I can't believe that it is already 4 years since we adopted Flash! He has made such a journey from a worried doglet to the confident chap he is these days! He has made a lot of my hair go grey, but I wouldn't want to be without him!
Yet again, thanks Kaye, for letting us adopt this beautiful, beautiful boy!
30 June 2009
22 June 2009
They really hurt my back
On Saturday morning, I went out for a walk before classes. As usual I had Dylan, Flash and Jesse with me. All was fine until we were on our way home, when an ex-client came up the stairs with her dalmation. All my dogs went balistic. I calmed them down immediately and made them all sit, which they did nicely! I then had a chat with the lady (who ironically said that my training was extremely helpful for her).
Just as we finished and I turned round, another guy came up the stairs with a GSD and a ball... and mine went balistic AGAIN! I pulled them back, twice... then went home! (Not in a very good mood).
Throughout the day, my back got worse and worse, until by the evening, every move hurt. Things improved a little on Sunday, but my lower back/bum are still very painful, so I didn't go to agility yesterday!
I can't believe this has happened. Last week really wasn't much fun with this lot!
I have now started taking them out at 5.15 in the morning, mainly to avoid that little dog. The park was nice and empty. And it also gave me the opportunity to walk Troy as well before going to work as he hasn't been out since Friday... (Cornel is hardly walking him at all now, maybe once a week... and he hasn't walked him at all since Thursday, 11th June...).
Just as we finished and I turned round, another guy came up the stairs with a GSD and a ball... and mine went balistic AGAIN! I pulled them back, twice... then went home! (Not in a very good mood).
Throughout the day, my back got worse and worse, until by the evening, every move hurt. Things improved a little on Sunday, but my lower back/bum are still very painful, so I didn't go to agility yesterday!
I can't believe this has happened. Last week really wasn't much fun with this lot!
I have now started taking them out at 5.15 in the morning, mainly to avoid that little dog. The park was nice and empty. And it also gave me the opportunity to walk Troy as well before going to work as he hasn't been out since Friday... (Cornel is hardly walking him at all now, maybe once a week... and he hasn't walked him at all since Thursday, 11th June...).
18 June 2009
New dog in park and new bad habit
Being summer and it being light in the early mornings, there are sometimes new dogs in the park that we haven't seen before. One of them is a small terrier, that from a distance looks like a little fox... and I think that's what the dogs think too!
Anyway, yesterday, I was walking across the field in the country park when suddenly this little dog appeared on the field not far from us walking towards us. Dylan and Flash took off to say hello to him, but he got frightened and started to run... with Dylan and Flash in hot pursuit. In his fear, the other dog squealed... He wasn't hurt as my boys are of course muzzled all the time when off lead, but it was still scary for him.
Shortly after that, we came across Monzi, which is a friend's dobermann. He is very timid and frightened of my dogs, and I therefore normally put mine on lead as soon as I spot him. This time however Flash was quicker than I was (Dylan I did manage to grab) and Flash was his usual bully with him. Again, he couldn't hurt Monzi as he is muzzled, but still... It wasn't nice! And I felt like a really bad dog owner (and certainly a useless dog trainer) after yesterday's walk.
So this morning, when I went out, I was super careful, looked around me all the time, called the dogs back before going around corners just to make sure that nothing like yesterday could happen. When we were on the straight path from the field towards the pond, everything was clear and I let Dylan and Flash go. I then had to pick up a poo that Dylan did... and when I looked up, I saw the little dog from yesterday again, and so did Dylan and Flash. They took off at top speed (something they never do with other dogs, only foxes or rabbits etc.), realised shortly before they got to the dog that it was a dog and not a fox, but by that time, the little dog had started to run again - and of course that kept Dylan and Flash going.
Yet again, I appologised to the owner who was of course not amused at all (though didn't say anything other than "It's all right"...).
I then continued on my walk, called Dylan and Flash back on the path that joined the main path again and led them out on lead! Luckily so... as there was that little dog again. Jesse went after him to say hello, but of course the little dog was running again not knowing what Jesse was going to do (and Jesse genuinely only wanted to say hello, he doesn't chase dogs). But Dylan and Flash didn't bat an eyelid and the little dog went past ok. At the same time, the doby Monzi was also approaching and luckily, Dylan and Flash still on lead and Jesse with me!
So that second part of the walk was ok. But I now will have to be so much more careful in the mornings knowing that this little dog is about and will have to get Dylan and Flash back on lead a lot more often than before! I will of course also start working on the recall a bit more again! It isn't acceptable for them to take off after a dog like that! But... roll on, winter... when there is no-one else in the park other than a handful of people/dogs that I know!
