u/DreamersDontDream

Hey everyone, do any of you also have a Schnauzer that’s stubborn as hell? 😅

Our Schnauzer is honestly super lovable and this isn’t some huge behavioral issue, but walks can sometimes turn into a real test of patience. He’ll randomly just sit down and refuse to continue walking. No drama, no injury, just… “nah, I’m done.” Sometimes we stand there for 15–20 minutes before he decides to move again.

Another weird thing: he’s terrified of certain things outside, especially chains or metal chain fences in front of houses. If he spots one, he absolutely refuses to walk past it. I often end up crossing the street, and if there’s another one on that side too, we switch again and again. Sometimes the only thing that gets him past it is if he REALLY needs to pee or poop, then suddenly he can carefully walk by it. 😂

The tricky part is that he’s not food motivated at all. Treats basically don’t work, so a lot of the usual training advice is difficult to apply.

I’m curious:

• Is this a common Schnauzer thing?
• Have any of you experienced similar stubborn/fearful behavior?
• Any tricks that helped make walks easier or helped build confidence?

Again, he’s a great dog overall and we love him to bits. It’s just occasionally a little exhausting on walks. 😄

I have FSHD type 1 and lately I’ve been looking much deeper into how muscles actually utilize creatine and energy (ATP), instead of just blindly taking supplements.

From what I’ve read so far, it seems like having creatine in the bloodstream alone isn’t everything. Intracellular uptake and muscle utilization matter more. I also came across research suggesting creatine uptake may improve with insulin, which is why I started taking it during/after meals or sometimes with a small amount of glucose/dextrose instead of on an empty stomach. I’ve also been paying more attention to hydration/electrolytes, since creatine seems heavily tied to water balance in muscle tissue.

Interestingly, after taking creatine more consistently again recently, I actually feel somewhat less drained/fatigued, especially in the mornings. It’s not a miracle or cure obviously, but it made me curious whether others with neuromuscular conditions noticed similar things.

Have any of you had positive OR negative long-term experiences with creatine?

I’ve been looking deeper into creatine lately because I have FSHD type 1, and over time I’ve become much more interested in how the body actually absorbs and utilizes supplements.

While researching, I came across a few interesting things and wanted to ask if others here have had similar experiences or know more about this.

What I think I’ve understood so far:

- Having creatine in the bloodstream doesn’t automatically mean it’s optimally getting into muscle cells. What really matters is intracellular uptake, since creatine helps regenerate ATP once muscle cells start running low on immediate energy.

- I’ve read that creatine uptake may improve when insulin is elevated. Because of that, I stopped taking it on an empty stomach and usually take it after eating or sometimes together with a small amount of dextrose/glucose.

- I also read that proper hydration and a decent sodium/electrolyte balance seem important, since creatine pulls water into muscle cells.

- Another thing I found interesting: some people claim caffeine and creatine can “fight” each other a bit or at least aren’t ideal together. Because of that, I’ve started separating coffee/energy drinks and creatine intake by a few hours.

My main goal is simply making sure the creatine is actually being utilized as efficiently as possible instead of just taking it blindly without knowing how much the body is really benefiting from it.

So I was curious about your experiences and opinions:

1. Have any of you had positive or negative experiences with creatine and FSHD?

2. Have you noticed any side effects or long-term issues?

3. Do you think timing, food intake, caffeine, hydration, etc. actually make a noticeable difference?

4. Is there anything else you’ve learned that helps (or worsens) creatine utilization?

I know everyone responds differently, especially with neuromuscular conditions, but I’d really appreciate hearing other perspectives and experiences.