CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: gayle1 on October 07, 2007, 06:24:35 PM
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I have posted this here so as many people get to see it as possible as we have a problem :'(
Met up at Newton Beach this morning with other south wales col members, first up I want to say it was lovely to meet you all. You and your dogs are lovely ;) :D
Secondly.., A HUGE THANKYOU TO JASPER'S DAD :shades: very cool in a crisis!
It started off well, Ella came off lead for the first time and was very good at being called back.., it took three or four goes at times as there were other dogs and she was excited but she came back and that wsa a huge step ahead for us :blink:
It was all going swimmingly well... until Ella got a load of THE BIRDS
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i don't know what to say really ph34r ella really did take off and she was not going to stop for anyone. she is so fast!!
don't feel bad though, i'm sure it's happened to loads of people on here and someone will be along with advice soon :-*
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I lot count of the number of times I lost Molo on the beach when he spotted the seagulls - he used to love running full pelt at them, and then would chase them for hours while they were flying around; he often legged it half a mile or more away ::)
There is still one beach I go to that I won't let him off as temptation may just be too much for him - but that doesn't mean that he stays on lead everywhere.
I would suggest you start in a lower distraction environment, possibly on a long-line (NOT an extendi-lead) and do not expect her to recall from high distractions straight away...... ;)
When I went on my first COL meet, in Surrey, I was talked into letting Molo offlead and he promptly disappeared without trace for 15 minutes - I was terrified ph34r From then on, I made sure that I knew what his limitations were, and never allowed him to "fail" :-\
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Oh I sympathise, George did that when he was young...which is quite a while ago now. And the trouble with seagulls is they take off, then land again a bit further away so the dogs just keep going ph34r I just remember seeing a tiny black and white dot on the horizon ::)
At almost 12 years old, he's not so quick on his feet now, but I think that Aidee has the potential to do something like that ph34r
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Gayle,
As you say Ella was doing really well and was enjoying her time with the other dogs. Keep all those positives in your mind. ;)
Perhaps, with hindsight, today was not the best environment for her first time off lead - just too much all at once.
Please dont be put off by today. Maybe you could try her off lead again soon in a more controlled environment, where you will feel more confident too - such as a small park/field with few distractions and just for short periods at a time.
I hope people have some good advice for you.
Good luck
Lisa x
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That did not all come out.., do not know what happened.
I will have to start again,
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I really don't think this is 'bad' behaviour nor do I find it at all abnormal - most young dogs will chase after birds if they have the opportunity.....was she about to run out on a road? Even though she was miles away was she safe? The beach is usually ok for a dog to run and run and run - I do admit to letting Jarv run after seagulls - the difference being I actually give him permission to do it, and he will come back to a whistle command.
In this situation I doubt whether calling her would have worked...for most dogs if the are hellbent on chasing something then unless you have a very well trained stop and a very well trained recall command, you have no chance. I have been in this situation with another friends working cocker and the best recourse was just to get a bit closer so he could hear when we eventually did call him. When all the birds disappeared and he caught our eye we called him really excitedly and ran the other way acting like excited loons...he came back. The more you call her in this situation the more the command means less to her - that's all she will hear...and the command will be pointless as she is not coming back to 1 or 20 calls. Also, if you are getting frustrated and stressed she will pick it up, and why would she come back if she will be 'in trouble' (no dog wants to intentionally displease you so I mean trouble as in being yelled at..or ignored...or told off). One of the best pieces of advice my trainer gave me when training recall was only to recall when you know your dog is going to come back...and that is when she turns around and looks at you usually, or even when she's on the way back to you...and always
The more you are afraid to let her off lead the more stressful training her will be...find somewhere safe and enclosed and practice recall. Understand that you will have setbacks, but you have to ease up on her and yourself. She is a young active dog that needs a LOT of stimulation and exercise which she is probably not getting being on a lead constantly. You have at least another 6 months to a year of this kind of behaviour - I don't think she will 'settle' until she is at least 2 years old.
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If she's not trained on a 100% stop and/or recall signal then taking her to a beach with lots of other dogs and birds and letting her off the lead will be too much temptation for her. As Helen says, it's not abnormal for her to have done this at all. I think in this case the problem was simply that you expected too much of her.
