Gundog Training

Sincere apologies for the delay in posting but life has been hectic!

Today's ponder was what is about dogs that makes everything right with the world? 

Spent the day with the fabulous Andy Cullen of Laochin Gundogs at a Ladies Gundog training day.  I decided to take Callum with me as Hector is coming on well with his working tirals training and I didn't want to put Maisie in a situation where she could undo all her good recall work and Cal doesn't get to do much these days since his Search and Rescue work finished. So off we went to spend the day doing some gundog training.

Life has been very hectic with the day job recently and I have been away from home a lot so it was great to just have the whole day to focus on my dog.  I got to thinking though what is it that makes it so special - I really do feel the stresses and strains just melt away when I'm with my dogs.  I think it is a combination of companionship, fun, and just that time spent with each other teaching and learning.  Callum really enjoyed himself, and seeing his little face focused on what I was going to ask him to do next was a joy.  He did get a bit overexcited at the pond though! But due to two swans and two geese he didn't get to swim (his favourite thing in the whole world!).

It was a really enjoyable day and it is always a pleasure to watch other trainers, particularly in another discipline, and to learn from others.  So dummies at the ready and off we go again!

Come!

Continued the recall training with Maisie this week. Maisie is my little cocker - she came to me for fostering and brought my husband under her spell so never left!! She is a very clever little dog and you always have to be one step ahead. She has come on leaps and bounds from when she first arrived - she was 6 months old and not house trained and if she didn't get to do what she wanted she bit whoever was in her way be it human or canine. She is now fully house trained and no longer bites so it's just her recall that needs work.

She is responding well to the whistle and getting 100% success in a confined apace so we moved to a new area. All was going well until near the end when she got a scent and nothing was going to get in the way! So we have taken a little step back again as she's obviously not quite ready to move on to the next stage. She will get there and it's always better to take a step back than try and force it as it's too easy to undo all the good work. Watch this space!!

Puppy!

I'm on holiday this week and met up with a neighbour in the village in which I'm staying. She has a new puppy who is 15 weeks old and is finding him hard work. It's her first dog and he's a German Wire-Haired pointer. We chatted about him and when I commented on how they are known to be very strong-willed and know very experienced owners/trainers who say they are the hardest dogs they have ever trained she said everyone keeps telling her that - She didn't realise how difficult it would be. There's a couple of points there for new dog owners:-

- do your homework on breeds before you get your new puppy, making sure you can meet the needs of that particular breed and that your lifestyle is suitable for that breed.
- think about puppy versus older dog - this lady is retired and it's her first dog

German Wire-Haired Pointers are great dogs and do great work but need training and something to do so think about going to a training class and make sure the trainer understands the breed and their needs in training.

We talked about his exercise as he is being walked for an hour free running at a time which is too much for a growing puppy of that age. The accepted norm is around 5 minutes per month of age and whilst nothing is ever cast in stone it is a general standard to work around. There are lots of other ways to exercise a puppy without walking his legs off and we are meeting today to do some bits and pieces so we can exercise his brain.

Introductions

Thought I'd do some introductions today! Meet pretty boy, Callum, an angelic looking! Maisie and the handsome Hector.  Callum is 6 and his favourite activity is a missing person search.  Maisie is 1 and loves hunting for birds! Hector is 3 and loves to run.

I Know This Game!

Clicker training is very effective and for those who are not particularly strong on timing of rewards it is a really useful tool.  However, rewarding the right behaviour is the key point and the owner has to be very aware of what behaviour they are actually rewarding.

We have a young collie in class who was a rescue at 6 months old and was launching herself and barking and snapping at other dogs.  The owner brought her into class and just sat quietly observing as other dogs worked around them.  The dog was rewarded using the clicker for sitting quietly and ignoring the other dogs.  Dog could eventually walk ast other dogs, sit in close proximity with no adverse reaction. So far so good!

A few weeks later and we have an issue!  The owner has become comfortable and started rewarding the wrong behaviour and has not noticed the behaviour she is rewarding.  Dog is now lunging and barking at other dogs when they move after something, then turning to owner sitting and looking at them and being rewarded!  Dog has worked out this game and the owner hasn't noticed so is effectively encouraging the behaviour.

New game commenced - back to rewarding for sitting quietly and ignoring, no reward for lunging or barking - this behaviour is ignored.  Desired behaviour is given a cue so we can use it when needed.  Owner now aware of where they have gone wrong.  Let's see what next week brings.

Golden Oldies

Spent a lovely day with the Golden Oldies despite the persistent rain.  Scottish Working Trials run this competition every year for those dogs who can't compete in Working Trials any longer either through age or injusry.  There are no jumps or stays but just a lot of fun!  Helen was the judge and I stewarded the competition for her.  We had 9 competitors, a mix of GSDs, Retrievers, Collies and even a Schnauzer! 

The tracks were all worked well with the toys and treats well received by the dogs.  The cocktail sausages at the sendaway point caused much hilarity with just one dog ignoring them and it was a Labrador too - very unlike them!

It was a real pleasure to watch these dogs really enjoy the competition, every one of them strutted into the field and excelled at every exercise.  A thoroughly enjoyable day outdoors with good friends, good dogs and good exercise!

Hydrotherapy

My first time back in the hydrotherapy pool for some months due to holidays, illness, weather and work!  We are visited by a range of dogs; those that are injured, rehabilitation and those just keeping in good shape. 

I made an interesting observation tonight though, in that the dog's behaviour in the pool is breed specific. The Spaniels are swimming before they even reach the water level - those little legs are going ten to the dozen before they reach water!  The German Shepherds like to hear their own voices and whinge and moan throughout the session and and are also the worst for hitting the water with their paws and splashing it in your eyes.  The Labradors like to grip you with their paws hanging onto you for dear life and panic if you let them go which for a gundog is ridiculous! The terriers like to stay stock still and keep a paw on your arm.  Then there's the consumate athlete the Greyhound who come elegantly in, never make a sound, show off their muscles and leave!


It is a real pleasure to see the improvement in the dogs who come in with an injury or after surgery then a few weeks later they are back to full fitness.  You really feel as if you are making a difference.