Oh dear, I see it has been some time since my last update. Well, he is still here 'just' though I must say life is still not easy with Custer. My last post was the important day of taking down the crate, this lasted for 2 weeks, when he almost ate my camera that was the last straw, the crate was put straight back up again and Custer is put in it on EVERY occasion we go out, he is never left long - infact his longest stint EVER was on Christmas day, but as he had a long walk and play on the beach then a few hours with his toys this was not such a problem.
It seemed Custer had never done Christmas before, he had no idea - we had to teach him the fun of wrapping paper, so he now knows how to catch a paper ball and rip it to bits, Jaja did help to teach him this one.
He got two presents from his nana, this giggle ball - which he is still playing with a whole 3 days later..
..and a treat ball, one that you need some 'brains' for in order to get the treats out - Jaja loved this ball and played with it for hours, he could get the plug out then roll the ball around and get out the treats..
Custer however, could not work it out at all - last night said treat ball met its end, Custer finally got the plug out, but then couldnt get the treats out so totally destroyed the ball till he did, there is now nothing left of it.
In a desperate attempt to try calm him down a bit I have started him on CSJ 'calm down' herbs, no joy yet but they do say it takes 2 - 3 weeks to help, I have another 4 days yet before we are at week 2, really need something to help, nobody can believe he is not eating a stack of additives a day he is so loopy, and yes I do take him to the beach 'early' EVERY day for a walk and some training, but he still turns into tasmanian devil if the mood takes.
To finish, here is a picture of my Aunts rescue dog I covered in wrapping paper on the day, sorry Sophie - she is a lovely dog, gets on with all people and other dogs... almost perfect.
Whoops, after such good intentions to keep up with this blog, life went and got in the way I'm afraid...
Anyway, time for a Custer update!!! He is still here..........
Above is Custer on his new bed, very nice double duvet with paisley cover from charity shop. This was to replace his CRATE!! Yes, we got brave and finally after nearly six months we took it down, it was big enough to take over most of the room and we had hoped it would not be for quite so long. So far (5 days in) its going okay. Custer does have a habit of stealing his Daddy's shoes to sleep with whilst I am out with Jaja, but he isnt chewing them, and (so far) has not stolen anything else. When I leave him with Jaja (again, so far) he does nothing.
The walking thing is still a bit up and down. Each 'down' has a bad effect on my confidence though so does tend to set us back somewhat, which is not good for either of us. Our 'downs' are his reaction to submissive dogs, he will dominate and is rather noisy about it.. now I know it is NOT aggression, Custer is NOT an aggressive dog - this was proved when we were set on by a stray and I had Custer behind me and submitting. Problem is of course the other owner does not know this, and despite the fact I am never so far away, and do step in immediatly I still get 'what for' over it.
We have made some progress this week though, Custer has a new friend - a flatcoated retriever called 'Sam' I hope to get some pics one day to show you. Sam told Custer off twice for his dominant behavoir and now all is well, they get on great - also after initial fear Custer is now good with Sam's owner too.
Today I had a meeting with a dog walker I have known a few years on passing, she is rather experienced and despite having heard about Custer until today we had not met with her dog 'Scout' - this was an interesting meeting as she had already told me not to worry as Scout could handle unruly dogs and there would be no problem, Custer immediatly went to dominate Scout who totally ignored him and calmly removed himself, this was quite fascinating for us to watch. Apparently if the dog in question (being Custer) is not aggressive Scout will try reassure him, they too ended up playing well with Scout only 'telling him' about playing too rough.
So, at nearly 6 months in - there is such 'slow' progress going on - it really is not easy by any means, BUT there are days when it goes well, before hand there was not any days that went well.
Oh I forgot, I have now got Custer to enjoy playing ball - he just went through the motions before, now he loves it, I can even get him to ignore 'some' dogs when we play, often he does not bother with smaller dogs at all.
We still do evening walks for them both, his lead walking for Daddy is fantastic - long way from that first day, and he walks on just a collar and lead for him, I still have a double sided harness as due to the damage he caused to my right arm I cannot hold him in that now.
