Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[beach chick]

she's lovely! and I agree re the fact that dog toys dont last.... I've given up buying them really!

[loumabel]

I find cooked liver cut into small pieces is usually a winner but I do have Labradors and they will knock down trees to get to food. Tango is gorgeous and I am sure you will win with the recalls in the end. Good luck

[Chortle Chook]

Yes I'd agree, anything with liver in it does the trick.

 

One tip, however, is to use the 'gambling hook' i.e. don't always offer a treat. If you think about it gamblers get hooked because they don't always win and so think 'May be this time I'll win'. If it is a case of sometimes she gets a treat for coming back but sometimes she doesn't, she'll have to come just to check it out.

 

Also make sure that you don't always put her lead on when she comes or she'll quickly realise that when you call it means 'game over' and then she'll do that Roo thing of 'please, just one more jump, Kanger'

 

Another tip if she really doesn't want to come is to run in the opposite direction making excited noises and she'll follow to find out what the fun is all about. Don't worry if onlookers think you are quite daft, any real dog lovers will quickly realise what you are doing. Then when she comes have a little game so that she thinks 'Hey, being with Mummy is a lot more fun than looking for that rabbit'.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Some great tips - thanks to the collective wisdom of Omlet as always

 

I shall arm myself with liver and start running around like a loon post-haste! Oh and a squeaky toy too. I should attract a few strange looks if I'm lucky

[chick wiggle]

Oh what absolutely gorgeous photos, she really is a stunner

I agree also with the toy as a treat if shes not totally treat motivated. Have you tried a clicker with a whistle? I use one with George. Two short blasts on the whistle and he comes running. Its amazing how quickly it works.

You can read a lot about them on the internet, all the tricks i taught George have been done with the aid of the clicker.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Recall has been improving hugely in the last week or so I keep forgetting we've only had her 3 weeks, so mustn't expect too much too soon. But we've found a couple of things have really worked. Firstly, I found some training treats in Waitrose that contain liver and Tango LOVES these. They smell like Go-Cat which is a bit odd and a strange smell for me to remember since I've not had a cat for over 15 years, since I was a teenager. I now mix these up with her other regular treats so every now and again she gets one as a 'jackpot'.

Also, we have been walking her off the lead in a newly planted wood which is totally secure, this has paths cut through trees which we follow. We've been waiting until she is out of sight before calling her, then walking in a different direction to what she expects. A few times running round in circles wondering where we have got to has worked really well. Instead of just looking at us when we call, but not coming back because she knows where we are, she has now decided we are unpredictable and it's much better to come and find us. Lots of fuss and a liver biscuit help seal the deal We're definitely going to whistle train her though as I've almost shouted myself ho"Ooops, word censored!" in the last few weeks We've also met other dogs off the lead while we've been out, which is where I thought we'd be most likely to lose her (had visions of her disappearing with another owner and their dogs) but after a quick play, she's been quite happy to come away with us, so I'm really happy with what we've achieved in a short time.

 

Funny you should mention clicker training, chick wiggle. The dog trainer we met with reckons Tango would pick up clicker training very easily so I might have a go, I think you can pick up the clickers and a training guide quite cheaply? She's going to training classes in October, so it would be good to get her used to the clicker by then, especially as at the moment, she's learning quickly using treats, but she often follows my hand instead of the verbal command. For example she will 'down' on command but only if my hand is on the floor as she has got used to following the treat (if that makes sense). Would be helpful to be able to click it instead of waving my hands around semaphore-style!

 

Another quick question for you all, Tango is going to be coming on holiday with us to Cornwall on Saturday. The journey is approx 5.5 hours plus stops, so it's a long way. We're planning to stop every 1.5 - 2 hours so we can swap drivers, stretch our legs and have a drink (us and dog). We'll give her a really good, long run in the morning before we set off. Is she likely to sleep most of the way once we get going, or would it be a good idea to bring some chews to keep her occupied for a bit? I've never driven so far with a dog before and I know I'll be bored on such a long journey so can only imagine how Tango will feel!

[chick wiggle]

Wow, sounds like she is really come on in leaps and bounds, the woods sound like a brilliant place for her and to keep her guessing as to which way you turn or where you will be after she looses sight of you is a great idea.

I got my clicker from Pets at home, but make sure you get one with a whistle because they do sell them without. The whistle is brilliant if they are far from you and i think it has more of a shock, stop in your tracks effect on them rather than the faint sound of your voice. You will still need her favorite treats to 'charge' the clicker.

Using hand signals alongside your commands is also a good idea, they seem to respond quicker/easier to signals, also, if your out and shes off the lead, you can blow your whistle and signal the recall command, making what you want clear for her to understand. Although, blowing the whistle alone should make her come running to you.

For the car journey, she will probably sleep alot but i would take anything and everything you think she will need/want, some new chews a new toy. You seem to be so tuned into her at the moment, i would go with and trust your instincts, they seem to be working just fine

[Lavenders_Blue]

You seem to be so tuned into her at the moment, i would go with and trust your instincts, they seem to be working just fine

 

 

Awww thanks!

