MOD - with all out Dobers - when they were pups - I would at like the vet , I would work and work with them - I would tall them I was going to check there teeth , look in there ears , check there paws , everything but checking there temp. lol it really did work , the doc would always say something about how good they were when he did a checkup on them , now Kasia was the best at this , one day at the vets office , ole doc came and started to check her out - I asked if I could help , he laughed , he has knew us for a long time , he said sure , I looked at Kasia and pointed my figure at her and said show me your teeth and she peeled back her gum's and showed them to him - she really looked mean when she did that , then I asked her to show us her belly , she would lay down and then roll over with all 4 paws up in the air , Doc was about to bust a gut laughing , He said he wished everybody worked with there dogs like we did , it would make his job a lot easier , lol It just takes time working with them Mod , and I can see you two doing the same thing + it is so much fun to do .

Ha that is funny Doc. I did try some of that - probably not as much as I should have. I have thought to ride her over to the vets periodically even if not an appointment and just sit there in the waiting room with treats....just for a bit. Then take her back home. Get her used to it and not be a once in a while trip.

As I was reading and typing a thought came to me about Molly and O.D. - I think they know where we are going. When we would drive 8 hours to Mother-in-Laws, a few miles out or the turn down the road and they would start whining - a happy whine - and get excited. They knew where they were 8 hours later. When we would take them to the park 2 miles down the road - when we turned down the park road same thing happy happy happy.

Now go to vet and not so happy. Go to the Kennel we would drop them off while out of town for a week and not as happy. One time we got there opened the hatch they jumped out and immediately jumped back in..... And this was a pretty good place for Dobers. Just not with mom and dad.

Good advice from all - which reminded me I still need to read the post Rosemary did about the crate training website!

Not trying to say the stress and food thing is wrong....it's just an insight I hadn't thought of before.

And I wondered too...HDD was much more reluctant to take food from anyone when we first got him, so I thought the stress idea was an interesting slant on things. Something to be aware of.

Carry on

Keeping stuff concerning Mila in one post so I can find it for reference if needed

We took Mila to the vet to have her anal glands expressed - 2nd time since we have had her. I have read a few posts concerning this. Read where pumpkin will help with firming up her stool, which seemed ok prior but decided to try.

However, with her second time to the vet for similar issue a couple of questions come to mind:
1. How much pumpkin? We are giving her a couple of tbs approx. with her meal.
2. We give her recommended amount of food for her weight approximately 4 cups per day (plus treats ) over 2 feedings. She has lost some weight from 79.6 to 77.5 or so. I notice she may not have as large of stools as previous dogs with same amount of food. Could this keep her from expressing naturally?

3. Also the tech at the vets said that having them expressed via them could cause problems down the road? I think she was saying Mila would always have to have them done this way if she doesn't. So trying to head that off.

Any other suggestions?

Otherwise she is doing great - she is definitely a Velcro dober!!! She really loves to play and run. I think she has more exercise with us which I think is one reason for her drop in weight. We have had her now for 3.5 months or so. I do not think 2lbs is too much but let me know if it is?

Could do with a bit later sleep in than 4am but in reality it is good for me to get up and do a few things before work!

I think increased exercise is supposed to help with anal gland problems, as does weight loss. Since you've changed those things from her previous life, maybe this problem will start to ease up? I sure hope so.

(Though I don't think she is the overfed, lethargic couch potato whose anal gland stuff improves when diet and exercise is better--I'm just trying to spread a little hope )

Ha me too - Mila is quite potent!

I know what you mean...both HDD and Capri would occasionally (rarely, really) let out a little...um...ooze (gross, gross, gross). It is deadly.

LOL - Yeah and Molly and O.D. as well....but wanted to as Barney Fife says nip it nip it in the bud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyueBoC9mE

if there is any issue otherwise will continue down the road and ask the actual vet Monday when we take her in for check-up (blood, urinalysis, etc...).