Where the Wild Things Are

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

I have an eight month old Border Collie called Meg. She is far from perfect (and so am I).
Today she has been about 60/40 good. The 40 included chewing up my camera memory card which DH is sure he put safely on the mantelpiece. Every time I look down at this screen she takes a quick munch of the coffee table with her eyes on mine. This despite a 2 hour walk which included much in and out of streams.

BB - that's good to hear. You know they're well when they return to the loony charging around act but bit different when you know they've got stitches.

NCIS - I think that's odd too. I'd be straight on the phone to offer thanks and also find out what my dog had been doing - making sure no damage had been done which I'd want to replace etc.

Talking of kennels - what are people paying for decent kennels? I've been recommended a place to look at and the website is fabulous but £19.50 a night plus few pounds extra if you want 'add ons' like daily brush, extra long walk, doggie taxi service to collect/drop off. I've just added it up in my head for a 4 day stay and it's a bit eye watering! But maybe that's what the going rate is and I just need to accept that.

Mint, we are paying £20 a day (one night=two days I am sorry to say).
Looked at some £13.50 a day ones- awful metal cells- very noisy and cold.

Have no choice but to use them from time to time.

No choice but to use kennels, I mean, not the horrible ones. DH actually booked and took Meg into them for one night, and then sprang her after 15 minutes because he was so worried.

I think we pay £15.00 for one night, but we've been going there for over 20 years and I think we may get special rates. It includes a daily brush/groom, but you have to pay extra if you want them bathed before they come home. They provide the food as well, a choice of good quality kibbles or raw. The kennel block is heated and each run has a heat lamp that can be put on in cold weather as well.

Well I'd rather pay the £20 and feel happy with it than save a small amount and be worried the whole time.

And I know this whole 'dog being happy' thing is slightly unknown as they can't tell you when they get home, but bouncing away full of beans is a massive positive sign.

We used a particular kennel a few times when I was a teenager. I always went on the drop off and was heartbroken that our dog had to be literally dragged away. It was awful and I cried all the way home because I was so worried about him and he was obviously so unhappy. Now as a new dog owner 30yrs later I've checked out this place and local dog owners do NOT recommend it - infact they all say to avoid.

So a good place where your dog is happy to be left is well worth it.

Yes, me too Mint. Where Meg is now there is a webcam so you can see them when they are indoors but have been warned they will be mostly out or in the playbarn if the weather is awful.

(emailed you)

We looked at a kennel more local to us as it's a 45 minute drive to the one we use and were horrified.

It stank, the staff were really young and clearly didn't have a clue what they were doing and during the day they let all the dogs, of every size/breed/gender out into a central area where they were left unsupervised.

They told us they walk the dogs in secure fields, but as we left there was a 16 year old girl being dragged down the road by about 8 large dogs. I asked why and was told they walk them up the road (no pavement) over the motorway bridge and down a lane into a local field.

Unsurprisingly they only allowed 'visitors' for one specific hour a day, presumably so they could present the best possible image. Dread to think what it was like when they weren't making an effort! Our current kennels is happy for people to drop in anytime - because they have nothing to hide.

Thanks Barbarian - just seen your Meg loading washing machine! Fabulous and wonderful that a jumpy boisterous dog can be trained that well. It gives me hope. Did it take you long to train the lie flat for your BIL name? How did you get that sideways lie in the first place? We can get a 'flat' but it's a flat from sit and he won't stay in that position so it's a quick in flat, treat, stay, treat then he's bouncing up again! Your lie down looked like a relaxed stay-lie.

Oh yes Moose I had this with DS1s nursery too - one we looked at had a viewing hour another was open doors (though of course you needed to phone in advance to arrange). Really telling though. The kennels we are looking at is open all day for viewing and we will view and do some settling first.

I don't expect them to replace anything and wouldn't have told them he destroyed anything and tbh I looked after him because I would want someone to do that for mine, but I wouldn't be human if I didn't appreciate a thank you. It's a bit like picking someones purse up, when an M&S employee did that for me a while ago I made sure I bought them flowers but for me, a thank you for caring about my dog would have done.
I would still do it again though, even if it was the same dog.

