Thanks again to those who asked for updates on Lewis. He is now 6 days post surgery for OCD in his right shoulder. The flap was massive (I have it in a little bottle :-) ), and adherent in four places. Despite that, Lewis was much better without it right from the moment he woke up. He is now moving quite normally back and front, without a hint of limp or hunching, and has not cried out in his sleep once.

Which is good news: the problem is that he is supposed to have no exercise at all for 4 weeks, and is only allowed outside to toilet. Lewis of course has other ideas. He evidently has little or no pain in his shoulders now, and is desperate to play. I started off with him in a small room with Cal, a quiet, sensible 10 year old deerhound, for company. That didn't work too well as Lewis insisted on persistently leaping around Cal like a dervish, even when poor Cal was emitting very stern 'knock it off puppy' growls.

Now I have him in a 8' x 6' x 5' cage situated in the kitchen, where he has the company of the other dogs and sees most of the going-on in the house. He sleeps there quite happily at night, but is still bored silly during the day. When the others are moving around, he tries to play with them through the wire, and can do a surprising amount of bouncing around on his forelegs even in such a limited space. When the other dogs are settled he just stands and howls - a great deep foghorn of a howl - much of the time.

I've been keeping Lewis with me when I'm in a room that the dogs don't normally go into, but that isn't the answer either, because instead of settling down to sleep he potters around, pounces on specks of dirt on the carpet, and generally gives his shoulders a good work-out. Playing 'gentle' games with him is hopeless, as he soon turns a quiet 'grab the old sock while lying down' game into a full scale 'hunt and kill that vicious old sock' expedition.

I'm at my wit's end on how to make Lewis rest, especially as arthroscopy showed a flap on his left shoulder, so he will probably need surgery to it as well - and more post-op rest. So has anyone any bright ideas on how to amuse a 56kg puppy, while keeping his shoulders at rest?

Sharon I'm sorry but I can't think of anything, you have my sympathy. I know what it's like trying to keep at 35kg weim amused (he has a low boredom threshold) so I can't even imagine trying to do what you're doing.

Lots of luck. Hope someone has some bright ideas for you. :-)

Hi Claire,

Earlier this evening I was thinking of hiring Lewis out to a ship - the foghorn howl was vibrating the whole place :-( Thanks for the sympathy anyway!

I had a dog on cage rest for over three months and there is no easy answer, stuffed kongs, and very large chews given at a regular time so the dog knows when it will arrive. About 4 times a day I would get him out a take him in to a quite room sit with him and gently groom him all over he would calm down and sleep for about another half hour. And then of course he needed to go out on the lead about 6 to 8 times a day. We also moved the cage to the room where we were (in fact we bought 2 cages) We found that a regular routine was best as within a day or so the dog becomes used to it and will wait for the next highlight of his day. Sorry very time consuming but to see a healthy pain free dog at the end does make all the time spent worth it. Wishing you all the best the time will soon pass. Jackie H

When you have a well dog at the end of it you will have to spend more time putting back his body tone, but that bit is much more enjoyable.

Wish Damson would soon be allowed out of her cage - we have the same problem after her orthopaedic job, tho' luckily she's not a puppy any more. Makes me feel so guilty when the others are having fun and she 's just stuck there. Made the mistake of giving her a large marrowbone to occupy her - bad news - she just got very constipated, as she tried rapidly to demolish it (and it was nearly bigger than she was).

Lots of grooming goes down well in front of the telly and the fire, but she does miss her fix on Champdogs as the computer is upstairs!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo, guilt is the problem :-(. Lewis looks so pathetic when he sees Teelin and Flea bouncing around. Been there with the marrowbone. One of Lewis' predecessors could turn the biggest ox hip into a bloody smear on the floor in 10 minutes flat, but she did suffer from the subsequent constipation! At least my computer is downstairs, and Lewis can come through with me when I'm using it - at this rate he'll probably be able to type before we're finished :D. Give Damson the fellow sufferer a pat from us.

Hi Jackie,

The cage is already in the kitchen where the other dogs sleep, and where we spend most time. I've been responding on demand more than establishing a routine though, and your approach sounds much more sensible. Wolfhounds love routine, and I know that the way I've been going about things is training Lewis to shout for attention. Like Jo I just feel so guilty about the poor boy - this restriction is for his own good, but how to explain that to him? I'll try the chews, trips out etc at given times from now on. Many thanks for the suggestion.

Least you've not lost your sense of humour Sharon ;-)

What about taking him into a room on his own and teaching him a few new tricks ?? I don't know much about your breed but my breed enjoy brain stimulation just as much as exercise, my bitch can currently sit, down, rollover, give a paw, wave, give me 5, cross her paws, put her chin on the floor when I say "chin", speak to me, crawl. My boy however is too enthusiastic and doesn't always listen to what I'm teaching him :rolleyes: so I have to take things a bit slower and he is only up to sit, down, rolloever, give a paw and chin. He's just got a busy brain :D

Just a thought :-)

Wonder if I can teach them to do the washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning......... :P

LOL ..Claire how about teaching them to do something really radical ... like POINT :P :D

I know Leigh I'm very naughty for not doing that. Trouble is I wouldn't really know where to start

They're very good at flushing, trouble is they think they have to catch it as well :rolleyes:

Hi Claire,

You ask a wolfhound to sit, and he'll do it. He might just obey the second time too. But if you ask a third time, expect to be treated to a withering expression that quite clearly says "I did it right the first time didn't I? Now please go away off and give my head peace!" Seriously though, some people in the US and Canada have done quite well in obedience with wolfhounds, and a few have even done agility (though with especially strengthened obstacles). And years ago one UK wolfhound excelled in working trials. But although they are usually the easiest of dogs to turn into civilised companions, most people regard formal training as a waste of time with UK wolfhounds. I don't know why - it could be a genuine difference between UK and US/Canadian wolfies, but then Mary McBryde took her UK bred IWs to Canada and did obedience with them. More likely its just that the average IW, with its slow, considered reactions, and lack of patience with repetition is unlikely to get an obedience qualification in the UK, although he might under the US system, so we just don't bother to try. Maybe Lewis could be an exception :-). It certainly wouldn't hurt to try teaching him a few things, but I think I'll pass on teaching him to speak - he's got that one worked out already :D!

Sharon, I am glad that Lewis is recovering well :-)

Thanks Leigh :-)