Since Zippo is our first Deerhound, and he is sooo different from the other hounds I've had...nothing like the Afghans perhaps more like Borzoi...sort of. BUT he hates it when I read. Wonering if it simply because my attention is off of him...and yes, since it is the first time I've only had a single dog, he is a tad spoiled, but in a good way. With all the Christmas flyers coming out, he is dismay that mom is intent on reading them. I've brought them into the computer room...and put a chair in front of the door. (he likes to see where I am, then goes lay on my bed in the room, but if the door is closed he will lay down in front of it and wheine periodically. What a master manipulator. I tired reading the weekend paper on the floor, he got out of the recliner and pushed it up from underneath, 9get it out of here.) or he will stand on it...right wheile I'm trying to read it...how can you not laugh...nothing but joy and love from this boy...

I have similar issues when I'm on the computer. He will drop a ball or toy on the keyboard or knock all his toys down so that I have to move them from under the desk. Lockie is definately a manipulator but I do love his antics

My girls are attached to my hip. When I'm at the computer, one or both will come and lay down almost under my feet. Alice will stick her nose under my arm/hand and push for stroking and petting and ear rubs, always at a crucial point. And Aeriss, my big beautiful lurcher, will walk over and bark imperially to get her share. Anything to get that attention.

I would noy want anyone ever....to think I am complaining...I love that he cherishes my company so much, as do I his. He is so incrediably adorable, in fact he comes with me everywhere, I am hoping to have certified as my service dog by spring. Yes..it is unusual to have a hound for this...but..I am not a golden or lab person, by any stretch. I love my hounds, and they seem in agreement. He comes in the cab with me to the doctors appt. - and yes..he is welcome at the Dr. office - i guess because he is so well behaved, and because he has done so much for me and my doctors knows this. I consider myself truly blessed by having him in my life - I feel he helped save it. The surgery I had in Sept would not have happened if not for Zippo and his incredible attachment to me. He is very sensitive to ny health and seems to be able to smell my blood pressure and degree of unwellness. His attention has lightened since the emergency surgery...so he was right. Should have listened sooner...would have saved myself alot of pain and anguish. Do not dismiss a hounds unusual attention...ever.

cassandra1260 wrote:


My hound was also incidental in saving me from a heart attack. See my tale in "Belated Introduction" in the Introduce Yourself Section", its on page 2.

Wow..on my way there on...I love reading about our 'heroes'....it really is miraculous..even if you thought miracles happened before...after knowing people who have had animals save them..help them..you know it is true. Zippo has a half brother on Vancouver Island..he lives with a lady who suffers from epilepsy..he is able to sense an attack prior to it occuring, and makes her lay down..away from stoves..stairs..etc..keeps her safe - don't you love it!

What enjoyable reading, about your dogs and their amazing phsycic powers and the support they give you with your health. That is fantastic that Zippo is allowed to the Dr's. Cassandra, would I be rude in asking why you are poorly?
They do say that dogs have a kind if 6th sense, probably why someone thought of using them as dogs for the hearing, blind etc.

Lovely stories. Murphy is also whining at the gate, he only whines in the evening as he sleeps all day, he needs his ears tickled!

What a lovely read,

My girls seem to wait until I can find some time to sit by the fire with my laptop,and then come along to try and push it away from me, they have often pawed the keyboard.

I can just picture it Cassandra he does sound a very special hound indeed, I hope you are on the mend its so good you are back posting.


I found this link , its amazing how sensitive our four legged friends are

www.epilepsyfoundation.or...seizuredogs.cfm

I've been off work since 2003..I fell off a high ladder - was an interior designer, an over worked one...I had put in severak weeks of 14 hr days....7 days a week. Make hay while the sun shines...maybe not. Usually I leave the ladders for my installers..but thye were late....needed high measurememnts for an order...if I just took them I could be off. Well...off I was...but not on to my next appt. Off the ladder was more like it. Ah...the pressure we put on ourselves...never worth it...is it. I spent 8 months at our WCB rehabilitation center....where thye made me worse, intead of better. Now I have perm. back injuries...nerve damage..etc...and this past summer was diagnosed with Wagners Vasculitis. More good news.. I black out from pain at times....so no longer drive - that was a hard pill to swallow -no pun there. In Sept Zippo dected something else...seems I had a mass growing very rapidly inside....he smelled it...odd. I was being poisened by my own body. I couldn't walk up the stairs without feeling like I was going to collapse. He would stay at my side...let me lean on him when ever I needed....all the nights I stayed up crying in pain...he was at my side. I'd go dowbstairs...moments later...there was my boy....just looking sad at me...he'd climb into the chair and wait..and wait. In the afternoons, when I was exhausted and didn't want to rest - he'd take my sleeve and walk me up the stairs to bed...no kidding...he went backwards up a flight of stairs..and lay down with on the bed. He is soooo remarkable. Since the surgery he no longer keeps smelling me with such intensity. More like his nomal self...what ever normal for a Deerhound is. My surgery was done through emergency...I had a Dr.'s apppt..told him what Zippo was doing..he checked and wrote a letter and sent me directly to hospital. I should have had it checked sooner...but..with so much pain from the back injury...and the pain of the vasculitis...I figured it was just more of the same. Not so and only Zippo. Wow!!

