I love Dogs me...

Rocky 2 buckets

Thanks Tinny, so do I. It was very peaceful & dreamy, one of those trance walks, big on contentment low on distance

ggregu

It's been a while since I said I would report back on how the pups have got on with recall training.

All your advice was great! Thank you everyone. We have done lots of long lead training and they are generally pretty good at coming back to me.

We are staying at North Yorks Moors  site and have spent a lot of time walking on the beaches. I finally bit the bullet and let them go solo! On at a time initially then both together. They were pretty good at coming to me, despite the distractions of other dogs and beach smells etc. It really feels like we are all bonding as a team. The older dog does a pretty good job of keeping them in line too!

 

Tinwheeler

Well done, Gill, you're making good headway but keep at it until you have instant recall. Even then, refresher courses will be a benefit.  I bet the pups are a joy to own.

ggregu

Life is good again! The pups are clever and such fun, they make me smile 100 times a day. Jasmine, the older Westie is brilliant with them. I'm so glad we went for two pups. Much easier to handle in multiples!

Gill

briantimber

Great news Gill,

Now that you're making good progress don't ease up, it's so easy to think your dogs are trained, I made that mistake  with Alfie and had to start again with him from scratch. Little devil kept getting selective hearing. He's ok now, but I still do repetetive recalls when out on walks, it keeps him on his toes. Also, when you call them back, make them sit, give them a treat and lots of praise, put their leads on, then give them another treat before letting them loose again. That way they won't think you are ending their fun when you put their leads on. When you take their leads off, make them sit and then you tell them to "go play" pointing the way for them, that way they get to know that you are in control. Keep it fun but let them know their boundries, they will soon learn. You're doing really well, keep at it , rewarding the good and ignoring the bad. Don't react to the bad, just ignore it.

Keep us in the picture and most of all Enjoy them, as I also said before, no matter how they may frustrate you by not obeying you, never, never, lose your temper with them, when they eventualy do as you ask, then praise them and treat them even if you dont think they deserve it, they've done right in the end so need rewarding.....

Edit.....Sorry if I'm appearing to patronise, I do get carried away....

Rocky 2 buckets

BT, good post, sound practical advice that is proven to work from someone who cares enough to offer the advice is never patronising. We all need help sometimes regardless of how long we've been Dog owners, if it's given from the heart it's a gift. Our journey with our Dogs thru their life is a gift to us, anything that helps keep them safe & well is always welcome to someone who loves their Dogs

ggregu

Thanks for this, it's such an encouragement to have others confirm that what you are doing is right. Definitely not patronising! 

Will keep on with the training, even using recall techniques when shouting them in from the garden is helping. They're so full of life and excited about everything. It's such a joy to see.

Really want to have them trained for when we go to Cornwall this summer. Will make life so much more pleasurable.

Thanks again for your expert and valuable advice.

Gill

briantimber

Thanks for your kind words Gill.

Alas, I'm no expert, I'm just offering you the same training methods that work for me with Alfie, if they help you then thats a bonus, even a small piece of advice can help a lot, you may have to tweak the methods to suit you and your loving pups, remember, you are their hero, keep it that way and you will have a very strong bond with them. Never feel embarrassed in what you do, if others show their amusement then they don't understand the love of dogs. Keep at it, even when you think they are done, they still need your support and guidance, the future looks good for you all. Remember, you can't give them too much love and they will give you all in return.....

papgeno

I don't have a dog myself but look after my daughter's dogs regularly. We look after two of them every Thursday and when we get back from a walk SWMBO goes into the kitchen to get their lunch ready. As you would expect they go with her hoping for a morsel to two. When she's finished cutting up their meat she usually calls me to get their bowls and dried food so that I can mix it in for them. Yesterday I heard her say to one them "go get G'dad" and one of them, Asten, the Yorkie came to find me. He didn't bark but fixed me with a stare that said it all!😍

