Meeting a rescue dog tonight!

[ArklePig]

Some pics of Fodhla's first Christmas-just keeping them together here so I can look back easily.

Took her to the beach yesterday on the longline, it gave me peace of mind but I really think we're approaching not needing it. She came back every single time at first call. She also admired some village decorations made my Mr APs dad.

Featured also is the blanket sent by my secret santa @PinkvSantaboots. We love it!

 

[HashRouge]

I love her happy smiley face, what a good dog!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I'm so glad she likes her blanket?

I love her little Christmas jumper ?

 

[ArklePig]

Down in my parents house and have been given these by my cousin. She is still in Galway with Mr AP we didn't want to chance bringing her with my 8 month old nephew. Can't wait until tomorrow to try them on her ? I've had some champagne and I might have laughed so hard I cried.

Connacht is Mr APs team but I'll allow it as I don't follow rugby.

 

[ArklePig]

As if I walked my dog off lead for two hours and she was an absolute angel and recalled when I needed to put a lead on. I'm so proud.
It helped that we had my uncle and his super confident IWS with us.

Terrible pics because she's a blur, but it's safe to say she is enjoying her holiday down South.

 

[Prancerpoos]

That’s quite an achievement! Seeing pics of an IWS is a bonus ?, about as rare as my curly coat - but no one would be relying on a CCR to behave that well. ?

 

[ArklePig]

This IWS is an angel. She hunts with my uncle and does basically everything she's told it's like she can read his mind. She's had two litters and she's not having anymore so sadly I've missed the boat on a mini her ? I cannot explain how good a dog she is.

I've always had a soft spot for IWS as my grandad always had them when I was young. I grew up with them but I still get excited when I meet one in the wild. My favourite of my grandad's was called Fodhla hence my Fodhla ?

eta- I've never met a CCR but I'd really like to.

 

[ArklePig]

Took Fodhla off lead in a trail in the university of Limerick today. Recalled perfectly everytime we saw another dog/ were going to be coming near a road. She also had a swim. I had been planning on waiting til warm weather and bringing her swimming and trying to make it a positive experience but she just went in and just loved it and is a complete natural. I guess that makes sense given her breeds. She's turning into a happy go lucky little thing and I couldn't be happier.

Sorry I know some of these updates are pretty boring but I like reading back over this thread to see our progress!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Nothing boring on this thread!

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks PS! I do love the support of Fodhla's little fan club.

 

[HashRouge]

Nothing boring on this thread!

Ditto, Fodhla going swimming is the highlight of my morning!

 

[ArklePig]

There were people shooting out on the hills this morning so she had to go on the lead for a good bit. Poor thing did not like the noise at all and they were only shooting with a pistol so I dread to think what she'd be like with other weapons. I didn't like it either and I saw the entrails of a deer so I didn't enjoy that either ? Uncle's IWS got very excited at the shots and was disappointed to learn she wasn't going to work

She was fine afterwards when we were out of the area and I produced her favourite toy, she forgot all about it.

We're going back to Belfast this afternoon and I feel really guilty that her life isn't always as great as this and she's about to go back to more boring walks with most adventures saved for weekends. My uncle brought me some deer legs for her too so hopefully they will soften the blow.

Was really amazing watching him show off all the things his dog can do so I'm determined we have some skills to showcase next time we're home. But for now I'm so delighted she's taken her weeks holidays in her stride. She was a bit unsure in the in laws house but she settled in my parents from the minute she walked in the door, and was an angel when they minded her one night Mr AP and I went out.

 

[ArklePig]

I feel like this picture should come with a trigger.

Sometimes I forget that my soft, cuddly, jumper wearing little angel is actually a ferocious carnivore. Thoughts and prayers I've three more in the freezer and I think I might be sick. At least she's happy. If she even thinks about trying to bring it on the sofa I will pass away.