Being a sprocker she is a working bred dog. They have very high levels of drive and if this isn't channelled constructively then they are prone to channelling it into things like chasing. Alfie went through a phase of this when he was younger and it took me a lot of work to get him out of it, it was very difficult and frustrating and incredibly hard work but we got there eventually.
You need to work on her recall in controlled situations until it is 110%, possibly with use of a long line at first. This can take a long time, months rather than days or weeks and you have to be very careful in this time to keep her under control at all times because every time she gets a chance to chase or run away and not come back it sets things back hugely and it becomes harder to reach the previous level again.
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We were at THE BIRDS
Anyway, we ran over beach, rocks, into water, over rocks again.
Finally I got close enough to her and called her and she seemed to 'snap' back to attention and came right away, sitting at my feet.
I did not scold her or use a 'bad tone' I told her she was a good girl and gave her some chicken and put her on the lead.
When I caught up again with my youngest, she was crying because she thought Ella was never going to come back.
We left early because I was trying but failing to keep a lid on things, I was quite shook up and a bit upset.
I have had Ella since she was 9 weeks and have done everything consistantly that I have been advised to do by her qualified member of the whatsit trainer, the clicker trainer, Gareth this new trainer and I was thinking on the drive home that all three have given the same advice with the exception of the water bags which we did just once.
I could go back to the qualified trainer, but in honesty, I have sunk sundreds into training fees and we have just ended up where we are today, that being not that far up the training ladder! We will be advised to carry on doing the same and I am frustrated.
Ella would have taken off after the horses today had she not been on the lead and she was making inroads for the birds all the way back to the car.
She barked all the way home.
We stopped for coffee and Ohhhh...., the shame.., a police car pulled up next to us in the car park and all three of us humans were covered in sand, muck and water and Ella looked like we had tried to drown then bury her as she sat wrapped in a towel.., she barked at the police men.., she barked at the cool guy and his HARLEY we looked like the local hillbillies!
She has been barking all afternoon, all evening.
I play games with her, I am home all day, I stuff kongs for her, I fill old toilet rolls with treats I hide things for her, I go through the sit, stay, bed, lie down basics.., I try really hard with her.
To me she reminds me of a hyper child.., there is no end to her energy!
I walk her twice a day I have been recalling on a long line for 2 weeks. I have looked for a place where she can get off lead and run fenced in out of the home but can not find one place.
I am terrified of letting her off lead again.
I can't see her ever off lead until she is too old to run fast.
I need some help.
Gayle
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Gayle - Molo was long line trained for a year before his recall was reliable at a COL meet - did you honestly think that you would have perfectly trained dog at a few months old??
Stop sinking money into training that you think will give you a quick fix, and start investing time and patience instead, and you WILL see a difference, but it will not be this week, this month, or even this year -you are investing in the next 12 - 15 years of your dogs llife, and it will not happen overnight :-\
I have no idea why you were ashamed to be seen after a walk - you own a working gundog so you should expect to get wet, muddy, dirty and bedraggled - if it isn't fun for you, then it isn't fun for Ella and maybe a less "outdoors'y" breed would suit you :-\
I'm sorry if you think this is unfair - but you have been given the same advice repeatedly over the last few weeks, and yet you still seem to expect Ella to be a "perfect" dog overnight, with minimal investment on your part. Puppies are hard work, and a working strain pup is more of a challenge than many people (including me) would be prepared to take on. Please, please listen to the advice you have been given and lower your expectations so that you can enjoy Ella and Ella can enjoy being a puppy :'(
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It might seem harsh but I do tend to agree with Rachel. Your experience today is nothing out of the ordinary for most dog owners - certainly one I can identify with.
It takes time and perseverence to train your dog and some will never do a 100% recall. But shelling out money does not train your dog - only you can do that and changing your techniques and trainers simply confuses the dog and undoes any work you have done.
Don't be too hard on her or yourself though. I remember making a post some years ago now when Buddy was young and he chased a lamb. I was beside myself. He will still chase sheep - so he never gets the opportunity - but it does not mean he never gets to go off lead. Just not where sheep are(and he chases birds and nearly got himself in serious trouble chasing sea gulls on a beach once too)
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I don't mean this to sound harsh at all either but did you really know what you were letting yourself in for when you got a working bred gundog? They really are not easy and I know there are some on here who don't agree with me but that is why I really genuinely don't think that they make good pets for the average pet home.