I try to walk away from as many dogs as I can and if I do not know the dog I will change direction, or walk in a lot of mud to avoid any trouble - just work with the dogs I know - rightly or wrongly this works for me, but if I dog runs to us - I will let go, if its a confident dog with a dog savvy owner all is well.
I think thats all for this time's update - better not make anymore promises about my next one.
We have an excuse for our absence this time, we have all been on our holiday's to Devon. Might have been a bit on the ambitious side for us really with a new rescue dog, he did find the whole experience a bit much. Though he enjoyed the 'playing in the sea' parts. I booked the holiday just after loosing our beloved Alfie, knowing it was likely we would have another dog by now I booked for 2 dogs, spent ages on line finding the right place, with a large enclosed garden. So, if the dogs were on leads the rest of the time at least they could play at the cottage. So... I was rather disappointed to arrive and find the fence to be totally inadequate at keeping 'ANY' dog inside and no gate on the property toward the car park and road! This meant the dogs to be on leads at all times in the garden, not quite what I had wanted, and was very restricting.
such a shame, as the view was stunning, there was a very large field outside the garden too that lead to a main road, so we had to be very careful. We seemed to spend most of our days searching for a dog friendly beach, the cottage was so remote there was no mobile or internet connection either.
Custer spent so much time on the lead he has got a bit better on it now, he has seemed to have improved with people - he did see a lot of them though in all those coastal villages. Though, in the back of Daddy's large car he managed to eat 4 leads - as he was not fond of being so far away from us. In my car he is much closer.
Custer even made a friend at Dawlish Warren beach, this was a nice one.. a bit of a walk to get to the dogs allowed bit, but there he met another rescue dog to play with..
The weather was challenging too, we had an awful lot of rain!! We visited Torquay one day, the weather was dreadful and of course the tourist part was not for dogs, so we found a little walk to take them on leads, went round a corner and it stopped.... whoops!!! almost lost Custer....
At least it had finally stopped raining though, was one of the worst days for the weather. Jaja was not impressed either to be on lead so much..
So good you can see him twice?? no idea why that happened.
There are more Custer holiday pics, so will do another post to bore you with them. I am now back to 'clicker' training on our beach each day, also challenging... its all quiet today as Custer ran off to play with a Greyhound - that wore him out.
Oh my, nearly a month since my last blog post!! So sorry. Just have not taken any photo's and hate to blog without, so I just dragged out an old one so the page was not bare.
I would like to say things are better - but then I would be telling lies. Things have not been better! But after a rather bad morning walk I bumped into a lady I know from dog club who recognised Custer's behavoir and offered some advice.
We have now started 'clicker training' my new book has only arrived today 'click to calm'. Meanwhile I have been teaching Custer all about the clicker and yummy treats, also been working on some heel work. I do have him responding to the clicker, and walking with me really well off the lead (were its quiet).
However, the lunging at dogs is still going on - and he is not too keen on certain people either.
With other dogs he is friendly every time, and only wants to play - I have now found on our morning off lead walkies if I run off he will follow me, so recall is now happening, just wish I could stop him from going in the first place.
I also watched some great video's by kikopup which were fascinating - learning some of her 'catch words' is also helping.
I will try not to leave it a month till my next blog post, and hope to be able to talk progress.
Yes, this is of course in the place were I have my dreams, not 'quite' a reality. These photo's were taken the other week at gundog/puppy training school, when 'Daddy' decided he would have a try just to see if it was Custer that was just naughty or me that was just useless.
The verdict was it was Custer who was naughty!!! This was however the class we found Custer had a great interest in the 'dummy' though, which gave us hope (we are always searching for hope).