Rocky 2 buckets

I was awoken at 4:45am by the sun into my bedroom window, the heat built quickly prompting me to get up & get out. The Dogs are loving these balmy early mornings. Once into the meadow Young un & Her Mum scooted off down the track around the meadow. The hay will soon be cut & bailed, it's up to my hip now & the Dogs don't go much on the jungle they see. Walking along the Southern edge of the meadow along the mainly Hawthorne & Blackthorn hedge the sound & sight of birdlife is wonderful. A good hedge is like a block of flats to the birds, top holds the Magpies, Middle the Blackbirds & bottom the Wrens all in attendance going about their noisy business-a pure treat to the eyes & ears. The sun was very warm on my face as I headed East, light clouds giving respite as they blocked the sun out for a few minutes. There's no stopping in the copse this time of the year, other than Badger & Deer tracks the copse is impenetrable. Up to the paddocks, Horses mooching around feeding. Along the paddocks & headed West for home. Before we got to the Northern end of the meadow both Dogs were padding just behind me panting. It's been a dry start here on the East coast, the cracks widening in the Rapeseed crop. Young un & Her Mum both drank from the dish I put out for the Hedgehogs they couldn't wait for a drink indoors. All around the course I took I could hear chicks in nests calling to be fed. A glorious time to just drink in the new life & enjoy Nature blooming-both Flora & Fauna. A joy to be alive to share. Enjoy your day.

Tinwheeler

Great to see you back sharing your walk with us, Rocky. I can hear those birds and feel that sun. Thankyou.

briantimber

Thanks for sharing Rocky, Early mornings, sun wildlife and dogs,..... can't beat that mate......

Rocky 2 buckets

TW & BT, thankyou that walk just gladdened my heart, not wanting to be too slushy it was as if Walt Disney directed the walk Birds & their Young were everywhere. Chirping & flying in & out of their nest sites.

Rocky 2 buckets

Out early again this morning, post sunrise. The early morning temps here have cooled to 16c, a great temp to be walking in. Young un & Her Mum are appreciative of the temp drop too. The Hay crop has been gathered from the meadow so we walked across the centre of it, just fine short stalks left but the new growth has already started its cycle. As we walked along the hedgerows the whole feel is much quieter now most of the chicks are on the wing. Sounds & sights of feeding are still there, but the heavy noise of chicks now abated. I stood & watched 2 young Magpies being fed, they were in a big old Ash tree silhouetted against the the light of a weak sun peeping thru the cloud. I've been taking the Dogs for their walk mainly at the Beach during the most recent hot spell, plus I've wandered along a beck not too far away to allow them access to cooling water. What made today's enjoyable walk in a beautiful landscape special was a group of 4 Roe Deer walking along the side of the far Eastern paddock of a farm. Young un, Her Mum & me began to cut thru a gap in a hedgerow, I am always alert as I turn or cut thru into any new area as that first opening vista is a time to see anything worth seeing generally. Today was very special. 2 Female Roe Deer followed by this years Kid then what seemed like either the Kids Mum behind or possibly last years Kid. My money is on the Kids Mum. I stopped, bent down to hold the Dogs back, they sat & relaxed. As I knelt but stretched up I got a full view of the procession not 40 metres away. They knew I was there as I saw 3 pairs of ears prick up. The Kid can't have been more than 6 weeks old, the lighter speckling on the back of the kid was there to be seen. What complete & utter beauty to behold, I had goosebumps. A family group of Roe Deer in their own environment takes some beating for joy. After they had cut along the paddock heading South & disappeared I turned back the way I came. I enjoyed the spectacle played back in my head all the way home. Enjoy your day.

ggregu

Good to see you back Rocky! Your walk sounded perfect. I've been feeling guilty this week as I haven't been well so my three have had minimal walks. Your story has perked me up and made me feel like I'm almost ready to get out there again! 

Keep these stories coming.

Happy Sunday,

Gill

Rocky 2 buckets

Thanks Gill, don't stress it your Dogs won't suffer, they'll enjoy it more when you're back up to speed. Dogs pick up on our moods & if we're unwell they'd not be as excited. Keep well.

Tinwheeler

Fantastic sighting of the deer, Rocky.  Thanks for sharing. 

Rocky 2 buckets

My pleasure Tinny it was worth sharing was the beautiful Deer.

neveramsure

Great post Rocky.

Some people don't even notice nature while others do but you have the gift of feeling it.

Thanks for sharing those feelings with us.

