As most of you know, the Small Black Dog has been on light duties after her elbows ops. Well I laughed when I read Pippa's posts about "My Labrador won't Obey Me Anymore" because her highness hasn't had any maintenance of most things while she's been on short lead walks. Well she has no excuses now really especially after smaking Max the greyhound on the nose and haring off with him in pursuit! THE TRAINING HAS GONE TO POT! She's been showing virually no interest in the dummy lately and I think it's down to lack of any mental stimulation while she's been out. Well yesterday we walked across the usual farm and intto the 40 acre rape field where there are a couple of bird scarers to keep the pigeons off. The pigeons have decimated the rape over the winter, but that's another story. Anyway these bird scarers are built a bit like a cannon and sound just like a loud gun going off. Quite a loud and sharp report. We were fairly close to one of them when it went off. Lady jumped six feet then switched straight into hunting mode - especially after the second report which she didn't jump at. Standing scanning the skys looking for failing birds. ;D Well I'm sure this is not official training technique but she's switched back on to dummy training with enthusiasm! Lol! ;D
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest Perhaps you could patent this training technique, LOL. Those bird scarers are loud!!!!!
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest Certainly are! Armed with her renewed enthusiasm I successfully got the fox pooh off this morning by getting her to retrieve fronm water. Woohoo!
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest I could have done with something like that this morning..good work! Sadly no water round here that I know of for Digby to enjoy . We have a canal (don't let him off there), some wildlife reserves for birds and reservoirs for the canals (full of water birds and fishermen) - none of these are places I could possibly let Digby swim. I'd love to take him somewhere. Anyone know of a website detailing good places for dogs to swim? (I'm pretty much about as far away from the sea as you can get in this country so not an option).
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest Theres a website called Dog Friendly Places , they list walks, cafes, pubs, holidays etc . so you might find somewhere on there ?
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest Brave Lady, my two would have bolted at that noise! 'gun' dogs they are not, hate the slightest bang!
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest She doesn't bat an eye-lid with guns as long as she knows it's shoot. The scarer was a bit unexpected though and very loud even though we were about 100 yds away from it.
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest The dugs'n'pubs website which is primarily based around edinburgh has a lot of good info on dog-friendly places (and pubs ) There are some English mentions, and it seems to be expanding, so maybe worth keeping an eye on, particularly if up this neck of the woods though. http://www.dugsnpubs.com/dog-walks-in-scotland/ jac
Re: Small Black Dog Renews Interest thanks for the info - a couple of dog friendly pubs around here too although I need Digby to be much calmer around other dogs to have a relaxing drink with him there. Braving taking him to France during the May half term for a week. In my experience France is pretty dog friendly, although most of the dogs I have seen about in eateries etc have been the type you can fit in a handbag
