splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Take no notice, there’s always one horrible person, take notice of the trainer and no one else . Would be a shame to miss out becaus3 of one idiot
Meeting a rescue dog tonight!
- Thread starter ArklePigInBlanket
- Start date
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
THIS!!!
there are plenty of idiots everywhere, closer than you think ?
Go back… its all new for her, she will pick it up ?
Mrs. Glittery Jingle Balls
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately the world is full of judgemental a'holes, you were unfortunate enough to meet one on your gorgeous dog's first ever trip to an agility class. Ignorant cow bag, no wonder it upset you, but get you both back there next week and prove her wrong, which you will given time Fodhla will shine like the brightest star, she is made for agility, especially the new stream lined version.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Thank you ladies, very kind as always.
I think on reflection the reason I felt so bad wasn't because she insulted my dog but because I also felt useless for having the dreaded over excited dog who has forgot her name and who she belongs to, I was thinking no my dog isn't stupid but I am lol.
Will think about going back but I'm really unsure if there's any benefit to us for now or if we should maybe leave it til her training is a bit more solid.
I think on reflection the reason I felt so bad wasn't because she insulted my dog but because I also felt useless for having the dreaded over excited dog who has forgot her name and who she belongs to, I was thinking no my dog isn't stupid but I am lol.
Will think about going back but I'm really unsure if there's any benefit to us for now or if we should maybe leave it til her training is a bit more solid.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Bite the bullet and go back again , then decide if it’s for you, he who dares wins !!!
AmyMay
Situation normal
Exactly. Don’t let one miserable witch spoil the fun you may have with your dog.
Karran
Well-Known Member
Ignore the idiot arklepig.
If it makes you feel better, this is Mrs Collie's second (so far) agility show.
She lost all recall in the first, the year previously and rugby tackled the judge sending her flying. Took me a year to pluck up courage to try again...
Might be another year before we try a 3rd....
If it makes you feel better, this is Mrs Collie's second (so far) agility show.
She lost all recall in the first, the year previously and rugby tackled the judge sending her flying. Took me a year to pluck up courage to try again...
Might be another year before we try a 3rd....
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
She's a lovely dog ?
Annette4
Well-Known Member
Please don't be put off.......as someone who's dog does several sports despite his 'personality' and reactivity.
We did agility and only stopped because our trainer moved but he would do zoomies the first time his toes his sand or he got hold of his tug. I never braved a show besides a virtual one where we were just there with a friend. Did we have people in our group class who gave us looks...yes.....but while he loved it I wasn't going to let them put me off.
Thats without being a flyball dog who can't train with a team or have a ball at training as he just zoomies and interferes with the other dogs but we are very lucky there as our team and trainers love him dearly and understand him, push me when I need it and are determined to help is succeed
We did agility and only stopped because our trainer moved but he would do zoomies the first time his toes his sand or he got hold of his tug. I never braved a show besides a virtual one where we were just there with a friend. Did we have people in our group class who gave us looks...yes.....but while he loved it I wasn't going to let them put me off.
Thats without being a flyball dog who can't train with a team or have a ball at training as he just zoomies and interferes with the other dogs but we are very lucky there as our team and trainers love him dearly and understand him, push me when I need it and are determined to help is succeed
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Every single sport on this planet has a judgemental flick wit lurking on it. Im so sorry you met one.
When you, in the future, beat that miserables witches arse hollow you can smile sweetly and say ‘shame she’s so stupid’.
As we are sharing disaster stories, my first ever gundog group training I took very young Tawny for a look see and older working Brandy to fly the flag. Tawny was sent for a seen retrieve on the edge of a reservoir ( very short, simple retrieve) she just swam off into the lake and swam around catching splashes. Not only was that the end of my training but the rest of the group couldn’t use the water as T was just having a ball. They had to leave us to it. ? . Brandy wouldn’t pick up the dummy either. It was just awful.
When you, in the future, beat that miserables witches arse hollow you can smile sweetly and say ‘shame she’s so stupid’.
