What I don’t like about having a puppy!
August 26, 2010
Betty in her favourite chew chair! See the whiskers?
Betty is 4 months old now, I don’t remember how many weeks she is any more so time to promote her to months old rather than weeks 🙂
I do love having a puppy in the house, there is one thing I don’t love about having a puppy, it is the mess they make! I am not a lover of house work, but I do like the house to be clean and tidy, a bit of a conflict for me :)! Betty is now at the age and height when she can reach the table, which means that when I leave things out she gets them off and chews them up, mostly magazines and paper, not a big problem, but when I have just cleaned up and 5 minutes later I have to clear it all up again:(, plus she brings in twigs and plants and scatters them on the floor! It drives me nuts!! I foolishly left my paper diary on the table (my back up to my electronic diary) and she ate most of August and September! I know I will learn to put my stuff out of reach!
What irritates you most about puppies?
Other than this issue I do love her, she is so funny, her sense of humour is infectious! She seems to be permanently laughing at me or life or both! I only have to look at her little hairy face and she makes me smile! If I look at her for more than a few seconds she starts trying out her tricks in case I want more, throwing herself to the ground or bringing me a toy or flying to my side to show off her new going to heel trick, how sweet is that? !
With the change in the weather the back door is shut more often and I have been good in checking if she needs the toilet, she has been brilliant and apart from one occasion when she bopped to wee in front of me and immediately realised I was not smiling any more, she ran outside to finish, she is a good girl really!
Never work with animals or children!
August 24, 2010
What a difference a day makes! I have to tell you all about this, about how different my training was on Thursday after our victorious day Wednesday! I have been doing this job long enough to know now that if I have a big up with a dog or dogs there can only be a big crash fairly soon after! 🙂 Thankfully, though Sue and Alex were present from Wednesday with Nessa and Tilly neither of their dogs were involved!
Thursday morning is group class morning, a regular group generally, but this week we had two new members, Gill with Fergal and Matt and Bella, both Border Terriers. Our fifth class member is Tracey with Ella a Welsh Terrier. Tracey had brought Ella training as she has a big problem with Ella with two Border Terriers in her village, one of them bit Ella as a puppy, as a result Ella has never forgiven them and kicks off the minute she sees them on walks! Tracey and I have worked on her technique and now Tracey can get round the village and see these dogs and Tracey is able to keep Ella’s attention on her, so things have been going well!
But now we had two of the offending breed in her class, oh dear Ella was not pleased! She particularly took a dislike to Fergal, the boy Border, which is interesting as it was the boy Border in her village that had bitten her. Fergal was not to happy about being the focus of Ella’s dislike and was not afraid to answer her back. Over the first part of the class I had both Tracey and Gill working their dogs with some good heelwork at opposite ends of the garden and they appeared to be settling, Tracey disappeared round the corner of the patio for a moment when I heard her shouting “lead” or that is all I heard, I ran to get in front of Fergal, knowing that would be Ella’s first port of call, (I am quick at these moments 🙂 ) as Ella appeared, trailing her lead, minus Tracey, I threw myself at her and did my best impression of a scarey human, she was not detered for a second and rocketed toward Fergal!
Gill was great and as Ella ran in on Fergal, managed to grab her leg, I grabbed the lead and yanked Ella away, the dogs only made enough contact for us to hear the start of fighting noises, just enough to know their were not going to get along, which they had already made clear at a distance! It was all over very quickly, though I have to say all our hearts were racing and we were all very distressed! Poor Tracey most of all, she had tripped over which is how she had lost hold of Ella, and was now going to blame herself for scaring us all! Even though it was an accident that could have happened to anyone, what was great is that she had enough presence of mind to warn us all so that we were ready to take action! Ella is one brave dog, not many dogs are brave enough to come past me in full scarey mode!
Today is a great day!!!! I love my work!