 

[druid]

There were people shooting out on the hills this morning so she had to go on the lead for a good bit. Poor thing did not like the noise at all and they were only shooting with a pistol so I dread to think what she'd be like with other weapons. I didn't like it either and I saw the entrails of a deer so I didn't enjoy that either ? Uncle's IWS got very excited at the shots and was disappointed to learn she wasn't going to work

She was fine afterwards when we were out of the area and I produced her favourite toy, she forgot all about it.

We're going back to Belfast this afternoon and I feel really guilty that her life isn't always as great as this and she's about to go back to more boring walks with most adventures saved for weekends. My uncle brought me some deer legs for her too so hopefully they will soften the blow.

Was really amazing watching him show off all the things his dog can do so I'm determined we have some skills to showcase next time we're home. But for now I'm so delighted she's taken her weeks holidays in her stride. She was a bit unsure in the in laws house but she settled in my parents from the minute she walked in the door, and was an angel when they minded her one night Mr AP and I went out.

Probably a rifle if they were stalking deer? Pistols are illegal in the south outside of dedicated ranges Sounds like Fodhla is coming on well - if you like the gundog side of things there's loads of groups on facebook that are really supportive such as Ladies Working Gundog Group. And Shane's Castle have a game fair every year with lots of gundog stuff to watch/do

 

[ArklePig]

Probably a rifle if they were stalking deer? Pistols are illegal in the south outside of dedicated ranges Sounds like Fodhla is coming on well - if you like the gundog side of things there's loads of groups on facebook that are really supportive such as Ladies Working Gundog Group. And Shane's Castle have a game fair every year with lots of gundog stuff to watch/do

Definitely a pistol, was target practice, and we passed them. My uncle was able to tell me exactly the calibre but I forget now. A lot of people not necessarily following the letter of law, was up there the other day and he also noticed some casings someone had used to shoot a deer but they were the wrong calibre or something so he surmised /was giving out that they must have been unlicensed (again I forget the finer details, but there were 3 casings on the ground and the insides of the deer not far from it, I managed to avoid seeing it that time).

I think Fodhla would be really good at gundoggy type stuff, but I'm a vegetarian and I'm just about okay with her having these things lol because she's an obligate carnivore. I won't even cook my husband so much as a rasher.

I don't have any issue with people shooting for the record, people like my uncle don't waste anything and are fairly humane about it, but it's definitely not for me.

Will check out the Facebook group though because I'd like to train her to do gundog type things minus the hunting, thanks!

 

[druid]

Must have been one of the very, very few air powered ones licensed in the state? The only other handguns in the South are the .22 rimefire olympic calibre ones and you have to store those at a licensed range. Anything else unlicensed certainly isn't likely to be out for target practice in public..it's in the hands of idiots like the Kinahans. Sadly, plenty of people have licenses for smaller rifles usually for fox control who do shoot deer - if they're well placed shots and close enough range it can be humane but far more chance for it go wrong than with a more suitable calibre.

The groups are great, plenty of people who don't necessarily want to work the dog on live game but enjoy giving their dog an outlet for it's natural instinct through hunting and retrieve work on balls or dummies And there's lots of off breed or cross breed dogs doing great on there too. All very supportive and not judgy! The Game Fair at Shane's Castle is all run on dummies, there's no live animals involved and there's fun events like gundog scurries and have a go tests

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks @druid definitely will check out Shane's so, that sounds great! I didn't really know such things existed so thank you!

It could have been an air powered one I must ask him again next time I'm talking to him. I only know it was a pistol because I said 'what type of gun is that?' and he got very pedantic and started trying to educate me. I really don't know anything about this kind of stuff at all.

We did do some basic retrieve work which is fun and something I want to teach properly as I was very impressed at how good the IWS was at finding hidden balls and going after specific dummies etc from a choice of a few. Especially as mine just says 'omg ball/toy!!' (the perils of being half springer I think, and everything is a toy to Fodhla). He reckons though to work she would be more pointery than springery, and I do see each breed in her in different scenarios. We'll see.

I think that kind of thing will be our next project. It's nice to have aims now that are beyond 'get her vaguely civilised.'

