bc4ever Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 I'm trying to keep track of Scooter's weight, so every few weeks I take him to the vet's (five minutes from here) to have him weighed. He's supposed to step onto this little mat on the floor and sit quietly while they weigh him. Problem is, he's either wiggling around or he doesn't have all four feet on the mat. Watching the digital read out is dizzying--26, 68, 34, 59....They finally decide on a number and write it down, but given some of the weights I've seen come up, he's either morbidly obese or anorexic! I'm wondering if someone makes a sling type scale, like the ones used in hospitals and nursing homes. Seems it would be a lot more accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 This probably isn't very helpful, but you could always weigh yourself first, then weigh again holding Scooter. Or teach him a "stand". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Meier Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Hey, sounds like a training opportunity, I'd be training him to stack like a show dog. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordercentrics Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 When I get my dogs on the scale, I put them in a "SitStay" and it works really well. Kathy Robbins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLloydJones Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 ... but you could always weigh yourself first, then weigh again holding Scooter. This is how I weigh Senneca at home. She is scared witless of the vet's scale (just a slightly raised platform). We always have issues getting her to go on it. The odd thing is that she perfectly behaved otherwise; the vet techs are always saying how good she is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 I made a point of taking all my dogs as youngsters, sitting or downing them on the scale with a treat for reward (use a strip of string cheese under your thumb for "continuous" rewarding), and taking weights - when we were not at the vet's office for a visit with the vet. Just a way to get them comfy, associating a visit with treats, and checking weights. They all are excellent at that now, and even the pup at 8 weeks of age does it well. It's never too early to start training comfort at the vet's office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Some good ideas. Thanks! Scooter is good at the vet's too--all the vet techs and the vets can't believe how calm he is. It just seems to be the scale, but I'll try taking him in and weighing him myself a few times, with treats (tiny treats that don't weigh much!) LOL! As for weighing myself first, then him...we used to do that when he was a puppy, but since he's gotten older, I can't pick him up without making my back very unhappy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 As for weighing myself first, then him...we used to do that when he was a puppy, but since he's gotten older, I can't pick him up without making my back very unhappy. That's true. I can do it with my 32 pounder, but it's not so easy with my 50 pounder. A stand comes in handy, so it might be well worth it to teach Scooter. I'm working on stand with Alex, for working ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 If the dog's old enough to be too heavy to easily pick up, then it's old enough to have a decent lie down or some such to keep it still on the scale, A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 If the dog's old enough to be too heavy to easily pick up, then it's old enough to have a decent lie down or some such to keep it still on the scale,A He seems to forget that he has a decent lie down when he's there. Guess it ain't so decent then, huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerus Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 This probably isn't very helpful, but you could always weigh yourself first, then weigh again holding Scooter. This is what we do. He is fine standing on the vet's scale (it is huge), but we like to weigh 'em often at home. Our scale is way too little to fit his massive dog booty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiered Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I've taught Bonnie to sit on the sclaes and to stay still. Originally it was just by feeding her liver treats while she was sitting on the scales to keep her still enough to read the numbers, I was working as a vet nurse so would do this everyday at work. But now she just thinks the scales are wonderful and will sit there patiently expecting her treats. One day I had her loose out the back of the clinic and turned my back and she was gone, after looking everywhere she was found sitting on the scales with a very inpatient look on her face as if to say "what's taking you so long, where are my treats?!". The clients in the waiting room thought it was hilarious, apparently they had been trying to coax her towards them for a pat but she wouldn't budge, nor could the two crazy yapping mini foxies get her to move off those scales before she got her treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I've taught Bonnie to sit on the sclaes and to stay still. Originally it was just by feeding her liver treats while she was sitting on the scales to keep her still enough to read the numbers, I was working as a vet nurse so would do this everyday at work. But now she just thinks the scales are wonderful and will sit there patiently expecting her treats. One day I had her loose out the back of the clinic and turned my back and she was gone, after looking everywhere she was found sitting on the scales with a very inpatient look on her face as if to say "what's taking you so long, where are my treats?!". The clients in the waiting room thought it was hilarious, apparently they had been trying to coax her towards them for a pat but she wouldn't budge, nor could the two crazy yapping mini foxies get her to move off those scales before she got her treat! Too funny!! I'm going to try just taking him in once a week or so, adding the treats. He's smart. He'll figure it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthBelle Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Bob weighs himself first on the bathroom scale (which is one of those better quality ones), then gets back on. I pick up Belle, hand him to her and presto---it's done. Both he and she are at proper weight levels, now I'm another story. With the heavy lifting, stacking and sorting movements I do all day at my shipping/receiving job, I should be as skinny as a stick. If I could just lay off the candy bars and pastries ------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Bob weighs himself first on the bathroom scale (which is one of those better quality ones), then gets back on. I pick up Belle, hand him to her and presto---it's done. Both he and she are at proper weight levels, now I'm another story. With the heavy lifting, stacking and sorting movements I do all day at my shipping/receiving job, I should be as skinny as a stick. If I could just lay off the candy bars and pastries ------- Yup!Tell me! I used to be an anorexic ballerina. No one would accuse me of that now! <big Border Collie sigh> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizmo Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 They lower the scale, I tell Blaze "up!" (command for jump on something), then tell him to sit/stay. He's done fine ever since he was a little pup - with the exception of jumping up till he was old enough. Probably the most fun thing to do at the vet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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