August 18, 2010
Sophie
I will let you into a secret I love my job:) ! especially on days like today! This morning I was working with Sophie, Nessa, Leo, Herbie and Tilly, I have been working with all these dogs on and off over the spring and summer and today was our big
Nessa
Herbie
pay-day!!! So often with dog training I and my dogs owners work hard over some period of time, we see improvements which keep us all encouraged to keep going, even though the dogs are not quite where we want them to be. It then seems suddenly that everything starts to fit together, of course it is the hours of work that have been going on over many weeks that produce the result, but so often in dog training there is this moment in time when everything the dogs do seems to go up a gear, when they respond every time to all that we have been teaching them, when even difficult distractions do not put the dogs or handlers off and the thrill is just amazing! This morning was just such a occassion, and even better it was the same for all five of the participants, that is really incredible and unusual.
For Chris and Leo, the Jack Russell cross (chocolate coloured gorgeous boy), the miracle was that at the start of the morning Chris was so anxious about the training session, this was their first time in a group with me. Chris and I have been working one to one to get this little boys confidence with strangers, he had at last come to trust and be friends with me, today was his first big test to see if he could do the same with new people. Guess what, in no time at all he was best mates with Richard and Christine, two of our spectators! Chris really moved me when she explained to us all how she felt to see Leo being stroked by strangers, the first time in along while since she had seen this, and there was hardly a dry eye in the house, especially with me!
Sue and Nessa, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a beauty of a brindle as you can see in her photo’s. Sue started with me back in April with a young thug of a puppy, not sure where that dog went, as we now have a very lady like Staffie in her place!!! Today was the culmination of so much work from Sue, and what a result, Nessa was completely obsessive with toys, especially footballs, today you should have seen her, I was kicking the football around while Sue was doing stays with Nessa and long line recalls, and Sue stayed in charge with Nessa concentrating on Sue!!! I was so amazed it was only a few weeks ago I had to hide the football so that Sue could get Nessa’s attention! Nessa completed every exercise we put to her, weaving off lead in and out of the other dogs she did not falter once! I feel so privileged to have been a witness to their training progress, I am not sure who was proudest today me or Sue :)!
Alex and Tilly, a beautiful ginger and white Border Collie (I have a soft spot for this colour Collie:) ), who not long ago we couldn’t even groom without her having a tantrum, again completed off lead heel work weaving in and out of the other dogs! Another dog obsessed with toys, Alex was able to recall Tilly while I did my utmost to distract her by throwing toys around. And then went on to completing a very controlled retrieve, something that used to be impossible, once Tilly had the toy getting it back was a bit tricky, but today straight back to Alex!!
Sharon and Sophie, a black and white Pointer, I was thrilled to see the bond that has developed over the time I have known these two, who when they first came Sophie thought Sharon was her accessory, today Sophie was responsive and willing to please!!! I know that the work we did on retrieve today (Sharon’s first lesson with me on retrieve) is going to make even more difference to these two, all the more because the relationship is now right between them, that was a joy to see!
Last but not least Cathy and Herbie, a black Labrador, Cathy and I have been working with Herbie in a group and more recently one to one. They had struggled in the group sessions and I was thrilled to work one on one with Cathy, which gave me more time to focus on their needs as well as get to know them both better :), today was a big test to see if they could hold their training together in the group and guess what? They did, Cathy took a while to settle, a little nerves held them both back for the first 30 minutes, which is the nice thing about the recall training sessions as we have two and half hours, so plenty of time for them to settle in and start performing as they both can in private!!! So again a big pay off for us and I was so proud of Cathy as she was feeling the pressure at the start!
It isn’t often I write about the dogs and people I am working with, but today was so special I wanted to shout it from the rooftops!! 🙂 I am hoping some of my proud owners will add their own comments! Sadly I was so engrossed I didn’t even think to get the camera out, but I do have a few photo’s of at least 3 to share with you. The morning left me buzzing, happy and proud and as long as my work keeps giving me odd times like this I will stay addicted:) !
Update on Betty training!
August 16, 2010
Betty learning to skateboard!
Betty is getting hairy!!