I have spent all last week, every day (and most of the week before) training Custer in a quiet place. I have taught him to walk with me, find the dummy and retrieve.. At today's class you would have thought I had actually spent the entire two weeks with Custer locked in a cupboard, his behavoir was nothing short of appauling, and very embarrassing to say the least. I really do not 'get it', yes there was distractions in class and a lot of retrieve, but he just reverted back to the dog we brought home from rescue 3 months ago? I know I shouldnt but I am so disappointed.
Totally, back to the beginning yet again tomorrow. I now have to teach him 'LEAVE IT' as he clearly had no idea what that meant today. I have 2 weeks to try drill this into him for next class, as there is no class next week.
This is what we aim for one day............... wonder if we will ever reach that day? of course these dogs have been with their owners since pups, and are well bred gundogs.
Unlike our Custer who is a rescue Labrador, on his fourth home - with no training before us, and one bad home we know of. This week I was trying to execute the flies in the kitchen with a rolled up paper, I had enough of them and the plot was lost! well.............. I ended up having to live with the flies as Custer was in pieces, the rolled up paper had sent him over the edge, he had seen that before and not after flies, the sight of him so scared brought tears to my eyes.
Then, there was yesterday............... in the kitchen........... Custer going totally beserk and barking like mad at the unit base? this went on for sometime, I was convinced we had mice, OH had to go remove the cupboard base to see what was behind it, the culpret for all this fuss??............. was a garlic skin, Custer attacked it with venom, especially when it strayed menacingly towards his Dad.
He still wont let poor Bailey in the car, so we now get him out and put Bailey in, then all is well.
Just as I think things are going quite well, things seem to go backwards? I really don't remember this happening with any of my rescue dogs before, this one really is 'Unique'.
Today's pictures have no connection to the topic at all, they were taken last week while OH was off and we took the dogs to the beach each morning.
Alas, once he went back to work I then returned to my routine of taking Bailey (above with Custer) and Jaja (below) to the beach first thing, and then Custer to the park.
I 'was' enjoying my park walkies, often it was so quiet I had a chance to do some training with Custer without distraction, but then somehow we got walking with others. Must admit alarm bells did start to go off, I should know by past experience that daily walking with others rarely ends well, as everyone has their own opinion on how to (if at all) train dogs. Often you can end up walking with someone who has the most lovely timid dog, who is always good with other dogs.. and an owner who simply 'assumes' your dog to be the same. This scenario is fine, until the other owner then decides your dog does not need correcting or keeping in line? as of course, the brief hour or so they spend with you gives them all the information they need to form a judgement.
(yes, this has happened to me before with my last dog too)
So, after 3 days this started to happen.. instead of leaving the walk (which I should have done) Custer was enjoying playing with the ball and other dogs, so I did and said nothing (anything for a quiet life) but Custer was becoming a bit on the unruly side, which is fine for a dog who is submissive and good with other dogs, but NOT for a dog like Custer...
I should have taken more notice of the 'tuts' and grumbles when I did correct him - why people find the need to do this I dont know, if they dont like the way I train my dog, dont walk with me.
Sure enough disaster was waiting... along came a small breed puppy, now I knew this was not going to be good with Custer, he will either try to dominate or play, neither of which is good with a very large Labrador and a small puppy. I grabbed the line he was on and told him to leave, owner and puppy headed straight for us, the chap with us announces to the now apprehensive puppy owner 'Its okay, he's fine with other dogs'?? erm.... excuse me? he knew this how? after a couple of meetings? so he let the puppy off lead, headed straight for Custer who of course then lunged at it........... due to the line he was on, total disaster was averted, BUT this could have been worse. The other walkers did not even see a problem with this incident? They did not seem to realise what could have happened.
Very upset by this I was ready to leave by the next exit anyway, and was realising that I had lost control of my own dog (again).. when worse was 'almost' to come.. along came some more walkers with two very very LARGE dogs, one of which was a new rescue dog. Now, this time I knew exactly what would happen, they headed straight for us.. this would have been total disaster and one of the dogs would certainly have been hurt.
This time I took charge, leaded Custer up and marched out of the nearby exit, leaving the other walkers still appearing to see no problem at all?
