easier while you wait for your replacer dog. Elsations or German Shepheards as we call them in the states are wonderful guide dogs. In my opinion they are the best guidedogs available as long as you are an active and vigilent user and an aintelligent and compitant handler. As for all of this about your mom not liking the breed. What the fuck does that have to do with anything? Honey, this is your dog. Your. Dog. Not. Her's. Her preferences are really errelevant. If you are independent enough to own and work a guide dog then you should be independent of your mother's running your life. If you are a college student and still have to live at home when you are on holiday or break from school you can tell her three things 1. "Mom, this is my dog not your's and I have to work/take care of it, not you." 2. "He/she will be with me at school for the majority of the time and you will not have to interact with him/her much even on the rare occations when I am home." and 3. "Mom you have to realize that regardless of breed any guidedog that is passed by a training program should be thorroughly screened for behavior and temperment and perfectly safe and lovable." To the one who suggested goldin retrievers. They can make good guides for some people but they are not very loyal to their owners as they love everyone and they can be very fawning which can be unpleasant if you happend to be a practical, but possessive handler/owner who wants an exclusive and strong bond with your dog. Whatever happens, I wish you and Luke the best of luck and much wagging of tails.