Betty has the best sense of humour, I think she is constantly laughing at life! She certainly makes me smile a great deal of the time, she is just so funny! From the way she hurls her toys about, they often land on top of the work top, to the way she throws herself about! I can see how much she will love agility, not a trait she gets from Pie, but her Mum Gracie was bred very purposely for agility!
Training wise we have been doing a little of everything that she may need in life, recently she has been getting a little confused and offers up all her tricks to find the right one! So far I have taught her the baby beginning’s of sit, down, heel, come, high-five, stays, retrieve, roll over, and watch, plus she is starting to learn to ride a skate board! Confusion is a part of training progress and a very useful one too! Confusion means that the dog is trying hard to please and simply throwing everything in the pot to try to find the right one! I always praise whatever Betty gives me, it is all good and by encouraging her efforts she stays willing, the most precious gift any dog can give!
To iron out some confusion I am focussing on 2 exercises in any one training session, this is already paying off after one day of 3 training sessions. This morning when I asked for the down, Betty threw herself straight down, whereas yesterday she tried the sit, high-five and a bit of a spin to heel first:)!
You can see in the photo’s Betty is very leggy now and sprouting whiskers, you can see why she makes me smile! 🙂
Next time your dog sits when you asked for the down remember to praise the effort and then make yourself clearer, maybe use a hand signal for the down? It is a common mistake with beginner handlers not to recognise when the dog is trying to do what you want as opposed to being naughty, the best clue is if your dog is looking at you he is trying to do the right thing! When a dog is not interested in pleasing he is looking elsewhere if not further from you! Attention is the key here to knowing if the dog is trying!
Do you know of a really good home for Max?
August 15, 2010
The following is written by Linda who I worked with recently with a rescue dog called Max, he really is a darling dog and deserves a very loving home! Linda has done some great work with him to ensure he can be enjoyed to the full! He is now ready to find his home for life and I am hoping one of you will know the exact right family for him? Please contact Linda if you would like more information or would like a chance to meet this great dog! I am also happy to vouch for his character and training!
“THIS HANDSOME BOY IS CURRENTLY LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN HERTFORDSHIRE HAVING BEEN RESCUED 8 WEEKS AGO FROM A ‘RESCUE’ HOME AFTER 20 MONTHS OF BEING KENNELED UP TO 22 HOURS A DAY.
MAX WAS PLACED IN THE RESCUE HOME AFTER A MARRIAGE BREAK UP AND UNSURPRISINGLY BEGAN TO DEVELOP BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES AS A RESULT OF BEING INCARCERATED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. Â AFTER ONE DAY OF LIVING WITH ME IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT, THESE BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES HAVE DISAPPEARED AND HIS WONDERFUL CHARACTER IS DEVELOPING DAY BY DAY.
MAX IS AN EXTREMELY FRIENDLY DOG AND VERY HAPPY IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER DOGS ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY WARY OF SMALL DOGS. HE HAS LOW ENERGY LEVELS AND WOULD HAPPILY SLEEP ALL DAY, ALTHOUGH I ENSURE THAT HE HAS AT LEAST 2 – 3 HOURS OF EXERCISE A DAY WHICH INCLUDES STRUCTURED PLAY TO KEEP HIM FOCUSSED.  MAX WALKS AT HEEL AND IS FULLY TRAINED AND DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS HE HAS UNDERTAKEN RECALL TRAINING WITH AVRIL MUNSON (thedogcalmer.com) AND PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS.
I AM LOOKING FOR THE BEST ‘FOREVER’ HOME FOR MAX AND HE CAN HAPPILY STAY WITH ME UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT HOME. MAX WOULD SUIT A FAMILY WHO ARE USED TO HAVING LARGE DOGS AROUND THE HOUSE AND WHO PRACTICE A ‘FIRM BUT FAIR’ POLICY IN THE HANDLING THEIR PETS. MAX WOULD HAPPILY COHABITATE WITH ANOTHER DOG (OR DOGS) AND SO FAR HASN’T SHOWN ANIMOSITY TOWARDS OTHER SPECIES!
