Groovy Dogs

01/30/2025

I've had many. Just lucky I guess...

01/27/2025

DOG begs to differ 🐾

01/27/2025

Should rank higher... ;)

01/20/2025

Truth ♥️

01/19/2025

They pulled TWO LITERS of fluid out of Bella. 😲

She's doing MUCH better today. She actually climbed in the passenger seat of my car yesterday afternoon (she's been unable lately, only able to manage the floorboard).

I'll get test results Monday, we'll know more then. In the meantime she's on a diuretic to reduce the swelling and Vetmedin because they're going with heart problems as the most likely problem (leaky gut is also a possibility, and, unfortunately, cancer).

In the meantime she's getting chicken & rice & car rides. Life is good. For now.👍

01/19/2025

❤️

01/18/2025

Sitting at home, waiting for the great team at Bayview Animal Hospital to finish the first round of tests with Bella. Blood tests and fluid tests -- I opted to punt on the x-rays til next week to keep the costs under control.

They're going to TRY to take her blood and tap some of the fluid buildup for testing and to make her more comfortable without sedation, but she's anxious and gives occasional warning growls so they may have to. This is risky, since we don't know if this swelling is related to cardiovascular problems or not. I had to sign a waiver telling them I DID NOT want CPR if she went into cardiac arrest. That was hard. 😕

So as it stands now I pick her up at 3pm. We'll get the test results Monday, and I'll know better then what lies in our future. Thanks to everyone for your support; I hope to be back in the saddle working with everyone else's dogs next week. 🐶

Peace ~ Bruce 🐾

01/15/2025

𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄:
𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 & 𝐱-𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬. 🐶

I know it's risky, and that it might not pan out in my favor, but at this point it costs LESS to do the bloodwork than go ahead with the euthanasia & cremation. If there's a chance, no matter how slim, that I can save her life and preserve her quality of life, I'll risk it.

I owe her this. Euthanasia is the humane option if her quality of life is at risk. It's NOT the right option simply because I didn't try to find out.

I'll need help. Most of you who know me know that I'm averse to asking for donations, but in this case I wouldn't turn it down. Last year's hurricanes affected both my finances and my business, so this is going to be quite a stretch for me without help. I've avoided asking for assistance for myself, but this time I'll consider it, because it's not for me, it's for HER.

My preferred method of asking for "help" is asking for business, and that's what I intend to do this time. I'm going to make an offer for new clients and another for previous clients. Here they are:

𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐯𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐠 - $𝟓𝟎𝟎
- Six 90-minute weekly in-home sessions
- Plus one extra "field trip" for reinforcement gear
- Price includes training pouch & clicker, gear
- You will have weekly benchmarks & checklists
- Fill out my contact form here: https://tally.so/r/wMekLg

For previous clients, those who've already been through a Trust-Based Training program but could use some followup or targeted work, I offer my Coaching Cohort: six 90-minute sessions, to be used at any time you wish, whenever you need. It's like having a "trainer on retainer" 😀

𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 - $𝟐𝟓𝟎
Contact me for details at [email protected]
(please note this is for previous clients only)

Finally, if you want to help just to help, I'm not in any emotional state to say no. I don't have a GoFundMe or anything like that but I have a PayPal & Venmo, so if you just want to ping me some jack to help out I would be very appreciative. Here are the links:

𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐏𝐚𝐥 @ 𝐍𝐁𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬:
https://paypal.me/NBDriggers?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐨 @ 𝐍𝐁𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬:
https://www.venmo.com/u/NBDriggers

(I will post a running tally every time someone donates for full disclosure)

𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑲𝑺! ~ 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒆 🐾

01/14/2025

So we made it to the vet this morning. It went as expected, I'm afraid. 🙁

They told me it's either a congestive heart condition, with fluid building up, or worse (cancer, etc). Just to run a first battery of tests (blood tests, x-rays, etc) will cost upward of $500, and that doesn't include treatment. Also, if THAT run of tests yields nothing, further testing will probably be in the low thousands.

I'm weighing the first round of testing against calling Lap of Love. They're similar in cost ($500ish), except the testing would mean further treatment IF it yields results, and if it doesn't I'll end up having to call Lap of Love anyway. I'm not sure I can afford to save her, if she can even be saved, so I'm leaning toward the second option, sadly.

I'm just devastated. 💔

01/13/2025

I Failed Her

01/13/2025

I can feel my little girl slipping away from me. And there's nothing I can do about it.

Her veterinary appointment is Tuesday morning. That's the first time I could get her in. I hope she makes it. 😕

01/12/2025

🤣🤣🤣

01/11/2025

Heroic 🔥
This is so devastating 😥

01/11/2025

I was going to say the dog training world lost a giant, but that's not adequate. The human species lost a giant: Karen Pryor brought behavioral science to the masses, and introduced millions to the benefits of positive reinforcement in management, parenting, and animal training. She practically invented "clicker training".

"When you see an animal’s eyes light up, when you see an animal that comes zooming out to do its clicker work—and it’s an octopus or a shellfish—it’s remarkable, really. We just set them up and let them show us." ~ Rest in Peace Karen Pryor 💔

01/11/2025

01/11/2025

If you leave, don't leave now,
Please don't take my heart away

01/10/2025

My car looks like a go-kart next to Teddy 😳🐾

01/03/2025

HEROIC ❤️