As we are sharing disaster stories, my first ever gundog group training I took very young Tawny for a look see and older working Brandy to fly the flag. Tawny was sent for a seen retrieve on the edge of a reservoir ( very short, simple retrieve) she just swam off into the lake and swam around catching splashes. Not only was that the end of my training but the rest of the group couldn’t use the water as T was just having a ball. They had to leave us to it. ? . Brandy wouldn’t pick up the dummy either. It was just awful.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone I am really loving the stories, dogs are such liabilities aren't they. Though she's currently lying beside me and looking up at me like I'm the best thing since sliced bread, she'd melt your heart.
I still think the stress levels (mine) aren't worth it and we should try again next year when we're all a bit better at being a well trained dog and being a well trained dog's owner. I did have a bit of a smirk when the trainer proclaimed her a bit of a natural though, she's definitely super agile but not great at not losing her mind with excitement and I know that will come in time. I think for now we'll stick to solidifying basic training, her puppy school and the odd man trailing session which I love for her because she gets to be a dog, and stay on lead.
I still think the stress levels (mine) aren't worth it and we should try again next year when we're all a bit better at being a well trained dog and being a well trained dog's owner. I did have a bit of a smirk when the trainer proclaimed her a bit of a natural though, she's definitely super agile but not great at not losing her mind with excitement and I know that will come in time. I think for now we'll stick to solidifying basic training, her puppy school and the odd man trailing session which I love for her because she gets to be a dog, and stay on lead.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
TLDR - I need recall training tips please.
So I'm prompted to write this update as I just found a thread I started last year asking what type of dog I should get, and quite a lot of people said a lab. We were due to meet a lovely looking lab but then I saw Fodhla's face on line and the rest is history... *Hollow laugh*
I think as I get to know her better I can see which traits are from which breed. Mr APs description was 'unfortunately the spaniel seems to have won out' he talks a good game but he would die for her.
The thing I find most interesting is when she is sniffing with purpose to find something she is nose to the ground and when she is just idly sniffing she air sniffs. When we went mantrailing the instructor said most dogs were one or the other-but I don't know if it's unusual to do both or normal. She certainly has a great nose anyway and loves our garden sniffy games.
She is also becoming a little bit more independent as she gains her confidence-she is still happy for cuddles but she's not stuck to us anymore and is happy to relax when we leave the room where as previously she was like a wee shadow. I can't remember the last time anyone was humped, the howling is now only in response to actual sharp sudden noises and stops quickly (except bin men, they're terrifying apparently). For the first while she would howl at the sound of the shower, someone on the stairs, or a car door closing loudly on the street. It was exhausting and I'm sure the neighbours hated us I lived in fear that they would report us. I apologised to one of next door in passing one day and they had the good grace to pretend not to have heard her.
I suspect her new found independence is partly why she was so hard to catch at agility as if that was a few weeks ago she wouldn't have even left our sides lol (though I did catch her having a look every so often to check we were still in the indoor school). She was having the time of her life the wee witch. Unfortunately recall seems to have regressed to the point that sometimes she won't even come in from the garden if there is an interesting smell or sound. I would really love some tips on this as I've read so much but it's so confusing and there's a lot of contradictory information out there. She is on a long line in public she is in no way able to be actually off lead.
We've had some light bulbs and some regression over the past week or so, but overall I think we're still moving in the right direction recall aside. I was really proud of us at the beginning for enforcing rest but it actually wasn't enough, I think we have found our sweet spot now and that seems to be correlating with better behaviour so I'm hopeful we have it right.
She is such a challenge, I read all the articles, I've been stalking this forum for years, I've read books and I thought long and hard but I was in no way prepared for this loveable little tornado to move into my home. I wouldn't change her though and we're all muddling through okay.
So I'm prompted to write this update as I just found a thread I started last year asking what type of dog I should get, and quite a lot of people said a lab. We were due to meet a lovely looking lab but then I saw Fodhla's face on line and the rest is history... *Hollow laugh*
I think as I get to know her better I can see which traits are from which breed. Mr APs description was 'unfortunately the spaniel seems to have won out' he talks a good game but he would die for her.