HIS IDEAL ABODE WOULD HAVE A LARGE GARDEN AND THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF ROOM TO PARK HIS 38 KILOS IN THE HOUSE. Â APART FROM RUNNING OFF WITH THE ODD TEA TOWEL, MAX HAS RESPECTED MY HOME AND CONTENTS; NOT EVEN TRYING TO JUMP UP TO THE KITCHEN COUNTER EVEN WHILE A STEAMING ROASTED CHICKEN IS SITTING ATOP!
MAX IS A WONDERFUL, INTELLIGENT, FUNNY, CALM AND CARING DOG AND IT WILL BE A SAD DAY FOR ME WHEN HE LEAVES BUT I NEED TO CONTINUE MY WORK WITH DOGS IN NEED. IF YOU FEEL YOU CAN OFFER MAX THE HOME HE DESERVES THEN PLEASE CONTACT ME ON 07766 113023 OR E MAIL ME AT LYNDA@SMARTNOTES.CO.UK.
THANK YOU
LYNDA”
Max
Listen to Avril on BBC Essex radio on the i player
August 12, 2010
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00966b6/Steve_Scruton_10_08_2010/
Here is the link for the radio show, it didn’t show yesterday but it is up there now!
Update on Pie’s training, Betty and life at Barbary!
August 11, 2010
You must have thought I had forgotten the blog! But no just busy training my dogs and my clients, there are just not enough hours in a day it seems!!
I have been remembering my dear Pie and what a bad dog owner/trainer I am! I didn’t train Pie until the Saturday after our messed up session, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, too busy sulking really :)! By the Saturday evening when I took him for a walk all my senses were alert and ready to learn what had gone wrong, and I must confess his recall problem had been building up for a while, at least that is what I see now! To understand I will explain how it started, 18 months ago when I was first in Italy with Pie and walking on the mountains about a week or so after we arrived I lost Pie! I was so busy looking for the way on the mountainside and trying to keep upright I forgot my dog for a moment, as I guess he forgot me, we were both on very new terrain! I had no idea which way he had gone and I was soon very nearly hysterical trying to find him and shouting for him all to no avail, I was scrambling about on very difficult ground, and eventually sat crying, fearing he had fallen to the bottom of some ravine, regretting bringing him to this inhospitable country! When there he was beside me!! He was so puffed out, I believe he had run all the way back to the village to look for me, thinking I had turned back, he was as exhausted as I was, but otherwise all in one piece! The outcome for him was that I was not able to lose him again, he was so on to where I was after that I just didn’t have to worry again! At least not till last week!
We have been living back on the flat land of England for the last year, of course it is possible for him to see me from much further away, and over time we have both become complacent and I hadn’t noticed:), on top of that when I do take him out with Betty (not too often) I am concentrating on Betty, when out with Pie on his own, I am grateful to relax and not think too much about dog training! As a result we had both become sloppy, not Pie’s fault as he has soon proven!
Betty was there too! Magic is at ease with the dogs!
Having spent a few days not giving him attention unless in response to a command from me, Pie was much more ready to listen to me! On top of this I became much more difficult to please on our walk, hiding from him and insisting on him staying closer, he was only too pleased to oblige! I have been taking his dinner on his walks to remind him how to work for his meals again, something he has really enjoyed doing again. I had forgotten that he likes to work for me on his walks, after all he is a Collie! I will stay on his case for a few more weeks as yet, but he is becoming more popular with me by the day:) and he must so that he can continue to help other people with their dogs!
Those of you reading this that have been to see me at Barbary have met our new visitor Magic the pony in the front paddock. Magic belongs to Adam and Ian of Barnards Bridge, they rehomed Magic a year or so ago from a girl who had rescued him from the gypsy’s. Magic had learnt not to trust people and is a troubled pony, only small so you can imagine he would be easy to bully by badly intentioned people! Magic had come on a lot with Adam and Ian’s care and love, but not being horsey they didn’t know how to move him on to the next level and asked me to help. I am enjoying having Magic to stay, it is great to see a pony in the paddock, it brings the outside to life!Luckily he seems completely at ease with dogs and is happy for Pie and Betty to run round him! I will keep you posted on Magic’s progress 🙂
Betty is growing fast and getting more whiskers! She keeps me constantly amused and entertained, it is like she has a great sense of humour and loves to share the fun! Below are some up to date photo’s of Betty with Pie, her Daddy being very patient!