Ella sounds very much like Alfie, my 20 month old dog - endless energy, always switched on, always on the go and not an easy dog at all. Walking Alfie is very seldom a relaxing experience and I have to be on top of him pretty much all the time but I work my dogs and have always wanted working type dogs so that's fine for me. I would be willing to bet that if Alfie had gone to a home who were just looking for a nice pet spaniel at 8 weeks he would not still be there. He'd probably be on home number 2 or 3 by now.
I do agree with what the others have said about persevering at training and not expecting miracle quick fixes but I can't help but think there may be a basic incompatibility with what you want/expect in a dog and what you've got with a high-drive working bred dog.
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agree with Pammy, Rachel and Nicola
I have to ask - what did you expect a gundog puppy to be like?
In all honesty I think you are almost frightened of Ella (frightened of not knowing how she will react in certain situations, of potentially her getting hurt because she won't come back, of not knowing how to interact with her and 'read' what she is going to do, and of what other people think of your dog and therefore you...), and because you are getting upset and stressed about her she is picking up your fear and stress and it's turning into a vicious cycle.
I'm sorry you are finding her so difficult , I really am :-\ but I can't help but feel that she is confused and stressed and you are trying so many things to try and 'fix' her quickly that she probably doesn't know what she should be doing. It does sadden me when you say things about her embarrassing you....she is a dog - they are not little humans, they don't think/respond/understand the way we do...and so what if you're muddy, so what if she barks, so what if her recall is bad at present...it's all part of dog ownership. I also find it incredibly sad that you can't trust her offlead....she needs offlead exercise and will only get worse and more frustrated if you and she can't find the key to achieving this...is there not a tennis court you could hire for an hour somewhere? A fenced field you could ask to use?
Ella needs calm, consistent training...and it will take a long time, and it will be part and parcel to have many bad days for a long time but she does have the potential to have more and more good days. She's not a bad dog :-\
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My Bayley is well trained, no Bl**dy well trained and in most environments will return on the whistle 100 % of the time.
This has taken over a year and lots of hard work.
I Still use a long line on him in certain situations like Col Meets for instance as I feel I have to work him when I'm out with him or he will lose focus and be off doing his own thing.
On a col meet I can't give him that focus so more often than not he goes on the line so I can have a chat and relax.
I am not ashamed that i am a bad trainer because of this, on the contrary I feel I am a sensible trainer who knows the limitations of his dog in certain situations.
Personally I would not let your dog chase birds or you will create problems for yourself.
Go back to basics and by your self a 10 metre long line and a harness until you have a reliable recall. (do a search on here for recall there's lots of threads)
What has your trainer suggested?
working spaniels are not easy dogs in fact they are very challenging which is why I like them, you need to channel the energy somehow so you enjoy your dog.
Is she old enough for agility?
There also is no need to be ashamed if your dog goes running off chasing birds on the beach as spaniel owners will have seen it all before and If they are like me will have made the same mistakes as you have.
Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a working spaniel.
Mark
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Well. that was a mixed bag of comments.
First up to Rachel and Nicola...
your opinions are your opinions, but let me straighten you out on a few of your points...,
I was and am well aware of what breed Ella is and how much work is involved with her. I GOT HER FOR THOSE REASONS. I did not want a dog that grew too large for our home, I did not want one I could slip into a bag under my arm. I did not trot out of my house one day thinking, 'today I think I will get a dog.., now which one shall I choose?'
I NEVER LOOKED AT ELLA, THE BREED, THROUGH ROSE TINTED GLASSES. I did not get her to show her, I did not get her with a high level of expectancy to have her perform in a pleasing manner, enter her into competitions or to just have her sit and look pretty in the house.
Before having her I studied breeds of dogs, I settled on a spaniel. I studied the difference in the show dog v the working strain. I TOOK ADVICE FROM DOG OWNERS, SPANIEL OWNERS, I LISTENED AND I EDUCATED MYSELF I LOOKED AT MY FAMILY LIFE, MY HOME, MY KIDS, MY TIME. I am not an idiot that believed any old spaniel would do and now find myself scratching my head in annoyance or frustration as she will not 'toe the line'. I resent those implications as neither one of you women know me or know my home life and how we function here. You have taken up on a few posts where I have been frustrated and upset after long hard days, which is only natural given how much I do love Ella and you have come to the conclusion that I want to throw money at her and have somebody else do the hard work of training her, while I what..? Bring her home and lock her in the kitchen thinking I need not make an effort with her as a trainer has done that for me, I paid for it so that is where my responsibility ends?
