Dog Talk With Julie

09/29/2024

A quick and happy update: Wednesday I had a manipulation under anesthesia to break up the scar tissue in my left knee post-total knee replacement. Before that, I couldn't bend it beyond 85 degrees. Today I am up to 109 degrees and much more optimistic about my recovery. I have a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine to help keep it flexing. Here's JD, always the trooper, keeping me company as I use it!

09/10/2024

Hi, yesterday was my 8 weeks post-total knee replacement check in with my doctor. Since I lost a number of weeks in the brace protecting the torn patellar tendon, I am having a hard time getting flexibility back in the knee. I've managed to get to 80 degrees twice in my PT sessions, after hanging a weight on the lower leg and suspending it for 5 minutes (serious ouch). 90 degrees is the real minimum for regular daily living, and 110-120 degrees is more ideal (think going up and down stairs, getting into a car, etc.)

My doctor wants me to do 2 more weeks of really hard PT to see how much more flex I can achieve. If it's still not great, he wants to do a "manipulation under anesthesia" where he moves the leg around to break up the scar tissue. (I'm betting after the anesthesia wears off, another serious ouch.)

Thanks for thinking of me during this yucky recovery. I am still optimistic I can start offering some nose work classes in October. JD and Sky have been real champs. They haven't had a walk in 2 months and they still have their usual upbeat personalities and make me laugh when I need it badly. Here they are cheering me on when I do my PT at home.

09/05/2024

My big boy JD came from Pell City Animal Control! Lots of great doggos looking for homes.

08/06/2024

On July 15 I went in for a total left knee replacement. Since I had my right knee done three years ago I thought I knew what to expect. This one would be pretty smooth sailing, and I'd be back in time to offer nose work classes the beginning of October.

Wrinkle in the plan – I had a partial patellar tendon tear during the operation. When I woke up I had this huge knee brace on, to keep me from flexing any more than 50 degrees. The tendon needs time to heal, which is slowing down my overall recovery. Saw the doctor today and I am doing well. Over the next three weeks I can extend my flexibility to 90 degrees. I can start wearing the brace part time instead of full time.

I'm not sure how this will affect my timeline for recovery, but I wanted my friends and students to know that I haven't disappeared totally or forever. I am determined to get better. My goals – be able to stand/walk long enough to prepare for a class, teach a class and clean up after class. And be able to walk my dogs, one at a time, for about 30 minutes each. And be less of a burden and more of a help to Tom, who has his own knee and back issues!

The dogs have been wonderful at adapting to their temporary new normal, which means mostly sleeping, eating, and going out in the back yard. JD usually lies down on the bed with me for moral support when I'm doing my PT exercises. Sky walks next to me when I do laps around the house with my walker. It's actually pretty cute!

Looking forward to steady improvements over time...

07/13/2024

Sharing from another drop in class. One drill was to proof the dogs off tins on the x-pen. Both Cheyenne and Chip did a great job of finding the hide. In a later search, Buddy had no trouble figuring out that a blue wagon is a great place to hide birch odor!

Buddy is available for adoption with Rockin' P Rescue, Inc. in Jacksonville AL. He's on birch, anise and clove odor. What Buddy may lack in focus, he more than makes up for in his joyful approach to nose work, and life!

07/12/2024

Here's Hulk and Stephanie at a recent drop in class. Hulk nailed the chair hide and gently got up on his hind legs to reach the window sill hide. And look at him checking the vehicle seams. Nice job Hulk!

06/13/2024

Congratulations to this week's graduates! This great group completed their first six-week session, Introduction to Nose Work (1). Give a shout out to Hannah and Roger, Jennifer with Judd, and Monica and Chaos. And yes, Hannah finished the class with a cast on her foot. Just another testament to nose work's flexibility to accommodate dogs or handlers of differing abilities. And to Hannah's positive attitude!

05/18/2024

Another graduation! Thursday night's Introduction to Odor class celebrated their success. Say congratulations to Stephanie with Hulk, Debra and Cheyenne, and Julie with Sky.

(Yep, teacher's dog...it was great for Sky to be in class with Hulk and Cheyenne - they enjoyed hanging out in the crate room when they weren't working!)

05/04/2024

Graduations are going on everywhere, including our nose work classes! Help me congratulate these Introduction to Nose Work (2) grads Laura and Charlotte, Elizabeth with Buddy Boxer, Amy and Bosch, and Jennifer with Arlo.

These teams learned how to stay strong when challenged with things like almost inaccessible hides, longer searches, blank searches, and multiple vehicles. They are all proof that you can make the game really interesting while still searching for food!

03/20/2024

Congratulations to our graduates of Introduction to Nose Work (1)! Here's Laura with Charlotte, Amy and Bosch, and Elizabeth with Buddy the Boxer. (Buddy is currently with Rockin P Rescue in Jacksonville AL still looking for his forever home and family!)

03/20/2024

We had two graduations last week! Here's Samantha with Chalupa and Thor, and Sarah with Nova, celebrating completion of the Introduction to Odor class.

02/28/2024

Last week's advanced class worked high hides and pooling odor. These dogs were rocking it! Who knows what fun we'll have tonight?

02/20/2024

Trying to decide if you’d like to compete with your dog at a nose work trial? Check out my article. It includes info on upcoming trials in Alabama and Georgia where you can volunteer. There’s no better way to get a taste of the trial experience!

Some folks love the thrill of competition while for others, it’s just not their thing. A great way to find out before you commit is to volunteer at a trial. There’s several opportunities coming up this spring. I love love love nose work. It builds confidence, grows a bond between owner and dog, ...

02/15/2024

Handlers and dogs had great fun today - it's the second week of their brand new Introduction to Nose Work class. Welcome Laura with Charlotte, Amy and Bosch, and Elizabeth with Buddy! FYI Buddy is a rescue with Rockin P Rescue and hoping to find his forever family soon after he finds all the yummy hides.

01/26/2024

New nose work class! I usually fill my Introduction to Nose Work classes from the wait list but I have two openings for a class starting Tuesday, February 6, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., for six weeks. Send me a message if interested so I can email you the details.

If you previously contacted me to be on the wait list and did not recently get an email from me about this session, please PM me.

If you can't make this class but would like to be put on the wait list for a future one, fill out the Contact Us form on my website:

Contact Dog Talk with Julie in Anniston, AL for your questions and concerns about our scent work and training services.

01/02/2024

Looking to adopt a dog? One that has already started nose work training? Here's two cute rescue pups who spent time in class in 2023.

Nose work is a great activity for all dogs, and it can really help shelter/rescue dogs while they are waiting for adoption. For a little while, they can forget the noise and the smells of being surrounded by other dogs who want nothing more than what most pet dogs take for granted. A home. A…