Magic in the front paddock!
Are you for or against the new permanent dog agility site at Thorley Park near Bishop Stortford?
August 3, 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?searchPhrase=agility+for+dogs
I recently visited the new dog equipment in Thorley Park and witnessed the very thing I was afraid of, an obese Goldie being asked again and again to go over the “A” frame, the dog was too heavy and out of condition for these antics, but obviously good spirited and obliging so not refusing to go over, I suspect he was at the Vet’s before the week was out with lameness! Have you had a look? You can find more details on the Daily Mail’s site and the Telegraph, just put dog agility in the search box on there home page. Let me know your thoughts with the Poll below please? Yes = in favour No= against
Comment from Cathy about Vets!
August 3, 2010
Below is the contents of an email I received from Catherine, it is here with her permission! Catherine thought I might not think it appropriate to mention her Vet, but I know this practice and I can endorse her comments! If you would like to comment with favourable mentions for a Vet please do? I can’t put up the less favourable for risk of being sued, but I think it is great to mention the ones where we have received great service!
Losing a dog is a testing time for the relationship with your Vet and can be made or break, it sure has been for me! So sorry you had to lose your precious boy Cathy, but glad you had the right support and that Sam was treated so well at the end!
I recorded Panorama last night, I didn’t want to watch it so near to bed time, any one else brave enough? I will watch it at lunchtime and come back to you all later!
“Hi Avril
I missed this programme, but have just spent a few very upsetting minutes reading the comments made on the K9 magazine site in response to that programme. That led me to a site called Rights 4 Pets at Vets, which incorporates Justice for Ted (www.rights4petsatvets.co.uk).
I read the blog which tells the sad story of Ted’s treatment. I must admit that it really struck a chord, having only lost Sam this time last year. However, we were fortunate in that Sam was treated with dignity and respect by the Bishops Stortford Veterinary Hospital (who we had never dealt with before that sad day). This is by no means our nearest vets, but I have made this Sally and Ben’s vets for that very reason, as the animals appear to be treated with compassion and respect.
As I understand it, the current situation is that the RCVS have no jurisdiction to consider complaints where vets may be guilty of negligence, rather they will only adjudicate on matters that have the potential to be regarded as serious professional misconduct. In short, Rights 4 Pets at Vets are looking to promote an effective system of regulation for the veterinary profession.
I thought that this might be of interest to you and fellow pet owners.
Best wishes
Cathy”
Naughty Pie!
July 30, 2010
Pie was so naughty last night, yes really naughty! I had arranged a session in Dunmow Park with a client that I have known for some time, luckily they do know me well! My dog was worse behaved than my clients!! How embarrassing is that? I am going to tell you about this as I think it is good for everyone to know that my dogs make mistakes too, often people think Border Collies are easy, and because, generally:), they do behave well, that my dogs are just easy! Well I have to tell you I do work hard at training my own dogs. I do love training my own dogs but also I need a dog that will help when my clients have a problem dog, plus my dog is an advert for my training! Well last night Pie was a bad advert!! Pie has helped a great many dogs over come their anxiety or aggression, he has a great calming effect on all dogs.