Rocky 2 buckets

Nevers your got that right, thanks. I realise some are not lucky enough to be able to live cheek by jowl with the beautiful creatures of our Island. Slow, quiet, unthreatening & everyone can see it, the feeling of it comes from the heart & soul. That takes time but it's open to all my friend

Kerry Watkins

You have a way with words Rocky..makes you feel you are actually there!

 

Rocky 2 buckets

Thankyou Kerry, I can assure you I just write what I feel, when out with my Dogs I feel a lot, the flora & fauna speaks volumes.

briantimber

Just caught up with your latest walk Rocky, makes me wish that me 'n Alfie were with you, mind you, the young pup would probably break the spell you've created and start stalking

Great walk.....

MattDonna

Hi all

well we are just about to pick up our first caravan and whilst the children are older the main reason was to go on breaks where we could bring the dogs too

one golden retriever and a springer spaniel also meant we had to think of the layout etc

we can't wait for the kids and e dogs to all come away together exploring the country and beyond

Rocky 2 buckets

Thanks BT, ahh but you would've already taken steps to ensure that wouldn't happen. It's what we do with Dogs every day is a school day. There's a reason I spend most of my time in the landscape with just the 3 of us, I'd not share a fraction of my time seeing the wildlife I do unless I was solo.

Tinwheeler

Hi, MD.

Caravanning can be a great way to holiday with dogs and it's good that you've taken their needs into consideration. 

Enjoy your trips away with them.

briantimber

Welcome MD,

I'm sure that you and your dogs will love getting out and about, I know Alfie does, you only have to say Motorhome and he's sitting by the door waiting to get in, he first went away with us last year at four months old and has taken to it fantastically well....

Happy travels....

Rocky 2 buckets

Wonderful cool morning at 14c, sun shining & Dogs gambolling across the growing meadow. The Rapeseed crop has just been gathered in so there was acres of open land for them to explore-but they didn't, they preferred to stick to the track we use on this route. We got to the Southern boundary before heading East along the hedge to the Horse paddocks hoping to see Deer. After we rounded the copse Young un & Her Mum shot across to a post on the field boundary, after I got there & moved them away I found a young Barn Owl, dead. Very thin, totally intact so it'd not been dead long. It must have been this years chick due to its size. No depth to its chest just bones & feathers. It was so beautiful just laid in my hands with its heart shaped facial feathering. The colour ranging from creamy white to a warm straw colour with gorgeous dark flecks that look painted on they were so perfect. Painted by nature. I can imagine it sat on the post getting weaker until it just fell, very, very sad. I placed it back were I found it. We walked on. It most probably starved due to its inability to hunt for enough food for its survival. This year has seen an abundance of all wildlife both animal & bird in this area, but the Barn Owl has always struggled. It's a rare sight to see more than 1 in a week. The paddocks had 3 Horses feeding contentedly. I saw 2 cock Pheasants staring at each other over a 10' distance, as soon as they saw us they melted into the hedgerow. Young un & Her Mum sprang into life over a wheat stubble field playing chase. It then hit me-the reason the wheat stubble is preferable to the Rapeseed stubble is size of the stalks & the height. It would be painful as they are not big Dogs, sorted. We spent 10 minutes at the dew pond under the willows watching 3 Mallards feeding, Young un on one side & Her Mum on the side of me-happiness is this. I didn't need to hold the Dogs as they are not water lovers other than paddling on the beach. They are so different to my old Retriever who regularly looked like a pint of Guiness as She stood in the rotting leaf infested dew pond happier in water than on land really. The rest of the walk was wildlife free but wonderful, warm sun on my back, the morning was crisp & clear with glorious light levels. I skirted the Rapeseed field on my way back after my earlier lightbulb moment. Enjoy your day.

Bakers2

Another lovely descriptive walk again Rocky, I felt I was with you 🙄. So sad to read about the barn owl - I think your suspicious are correct. Such beautiful birds. 

Pippah45

Lovely Rocky - I missed out with my two Barn Owls this year but it is possible to get them ringed - to help with studies etc.  Doesn't cost either if you know who owns where they nest.  I only recently realised they starve in wet weather as they can't hunt when wet.  We are very lucky in Lincolnshire quite a lot of them here.