Every cloud !!!!!

Tonight was just one of they nights. The nights that a doggy people regularly describe to me when nothings going their way.A night where the dogs are much more interested in mischief and saying hello to all their friends than listening to me and doing what they are told.

I spend loads of time curing everyone else's dogs and don't spend enough quality time motivating my own dogs.

I had a hard day at work,picked my son up from the golf club, threw some dinner down my throat, fed the dogs and off we went. My plan was to go for a nice long walk and just have some "me time" with the dogs. I often walk to a high peak or a quiet place and just sit and chill with the dogs. I carry a moulting rake in my pocket and I sit and brush them. I find it very therapeutic and they dogs appear to like it also.

Anyway, best laid plans, I ended up coming home early because Oscar had decided to run up to see his friends and didn't stop when whistled. Then Lu decided she would attempt to take Gypsy's ball off her. Gypsys is a gorgious GSD that we ofen meet in the park. I decided I just had to get home and limit the damage.

I got home and started thinking about the events that had occurred and a few things came to mind.

the ability to "make your dog tick" is a great asset.

Firstly, Lu has not come on the way I expected her to. She's very clever and picks things up with astonishing speed. I then asked myself "When was the last time you spent some real quality time with Lu on her own?" The answer was obvious - I spend loads of time curing everyone else's dogs and don't spend enough quality time motivating my own dogs.

Secondly I analysed the steps that occur when Oscar decides to run and say hello to his friends when he's not been officially released. The owner of the dog that Oscar runs up to always offers him kind words and strokes him. Oscar is merely being sociable and friendly and of course he's going to run in because that is much more fun than walking quietly at my heel.

So I grumped and snarled at everyone in the house then I thought "OK let's make things better". I put my jacket on and set out with Lu. I took a small squeaky ball with me and the first thing I noticed was that she was much more alert than usual. I walked her at heel off leash and she was great. I then asked her to sit and I walked about 30 yards, threw a ball into the grass at one side of me and walked another 30 yards.

Lu was absolutely loving this and I was getting much more drive and focus than normal.

I then called her in. She moved towards the ball on the way in but I corrected her and she came into my heel. I then sent her back for the ball. In typical Lu fashion, the next time I tried it she had sussed out what was required and recalled perfectly without even a glance at the ball. I then sent her back for the retrieve and again she behaved perfectly. Lu was absolutely loving this and I was getting much more drive and focus than normal.
Drive and focus is not normally associated with pet obedience however the ability to "make your dog tick" is a great asset.
Some dogs are naturally full of drive. Oscar falls into this category. In fact he is somtimes over the top and needs settling down more than anything.

Lu is a more laid back soul. The problem I've been experiencing with her is that she sometimes completely looses focus and just plods on her own merry way. At other times she's an absolute flying machine with a diminished hearing capacity.

I decided to try her for fast sits and tight heel turns and she was great. I made a big fuss of her and got her home ASAP.

Now I was on a role and I decided to tackle the big fella. I noticed a neighbour of mine leaving to walk his dogs and I thought I'd intercept them and test my theory. Sure enough I met Carol, Davy and their 3 dogs. Oscar was his usual boisterous self so I asked Davy and Carol not to make eye contact or offer him any affection whatsoever. After a few attempts Oscar settled down. I sat him down and asked him to stay. He was playing up in company so I asked Carol and Davy to walk on about 50 yards and wait for me. Every time Oscar attempted to stand up, I asked him to sit. After 3 petulant attempts he sat. I walked 50 yards, waited and called him in. He came back perfectly. I then allowed him to carry his ball home as a reward. I issued a few commands like wait, back, sit, down , turn while we were walking home and he was in top form.

Tonight I've learned that I need to spend some quality time with each dog without the distraction of the other dog doing it's thing. It's great to go for long walks and let them run wild across the moors and hills.It's also a great opportunity for me to clear my head but 5 or 10 minutes with each dog strengthens the bond and will allow me to deal solely with the issue in hand without having to worry about the others.