Yesterday the twenty-somethings arrived. It was all very exciting for all of us!!
Rolo did very well, being introduced first. Then he did join in a little with the communal greeting.
In the pack removal through the house, I did get a mouthing around my hand. It wasn't a bite, but my hand knocked against his teeth. I grabbed his nose immediately and gave it a smack and said 'No!'. He then just wandered off with the others and played as usual. We sat around in the garden and he got used to everyone telling him to sit before he got a fuss, and then just lying around the garden. Later he went contentedly into his crate while we had dinner.
This morning he was his usual bouncy self until his breakfast arrived. He sat very well, waiting for permission to eat. Being full, the doors tended to be open and after hearing a crash I discovered Rolo jumping down off the settee, together with certain items being now on the floor. Our fault because he shouldn't have access to the whole house without more supervision than Bramble, Teasle and Molly!!!! I called him to me, by the settee and patted it to see if he would go up. He didn't, which shows he knows he shouldn't. I reinforced this by patting it again and telling him 'No!'. I then gave myself a good smack for not keeping the doors closed or watching him closely and brought them all out into the kitchen, ensuring all appropriate doors were closed.
Teasle has been setting a very bad example for a mature matron and having a lovely charge around the garden with Rolo and Bramble. She seems now to have accepted Rolo into the pack and has actually been caught playing with him. Happily, they are now all having a well earned rest, as are we. Rolo is copying his mum in lying quietly on the vet bed in the utility room while Teasle and Bramble are in the conservatory with us.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Our Day Out
Well, today was a fun day for all. Rolo had a trip out to see Aunty June, Uncle Len, Aunty Anne at a distance and even got to Skype cousins Rachel, Niamh and Fraser in Calgary, Canada to many oohs and aahhs :) !!! Not only gundog training but IT too - well, it is my speciality!!!
He was grumpy as ever in the car but eventually settled down. He doesn't like going to the loo when he's out although he did perform on a walk.
He was in and out of the car and settled quite quickly to sit to meet the relatives.
He settled down on the homeward journey too, so perhaps he will start to enjoy car journeys a little more!
Rolo was very pleased to see the girls when he got home and they did have a good play, but he is now settled down on the vet bed and snoozing alongside his half sister and 'aunty Teasle' who also played with him this evening!! Mum , as ever, has found her comfy bed in a quiet and peaceful corner!
He was grumpy as ever in the car but eventually settled down. He doesn't like going to the loo when he's out although he did perform on a walk.
He was in and out of the car and settled quite quickly to sit to meet the relatives.
He settled down on the homeward journey too, so perhaps he will start to enjoy car journeys a little more!
Rolo was very pleased to see the girls when he got home and they did have a good play, but he is now settled down on the vet bed and snoozing alongside his half sister and 'aunty Teasle' who also played with him this evening!! Mum , as ever, has found her comfy bed in a quiet and peaceful corner!
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Another sunny day in paradise
Today was mainly troubleshooting.
Once I had increased Rolo's collar to maximum size; my 10 year old neighbour came around and off we went. I made sure that Rolo came out of the house when asked and then briefed the young lady. She took his lead and he walked with her. She needed to be reminded to tell him he was a good boy, but slowly got into the rhythm of a sharp tug when he pulled forward or to the side and then to let the lead go loose. She stopped and started and weaved around and backwards and forwards.
We stopped on the first green and sat Rolo. I then showed my young friend how to walk around Rolo. He moved once so we put him back in the same spot, told him he was a good boy and did the exercise again. This time he stayed until we got back to his side and until we gave him a fuss.
Next we sat down on the grass with him. He immediately rolled over onto his back and opened his mouth. He didn't move towards anyone but I held his muzzle and said 'No!' to his thoughts of puppy play. We then sat there for a few minutes, stroking him and ruffling his fur while he simply lay there, rolling over for a tummy rub.
After a few minutes we got up again and my little friend walked Rolo around the block and home. He walked nicely and sat when asked.
All in all a good exercise.
Lunch time brought the realisation that we were running out of food!!! I mixed in some of Teasle's Skinners' crunchy and Rolo seemed happy with that at lunch time :)
I repeated the sitting on the floor exercise several times, in different spots - in the house and garden. Rolo continued to be good as gold. My own dogs came and stood over me as they do when I am on the floor. They dip their head respectfully but still occasionally push me over. Once Rolo thought it was a signal to play and opened his mouth to take Bramble's ear gently into his mouth. I told him 'No!' and he didn't try again. He lay next to me peacefully.
He is now resting with the others, covering the kitchen and dining room floor.
We couldn't get him to smile or look really cute, as whenever I made the 'look cute' noises, he just got up and trotted to me!!!