The thing I find most interesting is when she is sniffing with purpose to find something she is nose to the ground and when she is just idly sniffing she air sniffs. When we went mantrailing the instructor said most dogs were one or the other-but I don't know if it's unusual to do both or normal. She certainly has a great nose anyway and loves our garden sniffy games.
She is also becoming a little bit more independent as she gains her confidence-she is still happy for cuddles but she's not stuck to us anymore and is happy to relax when we leave the room where as previously she was like a wee shadow. I can't remember the last time anyone was humped, the howling is now only in response to actual sharp sudden noises and stops quickly (except bin men, they're terrifying apparently). For the first while she would howl at the sound of the shower, someone on the stairs, or a car door closing loudly on the street. It was exhausting and I'm sure the neighbours hated us I lived in fear that they would report us. I apologised to one of next door in passing one day and they had the good grace to pretend not to have heard her.
I suspect her new found independence is partly why she was so hard to catch at agility as if that was a few weeks ago she wouldn't have even left our sides lol (though I did catch her having a look every so often to check we were still in the indoor school). She was having the time of her life the wee witch. Unfortunately recall seems to have regressed to the point that sometimes she won't even come in from the garden if there is an interesting smell or sound. I would really love some tips on this as I've read so much but it's so confusing and there's a lot of contradictory information out there. She is on a long line in public she is in no way able to be actually off lead.
We've had some light bulbs and some regression over the past week or so, but overall I think we're still moving in the right direction recall aside. I was really proud of us at the beginning for enforcing rest but it actually wasn't enough, I think we have found our sweet spot now and that seems to be correlating with better behaviour so I'm hopeful we have it right.
She is such a challenge, I read all the articles, I've been stalking this forum for years, I've read books and I thought long and hard but I was in no way prepared for this loveable little tornado to move into my home. I wouldn't change her though and we're all muddling through okay.
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
Longline outside the house, even in garden, hand feed only, food circuits (throwing bits of food away, out side to side, then back again to you for more food).
Don't fall into the trap of saying 'I have this amount of food and I must distribute it evenly over the session until there is none left' - nope, if she ignores you, no food and away until later, if she does a lightning recall, a huge jackpot and put her away/do something else, etc.
With my own female, if she dicked off in a safe/enclosed space, I actually chased her down. The trick is, the minute she looks like she wants to engage and come back, you have to change instantly from 'I'm really not happy about this' to 'SUPERHAPPYFUNTIMEFRANKIE', so for example, if she ran off, I would come after her but if I caught that flicker of recognition that she knew this was not a good position to be in and wanted to come back to me, I had to jump backwards and raise my voice a couple of octaves and be all silly and tell her what a good girl she was and a big food jackpot when she came running over.
She has not dicked off for months, because she knows it is safer and more fun to be with me and there is nothing out there for her.
This won't work with every dog but it was taught to me by a veteran assistance dog trainer and between that and the food circuits, it really has brought my dog on leaps and bounds.
In terms of the agility know all, I really wouldn't worry, the people with the biggest opinions I know, are the ones who have paid entry into stadiums or for livestreams to watch me and my dogs
Don't fall into the trap of saying 'I have this amount of food and I must distribute it evenly over the session until there is none left' - nope, if she ignores you, no food and away until later, if she does a lightning recall, a huge jackpot and put her away/do something else, etc.
With my own female, if she dicked off in a safe/enclosed space, I actually chased her down. The trick is, the minute she looks like she wants to engage and come back, you have to change instantly from 'I'm really not happy about this' to 'SUPERHAPPYFUNTIMEFRANKIE', so for example, if she ran off, I would come after her but if I caught that flicker of recognition that she knew this was not a good position to be in and wanted to come back to me, I had to jump backwards and raise my voice a couple of octaves and be all silly and tell her what a good girl she was and a big food jackpot when she came running over.
She has not dicked off for months, because she knows it is safer and more fun to be with me and there is nothing out there for her.
