What do you make of this?

[Enfys]

It's 11.40pm here and I've just been downstairs to let the dogs out for the last time, they sleep in the basement which has half a dozen steps leading up to the garden. I usually stand at the door and wait, never go out because I'm scared of the pitch dark and there are all sorts of hairy things out there that make scary noises

So tonight the dogs have been a bit unsettled because the local coyotes have sounded real close but they had to go out, puppy dashes up the steps, followed by a barn cat who snuck in earlier, then Rip the farm dog who has lived here all his life. Two seconds later Rip has herded the cat (nudged it so hard it had to jump down the steps) and the pup (GSD who is now bigger than him) back in, puppy tries to go out again and Rip growled at him, blocked his path and literally shouldered him back to me. Then, he refuses to come back in and just stands there growling, finally he came in and I slam and lock the door coward that I am. Just before I switched the outside light off I see a coyote saunter by, just wander past as if he has all the time in the world (which I suppose he does) about 12' from the door and just stop and stare straight at me!

Seriously put the wind up me!

So, would I be right in thinking that the Ripster was looking after his puppy or just being bossy? I've never seen him do that before though.

 

[polaris]

I think you would be entirely right. Maybe the coyotes hadn't been that clos ebefore at that time but this sounds like a pack behavious especially since Rip is the elder. Sounds a fabulous little dog!

 

[KJJ]

Oh wow!!

That puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye!! (Sap that I am - when it comes to animals that is!)

Rip was protecting his family!!! LOVE him... what a wonderful boy....

So lovely that he is protecting his 'little bro' and 'moggy' and I bet if you were to have tried to go outside he would have stuck EXTREMELY close to you!!

What a fabulous animal to have around!!

*sniff*

 

[ladylisa]

What a lovely story.
I think Rip was protecting his family bless him.

 

[filly190]

What a special dog, looks like you and others can now trust his instincts and not go out when he tells you.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Clever boy - extra biscuit for him

 

[Enfys]

We have permission to leave the house, so obviously there are no visitors Chez Rip this evening.

 

[Thistle]

What a lovely dog. You know you, your family and pets will be safe when he is around.

 

[KJJ]

Awww he's gorgeous!! A scruffy gentlemen!!

 

[Enfys]

He IS a great dog with quite a sad story. He's been "sold" with the farm TWICE in three years

He is only 4, and well trained so someone along the line has spent time with him, but our neighbours say that the people previous to us used to just feed him and let him roam wild, he was never allowed in and when there were storms he used to run down the road and cry on their front porch and they took him in for the night.

Amazing that he is such a gentle, loving creature after being passed on to complete strangers twice. He adores my daughter and waits with her for the school bus in the morning and he has been incredibly good with the puppy. We nearly bit the sellers hands off when they asked if we wanted to have him. Hopeless Guard dog of course as he loves everyone, but I guess it depends on the situation as to what he'd really do. He won't be left behind again that's for sure.

KJFIT, how is Finn doing with his training? Just wondered if it was my pup that had the attention span of a gnat on speed, or whether it was normal.

 

[KJJ]

[ QUOTE ]
He IS a great dog with quite a sad story. He's been "sold" with the farm TWICE in three years

He is only 4, and well trained so someone along the line has spent time with him, but our neighbours say that the people previous to us used to just feed him and let him roam wild, he was never allowed in and when there were storms he used to run down the road and cry on their front porch and they took him in for the night.

Amazing that he is such a gentle, loving creature after being passed on to complete strangers twice. He adores my daughter and waits with her for the school bus in the morning and he has been incredibly good with the puppy. We nearly bit the sellers hands off when they asked if we wanted to have him. Hopeless Guard dog of course as he loves everyone, but I guess it depends on the situation as to what he'd really do. He won't be left behind again that's for sure.

[/ QUOTE ]Oh bless him, poor love... ahh but he is part pf YOUR family now and is there to stay me thinks!!

So CUTE!!!
[ QUOTE ]
KJFIT, how is Finn doing with his training? Just wondered if it was my pup that had the attention span of a gnat on speed, or whether it was normal.

