Can't Take Ugly Out of the C Word

Cancer does not discriminate who its victims are. From the young to the old, the doctors utter “You have cancer.” No matter how it’s said, the result is the same, an uphill battle with some unknowns. 

The lucky ones are diagnosed in the early stages where there is a high probability of recovery. Note, I did not say getting rid of cancer because, in many cases, that assurance just cannot be there. When cancer is not confined to one particular organ or cell groupings, it is hard for doctors to predict its spread and the long-term impact of its existence in the body. Nor can the long term effects of the treatment often be contained.

Therefore we are a society that seems to be plagued with hearing of loved ones, friends and neighbors getting diagnosed these days and wondering what lies ahead.  In the back of our mind is the over-riding question, who is next?  Will it be my loved one or me? 

The number of survivors continues to grow giving more hope that there is life post-cancer diagnosis. The re occurrence of cancer for those thought to have “beat it” which in and of itself is a bit of a misnomer, gives survivors fuel for fear. Yet, life is precious, perhaps more so for one who has waged a battle against the foreign invader already, cancer.  Learned is the principle one must go on, day by day, realizing the preciousness of a day in the life of ______.

And so must we all, even with the influx of stories of those affected and touched by cancer, move forward with hopes for cures. Be diligent in knowledge-gathering on the disease. But be careful to not become hyper-vigilant to the point where fear rules your day. Be compassionate towards those that are directly touched by cancer knowing their attitude towards the word and life has forever changed. Be supportive of efforts to fund research for better treatment options, early detection and eradication of the dreaded diagnosis. And at the end of the day, be grateful for the time you are given for far too many are gone too soon!

Written in honor of those who have touched my life with their diagnoses and challenges.

Doodling on a Labradoodle

The most frustrating part about owning a labradoodle is the grooming if you do it yourself!  Whew, their hair grows fast and unlike other breeds, it is like humans and keeps growing so must be cut every 4 to 6 weeks.  The hair gnats up easily and it doesn’t help that they are a dog so run around, roll, and scratch causing even more pile ups in their hair! To groom a doodle is anything but oodles of fun!

I have tried almost all products known to man to make my life, and hers, easier as I do the grooming myself. This list includes human detangler sprays which I find do little more than put a nice odor on the top of her coat for about 15 minutes max. Spraying it means I am how detangling wet hair as opposed to dry hair and thereby pulling out even more hair than if it is in its natural state.

The grooming becomes a challenge between Tessie and me. Her patience starts off excellent and then falls sub-par 2/3s

Tessie 

through. At that point, I am the enemy and she makes my pampering experience for her intolerable by moving constantly, pawing me, turning this way and that, trying to escape or the dreaded “kissing me.” This is not advisable when I have sharp scissors or a trimmer in my hands! She thinks it will aid in ending the whole process.

Brushing regularly is a must with this breed. Every few days it should be done, minimum of once a week a very thorough brush out. Remember, the more frequent you groom, the less rustration. Our vet recommends daily!

When you complete grooming, outwardly your dog looks no different to the viewing eye. You will be the only one that will know they were detangled, brushed and sometimes even trimmed! With hair that has a mind of its own, even after being groomed, they may appear no different. Labradoodles always look fluffed up and somewhat messy. And as soon as your pup scratches, there is potentially another knot up in their fur!

Well, if I had another labradoodle and had to maintain it like her, I would simply say “Shoot me now, less painful!”  All this work to ensure she is well maintained and to save money.  But wow, increased blood pressure with the stress.  I am always shocked when someone comments on her grooming because I am so far from an expert that it is funny anyone thinks she looks great when she is my Guinea pig for trimming. I literally watched YouTube videos to try to devise a strategy!

Nowhere does it mention on the videos hair gnats clog up your trimmer! Nor does it mention a wiggly dog while you are trying to get angled cuts that look professionally done around the ears.  Oh they are quite a bit of help but so much is learned through trial and error. Note:  There are no pictures to be found of the errors. I try to forget them. When she comes out beautifully, I try to not look shocked and say “All in a day’s work.” In reality, it feels more like luck is involved to some extent.

I love this breed, labradoodles, but, I hate the grooming. I think it’s important to take the time to tell 'would-be owners' either invest in a great groomer or do it regularly yourself, preparing yourself not to be pampered or pampering your pup.  The spa day treatment is a misnomer! It is hard work. What you will end up with is a dog that has the look “Who wouldn’t love me?!”