This won't work with every dog but it was taught to me by a veteran assistance dog trainer and between that and the food circuits, it really has brought my dog on leaps and bounds.
In terms of the agility know all, I really wouldn't worry, the people with the biggest opinions I know, are the ones who have paid entry into stadiums or for livestreams to watch me and my dogs
Karran
Well-Known Member
What is she like, if you make a sudden sound and then turn and run? Mrs Collie loves Chase, so we play that a lot, I'll make a sudden sound/squeak her name to get her attention and turn and run and she thinks its great to try and "catch" me and get some food or if I suddenly disappear behind a tree/bush to play hide and seek
I played CC's food circuit game a lot, the trick is to wait until she looks up at you for the next bit of food, and then we added to it, by tossing a piece just between my legs so she had to run through me slightly to get it, and then we made it harder by waiting until she had passed through my legs to throwing it back in front of me, so she had to spin around and get back in front of me to find it.
Not sure how tall she/you/Mr AP is but "middle" is a fun game for recall, and then you can make it into a party trick to the delight of Mrs Spaniel's children friends by getting her to walk with you, backwards, forwards and sidewards while she stays inbetween your legs. The whole idea is building up value for hanging out close with you so she knows its ok to go sniff and explore but the bestest fun is when you call her and she gets to hang out and party with you.
But longline first of all so you have grabbing/stamping power!
I played CC's food circuit game a lot, the trick is to wait until she looks up at you for the next bit of food, and then we added to it, by tossing a piece just between my legs so she had to run through me slightly to get it, and then we made it harder by waiting until she had passed through my legs to throwing it back in front of me, so she had to spin around and get back in front of me to find it.
Not sure how tall she/you/Mr AP is but "middle" is a fun game for recall, and then you can make it into a party trick to the delight of Mrs Spaniel's children friends by getting her to walk with you, backwards, forwards and sidewards while she stays inbetween your legs. The whole idea is building up value for hanging out close with you so she knows its ok to go sniff and explore but the bestest fun is when you call her and she gets to hang out and party with you.
But longline first of all so you have grabbing/stamping power!
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
Another thing we did was restrained recalls so in a secure area, one of you runs off and calls her and the other holds her in the collar but doesn't let her go immediate to build up the desire to get to the other person.
You can expend a lot of energy and food in a short space of time with this one.
You can expend a lot of energy and food in a short space of time with this one.
AmyMay
Situation normal
I love ‘middle’. We do it with one of our walkers.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the suggestions-I have read a lot of advice on line and what you three are saying seems to align with what I thought was the most sensible stuff. Some of it was bonkers. But nothing will ever be as bonkers as the random man in the pet shop who advised to let her go in the dark to frighten her into staying with me. That's a great idea if I want a chance of her tanking off into the distance or getting hit by a car or lost or stolen (I'm sure they'd give her back). Not to mention the hassle of having a frightened dog.
To answer some questions, if I make a sudden sound and run away she will 90 percent of the time come bounding over to me but sometimes just not close enough and then she'll dart off again like it's a fun game. To be fair this works most of the time on the long line, but I tried this at agility the other day and it nearly worked until stupid witch started shouting at me to tell her to sit, as if I was stupid, I was like aye from this distance good luck she doesn't even know her own name she's high as a kite lol. Then I got flustered and the dog got interested in something else. When she did come to me she got a handful of salami and cheese which is her favourite two things and then I was told off again as apparently I 'reinforced that it's okay for her to ignore me' I mean I thought I was reinforcing the fact that she eventually came back but okay. Must try hard at blocking out other people
I'm ashamed to admit the other time I only caught her cause she stopped for a wee ?
She seems a good size for playing middle so that looks like fun. I will be using these methods suggested so thank you for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it. Sometimes when she gets really excited she doesn't care so much about food she's just out for a good time. I just need to make her see me as the good time. I'm pretty sure it's a case of being mind blown or over excited but a small part of me is worried she just doesn't want to be with me and would rather be anywhere else.
