Amy has, repeatedly, said that she wants to "re-name" Echo. I have kept that from happening.
Until now, I didn't know EXACTLY why, but I knew it was the wrong decision for us, and her.
---
First reason:
Since early 1996, all of our dogs have been "foreign nationals".
Tasselhof and Radar were born in Panama. Gimli was born in Germany. Echo was born in Canada.
---
Second reason:
All of the AAD dogs had names that were pertinent to the goal of the program: "Liberty", "Freedom", etc.
... And, in the blur of information that I was given initially, I was told that "ECHO" was a "Canadian thing" of similar standing.
It wasn't explained to me. I don't know if Jean knew the specifics or not ... We have not had the time to discuss it.
I, just, accepted it.
---
Well, I, finally, found out what my "little girl" was named for.
She was named for the Canadian Forces "Operation ECHO".
While it wasn't the Canadian commitment to D-Day or Passchendaele, it was significant for it's era.
---
AAD, already, had "Freedom" and "Liberty".
What else could expect for a name, given that the dog is Canadian?
Well, there is Quebec, ... given the the French influence, you could expect "Equality", or "Fraternity".
---
But, REALLY?
Okay, I have a Cana-dog. (Not a problem. Tas and Radar were Pana-mutts. Gimli is a Deutschland Dackel. (Dackel is German for dachshund))
There is NO WAY I am going to look into this sweet face and call her: Equality, Fraternity, or Passchendaele. (The last one is the most acceptable of the bunch.)
That leaves "Juno", and "Echo".
She's not a "Juno".
Besides, given the multicultural nature of the people that are in and out of my house, Amy and I would offend some of our closest friends, if they heard: "Jew, no!"
---
So, she is going to stay my little Echo, the Cana-dog, eh.
---
I still kick myself for not making "eh" her "marker word"!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Crossroads
I've been sitting on some information for a while.
I couldn't say anything until I had permission. (Hence, the suspension of this blog.)
---
As you know, Echo was one of the dogs that the "All American Dogs" program (AAD) had in training to be a service dog.
Well, on or about December 6th, AAD went "sideways". In fact, it no longer exists.
---
One of the first things that the person left in control of what was left (Jean) did was to make decisions about the dogs that were in the program.
Jean's original goal for Echo was to place her with a veteran that loved her, and she would love in return. ... and, hopefully, Echo would make that veteran's life better.
---
To, more or less, cut to the chase: I'm a veteran. If you have read this blog, then you know I love Echo, and she loves me. ... and, thanks to the bond that has been created between us, she makes my life better.
Jean came to this conclusion before I did.
---
On December 6th, I was told it was going to happen. Today, finally, it did.
The final paperwork making Echo my dog was handed to me this last afternoon.
---
I expected ... I don't know ... some kind of disappointment, or regret from Jean, today, when this happened.
She gave me gifts. (her favorite pictures of Echo, in a really nice frame ... and EVERYTHING she had about Echo, and collies, to include a nice "baby picture" of Echo) ... THEN, she gave me a big hug.
---
At the start, I said that this blog was going to be a "love letter" of Echo's journey to being with "her veteran". ... That I was going to chronicle all the love and care that she was given, for that person.
I didn't know that "her veteran" was going to be me.
---
Echo and I have a lot of options before us. I'm not sure which one we are going to take.
It will, probably, be late January, or early February, before those decisions are made.
---
If she doesn't move on into service dog training, that raises the question of the continuance of this blog.
At that point, it is, probably, better if blogging about her took place on my personal blog.
If that happens, I will post a link to it on this blog, as my final post.
I couldn't say anything until I had permission. (Hence, the suspension of this blog.)
---
As you know, Echo was one of the dogs that the "All American Dogs" program (AAD) had in training to be a service dog.
Well, on or about December 6th, AAD went "sideways". In fact, it no longer exists.
---
One of the first things that the person left in control of what was left (Jean) did was to make decisions about the dogs that were in the program.
Jean's original goal for Echo was to place her with a veteran that loved her, and she would love in return. ... and, hopefully, Echo would make that veteran's life better.
---
To, more or less, cut to the chase: I'm a veteran. If you have read this blog, then you know I love Echo, and she loves me. ... and, thanks to the bond that has been created between us, she makes my life better.
Jean came to this conclusion before I did.
---
On December 6th, I was told it was going to happen. Today, finally, it did.
The final paperwork making Echo my dog was handed to me this last afternoon.
---
I expected ... I don't know ... some kind of disappointment, or regret from Jean, today, when this happened.
She gave me gifts. (her favorite pictures of Echo, in a really nice frame ... and EVERYTHING she had about Echo, and collies, to include a nice "baby picture" of Echo) ... THEN, she gave me a big hug.
---
At the start, I said that this blog was going to be a "love letter" of Echo's journey to being with "her veteran". ... That I was going to chronicle all the love and care that she was given, for that person.