By the time I got home there was steam coming from my ears, honestly I am sure there was!! 🙂
It all started badly, Pie pulled me round the park, when off lead he immediately ran off to some children that were playing and joined in, licking them and dancing around until I got close enough to get his attention! A little further on and he fancied the look of a nice Flatcoat and disappeared with her and her owner! Again until I was in easier shouting distance!!! By now I was fuming with him, he was back on the lead while I trained my client and tried to concentrate on that dog, while my brain was buzzing with shock at my dogs behaviour! Fortunately Pie did his job work wise, the dog I was working with has dog to dog problems and Pie had a great effect on him, he was very chilled and we made some great progress with the dog we were meant to be training! My client left the park by a different entrance and I made my way to the car park, I could now think about Pie, and proceeded back to my car training him, doing downs and recalls etc, my mobile phone rang just as we were turning a corner onto the last field by the car park, and I forgot Pie for a moment as I fumbled to find the phone in my bag, (mobile phones are not good for dog training!) in worrying about the phone I did not notice the boys playing football ahead of us!!! Yes you guessed, Pie loves football, he was gone, like a rocket, I shouted he ignored me and joined in the game! The boys loved it, they soon saw they had a new play mate and started including Pie in the game! It was about now the steam started to come out of my ears!! I had to get right up to Pie and get hold of him, it was like I was on another planet! I then proceeded to do some recall training on the lead near the boys, but really I was to cross, and having made a bit of a point with him, I took him back to the car, where he said no I don’t want to go I like it here, I picked him up, and if he weren’t so big I would have thrown him in the car!!! I drove home, it is many many years since a dog of mine made me feel so out of control, I decided the best place for Pie on arriving home was his crate, I do not lose my temper with dogs, but I knew I was on the edge and if he had put one foot wrong I could have lost the plot and do something I would regret! So there he stayed until after my dinner and my last client had gone that evening, some 3 hours, I had got things in more perspective by then at last!!
Here are my thoughts and reasoning, not excuses for him. As a dog trainer I have to analyse what goes wrong with other people’s dogs everyday, now I must apply my skill to my own dog in a big way! Firstly my angry response, Pie has been to Dunmow Park several times, either when I have been training him or working to help other dogs and has always behaved impeccably, my expectation of him was high and so I felt badly let down and disappointed in him. Were my expectations unrealistic? Maybe.
Secondly, I thought about his activities and behaviour over the last week, what had led up to this behaviour? Well last Friday I had my cousin Cheryl come to stay with her 3 children and her little dog Annie (a sister of Betty’s from an earlier litter), plus my the rest of my family were visiting us all, so for a great deal of the time from Friday through Monday there were 5 children and 5 dogs running round the garden playing, football was pretty high on the list of games, Pie is really good at dribbling and taking the ball off of people! I was busy catering and generally attending the business of hosting, my dogs had little attention from me, and it was so lovely to see them all having such a great time together, children and dogs had a ball (excuse the pun) really just running wild:)! So in the park, in his mind he was just doing what he had done last weekend!
On top of this since Betty has arrived Pie’s training has taken a bit of a back seat as I give most of my time to educating Betty, work has been busy and 2 weeks ago Magic arrived in the front paddock. Magic is a little pony belonging to Adam and Ian (of Barnards Bridge) that they rescued and I am having him to stay to see if I can help him with his issues around trusting people, this means Pie has had even less training and next to Betty of course he looks like the grown up and a really good boy. I know that because of these distractions the attention Pie has had from me has been all the soft stuff, I have over indulged him, unconsciously, to compensate for the lack of training. He has had more cuddles than ever, and all privileges of rank like the scraps from dinner, free tit bits just for being there and so on.
Now, as I thought about all of this build up, I could see that last night was the outcome of a build up, even a well-trained dog needs more continuity than I have been giving Pie, I have let him think he is very important, stopped treating him like a dog and instead over indulged him, just like my clients do:) I am human:). Once I could see all this I realised it was my fault and I have some work to do to get Pie back on track again. So if you are over Dunmow Park and see me out training Pie you will know what is going on:), but first we are out in the garden with that darn football to get some control back!! Followed by inviting my nephew and niece over for some Pie distraction training, he loves children, which is great, but he has to know he must come to me, not run to them!
Have you felt your dog let you down? Have you worked out why? Let me have your stories please? I do think by sharing this information we can help each other don’t you?
Avril Munson's Blog 