I was NOT ASHAMED to be seen dirty and wet.., I was ATTEMPTING HUMOR AT THAT POINT OF THE POST. We looked a right sight outside that coffee place, IT WAS FUNNY. Not ashamed in the hang my head, hide in a corner I want to die way, ashamed in the Oh, great.., two hot cops and a man on what can only be described as the best bike in the world.., where the heck are my high heals and makeup bag when I need them?
I am very sorry if you do not find that funny.., but I did and mentioned it in the humor sense not any other sense. Obviously your sense of humor is not the same as mine. But that is fine.
Sorry to have bored you Rachel with asking for the same advice and being given it repeatedly.., but know this.., I do not expect a quick fix with Ella, I do and have listened to advice given to me on here and a lot of it has paid off.., are we not meant to have a moan when a day goes badly incase people think we are not listening and paying attention and are only after 'a quick fix?' I am well aware this is a long term investment with Ella and that changes do not happen overnight. I am not stupid. IAnd I actually invest far, far more than the 'minimal' time and energy with Ella. A damn sight more than a lot of dog owners I see about, so that I deeply, deeply resent.
I was not ashamed that Ella took off, I was frightened, my daughter was in tears, we left mainly for that reason, her asthma was playing up as a result.
You have both got myself and my dog completely wrong.
Ella is not confused or stressed.., she knows boundaries around the home, she is a happy dog apart from the not being able to run off lead right no and that will come. I AM LOOKING FOR A PLACE SHE CAN BE OFF LEAD BUT IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. I AM FULLY AWARE THAT SHE NEEDS THIS AND AM ONTO IT.
Thats all I have to say to you.
You were not inthe position I was yesterday, I am sure you have been before, but you are not me and have not walked my shoes this year so therefore have no grounds for such condescending remarks.
I wanted a dog that could run with me, hike with me,
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That post timed out.., sorry.
I wanted a dog that could walk with me, hike with me, run with me.., one with bags of energy that could fit in with my lifestyle. A small dog would not have worked, a large dog would not have fitted into my house.
I regularly hike the cliffs around here, run on the beach, walk miles.., I have not done it much this summer for personal reasons and because Ella was far too young to be taken out for that long a walk/hike/run. I do not go to the gym I swim at the national olympic pool four times a week, thats it, but as I write I have to take other exercise or my backside will become the size of a small counrty and Ella was and is my companion on these long walks (will be by next spring/summer)
Of all the working dogs I have seen, Ella by far outshines them all in her energy and spirit, that may have been a surprise to me, yes, but it was not a 'shock' it did not disturb me, I did not think, 'oh god, what have I done?'
I have never thought of re-homing her, even after a terribly bad day. I do not really have expectations from her other than the norm. I never expected to be at this stage in her life and have a perfect dog, I expected the training to go on and on, I expected to work hard, I expected set backs. Perhaps the one thing I did not fully expect was how in such a short period of time this little dog could become my child number 4 in the emotions and feelings side of owning her and the panic I would experience when she took off the way she did yesterday.., nothing else mattered except getting her back to me, nothing, my heart was beating like mad and my stomach in a knot until I had hold of her again and even then I remembered the praise and treat and did not let go as I perhaps would have if one of my kids had taken off when small and use a harsh tone and scold. And before it is said to me.., yes, I do know there are fundamental differences between raising a child and owning a dog.... I do not want to be now accused of putting both together in the same box and closing the lid on them.
On reflection, yes, maybe letting her off at the beach was asking a bit too much of her. But before the birds, Ella was returning to me even when she became obsessed slightly by a huskie-type dog and a black dog that she chased about for ages, she came back to me and that was a huge step ahead with Ella, that proved progress was taking place and it was so lovely to see her play and run that way but know she would return to me and the others as we walked along the beach. Today we will be back to the park on the long line with the treats and doing the recall, as we would have been anyway even if the birds incident had not happened and all went terrifically well yesterday.
I am sorry, but I am really mad with rachel and nicola for all their assumptions about myself and Ella and how we interact and did I know what I was doing having her.
I think I had better wind this up now as I am quite angry and do not want to cause a huge row.
