MollyMoomin
Well-Known Member
Firstly, thank you for Hermans birthday wishes! He got lots of new presents (downside of running a pet shop, I think), 3 of which are already reduced to soggy rags. *sigh* I suppose he likes the ripping bit and at least it's toys and not clothes....
Today, I decided to take him sort of round FiLs fields, but to get to them we had to go through the park = lots of dogs. In theory, we only actually MET one.
She was lovely, a nice little lab and when I said Herman wasn't great about dogs approaching him on the lead, she chased after her, grabbed her and said 'she only wants to play, she thinks everyone does', which is the same as Herman. I said Herman played rough but apparently Bonnie liked that best(!) and said she didn't mind if I took him off the lead. Had sort of misgivings (you aren't meant to play with every dog!!) but took him off, thinking we'd meet loads. They played for a bit and (progress?) I recalled him away from her 3 times. Did put him back on the lead though to go away from her.
Second bit of progress, which I'm more (?) about is while up on the fields, off lead, walked round a corner and came face to face with a deer. First time Herman has seen one, I think. It ran, as did Herman. Shouted him back - nothing, called him, squeaked, made silly noises, nothing. They had gone round another corner (to set the scene, slightly, to our left was a big open rolled field, to our right a wood, with broken down wire fencing and post & rail a bit further round) and I could see the deer going through the woods. Panicked cos they rear pheasants in there and Herman and I would be in Deep Deep Deep Trouble if Herman had gone in chasing.
Raced round the next corner to see Herman galloping back *phew* Praised him to the skies and back, gave him lots of treats and ran round a bit with him, then walked back down the hill to the footpath. He kept looking back for the deer but stayed with me.
So do I count that as a recall off a running deer or not? He could quite easily have gone in after it, but he didn't come straight back when I called. But he DID come back!
Saw some other dogs while he was back on the lead but they were further up ahead from us and apart from some whinging that lasted about 3 seconds, ignored them.
I'd love to know how long the walk was, cos he's knackered now. I got an iphone for my birthday (2 days before Hermans, technically he was my 30th birthday present, but OH got me the phone too, yes, I completely accept I am a spoilt little cow) and have downloaded a pedometer app. Guess which fool forgot to press start? *bash*
So, carry on being proud or work harder next time?
Today, I decided to take him sort of round FiLs fields, but to get to them we had to go through the park = lots of dogs. In theory, we only actually MET one.
She was lovely, a nice little lab and when I said Herman wasn't great about dogs approaching him on the lead, she chased after her, grabbed her and said 'she only wants to play, she thinks everyone does', which is the same as Herman. I said Herman played rough but apparently Bonnie liked that best(!) and said she didn't mind if I took him off the lead. Had sort of misgivings (you aren't meant to play with every dog!!) but took him off, thinking we'd meet loads. They played for a bit and (progress?) I recalled him away from her 3 times. Did put him back on the lead though to go away from her.
Second bit of progress, which I'm more (?) about is while up on the fields, off lead, walked round a corner and came face to face with a deer. First time Herman has seen one, I think. It ran, as did Herman. Shouted him back - nothing, called him, squeaked, made silly noises, nothing. They had gone round another corner (to set the scene, slightly, to our left was a big open rolled field, to our right a wood, with broken down wire fencing and post & rail a bit further round) and I could see the deer going through the woods. Panicked cos they rear pheasants in there and Herman and I would be in Deep Deep Deep Trouble if Herman had gone in chasing.
Raced round the next corner to see Herman galloping back *phew* Praised him to the skies and back, gave him lots of treats and ran round a bit with him, then walked back down the hill to the footpath. He kept looking back for the deer but stayed with me.
So do I count that as a recall off a running deer or not? He could quite easily have gone in after it, but he didn't come straight back when I called. But he DID come back!
Saw some other dogs while he was back on the lead but they were further up ahead from us and apart from some whinging that lasted about 3 seconds, ignored them.
I'd love to know how long the walk was, cos he's knackered now. I got an iphone for my birthday (2 days before Hermans, technically he was my 30th birthday present, but OH got me the phone too, yes, I completely accept I am a spoilt little cow) and have downloaded a pedometer app. Guess which fool forgot to press start? *bash*
So, carry on being proud or work harder next time?