Mint we did it in three stages at first, sit, lie down, 'name'. Coaxed in 'name' position with cheese (following nose!).
At same time (but at different times of day) we taught 'stay'.
At first (for a day or two- it was really quick to teach this stage)- she was only in 'name' for a second at most.
When she knew where she was meant to be we added 'Stay'.
It was really quick- a week or two at most to get her to do it, but to do it reliably and relax took maybe a month. We tried to keep it really calm- quiet voice, quiet stroking, stopped when she got bouncy. We did it every day, maybe 2 or 3 times a day, but only for a few minutes a time. We were really keen to get it right.
(Did it first alone, then in room with other people, then outside. Managed outside-with-another dog the other day.)

Some people teach 'settle' which I suppose it very similar. But it made BIL laugh very much to do it to his name (he says he wants a dog now).
Good luck!

Eek I'm paying £30 per night for Fitz to go to the Dogwalker when we're away at Easter, but on the plus side he'll be with someone he knows well, he's in a home environment and will be going for fab walks every day with his doggy mates

If anyone's on the surrey/hampshire borders and is looking for someone to walk with I'd be happy to link up. We're quite nice honestly.

I'm a bit far myself in South Yorkshire! But good idea....

Perhaps we should have a doggie dating thread but without any sex, we don't want that sort of malarkey, just a nice walk with like minded doggie owners.

Basil I would pay more for a home/pet sitter. The one I looked at locally is £45 a night.

No-one ever lives near me. I knew so few people when I lived in Lancs, but since moving down here all the people I've wanted to meet that I've met on MN or Lurcher Link have been in Lancs or Yorkshire. People always seem to be up North or down South and I'm smack bang in the middle.

I'm in S Yorks too mint

But don't worry if you ever see me in the distance I shall probably be rugby tackling the 100 mile on hour dog to stop him hurtling at you!

Actually he was really good in the woods today. I managed to recall him from a badger sett he'd stuck his head in no mean feat for a terrier! And I managed to keep him from racing off to anyone for long enough to clip on lead which was good as the usually quiet woods were pretty busy for mid week.

But if you ever happen to be in the wood when a boy emerges and suddenly starts shrieking ' Muuuum there's people......and they have a doooog!' in an alarmed fashion and then just when you are at high alert for what rabid dog they are so concerned about a little BT appears, it is us My lead ninja routine to stop ddog racing in paws first has put ds on hyper alert!

Hi mint

Fitz's down isn't as impressive as Meg's sounds but we've gradually built up the time he'll stay down so now I can pootle about around him and even leave the room and he'll stay on his bed (or just down, depending on whether I've told him 'down' or 'go to your bed'). I just very slowly increased the amount of time until I treated him and now just randomly chuck him a treat to keep him down

oh and the other thing we did which helped with his downs was to make them really fun - we did quick downs, starting by teaching him to target a piece of paper with his feet and once he was doing that adding the command down and keeping the energy levels really high, so moving the target around and being really excited. He'll now flop down from standing in an instant whereas before we had to get him to sit then lie

(wasn't my idea btw, got it from puppy class!)

Another Yorkshire lass here, but West/North border for us.

Barbarian - Meg sounds fabulous, really clever girl. I might use the settle command and teach it to my two, there are pretty chilled but another skill is useful, especially when we have non dog loving visitors.

We are spoilt, Harry goes back to the breeder for £10 per night, she's going to have Hector too. She has Harry's grandma, mum and sister so he comes back much loved but slightly manic too

Had an early morning potter with my two and it's gloriously sunny. Everything is very low key at the minute, so as to not tire our Hector or damage Harry's paw, so no toys or scent work, but it felt spring like and lovely.

Going to plan my study time also this weekend, Pony Club has started up again so my weekends get busier.

