Rescue dog - off lead training

cigwyllt · 04-16-2011

My parents will shortly be collecting their new dog - he is 5 months old and as far as I can gather, something of an impulse buy that is no longer wanted. He has been very well trained in the time he has spent in his original home - he goes to his basket when told, will sit and wait for his food or a treat, really solid basic training and, so we are told, has excellent recall. We played with him in the field behind the owners' house and his recall when my father called him was spot on - the sort of dog who can turn on a sixpence (or should that be "a dime"LOL)

The problem is that my dad has little or no confidence in his ability to recall a dog, having had a couple of dogs who were prone to run at the slightest opportunity.

Having seen this dog for myself I would have no hesitation in letting him off in a suitable traffic free area but I know my dad will be nervous. How long do you think he should be walked on the lead before dad lets him off?

On the one hand we don't want to risk him running off but on the other hand I don't want him to forget the meaning of "Come!"

Deafdogsrule · 04-17-2011

My advice to him is to use a long line at first, so the new dog is kept in complete control, and your Dad can gain confidencein the dog's recall. with a long line, you can spend alot of time training recall without the worry of the dog taking off. after a bit you can drop the long line but leave it attached, so can be stepped on quickly if needed.

I've recently been spending alot of time recall training on a long line with Oliver, and have just got to the point of doing a little bit of work off leash completely (in a dog/stranger free area) Yesterday Oliver did very well, almost 80%.... no where near what I want, but it's a start!

cigwyllt · 04-17-2011

Yes, I think I'll talk to dad about getting a long line. We collected him this afternoon - 2 hour round trip! - and by the time we got home he already knew that he was dad's dog. He is amazingly well behaved for such a young pup. He has made no attempt at all to sit on the furniture, he sat and waited for permission before eating his tea and is already responding to his new name.

The one thing that concerns me is that he will flinch when you reach for his collar, especially if you have a treat in your hand. I suspect he has been smacked for reaching for food. But he is beautifully mannered and well behaved. Hopefully he will be a very happy boy in his new home. My parents are head over heels in love with him.

Deafdogsrule · 04-18-2011

Some dogs can be a bit head shy to begin with. I'd advise your dad to start desensitizing him to collar touches, then eventually collar grabs, heaven knows sometimes we need to grab them quickly, and you dont want to terrify him.

start by touching his neck without grabbing the collar, then reward, once he's completely comfortable with this slip a finger underneath, then move to actually holding the collar, then giving a gentle tug, then add a little speed to the grab. make it fun, a game, he'll learn to expect good things instead of bad when his collar gets grabbed.

cigwyllt · 04-18-2011

It's not touching his collar that's the problem - and we're making sure that no one goes over the top of his head - it's a definite flinch when there is food around. It does concern me that he has been physically corrected for snatching food. But he is very young and will experience nothing but kindness from now on. He is not at all puppyish (he is 20 weeks old) but with all the love and affection he will be getting from now on I am sure we will discover his playful side soon. I may introduce him to my dog later (it is sooooooo hard not to be out with my parents all the time) but I want him to know for certain that he is dad's dog. Actually, I think he is pretty sure of that already - following dad from room to room.

Deafdogsrule · 04-18-2011

Ah, I misunderstood

I have a dog that was terrified of food near people. She's allow me to catch her normally, but if I had food, there was no way in heck I could get near her. I had to drop a treat, then walk into the other room, and stand VERY still for approx 5 minutes or mor before she'd approach the treat... Poor baby. When I fed her her dinner, I put it in the bowl, then went to work. I could not even be in the house... and every night, I had to shake out my bedding, as she hid most of her dinner int he bed (YUK!), as that's where she felt safe. to this day the bed is still her safe place.

It took 2 years before she took a treat out of our hands. the only thing I could do with Zoe was just let her be, move slowly around her, and try not to make too much noise... she's still not normal, but thousands of times better than she was. (It's been 7 years since I adopted her)

cigwyllt · 04-18-2011

He is eating well from his bowl. It's not a major issue, just makes me feel a bit sorry for him. Poor Zoe must have suffere a lot to be so nervous about eating. Bonzo does take treats and meals but I had my own biscuit in my hand and that was when he was scared.