[Chortle Chook]

Clearly Tango now sees you as her very ownsome family which is lovely. Well done you

 

For the holiday journey I feel sure she will sleep most of the way once she has settled, however, as she is clearly a bright cookie she may start with a lot of looking out of the window and perhaps even give a little bark at any dogs she sees (obviously before you reach the motorway). I'd recommend that if she does bark, you don't give her chews as it is probably not something you want to encourage if only for the sake of your ears.

 

Don't forget to put a temporary tag on her with your holiday location and mobile number in case she forgets her recall.

 

Also, as a rescue dog, she may feel a bit disorientated when she first arrives at the new location. She may also worry that you are about to hand her over to someone new so be prepared for a widdle or two on arrival. It might therefore be good to take a role of paper kitchen towels with you, as well, of course, as taking her blanket and familiar food bowl.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Thanks Cheaky Chook, I hadn't thought of a temporary ID tag. I shall go out and get one today. One of those 'capsule' type tags with the scroll of paper inside would be okay wouldn't it? Then I can reuse it with a new bit of paper every time we go away. Tango is now microchipped, but if she does disappear somewhere it would be easier for someone to take our mobile phone numbers from a tag than take her to be scanned at the vet. Here's hoping she is going to be a good girl!

 

She caught another pigeon yesterday This time on the busy Main Street in the next village, at rush hour, with hundreds of people driving past to see us trotting along with a dead bird hanging out of her mouth I think 'leave' is going to be the next command to teach her as a priority! Lucky girl will think all her Christmases have come at once with all those lovely seagulls to chase on the beach in Cornwall.....

[Chortle Chook]

When you have Tango all trained up to a clicker, then the command 'leave' is quite easy to teach. All the same, one of my dogs goes for crows even though he leaves my chickens alone. It is that flap flap flapping that they like. I also used to have a dachsund that caught rabbits. He would then insist on carrying his prey home, which, given his low to the ground profile, meant holding his head up as high as he could and then dragging the poor dead animal along in such a way that its front feet, then its back feet would go along the ground. It was very maccabre He once took one right through a garden sherry party that our 'Hyacinth Bouquet' neighbours were hosting

[chick wiggle]

He once took one right through a garden sherry party that our 'Hyacinth Bouquet' neighbours were hosting

 

sorry but that did make me laugh

[Lavenders_Blue]

Well, we're back from our holiday - a few snaps to follow later when hubby loads them onto the computer from his phone. We all had a super time, lots and lots to do in Cornwall and we had some great walks.

Tango completely forgot her recall all week so she did have to spend a lot of time walking on the lead, but we also found some places where she could have a run off the lead without being able to disappear too far. The beaches were very good for that, and she made lots of new doggy friends that she could play with. She also practised her hunting skills on the farm we stayed on, catching two rabbits and a pigeon.

 

Anyway, I'm glad I asked you all about seasons as Tango rounded off her holiday by coming into season! The 5 weeks we have had her have certainly been eventful so far As you all advised, there really isn't much blood at all, which I'm thankful for, and she does also seem to be quiter and even a bit clingier. We're walking her as early and late in the day as practically possible, to try and avoid other dogs, and keeping her on the lead of course. I think she'll be going crazy after 3 weeks of not being able to run off the lead but at least it's not forever. I believe that the best time to spay is 3 months after the season, so I'll be arranging that as a little Christmas present for her!

 

Last night, something very strange happened. From the day we brought Tango home, she has slept in the kitchen with the door shut overnight. She has never made so much as a whimper during the night. Last night, we put her in the kitchen as usual, with her bedtime biscuit and went upstairs to bed. Then she started whining and howling very loudly - this went on for quite some time and we really couldn't work out the cause. In the end, it really got too much and we ended up putting her bed on the landing outside our bedroom, and she slept quietly all night. Could this be something to do with her having her season? The only other thing I can think is that she didn't settle in our holiday cottage and although she slept downstairs, we kept our bedroom door open so she knew were around. However, Saturday night, when we returned from holiday, she slept in the kitchen at home as usual with no fuss, so I am not sure why she has suddenly decided to kick up a fuss at bedtime last night. I really don't want sleeping out of the kitchen to become a habit, and I am also concerned that eventually this could lead to separation anxiety if it continues.... any thoughts/ideas?

[Chortle Chook]

I'm glad all went well on holiday. Sounds like Tango had great fun.

 

Regarding the issue of her howling last night, it could have been that she sensed the storm that seemed to blow round us all in the UK most of the night. Dogs can be very sensitive to this and do not have to hear thunder or see lightening to know that all is not well on the weather front. If this is the case it is important to not to make too much of a fuss of her as you don't want an all out escalated phobia on your hands, however a few drops of Bach's Rescue remedy (Holland & Barrett supply this as do other health stores) should help settle her. It is a good idea to have some of this handy in your 1st aid box ahead of Bonfire Night anyway.