We stopped on the first green and sat Rolo. I then showed my young friend how to walk around Rolo. He moved once so we put him back in the same spot, told him he was a good boy and did the exercise again. This time he stayed until we got back to his side and until we gave him a fuss.
Next we sat down on the grass with him. He immediately rolled over onto his back and opened his mouth. He didn't move towards anyone but I held his muzzle and said 'No!' to his thoughts of puppy play. We then sat there for a few minutes, stroking him and ruffling his fur while he simply lay there, rolling over for a tummy rub.
After a few minutes we got up again and my little friend walked Rolo around the block and home. He walked nicely and sat when asked.
All in all a good exercise.
Lunch time brought the realisation that we were running out of food!!! I mixed in some of Teasle's Skinners' crunchy and Rolo seemed happy with that at lunch time :)
I repeated the sitting on the floor exercise several times, in different spots - in the house and garden. Rolo continued to be good as gold. My own dogs came and stood over me as they do when I am on the floor. They dip their head respectfully but still occasionally push me over. Once Rolo thought it was a signal to play and opened his mouth to take Bramble's ear gently into his mouth. I told him 'No!' and he didn't try again. He lay next to me peacefully.
He is now resting with the others, covering the kitchen and dining room floor.
Rolo is the one at the far end!
Monday, 1 August 2011
Rolo and the 5 year old boy
Today has been very warm so we have mainly been in the garden. Rolo has been relaxing afetr a very exciting day yesterday at training class. He did really well at the heel and sit, with everyone amazed at him and also saying how much he has grown! That's the trouble when you feed them. he is much the age Bramble was when I left her in february for our antipodean holiday and I didn't recognise her when I got back - she was, and still is, all legs!!
Rolo did a lot of staying under the trees with dogs and owners by the side. He moved when I went to go behind a tree though - hardly surprising, he was doing really well for his age. However, when he had to perform in front of everyone he found it a little difficult. Later though, he did an amazing retrieve, off the lead. He waited and picked well, just showing the line before bringing it back and giving it to me!
He has done some of that today with toys. He also went outside to meet our 5 1/2 year old neighbour. Rolo approached respectfully. He was a little excited with new people though, but when told 'ah ah', he duly rolled over. The young man held Rolo's lead and pulled him back when he ambled away. He then sat on the ground with Rolo, who then became a little playfu, wagging and trying to lick. He was told no, and again rolled over respectfully. We were out there for about 15 minutes and he behaved beautifully.
Rolo has,I am afraid, learned to go upand down stairs. Also, although he knows he is not to get on the chairs, if someone (Alistair!!!!) knocks on the open window, simply because I have inadvertantly locked the front door and am outside with a glass of wine, and the other dogs start barking at him, Rolo does try to help by getting on the chair and knocking everything off the windowsill. I blame the handler of the moment - who is that I hear you ask? Alistair. Don't worry, he has been disciplined severely!!!
Tomorrow, my other young neighbour is going to be doing the heel and sit exercise. I shall have to be up early as she has a busy schedule as do all 10 year old girls!!!!
Rolo did a lot of staying under the trees with dogs and owners by the side. He moved when I went to go behind a tree though - hardly surprising, he was doing really well for his age. However, when he had to perform in front of everyone he found it a little difficult. Later though, he did an amazing retrieve, off the lead. He waited and picked well, just showing the line before bringing it back and giving it to me!
He has done some of that today with toys. He also went outside to meet our 5 1/2 year old neighbour. Rolo approached respectfully. He was a little excited with new people though, but when told 'ah ah', he duly rolled over. The young man held Rolo's lead and pulled him back when he ambled away. He then sat on the ground with Rolo, who then became a little playfu, wagging and trying to lick. He was told no, and again rolled over respectfully. We were out there for about 15 minutes and he behaved beautifully.
Rolo has,I am afraid, learned to go upand down stairs. Also, although he knows he is not to get on the chairs, if someone (Alistair!!!!) knocks on the open window, simply because I have inadvertantly locked the front door and am outside with a glass of wine, and the other dogs start barking at him, Rolo does try to help by getting on the chair and knocking everything off the windowsill. I blame the handler of the moment - who is that I hear you ask? Alistair. Don't worry, he has been disciplined severely!!!
Tomorrow, my other young neighbour is going to be doing the heel and sit exercise. I shall have to be up early as she has a busy schedule as do all 10 year old girls!!!!
Friday, 29 July 2011
A quiet day and a busy day
Yesterday got away from me a bit - one teaching session (including trying Rolo out with the, quite excitable, young lad - they were fine. Then one cleaning session, one shopping session and my back decided not to play any more, followed by other joints. I was obviously hitting the wall after a few weeks off the diclofenac.