I found this site and thought it was fantastic, not only a vent for frustration but some advice as well, also as I have become very dog focused since having her and it frankly bores others that do not have a spaniel when I go on and on.
Perhaps I have not been mentioning the many, many good things that have happened enough, the way I have taught her not to bark and jump up when I am cooking food, the way I have already got her to sit in her crate for a few minutes after only having it for a week, if that long. How she can lie down and roll over on command for fun, for a treat how we can tell her , 'give me a left' and she gives the left paw, 'give me a right' and she gives the right paw and gets a treat. How we have managed to get her to sit in the same room as our cat (on lead) and stop barking and yelping, the next stage will be getting them closer in the room together rather than far apart, its all stages and she is progressing. Maybe I have just been giving the problems over to you and not the progress.
gayle
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Gayle not really ideal i know but can't you let her off lead in the enclosed children's area in Parc Y Werin for a few min before and after the walk and work on recall there as well as doing long lead training, or use the one in Bont - Coed Bach Park, on Gwynfryn road, left before the main lights there.
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I used to let Daisy off in a play area too when she was a pup. As long as you are scrupulous with cleaning after her I'm sure it will be fine.
I feel for you, she is a fabulous little dog with more energy that she knows what to do with at the moment. I'm sure if she could have taken off on Sunday she would have flown across the sea.
She WILL calm down eventually. You WILL be able to let her off the lead. And all this WILL be a distant memory.
Keep doing as you are doing. Get some good advice, keep training her and most of all keep loving her the way you and your children evidently do ... she is fab!
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Gayle, I can fully sympathise with your predicament. OH and I were out walking Twix on Saturday and she behaved impeccably for the whole walk - answering to the whistle, staying close off lead, not running away after other dogs etc......until we we nearing the end of the walk and she just ran off towards the car (not the first time she has done this I have to admit, but I thought that I had worked through this particular problem!). Our car was parked on a busy road, so you can imagine how scary it was for us. Anyway, when we got there she was sitting quite happily next to the back of our car with a "what's the problem?" expression on her face!! It gave us a bit of a fright. Twix is a year and a half and is a rather lazy show spaniel, so I can fully understand how difficult it must be for you with an energetic, young working dog.
Hang on in there, Ella will start to get the message eventually!
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Oh hun, don't know quite what to say! I guess you're feeling quite persecuted, but I'm sure that was no-one's intention on here at all.
I read that post and could tell it had been an awfully worrying experience, i can imagine (and have experienced) the sheer panic of your dog running off and no matter what wonderfully tasty treat you have in your hand / how much you jump up and down like a manic idiot, they are in their own little (and apparently deaf) world.... you DID do really well to praise her when she came back, and maybe quite a few of us would like you to do the "hey guys, guess what she did right today" posts (especially help those of us that are struggling to see light at the end of the tunnel!).
The humour thing, I didn't pick up on that either ph34r , cos it seemed you went from a very negative post (not surprising given that you were probably still shaken up and emotional) to a funny one, and all i got was the neggie vibe, so please don't be too hard of us that thought you were really ashamed of you all looking wet in front of hunky bike, we just misread it (and maybe thats why you got some remarks that seem unfair) I guess all dog owners (with the exception of silly handbag dog women-no offence anyone out there!) get used to looking wet/silly/muddy/no end to the embarassment - its nice to know you felt that same way we do! :005:
So PLEASE do keep updating us on Ella's progress, it seems despite the set back the training is working, and it'd be a shame if we lost you (and Ella) from COL
Love Steely x
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Taking a break from COL for awhile.
Didn't feel so bad when I got up this morning but feeling terrible now. I have had too tough a year to deal with other's assumptions about me and my motives towards Ella.
I have spent the majority of the morning in tears after anger subsided, even Ella has gone very quiet as I think she does not know what to do with me right now.
It is best, I think to delve a little deeper into people's circumstances and their positions on matters that mean a great deal to them (training a dog, only being one example) before you start posting things or saying things face to face that are totally wrong and end up causing a lot of upset. Had this all happened a year ago or a year from now, perhaps I would not be as sensitive to it or as upset by it.
I will continue on with Ella and I am sure we will work it all out just fine in the end.
gayle
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maybe quite a few of us would like you to do the "hey guys, guess what she did right today" posts
It would certainly present a more balanced view of the situation, in order for responses to Gayles appeal for help to be kept in perspective :-\
My advice was given on the basis of what Gayle had told us in her posts - and looking back, they are certainly full of frustration and disappointment in the lack of progress Ella is making, and lack feedback in relation to the suggestions made in terms of changing her diet and other ways to keep her occupied.
