Broodle
Well-Known Member
I don't generally post in here, but do regularly browse AAD for information and hope you won't mind me picking your collective brains?
I have two labradoodle (I know, I know!) bitches - one 14 months, one 4 months old. On one of our regular walks there is a stone stile (popular around these parts) with no round-route for dogs - they have to go over the top. When the older dog was little she didn't ever make an effort to jump over this stile herself, and we didn't encourage it because of not wanting to strain her joints. We always just lifted her over. However, now she is a good 25kg or more lifting her is just about breaking me!
So, I am looking for advice on how to teach her to scramble over herself. She knows the command 'hup' for 'jump onto/over this', and is usually totally reliable with this, but at the stile she just stares at me blankly as if to say 'don't be silly, I don't jump this thing, you lift me'! I have also tried carrying on walking into the distance until out of sight, calling her all the time, but she just gets distressed and makes no effort whatsoever to get over the stile. Her new little sister showed off the other day by scrambling over herself (unasked), and the older one still just stood on the other side waiting for her lift.
She has once made it over on her own, when I chucked a ball (her very favourite thing in the world) over for her to fetch, but this trick has since failed to work. So, I know she can make it over...
Any suggestions gratefully received! She has no health issues that I am aware of, and is as fit as a flea.
Thanks in advance! K x
I have two labradoodle (I know, I know!) bitches - one 14 months, one 4 months old. On one of our regular walks there is a stone stile (popular around these parts) with no round-route for dogs - they have to go over the top. When the older dog was little she didn't ever make an effort to jump over this stile herself, and we didn't encourage it because of not wanting to strain her joints. We always just lifted her over. However, now she is a good 25kg or more lifting her is just about breaking me!
So, I am looking for advice on how to teach her to scramble over herself. She knows the command 'hup' for 'jump onto/over this', and is usually totally reliable with this, but at the stile she just stares at me blankly as if to say 'don't be silly, I don't jump this thing, you lift me'! I have also tried carrying on walking into the distance until out of sight, calling her all the time, but she just gets distressed and makes no effort whatsoever to get over the stile. Her new little sister showed off the other day by scrambling over herself (unasked), and the older one still just stood on the other side waiting for her lift.
She has once made it over on her own, when I chucked a ball (her very favourite thing in the world) over for her to fetch, but this trick has since failed to work. So, I know she can make it over...
Any suggestions gratefully received! She has no health issues that I am aware of, and is as fit as a flea.
Thanks in advance! K x