I still can't believe I picked a pointer x springer as my first dog and it's actually going well ? Whenever she's being a right eejit though I remind her she was supposed to be a labrador.

 

[druid]

Can't blame the Springer side, I've got an old one here with the distinction of having beaten a wideselection of dogs including Field Trial Champion Labs in an open any variety retrieving test! Gundog work is a great outlet for them. Another one to look at might be Ban Randall's Gundog App. It is a subscription thing but breaks everything down into little steps and short videos and is very positive based training.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks druid have subscribed to that this morning, looks great

 

[ArklePig]

https://www.almosthome-ni.org/pet/shelby/

The dog I'm pretty sure is Fodhla's sister is now available for rehoming. It's sadly a no from us right now, but just throwing it out there in case anyone is interested and wants to adopt her and let them have play dates ?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

The ladies working dog group also have a podcast ?

 

[Clodagh]

Can you please teach her to point? It’s my favourite thing to see and I’d love a pointy dog. I’d have a setter though, but watching any of them go into a point is amazing.
There a 2023 challenge for you ?

 

[ArklePig]

Challenge accepted @Clodagh

She does point at some things, but it's so random- birds sometimes, balls lol, and once at a dachsund. So the instinct is there but the application is all over the place!

One memorable occasion, about 6 weeks after we got her, she pointed at the guinea pigs as if she hadn't noticed them previously and was checking if they should be there. She hasn't paid them any attention since.

 

[ArklePig]

Off lead open space walks are becoming a more regular staple now that she's reliable to actually come back when she's called. The nose is very rarely off the ground. What a joy

 

[misst]

Just caught up on your Christmas posts and New Year adventures. I hope her sister is as lucky as Fodhla has been and finds a perfect home.

 

[ArklePig]

Having a very unsettled day here. I think because she had to go to daycare Monday and Tuesday this week due to work issues with OH, we usually strictly send her one day a week on a Monday, and she is always chilled and settled the next day. Had to be done though and better than the alternative of leaving her at home alone all day which we can't do - she has seperation anxiety and we are slowly building up her tolerance to being alone. Even at that my aim is to be able to leave her max 4 hours.

It's also bin day today which she hates. And they have the audacity to come twice for different collections. And then of course my neighbours have the cheek to bring their bins in.

Our day has been - morning cuddles in bed because I was too lazy to get up when OH left for work, walk, chew, sleep, get up and howl, sleep, howl, sleep, chew, howl, wash rinse and repeat, with a break for sniffy games at lunch time. Nothing is distracting her from the barky episodes. I'm about ready to bang my head off the desk. Sure the neighbours are thrilled too.?

Anyway this too shall pass, it used to be every day was like this. Just fancied a moan and to keep my little Fodhla diary real as I really do focus on the positive here. Counting down until OH is home and I may actually get to finish today's work then. Sorry if this is a jumbled mess, my head is banging ? it's not all sunshine and rainbows in my new dog bubble. Sometimes it's tears and a yearning for gin.

 

[ArklePig]

Just caught up on your Christmas posts and New Year adventures. I hope her sister is as lucky as Fodhla has been and finds a perfect home.

She is showing on reserved on their website so hopefully her fabulous new home are getting ready to take her home!

 

[ArklePig]

It wasn't so long ago I felt like I couldn't do anything in the house without her trying to get involved. We are painting today and she is absolutely not bothered, she has really copped on to the fact that she can just chill and she's missing absolutely nothing. She's so settled which is great because she has a bad day on Wednesday but today has cemented that was a blip and not a full regression.

Excuse the state of my house ?

She also had a trip to the vet today, we're sending her for xrays next week, suspected hip dysplasia. Fingers crossed for us all please.

 

[splashgirl45]

????. Hoping for good news at the vets

 

[SilverLinings]

I 'liked' your post AP but didn't mean it to apply to the vet visit- I hope the x-rays show nothing to worry about. Fodhla looks like she did a very good job of supervising the painting