[puppylove2009]

I just wanted to give an update on Zackie



He is doing so well and he is so happy. He is just living his life an having fun.

It appears that his last illness was not a flair up of pancreatitis but was all related to the parasite he had. So that means he has only ever had one flair up of pancreatitis.

He is happy and well and he is looking forward to going on vacation in a few weeks. This will be his first trip to the Smokey Mountains. And his first time ever staying in a hotel.


Thank you all for your support

I do have a training question though:

He didn't get to participate in puppy classes like our other dog due to being under the weather so much. He knows all the basic commands of the beginner class (infact he is better at it then the dog we had in classes). Anyways I trained him at home.

Would he be required to take the beginner class or can he go on to intermediate? (We go through petco)

Either way would be fine i mean if he has to go through beginner he would have a better chance at socialization.....he didn't get as much as we would have liked him to early on.


By the way his immune system is compromised so yes he can get sick easier then most dogs but he can't get other dogs sick.......but his immune system is slowly recovering it seems

The vet suggested we keep him isolated and not let him around other dogs or let him get out much but what kind of life is that. I would rather him have a full life and it be shorter than a long life and be miserable and sad. I decided early on when he got sick that I was going to let him live and not shelter him because he was more fragile than other dogs

(I know some people might think that I'm not doing whats in his best interest but I want him to live life. and that is what he is doing. He has already traveled many times and it seems life has already treated him well. He is almost 2 now and such a happy boy)

I'm glad to hear you got over this latest hurdle with Zackie, and that he is feeling better.

Personally, I would not risk exposing him to further illness for the sake of socialization-- think of all of the expense and the suffering you both have gone through so far-- you know that every time he gets sick you both have to go through all that pain and anguish again and again-- is that humane?

There are other ways to help Zackie get the socialization he needs, without exposing him to large groups: Schedule small, one-on-one or two, play dates with dogs you know for sure to be in clean health, and current on vaccinations, to minimize anything that could be passed on to Zackie. Basically, you have to treat him similarly to the way a parent with a child who has Leukemia would-- very carefully. That being said, my advice is to continue "homeschooling" him, and skip the group classes. Schedule small playdates with the other puppy parents instead. And of course, Zackie will always have his big sister Sasha to play with.

[puppylove2009]

What I am saying is I am not locking him up indoors all the time. I have had him outside and playing and playing with other dogs everyday even when he was sick. He is a dog that has to be out enjoying life or he would just give up and die.

I'm going to let him live. I'm not going to keep him sheltered for fear he will get sick

He is building his immunity back by being exposed to things.....much like an infant

Oh, I see what you're saying now. No, I wouldn't keep him locked up in a sterile bubble, indoors all the time either. That doesn't help-- a little sunshine and fresh air would do him good, actually. But I would be leery about places heavily populated with large groups of dogs (and/or their poop) all at once. Just a couple of other dogs at a time would be safer, and in an area where people are very good about cleaning up after their dogs.

[puppylove2009]

I guess I just want to know is if he would be able to skip beginner classes (or atleast test out) and go straight into intermediate.

My other dog had private classes but I feel he needs to be in a class with other dogs.....(though he freaks out when he sees a dog bigger than our other dog, he was attacked as a pup)

We are trying to get them all the way through the CGC test. But we want them to go through the classes first

Take him to the beginner class for now-- it will help boost his confidence, since he has been so sick and unable to interact with other dogs. That way he won't have to work so hard.