He is a massive dog - larger than my old mixed breed girl - but very soft and submissive. I introduced him to my dog this morning and Manny really put him in his place. The pup squashed him with his paw and Manny told him off and had him quivering on the floor in submission before I could open my mouth. But they sniffed each other nose to nose and he played a little with my other terrier so the morning was generally positive.

I'm not going to say anything about his breeding - I want to see what he matures into and then see what people see in him. I know what breeds are in him but it will be interesting to see if they are visible when he has matured.

CorkyMax · 04-18-2011

Lol, I was just going to post to ask you what breed(s) he is! Guess I'll have to wait! So glad your folks have found another dog to love!! Sounds like a lucky dog too.

cigwyllt · 04-18-2011

Finding him was nothing short of a miracle. On paper, my parents are not in the best position to own a dog - they live in a mobile home in our garden with a tiny outdoor fenced area, my mother is unable to walk and my dad is nearly 80. Most rescues would refuse to consider them. And finding a dog that is free to a good home is nigh on impossible.

But they really wanted a rescue dog. Just on the off chance I rang the lady who had given them Ianto to see if she was still involved in rescue. It turned out that she had retired 6 months ago but she said she would call me in the afternoon and suggest some places to try. When we spoke in the afternoon she said that she had been on her way to take one of her dogs to the vet and when she got there she was a approached by someone who needed help to rehome two mixed breed pups. These pups are house trained, excellent manners, well cared for, fully vaccinated and micro chipped. The only stipulation was that they had to go to a pet home, not a working environment.

So after some thought and persuasion we went to see them the next day. We walked in to the kitchen - the two pups were sitting on their bed waiting and as soon as they were released one of them ran straight for the kids and started to play with them and the other one went to my dad and sat on his feet. It was love at first sight for dad and the dog.

Without giving away what he is, here are a couple of photos of him and my dad taken within 30 secs of their first meeting!

Black dogs are so hard to photograph!

CorkyMax · 04-18-2011

Hey, love that pic of your dad and the new pup!! Of course Black Lab would be what came to mind 1st. Great story too--I know your parents couldn't take on 2 dogs but sure hope the other one finds a good home---Sounds like it would be a good match with some kids in a family.

And how well I know how hard it is to be accepted at some of these rescues. I wonder how many dogs have not found a home because of the too 'fussiness' of most of these places. More then that--How many are euthanized because of these idiots. Seems like their motto is 'Better a dead dog if not a perfect home!' Sorry, I get carried away on this subject.

But so happy that your dad and this needy dog found each other!!

Deafdogsrule · 04-19-2011

OH ME ME ME! I KNOW WHAT HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sooo totally know what he is!

That breed can be a bit loopy, but at least you're around to help exercise him, if need be. Just be prepared to bath him ALOT! every (not giving away the breed) that I have heard about (on another forum) LOVE mud! I've seen some pretty awesome pics!

lange · 04-20-2011

Hey, glad to know your parents have a new kid in their life! He sounds like a wonderful dog.

ANd out of complete curiosity, what SIZE is your garden? Your definition is obviously not my definition of garden!

(and on that note as well, you sound like an amazing daughter, we should al be so lucky).

Now as for breed, I so suck at this. You may or may not notice I don't comment much on the "WHAT IS HE?" threads unless it happens to be a breed I'm really familiar with so I will cheat here and say he's a retriever!!

cigwyllt · 04-20-2011

Quote:

Your definition is obviously not my definition of garden

Of course - I forgot! The USA and the UK "two countries divided by a common language" LOL!

Our "yard" is an odd shape, probably about 60ft from the boundary wall to the front of the property but as it is two plots it is wider at the front than at the back. Here in the UK of course a "yard" is the small paved area at the back of a house in a densely populated area and a "garden" is the whole outside area of a house.

My conscience is clear about bullying my dad - he agrees it was the right thing to do and Bonzo has fallen in to the routine dad has always had with his other dogs and is clearly very happy to do so.

He is a mixed breed - but looks so much like a pure bred flat coat retriever. I was going to wait until he was older to see if folks thought he was a flat coat but the truth is his mother was a golden retriever and his father was a chocolate Labradoodle. I am sure he will change enormously over the next few months but for now I think he could easily pass as a pure bred flat coat!

CorkyMax · 04-20-2011

QUOTE: Now as for breed, I so suck at this. You may or may not notice I don't comment much on the "WHAT IS HE?" threads unless it happens to be a breed I'm really familiar with so I will cheat here and say he's a retriever!!