To answer some questions, if I make a sudden sound and run away she will 90 percent of the time come bounding over to me but sometimes just not close enough and then she'll dart off again like it's a fun game. To be fair this works most of the time on the long line, but I tried this at agility the other day and it nearly worked until stupid witch started shouting at me to tell her to sit, as if I was stupid, I was like aye from this distance good luck she doesn't even know her own name she's high as a kite lol. Then I got flustered and the dog got interested in something else. When she did come to me she got a handful of salami and cheese which is her favourite two things and then I was told off again as apparently I 'reinforced that it's okay for her to ignore me' I mean I thought I was reinforcing the fact that she eventually came back but okay. Must try hard at blocking out other people
I'm ashamed to admit the other time I only caught her cause she stopped for a wee ?
She seems a good size for playing middle so that looks like fun. I will be using these methods suggested so thank you for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it. Sometimes when she gets really excited she doesn't care so much about food she's just out for a good time. I just need to make her see me as the good time. I'm pretty sure it's a case of being mind blown or over excited but a small part of me is worried she just doesn't want to be with me and would rather be anywhere else.
Karran
Well-Known Member
Mrs Collie went to blow over at flyball comp this weekend, and the only part of her I could grab in time before she chased another team was her tail! ? I was mortified and she was horrified and sat on it quickly, so I couldn't get it again!
She's also the same about good times being more important than food, so for a long while, she only got fed on walks and while working with me to try and get into her head that food, goodtimes and me were all connected!.
Believe me, I spent two hours in the rain once trying to catch her, desperate to go home for a wee and Mrs Spaniel totally fed up and trying to drag me home. She just danced around sticking two paws up.
Even went and left her to hide behind a tree and she just shrugged when she saw I was gone and went to assault an innocent jogger....
As for the person who told you off, I got that all the time. My response was that I was rewarding the good (eventual) behaviour - the sit, down, middle, even nose touch that I'd asked for once she'd shown she was capable of listening...
If her minds blown, try just scattering some kibble down for her to use her nose and think and calm herself down. Again, I used to have to do it with Idiot Collie and then perhaps do the food circuit game (I know it as orientation game) until she had regained enough control over herself to look at me and remember what she was supposed to be doing- I soon learnt to avoid embarassment by picking quiet spots in the park to avoid "helpful" advice and to stop her predicting where the lead was going on and it was hometime.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Two paws up is exactly how it feels.
In other news we took Fodhla to a short relaxed mini photo shoot the other day (please don't judge me there was an offer lol) the photographer was amazing and Fodhla loved every second and we even got to put our sit and stay to good use. I've just had the photos back.
Hopefully I don't destroy the quality too much to get them here but this is definitely one for the wall. She's so beautiful ?
In other news we took Fodhla to a short relaxed mini photo shoot the other day (please don't judge me there was an offer lol) the photographer was amazing and Fodhla loved every second and we even got to put our sit and stay to good use. I've just had the photos back.
Hopefully I don't destroy the quality too much to get them here but this is definitely one for the wall. She's so beautiful ?
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Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
That’s a beautiful photo.
CinnamonChristmasCookie
Fais pas chier!
High value treats. Goose has a tendency to dick off when first let off the lead, regardless of how far you walk first. However, if I let him know I have hot dog pieces/cheese, he comes back without being asked. He gets loads of praise for coming back without being asked. It’s bog standard for dogs to do this but he’s been particularly wild. It doesn’t help that it’s squirrel-tastic in the woods currently, they’re all scampering round storing food.
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Thanks CT.
I've just had to go to the chemist so printed Fodhla's picture while I was there. It's in a frame on the bar cart already and it hasn't gone unnoticed that we have yet to put up wedding pics (15 months later) ?
I've just had to go to the chemist so printed Fodhla's picture while I was there. It's in a frame on the bar cart already and it hasn't gone unnoticed that we have yet to put up wedding pics (15 months later) ?
