Always take Vanilla out for a walk in the morning between 5and 530, depending on when she wakes up. Well this morning she was a nightmare and I pretty much lost it, getting so angry with her but more with me. Nice walk up the hill and she wonders off within a few meters, then comes back and gets a treat and repeats. Sometimes she will just walk next to me for a while. So first one was I just saw her on her back rubbing her self. Called her back and she came, just had a nice little present for me. She drops it by my feet and waits for her treat. I get the phone out to see and well see attached. We then carried on walking and half way down same thing again, but this time at least something else, don't know where the rest is but not in her tummy. Next think was a large foil that I am hoping someone just had food in it. She spent a good 5minutes licking it which meant when I tried to get it away no treats good enough. Had to wait until she was not looking...seriously this could not get any worse. Yep she then proceeded to pick up the largest stick with a few branches and bolts it down the hill head held high. I did have my heart in mouth for about 10sec as it was the long way round on the stick. Called her and she stopped, looked at me and then thought 'yay play time'. Took me 5min to get the bloody stick off her. I was getting more and more angry as she just did not want to listen. Finally got it when she dropped it for a split second. Back on the lead and back home in close quaters. Pleases she brought items back, but really anoyed about the stick. Been so good over the last few months on training her to leave them. But no not this morning. But did manage to get a half decent pictute of her with the jetty in the distance..
I suppose they all try our patience sometimes. I think I would struggle to get Cassie away from a foil food container -- unless I would just happen to have a sardine on me Just lately I have been taking the tug toy, which I hardly ever do, out with us (for other reasons, if you've seen my posts) and it does get her attention if necessary. Also I am working on her recall through Total Recall. Not sure if this is a help, but I can get your frustration. I'm sure you know what to do really
At least she brought the dead things back to you! Sticks scare me too after reading so many things happening with them. Hope the rest of your day improves
Pulling revolting gunk and/or hazardous objects out of mouths is part of Life With Labradors. I don't get angry (dogs will be dogs....) but I do occasionally have to work pretty hard not to puke...!
Oh gosh that is a trying morning! Definitely is "Life with Labradors" as @Oberon said. This is my first Lab (have had 4 other dogs prior) and I've never experienced a tenth of what I have with him
Yes very interesting morning. I can understand how people loose their cool and shout/hit their dog (I think certain people are prone to this). I wouldn't as I don't agree, plus it achieves nothing apart from a scared relationship. I want to be able to always come home to a loving dog that is pleased to see me and wants to be with me out of their choice. I just blame myself and got angry with me, obviously big sticks are more interesting than small ones. More training requiered on that front. But yes very pleased she did not eat the animal/part and brought it back. Very good retriever hahaha....
I can so empathise , unfortunately ! I remember when Sam had just started his gundog training and was ready and eager . We were walking in the woods when he appeared, out of the undergrowth , and presented a very long dead rotten pigeon . He sat in front of me , with this revolting mess in his mouth so I had to accept his precious gift, but I did put poo bags over my hands first ! Got to love a Lab x
Ah @Sven yukkkkk!! Rats are the worst. We were gardening at the weekend, doing lots of clearing under some large trees when Charlie appeared with a large black sqashed object which on closer inspection was a very rotten black bird or crow. He looked so very proud coming towards me with it sticking out of his mouth, I asked for a "drop" which I got immediately and disposed of the bird. Keeping calm even in the face of something disgusting makes it a little easier and I did have to laugh. It's all good training!! xx
I did not get angry at her, just at myself. The animals don't bother me, part of life. It was the stick that got me reved up. We have been so good at leaving them, but no not this one. It was a game off keep for her. For me it was more training is requiered... @drjs@5 by the time breakfast came round I was showing the pictures to my wife. That got a response of 'not as we are about to have breakfast'...
Yes they do. I do laugh most of the time, just sometimes it would be nice not to have to worry to much, but then life would be so boring. Not even the sardine in tomato sauce worked this morning when it came to the food. A well will see what happens in tomorrows walk in the morning... The evening walk was pleasantly quiet and she just had a good time on the beach in the dark...but stroppy she was not allowed in the sea.
It is winter here, so we do an early walk between 5-530am depending when she wakes up for about 30ish min. then evening at anytime from 7pm for about 40-60min. This depends on where we go either beach/esplanade or oval and what training we want to do. Weekend we actually go out during day, but she still wants her morning walk. I do manage to do that maybe about 30min later than normal. She still wakes up as normal, but comes back to bed for a short while after her business.
