|
Sep 2023
12:50pm, 4 Sep 2023
21,852 posts
|
Sharkie
On the plus side Jess is really good around food and non edibles other dogs might feel are worth a go. She's a big dog but never counter or table surfs. If liver cake or human cake or any other food is left out she won't touch it unless it's on the floor.
So in spite of being a drama queen (more the tragedy has struck face than anything more worrying) and in spite of her Butch and Cassidy all guns blazing impressions at the back door she is really a Very Good Dog.
|
|
Sep 2023
1:36pm, 4 Sep 2023
25,779 posts
|
GimmeMedals
Jess is well behaved because she is well trained. Full credit to you and Raffo, Sharkie.
I’m not implying other Fetch dogs haven’t been well-trained, as some breeds are just too strong-willed in some aspects (labradors and food, for example) and each breed has different quirks.
Stanley has trained us better than we’ve managed to train him. We don’t miss the fur shedding that we had with Mad Dog Jess, but she was more obedient than Stanley.
|
|
Sep 2023
2:09pm, 4 Sep 2023
8,172 posts
|
Pothunter
Monty quite enjoys his bath and has taken to hopping in on his own when we ask him to. He absolutely doesn’t like his feet being touched when out the bath though.
On his walk today he found the remains of a tennis ball that he decided was the best thing in the world so carried it all the way home even refusing treats and water 🙄
|
|
Sep 2023
2:11pm, 4 Sep 2023
7,391 posts
|
Helegant
Not just labradors with food...  Jet is food-driven, has a strong prey drive, is sensitive to noise, and is quite easily frightened. He's also a whizz at following a scent trail, loves to run and jump (even now as a old dog), likes to be in physical contact with his humans, adores the grandchildren, and our lives have been immeasurably enriched by sharing with him. He's also immeasurably stubborn if anyone starts to 'tell' rather than 'ask', yet amazingly compliant when he's spoken to gently.
We spent every week of his life taking him to training, for Kennel Club and then for agility, until three years ago, and trying to understand his needs. During that, I've had to learn that he's not a machine, and there are definite breed characteristics and sensitivities that I wasn't fully aware of when we got him. I couldn't train everything I'd hoped to - nail clipping and teeth brushing are two examples, I could add food theft, resource guarding, smell-distraction, chasing prey when we're out, and his anxiety about strange places.
I follow a charity that re-homes spaniels. So many of the dogs haven't been socialised, or they've been reared in homes that are unsuitable and their needs aren't met, or the owners expected a cuddly robot, so the 'real' dog ends up being surrendered.
I wouldn't trade Jet for any other dog, but I think we all need to have realistic expectations of our furry family members, and maybe also ourselves.
|
|
Sep 2023
2:25pm, 4 Sep 2023
21,854 posts
|
Sharkie
We took Jess to lots of classes when she was younger - some of you will remember our adventures at Nat's with the wolf dogs. Nat was brilliant, a complete magician with all dogs, (everything done with kindness). We learned a lot there but the most precious thing was Nat, who was kind of a specialist with the 'wolfie' breeds, telling us we should be proud that Jess was such a happy dog.
She'd owned and trained many GSDs and was troubled by how many anxious, unhappy ones she came across.
|
|
Sep 2023
2:29pm, 4 Sep 2023
21,855 posts
|
Sharkie
Of course Jess never did pass - or even take - her exams, beyond the basics. 
|
|
Sep 2023
2:40pm, 4 Sep 2023
10,420 posts
|
BaronessBL
Wanda took and passed her exams but we will never train the prey drive out of her. I'm not sure we'd have totally trained the opportunist food thieving off the kitchen counter or table either but I think if she had had a consistent set of rules from both of us from day one about a number of things like human food and dog food and being told that stealing from a bin is always wrong and never funny or clever then perhaps we might have got further. As I have said many times - dogs do not understand 'just this once' or 'it's OK when it's this or that reason' dogs only understand they are either allowed to do it or they're not and if one person in the household allows something that isn't really allowed then as far as the dog's concerned they are allowed to do it.... *sigh*
|
|
Sep 2023
3:57pm, 4 Sep 2023
5,331 posts
|
Winniefree
Stevie is very clever and mostly obedient but I don't entirely trust his recall off lead - I always take my cue from other dog owners and also the breed of dog (he hates French bulldogs with a passion - no idea why!) He's also prey driven and if he gets the scent of a rabbit we might as well be invisible. I'm guilty of not keeping to the rules that Mr W sets, but rather than not understanding what he can and can't do he adapts his behaviour accordingly. If Mr W comes in, or downstairs he'll jump off the sofa and into his basket. If it's me he just looks up, and smiles.
|
|
Sep 2023
6:04pm, 4 Sep 2023
25,785 posts
|
GimmeMedals
Lol @ Stevie 🤩
|
|
Sep 2023
6:04pm, 4 Sep 2023
7,392 posts
|
Helegant
if she had had a consistent set of rules from both of us from day one ... dogs do not understand 'just this once' or 'it's OK when it's this or that reason' *sigh*
Yes indeed
|