Fan - we have one of those alert systems in our family too! DS2 who is 8 keeps watch on walks and if he sees people with a dog will try and work out if it's on a lead or not as he knows I clip our lead on straight away if the other dog is but he takes this rule SO seriously and leads can be hard to spot from a distance! No chance of maintaining a conversation as the 'is he, isn't he' lead issue dominates!

I've also had to be really strict with DS2 about not yelling 'there's a horse, quick it's a horse, mummy - HORSE" as by that stage the horse was upon us and minty was well hyped up and difficult to control! So he now whispers 'hooorse' in my ear!

I am afraid rule is enforced all the time due to the 100 mile an hour dogs untrustworthyness with his paws He jumps up at people if he is excited do he is only allowed off lead if I am with people who undersstand he is a work in progress and are willing to take the risk.

I have got a regular group I meet in the local country park who meet most weekday mornings. There often ends up with anything from 4 to a dozen plus dogs romping around and they are assisting me with that! The problem I have is that I have 2 different dogs I think. The one that lives at home loves a good play and clicker training and is all round super chilled if not invited to play. He really is the perfect dog...doesn't steal, chew, jump up or bark.

But out of the house the 100 mile an hour dog appears, high on life and determined to fly by the seat of his pants! He generally does walk lovely on his lead 95% of the time but every now and then can't resist trying to get to other dogs but most of the time we can pass without fuss. He recalls brilliantly without distractions. But he is an utter attention tart there is just no other way to describe it! He loves everyone and just assumes everyone wants to say hello. Obviously I do not indulge this and allow him to run wild but it takes some careful management.

I am often nodded at sagely by other BT owners who asssure me they settle eventually. We did puppy classes but they were a waste for us really as he was hyped up beyond sense by other dogs then. Regular socialising has improved that. The local group that does KC scheme has no venue until May due to renovations but hoping to go then. I think he is ready to listen whilst in the company of others now.

He is easier to recall away than he every was but not 100 % and therefore I cannot trust him yet around others.

Training not to jump is taking time too as he just doesn't do it at home! He knows how to do a doen but still to excitable to respond to that when faced with someone to say hello to.

Basil, I love that method of teaching an instant down - great fun for the dog. Might have a go at that with Pip.

Fan the BT at our puppy classes was full on 100 mph too. She was absolutely tiny and gorgeous, but I have scars on both arms where she sank her teeth in and wouldn't let go when we were doing the vet-handling part of the certificate. The owners love her to bits, but said she was exhausting!

They dropped out after the basic puppy class, probably because it was just too high stimulus for them to try and train with a group of other dogs all moving around her.

Dogs are having to take a back seat today, as we have back to back children's clubs and birthday parties. I hate days like today and dh has manflu a cold and is in the foulest of moods, just to add to my joy.

To be fair we were told to keep their walks short and make sure they get plenty of rest while they're getting over this resp infection, so two short leads it is for today.

Lurcherboy is like a different dog already. He's seen plenty of dogs since he started his meds and not had one reaction, so it seems that was our answer to his strange behaviour.

I think you need to be a certain kind of person for BT's moose (I think if they were human they'd be hard working manual labour types, party hard and tend towards anti establishment but be great fun to be with as long as they didn't get you arrested whilst dragging you on a crazy scheme ) They are full on for a tiny dog that looks like a teddy bear but loving and rewarding too.

Puppy wise we were the asbo kids of the puppy class. There were 2 cockers who gave him a run for his money but the rest (dogs and owners watched us in stunned silence) He was 3 kg and actually had a lab pup climb into a holdall to get away from his border boxing He was constantly in timeout at puppy play breaks. He bit and nipped shockingly as a pup too but is utterly gentle now, even when been fed his favourite treats or when we play rough. He knows the boundries and is 100% reliable. Even vets surgery said his personality is so gentle they really had no worries at all whatever they need to do....which is great as he scared me to death having his 2nd puppy vax snarling aways. I think they are born a little feisty before they chill I joke that is is Napoleon syndrome when they are super tiny as they really do think they are a big dog!

Glad to hear Lucher boy is settling too after being poorly