I am so proud of my little guy...

[howengold]

My four year old king charles is a pain in the ass, he can't be left of the lead on my yard as he wanders off on to the motorway and cocks a deaf one when you call him. Anyway I have become reluctant to take him as I don't like leaving him tied up whilst mucking out because he howls and barks non-stop. My border collie is a darling and never leaves my side so of course she is running loose and enjoying the freedom of an open space. I have been trying all kinds of methods of training but it has become tedious now.

Today however we had a break through, I have figured out he will only disappear if we aren't doing something like walking down to the fields or mucking out in my friends place which is fully enclosed. Anyway I wanted to ride out today so I took him and Mille down to fetch the mares up with my daughter, tied him up during grooming and tacking up then let him off once we were ready to go. He followed us happily with Millie down to the crop fields where we had a good hours hack and cantering etc with him in tow. He looked so happy bombing about next to us with his best pal and when we got back to the yard he was left off the lead and he followed me around whilst I untacked and took the mares back to my friends.

I am so proud of him as he wouldn't even leave my side when my friend came up in her car and offered us a lift home and she tried to get him in the car while I did the gates. Its the first time I have ever felt like he knows where he should be in the two years we have owned him.

"please mum leave me alone I'm tired"

and with his best pal because she is so cute

 

[celia]

Sounds great! I wish our retriever would have a similar break-through moment! He's great 90% of the time but just sometimes decides that whatever he is doing is waay more interesting than you and completely ignores any commands. It's very frustrating. He's improved tons as he's got older - he's now six - but it would be nice to have him like my terrier, who is racing back to you the minute you call, despite only being 5 months old!

 

[mollichop]

Bet he was knick knackered that night! Great that he stuck with you afterwards. Sometimes, i think they just need that little bit of freedom and then think 'oh, o.k i'm allowed to bugger off but actually I won't' Well done

 

[howengold]

He was unconcious all night lol.

We have taken the two of them up most days this week now and he has been a darling, I have been leaving him off while I muck out and groom now and he curls up under the benches whilst Millie goes looking for the rats in the barns. I am still wary of him disappearing but he is so happy to wait by the benches until I go down the drive to fetch the ponies up and then he jogs along side me looking at me as if to say "look mum, I am a clever boy aren't I?".

I never thought I'd see the day!