Is it just me? are other dog owners totally unaware? can they just not read other dogs? or is it simply people who feel the need to take charge of a situation they know nothing about, making it ignorance.
The annoying thing is the same people are in the park at the same time every day, it is not a large park so I simply cannot avoid them. I cannot go earlier as I take the other two out, and later there is another set of walkers who have been there on the park since time began, and I know their dogs are certainly not suitable for Custer to upset.
So, today I came back from walkies number one in the car, put Custer in the car and took him to the beach too - I thought it would be as quiet as earlier, I got that one wrong - of 3 directions to walk in all 3 of them were full of dogs, owners and children. So, I picked the quieter of the three routes and went for it. As it happened Custer did very well, was easily distracted from the one dog we came into contact with, I only let go of his line once so he could play in some water, but that was fine. Hopefully I will get back control again, and one day we can mix with others....... but not on a daily basis. The beach is good, seems most people there are happy to walk with their dogs on their own, and do not see the need to interfere with others. Also when the weather gets better (which is worse to most people) that cuts down the walkers, especially on the beach as it gets a bit muddy and folk dont like that.
One day I might be able to walk them all together that would be good, and a lot easier for me. BUT, Bailey although a lovely boy, does have his dominance moments and does have to be watched with other dogs, he is very friendly but will take up an opportunity to dominate given the chance and with him being so large too, I do not feel I can manage both him and Custer just yet. Especially as they are still competing a bit, see they look like little angels above dont they? but Custer wont let Bailey in the car without a song and dance each time, and that's with OH to yell at them - not something I want to deal with, especially not whilst driving.
Jaja is no problem at all at any time - but, he was adopted by us as a puppy born into rescue, we took him at 14 weeks with no baggage to sort out at all. All I have to watch out for are rabbits, but he can be called off them, which is very impressive for a Lurcher.
Walks have been a bit different for a few days as we have had 'Daddy' at home. So, as there are two of us Custer has been coming to the beach with Jaja and Bailey early mornings, then late evening walkies in the park. Not as much training as he was having with me, but we are 'trying' to work on his recall and socialisation. This week he met up with some pups I have known since they were tiny, they used to play with my Alfie too. Here is the very handsome 'Fella'
Fella, and his sister 'Tilly' are littermates, they are Irish Setter x Collie, not a mix you would choose I know but these are the most adorable well behaved pair, and belong to the one lady. Here is Tilly with Custer and Jaja, it was a warm night so after a quick game of ball they were quite tired
It was so good to see Custer making friends, him and Fella did have a bit of a grump at each other to start with, but as their owner is happy to let them work things out all was well in no time, they had a great evening together.
There is still a lot to learn about Custer. Today's puppy class was another learning curve for us all, Arthur is very tuned in with the dogs and has pointed out how much fear Custer has, and how hard it is to train him because of this. We 'may' have finally found a focus though, seems Custer is very interested in the gundog 'dummy' so we have ordered a few - had to be a 'few' as he wont give it back, so that needs some work this week. We have always believed in being able to get anything off our dogs, so far with Custer we have, but the 'dummy' he refuses to part with - needs work, so as soon as they arrive we will be working on improved 'retrieve' he was getting there with the ball quite well, so should be ok.
Sorry its been a whole week since we checked in. As you see, its just so hot here (not what we are used to) the once green grass of the park is no more.
Custer is now having a walk around the park in the morning, after I have take the others out and then another in the evening, either to the park or the beach.
Its so warm for them there is not an awful lot going on really. I rarely have my camera with me, as with having Custer loose most of the time full wits are needed to be sure he is not mis-behaving, and if we see an on lead or older dog we have to get him back asap.
Custer is getting to know some dogs in the park, he has made a few friends but they do need to be able to cope with him, and few can. I think he managed to upset a lady with a Labrador this week as we didnt see her again, whoops. Custer was playing, but he does play nip like a puppy and needs telling by another dog to sort this, the Labrador did this but the owner did not like it.
