Lisa's Web, Where Red Dogs Rule.
March 5, 1994 - July 27, 2006
Lucy was a Lab x Shepherd mix and my second dog. She was the best dog ever, I'll bet you hear that a lot, but she really was one of a kind. I was 23 when Lu came into my life and came at the best time and I think she knew that. I still had Daisy but there was a lot going on in my family life as my father was terminally ill.
I had just gotten out of college when my neighbors called to say there was a stray dog in their yard (Lucy's mom) and they had been feeding her for a while as she was thin, then she got really fat really fast (well pregnancy will do that to you). Soon there were 9 little puppies running all over and they assumed I would take one, which I did of course. Lucy was born an all black puppy but soon developed the traditional black and tan shepherd saddle markings. She looked like a shepherd with floppy lab ears, oh so cute!
The difference in training styles that I used between Lucy and Clara are 180 degrees apart. Lucy was trained with what are considered 'traditional methods' which involved using a choke chain (which later caused severe arthritis in her neck and spine) where as Clara has been trained with positive methods, mainly clicker training and at most has had to wear a Gentle Leader. Complete trainer turn around.
Lucy learned her commands exceptionally. She was the best 'off leash' dog and would follow a tennis ball (or a rock) anywhere (except the water! She HATED swimming). She was also the matriarch of the house hold. She knew even at a young age, how to keep other dogs in line without doing any harm and using her eyes and body language to 'talk' to the other dogs. Even when the ever obnoxious Clara came home, Lucy never growled at her, she put up with a lot in Clara's early years.
Once I became friends with Katrin we would take Clara, Lu and her 3 dogs out running in the bogs. At that time her James would pick on the younger Niche and Niche would not stand up for himself. One day Lu got fed up with it. As James went running after Niche, Lu quickly and deftly moved herself between the 2 dogs and just looked at James. James immediately said, "Ok, no problem here ma'am, I'll just go on my way." It was so funny and so like Lu. She knew exactly how to handle the situation and did it with grace as always.
Lu was also my protector. With her around, I knew nothing bad would ever happen as no one would dare cross her. She was 75lbs in her prime and with those shepherd markings could come across as quite daunting.
Over the years it became apparent that Lu had hip dysplasia and arthritis in her neck and spine. Luckily with the addition of Cosequin and acupuncture as well as the occasional Rimadyl, regular exercise and weight management she was able to move quite comfortably until age 12 when cancer took her life.
In July 2006 Lu started going down hill, quickly and suddenly. I took her into the vet hospital (work) because she just wasn't acting right. That evening she started getting worse, we did blood work, x-rays and an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed that she had fluid around her heart that needed to be drained. She had an EKG and the vet on that night drained the fluid off her heart. That night she was transferred to a 24hr Emergency Vet where they watched her over night. She stayed there for 3 days to wait for the cardiologist to see her. I visited her twice a day every day and she was always happy to see me. The cardiologist found the tumor in her heart, hemangiosarcoma most likely, and I took her home. She did ok with me at home for the next 10 days. The one thing I regret is not taking time off work to spend with her at home. But I think she understood. The sac around her heart filled up with fluid again, I had it drained because I wanted one more night with her. The next day I brought her to work where we put her to sleep with all of her friends able to say their good-byes. She left this earth with me and Dr Kathy by her side.
She was an eternally special dog in my life. She will always be a part of me.