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At 05:58 PM 6/11/99 -0700, you wrote: > THE PUPPY AND THE MAN WITH PARKINSONS > >Once upon a recent time there was a puppy of mixed breed including >lab and pit bull . And there was a man ; he to was of mixed breed >in a sense but of more importance he was 60 years old and had Parkinsons >Disease, a debilitating neurological disease that more than likely >would leave him in a nursing home and nearly did. A few years ago >he was in horrible shape and spirits but through the wisdom of his >neurologist and his own unwillingness to give up he chose to go the >sugical route. Today he is doing well although given his decision >to take on a puppy you wonder about his mental health. > > >But the Man with Parkinsons thought long and hard about taking on >such a long-term commitment. He is a practical man, a realist, who >thought he had allocated enough time, energy, money and true love. >To his credit he had studied the litter of nine since the day of their >entrance. This was no whimsical decision but it was an erroneous one. >Whatever he had allocated wasn't anywhere near enough as he found >out when the seventh week rolled around and the puppy seemed ready >to move away from his family. > > The puppy is black and white in color with one black eye and one >albino-like light eye. She did not respond to any name including her >given name of "Pinto" or "Crash" as the Man with Parkinsons was fond >of calling her. Within 6 months she will weigh in at about 65 lb. >Even as he type out this story she is asleep close by he can almost >see her growing. As a puppy she reasoned that her primary objective >was not to learn her name but, as puppies all over the world were >doing, "search, seek-out and destroy" But this is not what this story is all about because while irritating to the Man with Parkinson it is really no big deal, What we are going to talk about is walking the puppy. > > The Man with Parkinsons had some lofty ambitions that he and his >dog would go on long and very pleasant walks. A man and his dog has >become a puppy and his man. He though aloud: "How could such a sweet, >new born learn such dastardly ways to literally trip me up?." And >the Puppy thought silently: "Where do I come up with such great tripping >strategies" (To say nothing of my neat and very sophisticated language). >And at that moment the Man with Parkinson and Pinto looked at each >other and realized in harmony that Pinto has a tripping gene. It's >all in the gene pool! But alas this insight did not interrupt the >negative behavior because there was no agreement that the behavior >was indeed negative. > > Although the Man with Parkinsons knew that ALL relationships were >a struggle he thought that this might be a bit easier. Wrong! OK, >so they didn't have to worry whether or not dinner was to be dutch treat >or should they kiss on the first date. There were other issues that >only someone with a movement disorder would think about. Issues/questions >like, is Pinto neurologically and physiologically ready to respond >to training? If so, when and how best to do this "obedience" training? >Is the Man with Parkinsons able to do this training? With the help >of a seasoned trainer they are about to find out. Be sure and read the >next installment in this very true story > > You should be starting training now.Being very fond of the Lab breed, the dog will probably be tractable. I must admit I am interested in hearing more of this story. I am active in the Humane Society here and we have no animals, anymore.The most I know of in this group is 17, but we do think of a dog a lot..Just one..Regards Thea and Gordon Seese