He's been put in his place

[dustyfox]

My dog has finally been put in his place, for ages I have been trying to get him to stop running up to other dogs. Anyway I met this lady in the same field we usually walk the dogs at the same time. And she has a very protective dog she has three in total but one which is the male is the protective one.

 

I didnt see woman at first so my dog went running up to the dogs like usuall. I went running up to him and saying no and bad etc. I managed to get him on the lead before he got up to them but started we started to chat. So I said to her if it was alrite if I let my dog of the lead to see what happens. She said it was alrite and that so I did and he did what I expected went up to the protective dog and the dog gave him a warning bite, and it has seemed to of worked. For the past couple of days when I have seen other dogs that I can trust he stays near me now, he still takes interest in them but I say no and bad again and this time he justs heals.

 

I was reading a book on this and it said that socialise your dog with other dogs older than 2 years, and that you should make sure that the other dogs will be alrite with the puppy. I know this dog and my dog is alrite no injuries was sustained to either dogs. It was a social lesson for my dog to teach him that not all dogs are nice, my dog has not turned aggressive or shy to other dogs or people he just knows where he stands now.

 

He still got some more training to do but he has done well on most things and the Friday after the 12 August he will get tested on a grouse moor and I will see what he has learnt

 

Df

[dazza]

Where you not complaining a while ago about some woman's dog running around off the lead and her not being able to control it? Seems you can't control yours off the lead either?

[Quist]

Quite often young dogs want to play. Its the puppy in them. They especially want to play chase & the trouble is, when they get excited, they often ignore commands and recall whistles.

I was taught to carry a spare choke chain and, if the dog ignored the recall to throw it at him, shocking him out of the play pattern and into the listening mode.

[dustyfox]

Where you not complaining a while ago about some woman's dog running around off the lead and her not being able to control it? Seems you can't control yours off the lead either?

 

 

Yeah your right thats why I only let my dog off the lead when we not near any roads and if possible other dogs. I was complaining about people who cant control there dogs near to dangerous things.

 

My dog is 19 months old and he hasnt had the chop, I admit I have done badly with his socializing with other dogs when he was younger and Im trying to fix it now while he still young and its gone good so far, I will soon see how long it will last.

 

Even just before this situation my dog was showing signs of not running up to dogs anyway this was just a firm lesson for him.

 

Df

[dazza]

he will have to be on his best behavior on the grouse moor

[WGD]

I agree, I know a grouse moor invite is a v.tempting thing DF, but if you can't recall your dog from other dogs you've precious little chance of controlling him in the shooting field; has he been out in any environment where there is shot fired and live game being flushed/shot/retrieved?

 

If I were you I'd give it another 12 months and know your dog is steady rather than undo all the work you've put in in the space of an afternoon on the moor. Only my opinion, obviously.

[dustyfox]

I agree, I know a grouse moor invite is a v.tempting thing DF, but if you can't recall your dog from other dogs you've precious little chance of controlling him in the shooting field; has he been out in any environment where there is shot fired and live game being flushed/shot/retrieved?

 

If I were you I'd give it another 12 months and know your dog is steady rather than undo all the work you've put in in the space of an afternoon on the moor. Only my opinion, obviously.

 

The moor is actually near Stirling I forgot the name of it. My dog even though he will run up to other dogs he will usually come back after like a minute, its like he wants to see if they want to play if you know what I mean. He hasnt been to anything with shooting but if you think this is ok I will keep him on the lead and see what happens. I was walking him out last november and he seemed alright with all the fireworks going off and even the one that nearly hit us. Dont know wheather being round Shotguns will be different though.

 

He flushes out some rabbits that hide in the long grass up here and stops when I say to. He also likes to put up ducks from the river.

 

My dog will be traveling with a friends dog so he may get bored when he arrives from a 30 mile trip to Stirling.

 

Thank you WGD for your opinion, I want to take him but do you think I can take him to the shoot and leave him in the back of my mates van if Im not happy to go ahead with it or do you think thats a bit harsh on the dog dont want him to get to hot if its a hot day.

[WGD]

If you can stop him on rabbits that's a good thing, he's obviously reasonably steady.

 

How he will react with the excitement of shoot day is anybody's guess (as it is with any dog new to the shooting field).