Pups do run off, they do dig the carpet, they do eat things they shouldn't and they do pee/poop and bark at the most inopportune times :-\ Maybe I have misread Gayles posts and she is sharing these perfectly normal behaviours in order to "make conversation", rather than to seek advice on how to change them - but her appeal for help in this thread was clear; and advice was given on the basis of what was posted. How can any advice given on a forum be anything else but restricted to the facts as presented? :-\
If my advice is unacceptable because it does not take account of the full facts, but those facts were not made public, then I hardly think I can be singled out for criticism when I was offering the help that was asked for :-\
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I too base my posts on the information given, that's all we really have to go off :-\ and i really take these posts literally when it comes to behaviour etc so no, I don't see jokes when they have been written in conjunction with a post that I read as full of frustration and worry.
It's no-ones intention to upset or offend anyone here but do the best for all dogs/owners that have posted with their concerns...and in all honesty to me the posts sounded really desperate and that Gayle was at the end of her tether.
We all write differently and interpret differently I guess.
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I too base my posts on the information given, that's all we really have to go off :-\ and i really take these posts literally when it comes to behaviour etc so no, I don't see jokes when they have been written in conjunction with a post that I read as full of frustration and worry.
It's no-ones intention to upset or offend anyone here but do the best for all dogs/owners that have posted with their concerns...and in all honesty to me the posts sounded really desperate and that Gayle was at the end of her tether.
We all write differently and interpret differently I guess.
Exactly, and as Rachel said as well. No, we don't know you, we only have what you post here to go on so frankly if you don't want to be given advice such as you got then then you need to either think about what you post or else post more background info that you want taken into consideration. In light of your posts and the information you gave I don't think any of the responses you got were unreasonable at all.
Do you really expect people on a forum to 'dive deeper' into the personal circumstances and home life of every person who posts asking for help/information about their dog and dog training??! You have made quite a few posts asking for help and saying that you're having bad days, don't know what to do etc. but you don't appear to like the responses you've had so I don't know if you are really just looking for sympathy rather than actual advice as you seem to find the advice you've been given upsetting :huh: If that's the case then it's up to you to point out that that's what you want when you post, not to expect others to know that. We all have things going on in our personal lives, I certainly do, but I don't expect others to know that or to specifically take it into account when I ask for advice about my dogs.
Nobody on here has said that you are looking for/need a lapdog or a 'dog to carry around in a handbag',the fact is that from your posts it sounds like you were finding it difficult to cope with the dog that you have and it was pointed out that this behaviour you are finding a problem can be expected from this type of dog. So I'm not sure why you're surprised/upset that people asked if you really knew what you were taking on. There are lots of medium sized energetic breeds and crosses out there which are not bred specifically to work as gundogs with all the issues that can entail which is the reason why I asked about your particular choice of breed.
Anyway, as the others have said, I didn't mean to cause offence either but tbh in light of the posts you made I don't see that any of the responses you got were particularly offensive but as Helen said, we all interpret things differently I guess.
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My cocker Melody is nicknamed Mellycome because thats what I shouted (and I had to shout as she was locked into chasing the seagulls so she was quite far away and I'd left the whistle in the car ::)) the day we had a COL mini meet up here in the Highlands.
Its something I'm constantly working on and we've made some progress but tbh I'm not overly concerned. I think if you're stressed your dog is bound to pick up on it. I know we will get there in the end and 90% of the time Melly's recall is fab :luv:
Don't be too hard on yourself, it will all work out eventually ;)
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for a treat how we can tell her , 'give me a left' and she gives the left paw, 'give me a right' and she gives the right paw and gets a treat.
That is so cool. If I asked rommel for a left paw and would probably hold his left paw out and steal my wallet with his right.
And I took him on the train in a bag once and he got out and ran under all the seats of a packed train. Oh the joy.
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You took him on a train in a bag? :rofl1:
That is so funny.
I was at the park yesterday with a golden retriever and his owner said she was having problems with recall.., I said not a lot, as you can imagine after the 'I wish I could fly' incident at the beach, I just nodded and said, 'yes.., i understand that!'