Today he met a super play mate, weekend now as the OH is not working we take them all in the car to the beach, easier for me with just the one walkies. So, earlier on we were there - we met a lovely what we thought to be 'young' dog for Custer to play with, I thought he was a Pointer, but apparently he was Vizler x Labrador, and FOUR YEARS OLD. Also played like a puppy, so both large dogs and a great time was had. Its all quiet here now.
I had been very worried there was something not right with Custer, he tired so easily. OH said it was just due to him never having had the exercise, but I was worried there was something a miss...
Well, he is now getting used to exercise, recovering a lot quicker and if he does not get enough running time, usually when its just too hot he is a total pest! so thats a good thing.
At Puppy Class last week he was pretty good, better off lead than on - Arthur is happy that he is just improving in general so thats the main thing. At dog club on Wednesday not so good, he just fights on the lead (with us, to be off it I mean), when its his turn to do things he is great - but rest of the time is a tussle. Just been told the hall is being refurbished, so no club for a couple of weeks now - not sure we can go after that either as OH starts a new job, which is very early to rise, and he wont be back till after 7pm in the evenings.
Hoping for an end to the severe heat soon, so the dogs can have more fun and running time.
Not really much to say (which is a good thing) unless you would like to read me waffling on about my hatred of the hot weather? probably not, so give that a miss. But, here we were late last night at sunset time on the beach, as far as the sea as it was just too hot to do much else.
Watching Custer play in the sea did make us smile, as the first time we took him, shortly before he tried to run off towards Birkenhead.... he was scared of the water, we doubt he had seen so much before. He seems to approve of it now though, of course its nice for them to cool off too. Jaja is a big fan of the water, and Lurcher's are not meant to like it at all, so I am told.
Nice quiet uneventful walk last night, which is just the way we like it. Today, (no pics, sorry) we took Custer, Bailey and Jaja out in one car - we have not done that before, was a success too. Although as we were out early for a Saturday morning, despite it being a bit cooler than of late it was very busy, with an awful lot of dogs.. Custer did very well with them all apart from one? not sure what happened there, was a young dalmation he took exception too, we are wondering if the dog had a go at him as we have never seen him react that way, he was all noise but thats not the point, luckily we still have him on a long line so easy enough to reel in quickly. This has given me some concern, as I was hoping to take them all on my own next week when OH is back at work. Still, we are going to try again early tomorrow morning before puppy class, as I have Bailey tomorrow too, so we can see how it goes, and also a quick park walk this evening.
We were out so long this morning, poor Custer had never had a walk that long before - at the end of it I saw one of the 'dog walkers' I know, so he ran round with two other Lurchers, that was a bit silly of him... he has been very quiet all day - so just a quick one tonight.
As I mentioned in another entry, one of the ways we used to teach Custer to stop 'dropping' in the driveway and wanting to go in the car, was to lead walk him to the park in the evening (had to be evenings when hubby was here to heave him off the floor). To enjoy walks we took some toys too, now this is a first for Jaja, we have loads of photo's of our old Labradors playing with tuggies, occasionally Jaja would grab one end briefly, but he has never played like this. So good to see them play together.
As you see, being the boss and the tallest Jaja does tend to win the game most of the time, although Custer is younger and a lot stronger he is also very respectful to Jaja.
It was this day we then met up with one of the dog walkers with a few dogs and Custer had a great play with a big chocolate Labrador, this was our first time playing in the park with him, and it went very well.
See how Jaja likes to remind him who is boss? Not bad from a pup who was for ten years bottom of the pack.
So, yesterday Custer and I got to the park on our own which was fabulous - our second successful outing, during which we met another dog walker 'Jo' from Power Paws she had a few dogs with her, and 3 lovely German Shepherds who were very good to Custer who had a great time with them.
Last night was dog club night, and went very well. Okay, Custer is by no means perfect but at least he can join in now and is much calmer, he is still reactive to the hyper dogs I'm afraid, but hopefully will get calmer in time. Hubby was very pleased with how he did.