 

If you are prepared to see how he goes I see no problem in taking him, as you say, keep him on the lead until he sees what's going on and until he's heard gunshot... would it be possible to take him to a clay shoot before you go to the moor to give him a walk around with shot being fired?

 

With regards to leaving him in the back of the van if things aren't going too well, again, no problem with this provided 1) as you say it's not too hot and 2) he's not terrified of gunshot, if he is and you shut him in the back of the van to fester you run the risk of making him very gun nervous. TBH if he shows signs of being nervous when shot is fired you need to get him away from there ASAP and introduce shot gradually (NTTF has pinned a thread on this in the Dog section) otherwise you could ruin him for the shooting field altogether.

 

Of all the types of shooting you could attend to introduce your dog to the environment, the grouse moor is the one where a poorly behaved dog is likely to be the biggest problem, purely because the shooting is so expensive and the guns will pay a lot of money for their days sport, the estate/keeper cannot afford too many problems on the day. Be responsible with your dog and his behaviour and I'm sure it will go well.

 

Good luck.

 

WGD

[dustyfox]

Yeah there is a local clay pigeon shoot to me I can take him there to get him used to shotguns.

 

I will speak to my friend again to make sure it will be alright to have a newb dog on the shoot he has to start soewhere.

 

Thanks WGD

 

Df

[dustyfox]

Well I just took him to the local clay ground and he didnt seem bothered about the loud bangs he was actually really interested in what they were. Sat down next to me watching the clays fly out. We stayed there for about 30 minutes every now and then I got closer to the shotguns. So as I thought he is nont gun shy, so thats another thing out the way.

 

The guy who owns the place said he seems steady and he said to me to phone him up tomorrow and he will give me some contacts where I can take my dog to go hunting.

 

I thought I was doing badly training my dog but it looks like Ive done well for my first dog. Im glad I got a Labrador as my first dog as I was going to get a springer but took advice from somebody and was told that they can be a handful sometimes.

 

Df

Edited July 28, 2008 by dustyfox

[ziplex]

My GSP is a mare for running over to say 'hello', if I keep my eyes peeled and can tell her 'no' or 'heel' before she sets off she's fine but I have to be on my gaurd, she is improving but she has this overwhelming appetite to investigate everything that moves. She'll stop on command to point rabbits/birds etc though. I am going to try harder to get the whistle/stop sorted as soon as I can........get this right and bingo. Bree was introduced to gunfire for the first time a few weeks back......she was more interested in scratching ear wax from her lugs than the shots, so i'll have no problems atall there. When she was a pup we gave her loads of balloons to play with and made sure a metal tray was dropped 'accidentally' on the floor plenty of times. Party poppers were one of her favourites too

Edited July 28, 2008 by ziplex

[dustyfox]

My GSP is a mare for running over to say 'hello', if I keep my eyes peeled and can tell her 'no' or 'heel' before she sets off she's fine but I have to be on my gaurd, she is improving but she has this overwhelming appetite to investigate everything that moves. She'll stop on command to point rabbits/birds etc though. I am going to try harder to get the whistle/stop sorted as soon as I can........get this right and bingo. Bree was introduced to gunfire for the first time a few weeks back......she was more interested in scratching ear wax from her lugs than the shots, so i'll have no problems atall there. When she was a pup we gave her loads of balloons to play with and made sure a metal tray was dropped 'accidentally' on the floor plenty of times. Party poppers were one of her favourites too rolleyes.gif

 

I met a little jack Russel near the clay ground she just came out of heat so my dog was all over it like a rash, but couldn't help it really. And on the way back we past dozens of dogs and he didn't run for them.

 

That Balloon trick seems like a good idea I might use them for when I get more dogs in the future

 

Df

Edited July 28, 2008 by dustyfox

[ziplex]

Balloons always worked for our dogs, this afternoon the thunder has been rumbling and they've been out wagging their tails and having a bit of a bark at it.......we've always treated it as a game and it seems they are not worried about bangs/thunder/fireworks,etc at all. My mothers springer on the other hand is a nervous wreck with fireworks etc. she's always sheltered him, (stupidly), and it shows. I tell her he's gay and call him Cuthbertson as it seems to suit him........he 'aint got no balls, (literally), and he's such a wimp............sorry Cally!