Consequently, we tried a day without training on Rolo. I have to say he 'manned up'! A couple of times he got a bit too busy so went into his crate for a chill out session. Which he did. In the evening, he proved himself to be his mum's son and spent a lot of time in the utility room snuggled on some bedding. He came when called and eventually settled with us as well.
This morning, the restarting of the diclofenac paid off so I am back to normal. Rolo will now sit and wait to be told to eat his food, with it already on the floor. He finds it too difficult as yet with the girls so he has his on his own in the kitchen while they are fed in the utility room.
Rolo then had his morning walk - waiting well when reminded, before being called out of the door. He sat when asked, with only the occasional reminder and, of course, many 'good boy's !
We walked a little further and popped in to see my almost 92 year old dad. Rolo obviously became a little excited - but was made to sit and stay before he went in. Rolo was shut in the kitchen for a few minutes while I went upstairs. He was very good - no crying or scratching. He wanted to get excited with my dad when I got him out - still on the lead. Dad was instructed not to look at or talk to Rolo, who, after a few minutes, sat down and then lay at my feet while I was talking to dad. I was very pleased with them both! ;)
Rolo is now busy chewing on a very old bone in the garden!
Consequently, we tried a day without training on Rolo. I have to say he 'manned up'! A couple of times he got a bit too busy so went into his crate for a chill out session. Which he did. In the evening, he proved himself to be his mum's son and spent a lot of time in the utility room snuggled on some bedding. He came when called and eventually settled with us as well.
This morning, the restarting of the diclofenac paid off so I am back to normal. Rolo will now sit and wait to be told to eat his food, with it already on the floor. He finds it too difficult as yet with the girls so he has his on his own in the kitchen while they are fed in the utility room.
Rolo then had his morning walk - waiting well when reminded, before being called out of the door. He sat when asked, with only the occasional reminder and, of course, many 'good boy's !
We walked a little further and popped in to see my almost 92 year old dad. Rolo obviously became a little excited - but was made to sit and stay before he went in. Rolo was shut in the kitchen for a few minutes while I went upstairs. He was very good - no crying or scratching. He wanted to get excited with my dad when I got him out - still on the lead. Dad was instructed not to look at or talk to Rolo, who, after a few minutes, sat down and then lay at my feet while I was talking to dad. I was very pleased with them both! ;)
Rolo is now busy chewing on a very old bone in the garden!
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Day 2 - heel and sit
So we then went outside for a little 'heel' and 'stay'.
Rolo had to sit and wait as I went out of the door first. He was then called out and called to heel, a pat on the thigh at the same time. This will eventually be sufficient to bring him to heel.
Weaving around, back and forth, Rolo knows he needs to pay attention to me. When I stop, he needs to be reminded to sit when I say 'sit' and blow the single blast 'sit' whistle. As soon as he is sitting he is told what a good boy he is.
Normally I do this on a ten minute walk - the video shows just a short portion of that walk. By the end of the walk, Rolo is walking and sitting well. He is also tired.
Remember! you can't tire a labrador out with exercise (maybe a whole day picking up - but then that is a lot of brain work too). His brain tires him out much more quickly - make him think!
I will try to upload the video here but am not having too much success today!
Rolo had to sit and wait as I went out of the door first. He was then called out and called to heel, a pat on the thigh at the same time. This will eventually be sufficient to bring him to heel.
Weaving around, back and forth, Rolo knows he needs to pay attention to me. When I stop, he needs to be reminded to sit when I say 'sit' and blow the single blast 'sit' whistle. As soon as he is sitting he is told what a good boy he is.
Normally I do this on a ten minute walk - the video shows just a short portion of that walk. By the end of the walk, Rolo is walking and sitting well. He is also tired.
Remember! you can't tire a labrador out with exercise (maybe a whole day picking up - but then that is a lot of brain work too). His brain tires him out much more quickly - make him think!
I will try to upload the video here but am not having too much success today!
Day 2 - Leaving the crate - the video!
Rolo was a very good boy this morning. I was down late to find quite a bit of cleaning up outside to do, so while I said hello to him, I didn't let him out of his crate a that point. It was about 45 minutes later - having bathed Bramble and scrubbed out the kennel, before I went to let him out. He came out so repectfully and calmly I didn't have to control him at all and naturally he had a big fuss.
Rolo has just, as I wait for this to upload, hopped up onto the chair for a little snooze. He was immediately told 'No!' - only gently, and pulled down, being told 'Down!' - also gently, no more was required - and told what a good boy he is when he was back on the floor, where he is now slowly falling asleep.
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