This morning we had another great walk on the park, met up with 'Jo' from Power Paws again, today she had a German Shepherd called Ruby who Custer loved to play with, they had a great time, played some ball, not much as its a hot one today. I also ran into a lady I met at the fund raiser when we had just adopted Custer, she was amazed at his progress, we chatted for a while - best bit was during this chat were was Custer? laid down by my feet!! I was so pleased, I did have to check him from bothering other dogs, but only gently and he stayed with me. He is still on a long line as I dont have that total trust just yet, and the park as too many exits to roads, so need to be able to stop him if necessary, only had to do that once though, and that was due to him bothering a dog who did not want to be bothered.
He has also taken a telling off from a little dog today - doing well with the little ones, more dogs are starting to see him as the big harmless lump that he is, which is great.
I did 'of course' forget the camera (again) must try do better at that. Do wish it was cooler though, its so hot for them all, even my first early walk with Jaja and Bailey on the beach was too hot for us all. Will be another park walkies tonight and in the morning.
Saturday we are planning our first trip with them all in one car, going to the beach - should be interesting.
For the last few weeks, THIS is what happened for my morning walkies. If he had fingers we know what he would be doing with them! This is Custer saying 'if I am not going in the car, I am NOT going'
I told him yesterday I would take these photo's add them to his blog and show everyone just how Silly he is. As you can see, no way would he move...
This is Custer on the long line whilst I went and sat in the hall. I could drag him in, but what would be the point of that? Eventually he would come in himself and I just calmly took off his lead and harness and carried on with my stuff and ignored him...
Guess what?? Today, he came with me to the park!!!! hurray, victory was mine, happy dance to the park and around the house when I got back. No idea what changed, but we did it - not really any playmates just the one, the dog was fine to play but the owner didnt like it so I had to turn around with Custer, but we did a whole walk round the park and back home, hurray!!!!!!!
I think its still about those choices, he needs to make the choice himself. Hopefully we will find some friends to play with on the park so he can enjoy it more, still a bit hot though - in time.. when it gets cooler, and the good ol' golf tournament has finished, we can go back to my regular walk all together, cant wait - be great to do just the one walk with them all, be even better when the weather cools down a bit.
Yes, I know - sorry about the strangely attired woman at the end of the lead - Its a hot day, all I thought of was how to keep the sun off me, not what I would actually look like! Here is Custer looking like a well behaved boy no? Well, actually no he was not, he had hurled himself to the floor and refused to move, this is how he stayed for the first 15 minutes. Then our trainer for the day (who was Nick, as Arthur was away) got out the tennis balls...
Looking good, he is sat up now and all is well... or not! "Next, throw the ball" he says, so I throw the ball and off he goes, to the shaded area with said ball. As its a gundog class, you do not take the ball from the dog, he has to give it up......... that was a long wait.
After that, Custer did actually manage some lead walking - I wont say heel work as it most certainly was not that. Then, it was time to practice recall........nobody thought this would be possible, but it seems left with the alternative of me or a stranger Custer did actually prefer me as an option, even 'Daddy' didnt think it would happen, as he had the camera poised for Custer disappearing into the distance, but no.. this was a run back to me!
Last night we took them to our local park, 'Daddy' is practicing taking Custer out without the car, as he now will NOT walk with me in a morning as he wants to get in the car, so we are trying to teach him lead walks are fun too. I took some great pics of him playing with Jaja, which is a first for them both - sadly was just too amazed to take photo's later on when he played with a very large Chocolate Labrador as bolchy as him, very rough playing but they both had a great time.
Needless to say we have not been out today as yet, I took photo's of Custer laid in the drive refusing to move.. so you will get to see those soon too.
Its off to the park again soon...........
Its Saturday today, when normal folk take it easy and perhaps enjoy a lay in after the weeks early mornings. Not when you have dogs though, its very hot and threatening to be the hottest day yet - its up early and get them out. Despite being early it was still too hot for Jaja..
