For the love of Pod

[HangingOver]

All aboard Podsquad, it's Pod thread number 4.

In case you were wondering:

• What is this (surprisingly) long-running thread about? A unique lunatic rescue Podenco, known as Pod. Featuring his pals, Stanley, GentleHowl, BabyPod, GentleBounce, Fastest and Princess and many more.
• What makes you so special that you get your own thread? See above

Seriously, if anyone is considering getting a teenage/rescued/sight-hound/Podenco/all of the above and has NO idea what they're doing, please enjoy the previous instalments from the day we brought him home, to now, six months later. Posts will oscillate wildly from euphoric to mental breakdown and back again.

Here is thread No. 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5248472-they-love-a-bit-of-him-podlife?page=1

Here is thread No. 2 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5197068-the-pod-cast?page=39&reply=141216881

And thread No. 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/thedoghouse/5177112-oh-my-giddy-god?page=1

Pic of the handsome prick in question.

The video is AMAZING, I could watch all day! Please do more!

That video was awesome! DH and I enjoyed watching it and seeing his perspective on the world.

Finally had chance to look at the vid, fantastic, vroom!

It’s such a joy to see hounds running full tilt!

Hmmm. Strange afternoon.

Me and Pod were at the dog park place and we saw his little buddy the whippet so I let him off to have a tear-arse around. Then me and his owner joined up with two other woman who had some more dogs and they were asking a little bit about Pod, any way it turns out one of them is a dog trainer. Such was the force of her personality that she sort of turned the walk into a training session for Pod and said she could teach him to come back. I was understanbly sceptical. But you know what her mad techniques actually worked! I had to sort of hide from him and walk away and not try to force him to come back but praise him like mad when he did.

It was a challenge for me though because I'm SO uncomfortable letting him run up to other people and dogs, even in the context of an enclosed space where everyone elses dogs are off lead.

I wonder about booking a few sessions with her and seeing if we can make more progress.

That does sound interesting, Hanging!

Sometimes when I see dog training I can't help thinking witchcraft how amazing they are!

Tis one of the tactics I use - run the other way, reverse psychology, making it his job to keep tabs on you, rather than him being confident you'll find him and let him know what he needs to know.

Just one caveat - for dogs with anxiety... be mindful of that. Its one of those common sense things really - letting him know by making a silly noise and running the other way... great.

Waiting til he isn't looking and hiding and having him panic... not great.

Vary your reinforcers -not just in terms of value, but type and delivery. So straight up handing over cheese direct to face every time will be fine for the unimaginative dimwit types..

For the smart arse warp factor 7 thinkers.., not so. So throw it, roll it, scatter it, run whilst scattering it, put it in a toy (kong clamshell, I think Tug E Nuff do their own version too) and lob that...

Don't be his vending machine he can put off using until he's done with whatever bat eared business he's got going on...

Be his irresistible fruit machine!

Sometimes you meet the right people when you’re not even trying. She gave you a bit of a free lesson, her technique worked, so a few lessons might be a great idea.

Thanks @WiddlinDiddlin your endorsement means everything. Yes that's exactly what she had me doing, running off making squeaking noises, then making myself small for him to come and get me.

I tried it again at the field just now and he not only came back he got himself in the car! Remarkable.

I also find it very helpful to learn from various folks, even if they're all broadly singing from the same hymn sheet, it can be one person explains or puts something in a slightly different way... that makes the penny drop for you and that 'ah HA' moment happens!

3 perfect recalls this morning. What the actual fudge.

Wow!

Awesome! Sounds as if you've hit on the magic formula.

Whoop!

That’s amazing! Book in with the mad technique dog trainer! Maybe she knows how his brain ticks.

How’s sleep and pooping going for Pod? Is he letting you sleep at night?

Wow, what a good boy he's being.

Hello wonderful Podsquad

Thought I'd take a minute to update you about my boy. The leich anti-body test came back negative, so it's unlikely he has is. Not impossible, and I'm still not sure what's causing the itchy bits on his face, but thank the lord baby jesus and all his sassy angels Pod has continued to not do him nighttime bollocks and is fast asleep by 10pm every night. Hurrah!

I've been experiencing for the first time the unpleasantness of having to walk Ddog when SICK AS SHIT. Me and DP both have RBV (Random Bastard Virus) and I've been alternately sweating, shivering and coughing for four days. This has obviously not stopped me taking Pod out for his regular plods but my god it's unpleasant.

Pod went to the longdog meetup yesterday and was predictably delighted (and a bit of a twat). 360 podcam video coming soon.

Question: what do those with rain-hating dogs do to keep them occupied in the dark/wet months to keep their pooches entertained? I've got a few tricks and games obviously but any wonder toys that your love? The only things Pod is consistently interested in are his squeaky rubber ball and his Roulu. Everything else he gets bored of really quickly.

Smoochies to your doggos.

Sorry to hear you're not well, but Pod sleeping through the night is brilliant, Hanging 😴🏆

Hopefully everyone will be better soon 🙏

"I love cuddling my mum"

Poor you, but I guess the negative test is good, if they can only work out what it actually is.

He loves you so much :)

Ours is a cocker and loves using her nose, so we get a lot of mileage out of snuffle mats/balls. She also likes working at knotted muslins and old socks to get treats out of them, and ripping up boxes to find hidden treats.

Glad he's more settled at nights now. Hope you feel better soon.

That’s fantastic that Pod is sleeping well at night. You must feel so much more sane now that you’re not sleep deprived. Have you started your new job yet @HangingOver? I hope that the bastard virus clears up soon.

That's fantastic news, Hanging. So it sounds like the sand in his digestive system may have been the problem? I'm so glad that he's sleeping through the night now; what a relief.

And ugh, I hear you on walking a pooch when you're ill. Thankfully my boy's a bit older now and can get by on less exercise when need be, but I have joyous memories of having to drag myself out of bed with Covid to walk him twice a day...!

Hope you feel better soon.

So pleased he's sleeping!

And hope you are better soon xx

Today, we did it.

I feel like all the training and sweat and tears and bruises and ruined jumpers have led up to today.

We went.... To the beach. OFF THE LEAD.

I was so proud I could have cried.

Only two minor heart attacks, the rest was absolutely brilliant.