A Toby Bulletin

Following several days of ‘relative’ inactivity, the swelling in Toby’s wrist has nearly vanished. I spoke with his vet this morning, and he prescribed my dog a few more days of anti-inflammatory meds, along with another week of complete rest, after which he can gradually return to normal activities. Barreling through chest deep snow and leaping over hurdles are still weeks away…

Thankfully, while Toby is still up to his shenanigans inside the house, he is no longer lunging and trembling frantically at the end of his leash outside, as if he has resigned himself that life is no longer any fun. The visible disappointment on his face each time we walk past the gate that leads out to the road to return to the house is heart wrenching. However saddening, I hope his leash complacency will continue through the remainder of the healing process, so that he does not re-injure his leg in an outlandish attempt to break free.

So while it appears Toby will be out of commission for quite some time, the good news, he is going to be okay.

On the downside, several months ago I had entered Toby in two American Kennel Club Rally trials, the first scheduled for January 23rd and the second for February 13th, during which I hoped he would earn the remaining two legs needed to receive his Rally Excellent title, RE. That lofty goal has been deflated, as we had already scratched from the earlier event thanks to all of Toby’s recent troubles and now we will be missing our chance in February as well.

Even more frustrating is the fact that I know it may be a long time before we attempt it again. Once his injury is fully healed, I will need to start fresh with his obedience training, because any time Toby misses school for more than a week he reverts back to the same unruly behaviors that he arrived with on the day we adopted him.

Additionally, I will have to wait for the rare indoor competition to be held, as the grass draws Toby’s nose like a magnet and he occasionally flees the ring for no discernible reason.

I feel as if I am standing in front of the fountain at the Bellagio in Las Vegas; although the Stratosphere tower appears as if it is just around the bend, in reality it is several miles away. The only lining I have found in all of this is that it will continue to give Toby and me something fun to strive for together, once he is feeling himself again. We'll get there one day, I'm sure.