..and Bailey, who I also walk each day (Bailey is not my dog, he belongs to a friend). The photo did not do this justice, but before this point Bailey had been in the ditch and rolled in all the mud, amazing though he arrived home clean (ish)
The 'second' best bit about today's walk, was Custer did plenty of socialising with some new pals - at one time we were not sure this was ever going to happen, here they are all cooling off in the stream..
Custer is good with the smaller dogs too , this is little Ben - he likes people more and was looking to me to see if I had any biccies, we see Ben often on my other walk its my friend Sylvia that gives him Biccies, he thought it might be me..
This little chap was a lot of fun, he arrived with more mud on him that Bailey having visited the same ditch on the way, and was only too happy to find a pal to run around with..
But, the very best thing about today's walkies was Custer is 'FINALLY' learning recall, this was the first time he came back from playing with some dogs he ran off with, then he did it every time on the way back - Okay it might not be 100% yet, and still needs a lot of work, but having just celebrated (I think) our 8th week with Custer we are very impressed, its a start. This is Custer running back to me after I called him..
He does still need an awful lot or work, he is in dog years a teenager, so being very stroppy on occasions.. like if I want to take him out without the car he will not budge, just throws himself at the floor in the driveway and I cant move him, have to tie him to a long line and go inside. So, that one needs work which is a shame as the rest of the time he is pretty good.
Now he has had a good walk later on this evening we plan to just lead walk them to the park and around there, another first for Custer. Tomorrow is puppy class, but looking like another hot day so maybe not doing so much again.
So pleased with yesterday mornings walk we had another go last night, but this time brought the camera. As you can see we do appear to have a far happier dog. Although even after 8pm last night it was not much cooler for them (or us). Above is Custer actually doing a recall, does not really happen so often, he comes back but not close enough, though at least he is staying with us so thats a start.
Here they are playing a bit of ball around the water, Jaja is faster of course..
As I said in yesterday's blog entry, Custer was a changed dog - this we believe is in part down to us with a greater understanding of him, some of it might be his starting to settle down too. Now today was another lesson, OH had gone back to work so it was all down to me. I took the other dogs out first and came back for Custer's turn as I have been doing, now... usually we then have a battle royal to get the harness and head collar on, but I had left the car open ready to put him in and take him to the beach. However, Custer decided he does not like my walks, likes his Daddies much better, I got his collar on, and he then went back to his crate and lay on his back...
Now, I could have forced him to do as he was told, but from our latest discoveries decided against it, it was very hot anyway (still only just after 9am) so I went out the front door, shut up the car, and came back in......... Custer was sat in the hall ready for his walk, I had managed to get him to make the decision (I read about this in a Victoria Stillwell link about dogs making their own choices). I got half the harness on, but was a bit of a battle for the other half..
Went out to the car which he more than happily jumped into. Not being quite so brave on my own, I had him on a long line, which I kept hold of, but he was very happy to mooch about on the beach, ignored 2 dogs we saw even though he was quite free really, did not pull, stayed with me, just did his own thing..
I have to say it was the most 'chilled' walk I have had on my own with him, despite the heat. Although with the sea breeze it is the coolest place you can walk around here, back to the car no problem at all.
The only down side, was when we got back he refused to get out of the car - which on a normal day would have been fine, I would have shut the doors and left him there but its way too hot to leave a dog in a car, thats for sure. So, I attatched the long line again and walked in the house, no.. that did not work, I sat on the step for a while, so he just lay down... Afraid it really was just too hot for either of us to stay there, so I did drag him out by the harness, BUT stayed totally cool about it, he DID get the chance to make his own decision but he blew that one I'm afraid.
Here is a dog that does need to learn to make his own choices, and a human that needs to learn more patience - at the end of which one day will be a good dog.
Looking forward to dog club tomorrow after a break of a couple of weeks, usually we have stayed in the corner and observed, hopefully tomorrow we might be able to take part.
Now, Custer and I are going to try find somewhere cool to relax in..