 

As for her sleeping in or out of the kitchen, I must admit that, after a while of keeping my greyhounds in the kitchen at night, when two were away one night, leaving one on his own, I thought it sad to make him sleep on his own and gave way to his seemingly sensible desire to be with the pack at night. Now they all three sleep in my bedroom (not on the bed however) every night. Though none of them suffer from separation anxiety as a result, and are very good when I go out, I've probably made a mistake as I realise there will come a day when they are too old to get up the stairs and too big for me to carry up.

[Lavenders_Blue]

That's an interesting thought about the storm, it was (and still is) very windy here today. It hadn't occurred to me that it might unsettle a dog. I have some Rescue Remedy so will dig it out and try that tonight.

 

When I went down to Tango last night, I was careful about not making a fuss, mainly because I didn't want her to start associating whining/howling with getting attention. So I just picked up her bed, plonked it on the landing and got back into bed, no fuss no talking. Hope that sounds about right.

 

I'll perhaps try her in the kitchen again tonight but not worry too much if she does end up sleeping upstairs. She was very good and didn't come into the bedroom, but I don't really want her to get used to us being available 24/7 in case it causes problems when we do go out and leave her. She is a bit of a shadow, so I think having her understand that nothing bad happens when she is by herself is no bad thing... although now you've told me about your greyhounds sleeping in the bedroom I do feel just a teensy bit cruel!

 

I've probably made a mistake as I realise there will come a day when they are too old to get up the stairs and too big for me to carry up.

 

I don't suppose anyone has invented stairlifts for dogs?!

[UKMARCH]

Hi, glad you had a good holiday, it sounds very much like our experience earlier this year, Netty had her first season the day we got back from Cornwall in May. She acted very depressed during it and lethargic and to be honest has only just got back to normal over the last couple of weeks, she is now back to her bouncy self and eating which was a bit of a worry as she has only been picking at her food since. She now is playing with her toys all the time too. She is due for neutering now so it seems a shame to spoil it as I'm sure she will feel rotten after. If ours grizzle at bedtime I have to be honest we ignore them as we don't want to start something but Tango may be feeling strange with her season, I noticed that Netty urinated a lot more during her season maybe she didn't know what was going on down below and it felt strange and she did want a lot more reassurance than normal. Hopefully it will go quickly for you.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I'm resurrecting this old thread rather than starting a new one.

 

Tango was spayed yesterday and after a whole day of worrying I was able to bring her home at about 3.30 in the afternoon. I was slightly surprised at how bright she was, she was obviously still a bit woozy from the anaesthetic and was very cold, but alert and 'with it'. I suppose medicines have improved quite a bit in the 15 years since my parents got their current dog neutered, he was like a zombie for about 24 hours afterwards.

 

Anyhow, Tango seems to be recovering very well which is good, but almost a bit too well! So far today she has sprinted up and down the hallway several times, raced up and down the stairs and then wriggled around on her back like a worm. I'm going to fit a stairgate (just got to pick it up from my parents) to limit the stair racing, but is this liveliness going to cause a problem? How do you keep a lunatic dog calm? The vet checked her heart yesterday morning and said she must be super-fit as she has a low resting heart rate, then he told me to keep her calm for 10 days! Is he asking the impossible?!

[Chucky Mama]

Allowing her to do too much now will delay the healing in the muscle layer that need to heal just beneath the skin. There is an awful lot going on beneath the small wound that you can see. Too much exercise will also result in wound swelling and fluid around the stitches. Do your best to keep her quiet for at least 7 days. Perhaps try keeping her mentally occupied and also reduce her food intake (you will need to reduce her food a little anyway now to stop her gaining weight). If she is going stir crazy and you find that she is bouncing around too much and in danger of hurting herself more, take her for a very short controlled walk on a short lead.

[The Dogmother]

I've always had that problem with lurchers too. They normally intersperse periods of complete inactivity with mad racing, but it seems exaggerated when they can't get out to race; As CM has said, I resorted to lots of small on-lead walks and if she was really driving me nuts at home then I'd pop her in the crate she used to have.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Thanks folks, I should have perhaps been a bit more prepared but I didn't expect her to be so lively less than 24 hours after the operation Once the stairgate is up I will feel a little happier as she won't be able to whizz up and down the stairs - in the meantime I've shoved a couple of chairs in the way to try and stop her going up.

 

I'll take her out for a few 5-10 minutes walks throughout the day (she's just had her first one now). Hopefully that will help alleviate some of the frustration and energy.

 

She's on painkillers and I wonder if that's part of the problem - she feels well enough to zoom around. She's shut in the living room with me at the moment so she can't sprint up and down the hall and she's giving me the RSPCA eyes...

[Lavenders_Blue]

Well we made it! 11 days of only short walks on the lead has meant Tango has been pretty much bouncing off the walls the whole time. Who would have thought that she would have learned how to throw her ball for herself because we wouldn't She had a check up with the vet nurse today who said her scar looked really good and that she could go back to normal exercise. I'm so relieved - I'm not sure who has been more stressed out, me or the dog!

[Seagazer]

Glad it all went well, its always worrying.

[Chortle Chook]

So pleased you can all bounce together now. I always hate these spaying / neutering operations (though of course my poor dogs have to go through it) as the operation is on a healthy dog rather than being to save a sick one.