I didn't know that "her veteran" was going to be me.
---
Echo and I have a lot of options before us. I'm not sure which one we are going to take.
It will, probably, be late January, or early February, before those decisions are made.
---
If she doesn't move on into service dog training, that raises the question of the continuance of this blog.
At that point, it is, probably, better if blogging about her took place on my personal blog.
If that happens, I will post a link to it on this blog, as my final post.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Exception (birthday)...
Okay, I have not TOTALLY suspended posts on the blog.
---
Echo is 6 months old, today!
She is beautiful, sweet, loving, graceful (except for those "puppy-clumsy" moments), and a joy to be with.
The worst thing I can say about her is that she needs to be brushed, badly.
(Give me a break, I've had smooth-coated dachshunds for the last 21 years!)
I'm going to get a good brush for her tomorrow. ... and then, try to figure out the best way to use it.
---
Echo is 6 months old, today!
She is beautiful, sweet, loving, graceful (except for those "puppy-clumsy" moments), and a joy to be with.
The worst thing I can say about her is that she needs to be brushed, badly.
(Give me a break, I've had smooth-coated dachshunds for the last 21 years!)
I'm going to get a good brush for her tomorrow. ... and then, try to figure out the best way to use it.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Notification
Until some ongoing issues are resolved, I suspended posting to this blog on Thursday, December 6th.
---
Echo is okay. In fact, she is asleep on the couch, near me, as I write this.
As of our veterinarian visit last Friday, she is, officially, 39.8 pounds. My guess is that she has broken 40 pounds since then.
"Doc Jo", also, said that Echo has all of her adult teeth, now. I guessed that. Echo has stopped most of "puppy chewing".
She is scheduled to be spayed on the 26th of December.
I hope that happens before her first "heat".
We tried to get her in to be spayed yesterday, but there was some kind of SNAFU with that.
---
Once all of the issues around Echo have been resolved, I will post the pertinent details.
There is a distinct possibility that this is the next to last post on this blog, and further posts about her will be moved to my personal blog: "Fixing A Hole".
That is not a bad thing.
---
Just in case there are any lingering doubts, go back and re-read this blog.
I'm not going to let anything bad happen to "my little girl".
Echo is going to be fine.
The humans involved with her are working on getting their .... stuff ... together.
When I can, I will let you know how that works out.
---
Echo is okay. In fact, she is asleep on the couch, near me, as I write this.
As of our veterinarian visit last Friday, she is, officially, 39.8 pounds. My guess is that she has broken 40 pounds since then.
"Doc Jo", also, said that Echo has all of her adult teeth, now. I guessed that. Echo has stopped most of "puppy chewing".
She is scheduled to be spayed on the 26th of December.
I hope that happens before her first "heat".
We tried to get her in to be spayed yesterday, but there was some kind of SNAFU with that.
---
Once all of the issues around Echo have been resolved, I will post the pertinent details.
There is a distinct possibility that this is the next to last post on this blog, and further posts about her will be moved to my personal blog: "Fixing A Hole".
That is not a bad thing.
---
Just in case there are any lingering doubts, go back and re-read this blog.
I'm not going to let anything bad happen to "my little girl".
Echo is going to be fine.
The humans involved with her are working on getting their .... stuff ... together.
When I can, I will let you know how that works out.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Teaser
The last few days have been very busy, with Echo.
I hope to get things caught up by the time I get to bed Friday night.
I have a lot to tell, and, between now and then, little time to tell it.
I hope to get things caught up by the time I get to bed Friday night.
I have a lot to tell, and, between now and then, little time to tell it.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Overdue Post
My last post was from the 25th of November.
I had some information, at that time, that I wasn't going to share until I knew what I was talking about.
Late on the night of the 23rd of November, I noticed "eye crud" in the corner of Echo's left eye.
Echo doesn't get "eye crud".
That set off the first alarm bell in my head.
So, I opened up her left eye, and examined the whites of her left eye. They were red. There was, also, a milky white discharge from her eye, in the channel from her eyelid.
(Echo is used to me "poking and prodding" her. I have made it a habit to check her mouth, feel between her toes, examine her tail, feel between her paw pads, etc. on a regular basis.)
It was dark in the room, and I didn't want to be the "paranoid Dad" or "helicopter parent". So, I asked Amy to check it out the next morning. Amy confirmed what I found.
This was late Saturday. Echo was showing no signs of any discomfort. So, Amy called our vet, and set up an appointment with Doc Jo for Monday.
I emailed Jean. She talked with Echo's breeder about Collie eye issues, and Jean forwarded the pertinent information about Collies.
---
On Monday, I took Echo to see Doc Jo.
(At this point, Echo is STILL not showing any discomfort from her eye condition.)
Doc Jo IMMEDIATELY diagnoses the problem as "Pink Eye" or conjunctivitis.
I relate everything the breeder has said, and Doc Jo tells me that she knows that. And, basically, given the state of the white area of Echo's left eye, it has to be conjunctivitis.