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Well it's been 11 weeks. I haven't cried tears of frustration or regret in at least 6 or 8 weeks. It's probably safe to say she's given up humping completely. She has also given up digging the sofa, chewing on us, and howling for no reason. She's actually not what I would call a vocal dog at all now.
Recently she has proved herself good with a 6 year old child who declared her 'the bestest ever dog'. She has also become the most affectionate dog in the whole world, when she sits up on the couch with us she has to be on us, I think she thinks she's lapdog sized. She/We have found her off switch. She was home with Mr AP yesterday and I was much later than usual and she didn't even jump up on me and after her fuss she went back to snoozing on the sofa. In the evening she either has the option of a chew on her bed or sit up on the couch with us without the chew and more often she is choosing to be with us. I haven't found a pig's ear under my cushions in ages.
She did get the handline put on last week as she decided she was obsessed with my cousin's pregnant wife, who really isn't fussed on dogs, and was jumping on her. But she got the message pretty quick, just needed a refresher.
We also now have to hide, lemons, onions and anything else round as if she spots it she'll ask you to throw it. I am scared of what she's going to do when she sees a Christmas bauble. Pray for the ArklePigs that we don't get banned from our families houses ?Doing a lot of research on ball obsession.
Recall still a work in progress.
I love her so much it actually hurts my heart. I knew I'd love my dog but I didn't know it would feel like this. If it doesn't sound silly I really feel like she loves us too she is just so sweet and affectionate.
She is the best ever girl and I've received some amazing advice here that I really would have struggled without. There's a few notable contributors to this thread that really should be on my Christmas card list! A relaxed and sometimes still jumpy Fodhla thanks you too.
Recently she has proved herself good with a 6 year old child who declared her 'the bestest ever dog'. She has also become the most affectionate dog in the whole world, when she sits up on the couch with us she has to be on us, I think she thinks she's lapdog sized. She/We have found her off switch. She was home with Mr AP yesterday and I was much later than usual and she didn't even jump up on me and after her fuss she went back to snoozing on the sofa. In the evening she either has the option of a chew on her bed or sit up on the couch with us without the chew and more often she is choosing to be with us. I haven't found a pig's ear under my cushions in ages.
She did get the handline put on last week as she decided she was obsessed with my cousin's pregnant wife, who really isn't fussed on dogs, and was jumping on her. But she got the message pretty quick, just needed a refresher.
We also now have to hide, lemons, onions and anything else round as if she spots it she'll ask you to throw it. I am scared of what she's going to do when she sees a Christmas bauble. Pray for the ArklePigs that we don't get banned from our families houses ?Doing a lot of research on ball obsession.
Recall still a work in progress.
I love her so much it actually hurts my heart. I knew I'd love my dog but I didn't know it would feel like this. If it doesn't sound silly I really feel like she loves us too she is just so sweet and affectionate.
She is the best ever girl and I've received some amazing advice here that I really would have struggled without. There's a few notable contributors to this thread that really should be on my Christmas card list! A relaxed and sometimes still jumpy Fodhla thanks you too.
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Penguin_Toes
Well-Known Member
Gorgeous dog and gorgeous living room!! 
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Thank you Penguin! Hopefully get to painting my new units this side of Christmas ?
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
Have spent the last few days getting Fodhla acquainted with her new car crate. She had two 20 minute journeys in it today and not a peep out of her, she just went in and lay down. Makes a nice change from having a paw in my neck and her barking at cars dogs people and buses from the car. She's so good. We also brought her to the bougie pet shop and did her Christmas shopping?. We're coming up to the 3 month mark and she is becoming such a joy. ?
HashRouge
Well-Known Member
I love reading Fodhla updates
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
No real update, just to say it's officially 3 months of Fodhla. Can't imagine being without her.
Potentially not the sanest choice of dog for first time owners, but we seem to be getting on okay (thank god for this forum and a good trainer). We're very happy with her, and she seems to be very happy with us. ?
Potentially not the sanest choice of dog for first time owners, but we seem to be getting on okay (thank god for this forum and a good trainer). We're very happy with her, and she seems to be very happy with us. ?