[/ QUOTE ]PMSL - Finn has the attention span of a gnat UNLESS you have a treat in your hand!! THEN you have his undivided attention... (Ok so he may look round to see if anyone else is doing something more fun but all in all he's good) we have mastered 'Down' (as in lie down) this week... he's sssssssoooo clever - took ages for him to understand but he did it once, got the treat and literally hurls himself oon the floor now!! hehe!!

I need to start doing more things with him.. but I just do a couple of sits/stays/here/downs a night and he's doing good.... am about to start reading my 'It's me or the dog' for training tips and 'activities' to try with him!!

 

[Enfys]

Good Finn.
That's where my problem begins, Boston doesn't DO treats, he just is not interested in food (anything) at all.
I get about 3 seconds of "Oh, you want me to do WHAT? Oh That, OK" then it's back to, "What's that! Where's he going? What's over there? Is it a bird? Oh, look, see........over there, a crow 3 miles in the distance!" Nothing wrong with his concentration, he spent half an hour yesterday trying to dig a frozen "shitsicle" off the ground in the paddock, and NO!!! I am NOT carrying lumps of horse muck around in my pockets as doggy treats!

 

[KJJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Good Finn.
That's where my problem begins, Boston doesn't DO treats, he just is not interested in food (anything) at all.
I get about 3 seconds of "Oh, you want me to do WHAT? Oh That, OK" then it's back to, "What's that! Where's he going? What's over there? Is it a bird? Oh, look, see........over there, a crow 3 miles in the distance!" Nothing wrong with his concentration, he spent half an hour yesterday trying to dig a frozen "shitsicle" off the ground in the paddock, and NO!!! I am NOT carrying lumps of horse muck around in my pockets as doggy treats!

[/ QUOTE ]Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh but did I mention I have to shut me and Finn IN THE kitchen ALONE so that I reduce the number of distractions?! I don't think I'd have ANY chance of getting him to lie down outside whilst there are other things going on... well not yet anyway!! LOL!!!

However i have managed to get a 'down' in the front room whilst OH plays the nintendo wii AND tinker jumps around with a bone!!!

(Proud moment!! hehe)

Haha - horse poop treats NICE!!! - Is he not even interested in Cheese? Or bits of real cooked chicken?

 

[Enfys]

Ah, cheese, I hadn't thought of that. Will try that this morning, Thankyou

Totally open plan house, no doors anywhere except the washrooms, and far too much stuff in the Dumping Ground (big storage room in the basement) to go in there.

 

[KJJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah, cheese, I hadn't thought of that. Will try that this morning, Thankyou

[/ QUOTE ]Whoooooaaa Cheese is an absolute favourite of Finnys!!! Brie/Chedder you name it!! LOL!!
[ QUOTE ]
Totally open plan house, no doors anywhere except the washrooms, and far too much stuff in the Dumping Ground (big storage room in the basement) to go in there.

[/ QUOTE ]LOL hmm how about a stable? a barn? or garage?

OK... hows about shutting everyone and everything out apart from you and puppy!! .. close curtains/blinds so he can't see out and try from there!!

 

[prose]

Great job

What a fabulous boy.

We live in NYC but are up in rural CT most weekends at a family house. The garden is four acres and borders a 1000-acre wood heavy with coyote; the garden isn't fenced in, only dry stone walled. I'm extremely careful because I've heard that they'll take a small dog. A few weeks back, I let my dog out to pee and saw a coyote trotting by in the scrub. Thank goodness my dog has a great recall!

 

[Bosworth]

We spent ages with poppy trying to find something that she really liked - other people at puppy training seemed to have no problem - but we get the gourmet dog. Cooked liver .... no, Cheddar...... no, Stilton ........ maybe. Frankfurter ....... getting there - turkey breast ........ thats it. She will pay attention for Turkey breast.... cooked and cubed. So off to Lidl - a large turkey breast is £3.99 and we slice it up - put it in the freezer and then just pull out a slice - microwave for 5 mins from frozen and the attention span of a gnat has gone. Her recall is great for turkey breast - anything else you wouldn't know she was in the vicinity.

 

[Enfys]

Oh no, please don't let me have a Gourmet Dog, although as he has a horrible penchant for horse poo I doubt it!

Turkey, cheese, any other suggestions please?

 

[Thistle]

chopped cooked sausage?