chelsea Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 His legs seem a bit short to me, but perhaps I'm just used to long legged hounds It's possibly a GSD thing - Polo went through a phase where she looked too big for her legs, then overnight she seemed to grow about 3 inches and become all leggy for few weeks before her body caught up with her legs again, and she fell into proportion! Bracken had very k"Ooops, word censored!"bly knees from a young age. Big legs/chunky legs indicate a big dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 I know, he reminds me of Jude's HUGE GSD dog called Suleiman; he's a gorgeous big sop and enormous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Well, I had some excellent luck this weekend; a friend gave me the phone number of a dog trainer who specialises in hounds I met this lady (Julie) on Saturday and she was brilliant, she watched me working Ruby and instantly spotted what Rube's triggers are (I was just too close to the coalface to see). We spent more than an hour working in one of her paddocks and by jove I think we've done it!!!! She had some very helpful suggestions for a couple of niggles and it was refreshing to hear another opinion on how to work with hounds. I am now doing most of the commands using hand signals as her main driver is eye contact (stands to reason with her being a sight hound) and it seems to work to attract her attention. I am also using higher value treats as she's not particularly food-led; so we're now on chopped up cheese and frankfurters! It's so hard to find a hound trainer as they have a totally different psyche and you realy need to get into their heads. Not everybody will take that on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I used to make my own livercake for Jessie, it was ewwwy to make but it was one of the few things she would work for at her puppy classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 I tried that but it turned out vile and she wouldn't eat it... despite loving raw liver! We're on the cheese and yukky frankfurters at the moment... cheap, plasticy cheese (so that it doesn't crumble like good cheese) cut into tiny cubes and those vile frankfurters cut up too. This works very well for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 yes I tried frankfurters too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Clare - I just lurve watching hound dogs run - It's Holly's only trick! I don't know if I've told you, but we've got Holly Whistle trained. Purely by fluke when we were doing the whistle recall training with Quita. We used an Acme 211 1/2 (which is provided by Guide Dogs and is designed for Retrievers) We didn't do any of the whistle/ meal training with Holly that we did with Quita, but Holly caught on that when Quita came to the Whistle she got a little treat and started coming when she heard it too. Never dreamed she would learn ANYTHING (as she's sooooo thick!) but it works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 I have a whistle but she doesn't respond to it; I guess that I could treat train her to it though. Good idea LC, I will try it sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I tried that but it turned out vile and she wouldn't eat it... despite loving raw liver! We're on the cheese and yukky frankfurters at the moment... cheap, plasticy cheese (so that it doesn't crumble like good cheese) cut into tiny cubes and those vile frankfurters cut up too. This works very well for her. We have that problem as well Clare - despite Jazz being a labrador, she's not particularly food led and will only perform once for a low value treat! We have managed to get away with a decent sausage cut into very tiny pieces with cheese as a follow up. I have to use a see-through treat bag now so that she can see that there is plenty to come and she only gets it if she performs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 It's just like bribing children, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 We took Ruby for a lovely walk along the Thames near Lechlade at the weekend, she was very well behaved and had a wonderful time, then zonked out in the garden of a tea shop where we had a cream tea. Prime lurcher territory with plenty of scents to follow and bunnies/birds to chase. Her recall was excellent (proud mum moment) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I love that last picture, Clare What do you think she's thinking? How do I cross this canal to reach the bunnies I can see on t'other side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 I think she was watching some duckies. Fortunately the bank was too steep there for her to get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Lovely photos. It's such a great feeling when all the hours you put into training your dog pays off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 We're getting there Gamebird, she's only 7 months old and some days she's so distracted that there's no gettign her back. As you say though, it is so rewarding when they do as you ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 A Ruby update - she's practically fully grown now and a real bundle of fun. She is gettign more focussed now and does what I ask most of the time.. except when we're at Lesley's or she's distracted! We went on some lovely long walks at the weekend and here are a couple of photos: This one was taken after she'd been chasing in and out of the river with a lab; bog monsters the both of them! She went straight in the shower that evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Wow that time has flown! Ruby looks amazing, very grown up bless her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 have you stretched her??? blimey she's grown! what a gorgeous girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 she is lovely (maybe a little smelly ) but still lovely cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 She really did stink Cathy, but had the hugest smile on her face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I bet she loved every minute of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 That's one happy looking dog . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 Here's Rubes, helping Phil to shell some peas for me Not enough yet Dad: Pop that one next: Although she loves greens, she isn't keen on peas unless they're hidden in her other food. Ruby Tuesday is 10 months old now and nearly fully grown - she's put on some muscle, but is still a skinny minny and loves nothing more than racing around with a big grin on her face. She can out-run a couple of saluki friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 isnt she lovely I love her eyes and the curious nature gorgeous cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 Oh she's curious alright! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