She told me about classes held in a fenced in field on weekends not far from me where you can let your dog off lead safely and practice the recall thing so I guess I might go along and take a look at that. I was put off a bit by the word 'classes' but it seems that you get the basics on recall and are then left with your dog to do it. That sounds great for us because its what we need, to be left alone to just practice somewhere safe. A result then, once I have been up to have a look around.
gayle
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She told me about classes held in a fenced in field on weekends not far from me where you can let your dog off lead safely and practice the recall thing so I guess I might go along and take a look at that. I was put off a bit by the word 'classes' but it seems that you get the basics on recall and are then left with your dog to do it. That sounds great for us because its what we need, to be left alone to just practice somewhere safe. A result then, once I have been up to have a look around.
gayle
Sounds good - hope it works out for you.
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me too...hope it works out.
curious as to why you don't like the idea of 'classes' though?
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Classes suggested to me you had to sign up and turn up at a set point, I swim on Sat mornings and my daughter trains also, its a commitment I/we can not get out of and that is when this lady said they were held.
I was looking for a bit of flexibility, evenings, any spare time you have, whenever you have perhaps had a rough few days and need to get back to that enclosed area when your timetable permits it and your dog needs it, thats all.
Dog classes, on the whole I find quite good fun, nothing against them. Ella loves them also and they are brilliant for the kids to go to, as sometimes, kids being kids do not listen to one thing you the parent has to say but will listen to a complete stranger.
gayle
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aaah see where you're coming from, hope the classes tie in - she's a bright little puppy and would love that environment I think.
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hI gayle...Hope you feel better having got all that off your chest!! ;) :blink: Sometimes we need to have a sound off when we are having a bad day! to like minded people...I think when our pups go off when our children are with us it is particularly hard...guess our children see first hand we cannot solve all of our problems...they get frightened and it adds to our fear too..had to really be firm with my kids when Ruby ran off with the rabbit last monday on a darkening common. Because I was worried i got more cross! Bless them they did stay calm..and as usual took the latest ruby adventure in their stride!! although the middle one was begging me to rehome her!!!!! >:(
I can see all your points of view folks...bit too late tho to advocate different choice of breed ...we gotta work with what we got hey! :D I think Gayle..sometimes you gotta remember that in writing rather than speaking to someone...things can come over unintentionally harsh....when you are feeling a bit sensitive...(which you have every right to feel at the moment!!) ...this can really upset you as i see in this case...COl can provide great comfort and reassurance... :luv: there is a lot of kindness to be seen..and im glad you have not been to discouraged to carry on posting...pick yourself up from this ..and take all the good advice...ignore things if they seem negative...
::) It is super hon, to hear the fun and positive things you have achieved with Bella... :angel:
Now you are not so upset keep the good times rolling...You can see the balanced picture of good and bad behaviour...and as time goes by with your obvious dedication... it will be more good experiences....We atre all on a steep learning curve with new pups...and we will make mistakes ...as we do with our children!! We accept these and move on...but it does not stop us from feeling silly and useless and defeated at times....I too have a working type...perhaps not the best decision...but she is mine...I love her to bits...(and like you...call her my fourth "daughter".... ;) ) and I do intend to persevere to give her the fulfillment she needs..she is happy now and so am i :angel: long may that last!!! we don t quit with our challenges! We rise to them...!!!! :luv: hope you feel better Gayle now that you have calmed down!! ph34r sometimes a good balaclava / selective cocker hearing! Is a good thing!!!
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All is well here.
I have tried to explain my side and do not wish to go into it all and dredge it up today. All I want to say is,
I still feel I was under attack but I am also aware that I have not come across very well on this forum.
I have explained to others, I do write and it is hard when I come off the job to then write factually, I miss out vital sections of text as my brain is in 'keeping the reader hooked' mode. I get utterly immersed in my work and its very difficult to switch between one genre of writing, that being fiction to another, factual without an overlap, even when it is about my day or about anything else 'real'
That is a flaw on my part and perhaps if you all know that now and I say something odd or that perhaps upsets you in any way I can be cut some slack and asked to explain myself properly, although I will double up on my efforts to be precise about issues and keep things light hearted.
Am slightly paranoid now about what I say so I hope I have not upset anybody with this post.
I think this matter should be closed down now and everybody moved on.
If we can not agree then we can agree to disagree and that is okay, that is what life is all about.
gayle
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Thread closed ;)