What an amazing tale. You certainly have been through the wars. Xena always makes me nervous as she always smells my mouth very intently. Maybe I have halitosis LOL but seriously it does make me wonder...

Hi Cassandra

What a wonderful dog you have got there. Treasure him, which you obviously do. Sometimes (or rather frequently) I think taht animals are more sensitive than us humans. Perhaps they really do have a sixth sense. You hear so many extrordinary tales of animals helping out, sensing etc things before their owners do.

Take care of yourself Cassandra (and zippo too)

Speaking of sixth sense, our last Deerhound, Dana, would never get into Terry's car. She would happily get in to any other car but refused to get into the brown beast. One day we were going down south. Terry was going to take Dana and I was travelling down later. Dana, as usual refused to get into the car so she travelled with me. Just as well as the cars fuel line caught on fire, burnt through the brake lines and he was causing spot fires all along the road but couldn't stop. A truckie who was travelling behind him was putting out the fires (major bush fire time) When the car finally came to a halt the truckie extinguished the car. He was very lucky that the car didn't blow up. Dana obviously always knw that something was wrong with the car

there is a lot of evidence of dogs detecting cancers and are being used for people with epilepsy and hypoglycaemia. There is also evidence of peoples blood pressure being lowered by stroking a dog. I manage a care home for older people who have advanced dementia and when I take Murray and another one of my lurchers (who is a registered pets as therapy dog)into the home it always amazes me how they seem to know that there is something wrong with the residents - they are so gentle. They make me feel very humble yet very proud.

Cassandra - I hope you get better soon and give clever Zippo a kiss from me. He sounds a wonderful dog

Houndy..you are right. years ago I took Borzoi into the Glenrose Hospital on tuesday evenings to visit the elderly who were ill. The Glenrose is a rehab hospital..but many of the elderly do not ever leave ...or not on their own. It is tremendous to see a large hound be soooo gentle with an elderly person...so loving...sooo amazing. Many a visit left with tears...of pride, and to see the joy they were able to bring to these folks...so often forgotten about in our society today. god willing, one day we will all be 'elderly'. I can only pray and hope that someone will visit me if I should ever end up like that.

I remember one resident who was in his 90's. He had not spoken at all for the past 3 years. He had no family or friends and never had any visitors, and could be quite physically aggressive towards staff and other residents. The 1st time I took Alfie (my PAT lurcher)in with me to work the resident spoke his 1st words but only to Alfie. Over time, he would have long conversations with alfie who hardly ever left his side, but the resident never, ever spoke to a human being up until he died.
Dogs are very humbling..

A few days ago we were chatting about funny traits...shortly after Zippo joined our family..I spoke with Lynn (breeder) and laughing...said how very comedic the little guy was. I told her how at only a few months of age..he would hide cookies..and watch us - to be sure we weren't about to eat them. She said his daddy Nick does that too...steals them from other dogs..then enjoys the fruits of his labor. But..it got even funnier when at about 5 months...I was doing a little training...using slices of 'rollover' for rewards. I had put the last slice on the coffee table..leaving him on the couch I stepped away to grab a coffee..only milliseconds..but when I sat down..he had a 'look'''only to realize there was a chunk bitten out of the slice of rollover. Yes..he did not steal the entire piece..that would be too obvious. But..it gets better. He didn't eat it. A few days later I found the piece hidden between the seat of the couch and the back. I wondered why he had been so obsessive about the couch those few days..looking under..scratching the base..but trying not to let us see him in action. I couldn't stop laughing...he was in hot pursuit of his snatched treat...only..mommy found it first. He had eaten it..but didn't know it. It was a reward nibble for learning to say 'hello'...but he kept on looking...and looking. He knew it was there somewhere.
Such a joy....