Anyway, yesterday, I was walking across the field in the country park when suddenly this little dog appeared on the field not far from us walking towards us. Dylan and Flash took off to say hello to him, but he got frightened and started to run... with Dylan and Flash in hot pursuit. In his fear, the other dog squealed... He wasn't hurt as my boys are of course muzzled all the time when off lead, but it was still scary for him.
Shortly after that, we came across Monzi, which is a friend's dobermann. He is very timid and frightened of my dogs, and I therefore normally put mine on lead as soon as I spot him. This time however Flash was quicker than I was (Dylan I did manage to grab) and Flash was his usual bully with him. Again, he couldn't hurt Monzi as he is muzzled, but still... It wasn't nice! And I felt like a really bad dog owner (and certainly a useless dog trainer) after yesterday's walk.
So this morning, when I went out, I was super careful, looked around me all the time, called the dogs back before going around corners just to make sure that nothing like yesterday could happen. When we were on the straight path from the field towards the pond, everything was clear and I let Dylan and Flash go. I then had to pick up a poo that Dylan did... and when I looked up, I saw the little dog from yesterday again, and so did Dylan and Flash. They took off at top speed (something they never do with other dogs, only foxes or rabbits etc.), realised shortly before they got to the dog that it was a dog and not a fox, but by that time, the little dog had started to run again - and of course that kept Dylan and Flash going.
Yet again, I appologised to the owner who was of course not amused at all (though didn't say anything other than "It's all right"...).
I then continued on my walk, called Dylan and Flash back on the path that joined the main path again and led them out on lead! Luckily so... as there was that little dog again. Jesse went after him to say hello, but of course the little dog was running again not knowing what Jesse was going to do (and Jesse genuinely only wanted to say hello, he doesn't chase dogs). But Dylan and Flash didn't bat an eyelid and the little dog went past ok. At the same time, the doby Monzi was also approaching and luckily, Dylan and Flash still on lead and Jesse with me!
So that second part of the walk was ok. But I now will have to be so much more careful in the mornings knowing that this little dog is about and will have to get Dylan and Flash back on lead a lot more often than before! I will of course also start working on the recall a bit more again! It isn't acceptable for them to take off after a dog like that! But... roll on, winter... when there is no-one else in the park other than a handful of people/dogs that I know!
11 May 2009
Flash much better
Yesterday was the first day that Flash was virtually back to normal. He was eating normally, running quite a bit on walks (though still had slow periods as well) and fine indoors. I am so glad that he is getting back to normal now. He gave me such a scare.
08 May 2009
Flash is feeling so much better. He is not completely himself yet, but he was eating his dinner and looking much brighter in general. I didn't go training tonight so I could keep an eye on him. I am so glad that he is getting better.
07 May 2009
Flash not well
Last night when I went to bed, all was well! This morning I go downstairs to take the dogs out for a walk and Flash really didn't want to get up from the bed. He did in the end, but was very lethargic on the whole walk. He also felt quite hot to me.
He also didn't want any breakfast.
I took him to the vet straight away to check him out. Ian thinks that a scratch/bite he got from a cat yesterday morning (he slipped the lead and ran after a cat just outside our house, but when they parted after about 5 or 10 seconds, both seemed find with no injuries, though I did find a very small scabbed wound this morning on his head) may have caused the fever. Flash's temperature was 39.9, so pretty high.
He got an antibiotic and antiinflamatory injection and Synolux to take home, I already have got metacam at home. He should feel much better within 24 hours... I really hope so! It really scared me to see him like this!
He also didn't want any breakfast.
I took him to the vet straight away to check him out. Ian thinks that a scratch/bite he got from a cat yesterday morning (he slipped the lead and ran after a cat just outside our house, but when they parted after about 5 or 10 seconds, both seemed find with no injuries, though I did find a very small scabbed wound this morning on his head) may have caused the fever. Flash's temperature was 39.9, so pretty high.
He got an antibiotic and antiinflamatory injection and Synolux to take home, I already have got metacam at home. He should feel much better within 24 hours... I really hope so! It really scared me to see him like this!
06 May 2009
Holiday in Wales - 25th April - 2nd May
Yet again, we went on holiday with all four boys to Swallows Dance in Pembrokeshire! We had a fabulous time and really enjoyed ourselves.
I have set up a separate blog for the pictures... Here is the link:
http://walesholiday9.blogspot.com
I will update gradually as I have over 200 pictures and another well over 300 from Sandra that took fab pictures at Freshwater West
I have set up a separate blog for the pictures... Here is the link:
http://walesholiday9.blogspot.com
I will update gradually as I have over 200 pictures and another well over 300 from Sandra that took fab pictures at Freshwater West
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