This floors me.
None of us: Gimli, Amy, Jesus, or I are showing any signs of conjunctivitis. Echo has not been exposed to anything that, at least, one of the rest of us has been exposed to!
I know what this ailment feels like. I had it, as a kid. I was miserable.
At it's worse, Echo has shown NO sign of any discomfort. In fact, she acted somewhat offended when I cleaned the "eye crud" from her face. (She was in the middle of playing when I noticed the "eye crud".)
---
Anyway, Doc Jo gave her antibiotic eye drops to clear things up.
I am happy to say two things:
To sum up:
The "Pink Eye" is rapidly going away. She did not share it with anyone else, and she displayed little discomfort from the ailment.
---
I have to add, however, that she did REALLY well with me putting the drops in her eyes. ... Most of the time, she was being fed "treats" while I was medicating her.
To give her the full course of medication, we have about a week to go. However, she should not be contagious anymore.
---
THEN we have tonight's breakthrough.
Since Echo came back from Ursula's. there has been something of a "dominance" game between Echo and Gimli.
There are alot of details to that, but one of the most prominent is that Echo has picked up, consistently, an old "rope toy" of Tas and Radar's, and tried to get Gimli to "play" with the toy with her.
For over a week, Echo's efforts have been a failure.
---
Tonight was awesome.
For almost 2 hours, they played with that rope toy together.
Sometimes, they laid down, together, and chewed on it.
Sometimes they played "tug" against each other.
But, they "played".
Up until tonight, Gimli has, really, treated her as an intruder in his family/space.
Tonight, they "played" together, and both of them seemed to enjoy it!
I had some information, at that time, that I wasn't going to share until I knew what I was talking about.
Late on the night of the 23rd of November, I noticed "eye crud" in the corner of Echo's left eye.
Echo doesn't get "eye crud".
That set off the first alarm bell in my head.
So, I opened up her left eye, and examined the whites of her left eye. They were red. There was, also, a milky white discharge from her eye, in the channel from her eyelid.
(Echo is used to me "poking and prodding" her. I have made it a habit to check her mouth, feel between her toes, examine her tail, feel between her paw pads, etc. on a regular basis.)
It was dark in the room, and I didn't want to be the "paranoid Dad" or "helicopter parent". So, I asked Amy to check it out the next morning. Amy confirmed what I found.
This was late Saturday. Echo was showing no signs of any discomfort. So, Amy called our vet, and set up an appointment with Doc Jo for Monday.
I emailed Jean. She talked with Echo's breeder about Collie eye issues, and Jean forwarded the pertinent information about Collies.
---
On Monday, I took Echo to see Doc Jo.
(At this point, Echo is STILL not showing any discomfort from her eye condition.)
Doc Jo IMMEDIATELY diagnoses the problem as "Pink Eye" or conjunctivitis.
I relate everything the breeder has said, and Doc Jo tells me that she knows that. And, basically, given the state of the white area of Echo's left eye, it has to be conjunctivitis.
This floors me.
None of us: Gimli, Amy, Jesus, or I are showing any signs of conjunctivitis. Echo has not been exposed to anything that, at least, one of the rest of us has been exposed to!
I know what this ailment feels like. I had it, as a kid. I was miserable.
At it's worse, Echo has shown NO sign of any discomfort. In fact, she acted somewhat offended when I cleaned the "eye crud" from her face. (She was in the middle of playing when I noticed the "eye crud".)
---
Anyway, Doc Jo gave her antibiotic eye drops to clear things up.
I am happy to say two things:
- The only discomfort she has expressed from this experience are the eye drops, sometimes.
- While it did start to spread to her right eye, both eyes are almost completely clear. ... Just the outer fringes of the "whites" of her eyes are a bit more pink than normal. Which is much better than the whites of her left eye being RED.
To sum up:
The "Pink Eye" is rapidly going away. She did not share it with anyone else, and she displayed little discomfort from the ailment.
---
I have to add, however, that she did REALLY well with me putting the drops in her eyes. ... Most of the time, she was being fed "treats" while I was medicating her.
To give her the full course of medication, we have about a week to go. However, she should not be contagious anymore.
---
THEN we have tonight's breakthrough.
Since Echo came back from Ursula's. there has been something of a "dominance" game between Echo and Gimli.
There are alot of details to that, but one of the most prominent is that Echo has picked up, consistently, an old "rope toy" of Tas and Radar's, and tried to get Gimli to "play" with the toy with her.
For over a week, Echo's efforts have been a failure.
---
Tonight was awesome.
For almost 2 hours, they played with that rope toy together.
Sometimes, they laid down, together, and chewed on it.
Sometimes they played "tug" against each other.
But, they "played".
Up until tonight, Gimli has, really, treated her as an intruder in his family/space.
Tonight, they "played" together, and both of them seemed to enjoy it!
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