Lange, What do you mean--You did a better job at guessing the Golden then I did--and I'm a Golden lover!ops: Well at least I got the Lab right and I never would have thought about the poodle part either.
It sounds like a good friendly mix though!!

You'll have to keep us posted, Cigwyllt--on how things are going with your dad and the new pup. With that mix --I'll bet it is a happy friendly smart dog if it gets the good traits of those breeds. But prob. will need a lot of exercise as Labs and Goldens like to eat--Don't know about the Poodle part though. And the Poodle is known for it's 'smarts!' Goldens are pretty intelligent too, lol, at least my Corky was and Sami seems to also be proving that to me.

cigwyllt · 04-20-2011

His personality is really beginning to shine through now - I think he was very submissive to his litter mate and didn't get much chance to express his puppy behaviour. His favourite toy is an old slipper in the shape of a dog that was stuffed and sewn up to make a toy. He's having a great time throwing it and chasing it and is beginning to retrieve.

He is a very nervous, submissive boy but when he is with people he knows he is loving and happy. He'll be fine.

As for exercise - the challenge at the moment is stopping him (and my father) from doing too much. Dad is used to walking 4 - 6 miles a day but is curbing his habits for the sake of Bonzo's puppy bones!

lange · 04-22-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deafdogsrule

OH ME ME ME! I KNOW WHAT HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sooo totally know what he is!

That breed can be a bit loopy, but at least you're around to help exercise him, if need be. Just be prepared to bath him ALOT! every (not giving away the breed) that I have heard about (on another forum) LOVE mud! I've seen some pretty awesome pics!

Alright hot shot. Let's hear it. What was you're guess?

lol C/M I so cheated! I only said "Retriever"...I would have guessed Lad Retriever but the hair on his back didn't look like it so then I thought maybe Chesapeake Bay retriever Mix, but what's the chance of one being in the UK?..I don't really know? lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

His personality is really beginning to shine through now - I think he was very submissive to his litter mate and didn't get much chance to express his puppy behaviour. His favourite toy is an old slipper in the shape of a dog that was stuffed and sewn up to make a toy. He's having a great time throwing it and chasing it and is beginning to retrieve.

He is a very nervous, submissive boy but when he is with people he knows he is loving and happy. He'll be fine.

As for exercise - the challenge at the moment is stopping him (and my father) from doing too much. Dad is used to walking 4 - 6 miles a day but is curbing his habits for the sake of Bonzo's puppy bones!

Wow, 4-6 miles. That's not at once is it? Bonzo needs a stroller! Yeah, that sounds way too much for such a young thing....but good for Dad! NICE!

cigwyllt · 04-23-2011

Lol Lange - we do have Chesapeakes here in the UK but I don't know if I've ever met one.

It's odd actually. The more I look into the breeds that are in him the more the poodle seems to stand out - he has the poodle build - deep chest, very slim hind quarters, long ears, the head shape. No sign of great intelligence yet though - he had a major panic attack when he spotted his reflection in the mirror!

No - the walks are not all in one. With Ianto it would be several half miles and a long 2/3 mile at some point in the day. Now he has the half miles 2 or 3 times and his "long" walk is just 1 mile.

Deafdogsrule · 04-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by lange

Alright hot shot. Let's hear it. What was you're guess?

lol C/M I so cheated! I only said "Retriever"...I would have guessed Lad Retriever but the hair on his back didn't look like it so then I thought maybe Chesapeake Bay retriever Mix, but what's the chance of one being in the UK?..I don't really know? lol

Wow, 4-6 miles. That's not at once is it? Bonzo needs a stroller! Yeah, that sounds way too much for such a young thing....but good for Dad! NICE!

I was wrong. I assumed he was a purebred as she said breed...

and of course, I thought he was a Flat Coat Retreiver... had she said breeds, I'm not sure if I'd'a guessed the poodle from the pics either!

cigwyllt · 04-23-2011

I was naughty - I meant to confuse you - I wondered if everyone else would think Flat Coat because that is immediately what I thought when I saw him. We took some lovely photos of him earlier but they are action shots and don't really show his coat.

lange · 04-25-2011

Good eye, Sara.
The only thing I noticed distinctive in his coat was his back so I can see why Cig, you said black dogs are hard to capture on camera. Especially indoors I would think.