Is my dog very mard

[Dogbetty141]

Hi Guys

My GSD Puppy came home fine last night but after a kip started limping anyway I have checked her paws and she has scuffed the top layer of skin of her middle pad, now im thinking she needs walking but I dont want it getting infecting or should I leave her if she is limping, she goes potty if she doesnt go out, should I wrap it up bandage it when she goes out or leave her in until she stops limping she is fine in herself but does put on the sad eyes when we cuddle her like shes in the worse pain ever!!!! What shall I do?

Thanks

Liz

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would try and keep it clean and reduce exercise/wear and tear on it.
At this age she does not need 'walking' as such, just free running/socialising/getting out and about and if she can't do that, there are tonnes of little training things you could be doing with her to keep her occupied.

I bathe split or grazed paws in those little trays you get from the Chinese, with diluted salt water or diluted Savlon etc.

 

[Dogbetty141]

Thanks CC

She is walking better on it now tried to put a bandage on it yesterday but it just fell off when she was walking, it looks ok & I keep cleaning it with salt water, I just take her on to the field near me to have a roam about and keep doing our training in the house!

I just think/thought she is a mardy bum! Is it a trait of GSD?

Thanks

Liz

 

[CorvusCorax]

They do get frustrated easily but a thinking dog is a tired dog!

You will need to take the exercise out into the field eventually too, make it fun and work it into her (gentle ) exercise programme

 

[Dogbetty141]

Thanks again CC for all your help she walking normally on it now and is ok having a play on the grass now with her bessie mate!

She is doing well with training at the minute just the pulling on the lead which we are working on ( Halti on its way to us)

Thanks Liz

 

[NOISYGIRL]

I'm not a lover of the halti's, I think gentle leaders are bit better, my OH used one on our springer once, we decided against it, we just corrected to the side rather than trying to pull back and said heal or you could use close or something, try to keep her attention, we rehomed ours at about 14 months old, she's 3 now, took a good few months and my arm aching but she walks lovely now, she only pulls if she see's a bird or something.

I had a GSD once, I did try a halti on him but didn't like it, so just did above and it worked.

My OH did the thing off Dog Borstal that Mick does, where you hold the lead in a big loop, then drop it (the loop not the lead) and walk in the other direction, that helped

 

[Crackedhalo]

I would leave her without a walk for a day or two, Get some cutheal spray or liquid to put on - Heals super fast!

 

[Dogbetty141]

I will try the halti & see if it works as she pulls going where she knows if she doesnt know she doesnt pull! I just thought a halti would be better than a choker chain as I really dont like them, I have ordered a nice thick dog coolar & lead so I have a bit more control & see what this is like first! Thanks for the help, paw all healed and she is fine now thank god

Thanks

Liz

 

[Goya]

When needed I use a childs sock, cover with polythene. over any dressing and then vetwrap over to keep everything on.

 

[CorvusCorax]

A flat collar won't give you much control, you would be better off with a headcollar. I've always used choke chains with no issues, used correctly and if the dog can cope, they are a good tool.

However, the best way to get a dog to stop pulling is to incentivise staying close you you, through food, a toy etc, and to instill that pulling gets the dog nowhere - turn around, go backwards etc. It's hard work and time consuming but is better than masking the issue with a piece of equipment.

I feed my pup by hand to make him realise that staying with me is fun!
But in fairness it is common for dogs to pull through excitement in the first few minutes of a walk.