Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara? :)

Hi Barbara,

I wondered how Obi is doing with his training and how different you are finding it compared to Riley's? A little update would be lovely and pictures too if you have time xx

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Yes agreed!!

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

I saw Obi at training last Sunday. ;D He stole our hearts. What a little star he is and absolutely gorgeous. ;D ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He's doing really well Helen ;D

He's polar opposite to Riley, he's bold and cheeky!!

His training is going well I think. I'm spending time getting him to focus on me and follow me round, not straying too far. I want everything he does to be near me.

I'm not teaching him obedience as I taught Riley so we don't do sit and stay by my side and in front of me instead I teach him to stop wherever he is. Later on I'll turn that into a stop by my side when I do more heelwork.

I'm using his food to teach his recall and straight lines out from me by putting some food in a bowl and sending him out, then when he's eaten everything in his bowl I recall him with my whistle and give him some more. We do that 3 or 4 times with his lunch. He's a greedy monster and while sell his soul for a any kind of food ;D

We had a fabulous day down in Exmoor with Heidrun and the lovely people who own Obi's dad ;D

Here are some of Heidrun's photos....





And in the meantime at home.....he's making friends

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Oh he's just too cute Barbara ;D

His training sounds great.

Riley looks happy and contented with him I'm assuming they are best buds. ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He is gorgeous! Love Riley's 'everyone needs a Clumber for a pillow' pose

Just have to ask, is he Obi as in Obi Wan? (I think there is something of he wise Jedi in his expression) ;D ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He's a Jedi alright

No his full name is Oberon after his labrador hero ;D

I think it's highly unlikely we'll reach Jedi gundog status but we'll do our best!!

I wouldn't say he and Riley are best buds but they're getting there. Riley likes a bit of personal space so it's taken him a while to get used to this exuberant white thing hurling itself at him every 5 seconds.

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Ahhh, that's cute too. (Although it does make me chuckle to think of him practicing Jedi mind-tricks...'those are the treats you're looking for...' ;D ;D)

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

[quote author=Merla link=topic=8770.msg124425#msg124425 date=1416146053]
Ahhh, that's cute too. (Although it does make me chuckle to think of him practicing Jedi mind-tricks...'those are the treats you're looking for...' ;D ;D)
[/quote]

I thought that was just standard puppy skills ;D ;D ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Aww, he is gorgeous

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

I must love that picture of Lizzie showing him the picture on the calendar...he really looks like he is paying attention to her! ;D Has she been nibbled on much by him?
He is completely gorgeous...he's a little dinky dot in that photo with you Barbara,he just looks raring to go... ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Lovely pics!! He's a darling. Great to hear about his training too - sounds like he is off to a brilliant start

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Great photos - he's lovely.

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He looks utterly adorable.....

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Who could resist ;D

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Soooo cute! Gorgeous pics - I love that first one, and the one with Lizzie

Thanks for sharing, nice to see him settling in so well

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

Oh Barbara, Obi is simply gorgeous and what wonderful photos I love his focus on you, we can only dream of that : Your training is very different to Rileys is that the way to train Spaniels or just your choice? I love the idea of the food in his bowl, does he have to sit/wait whilst you keep topping up the bowl? I wonder if I could do that with Charlie to really get his recall more reliable not straight lines you understand :-\ That's a long way to go for training but an excellent excuse to go and see Heidrun and have great training sessions with some more lovely Clumbers

Thanks for the update I love hearing about your training and how different it is. Lizzie looks too cute xx

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He does watch me a lot Helen but he's so young I have yet to hang onto that focus while he matures - wish me luck!

Some of the advice I had about training him was to be a bit less obedience oriented and to try and capture his natural behaviour. Because a spaniel hunts at a distance from you it's important not to squash his enthusiasm - a bit like not squashing retrieving desire in the labs. So far it seems to be working as he's both engaged and learning.....I think I would probably train a lab a little more like this too now I know a bit more. It's just more fun I think and the dogs learn quickly if it's a game. Serious stuff like steadiness can come much later.

If Charlie loves his dinner you can certainly use it to send him out to a bit of it in a bowl and then give him some more on his recall. If you're still hand feeding him this could work well for you I pick the bowl up to put some food in it because Obi is so young and completely food obsessed then I put it down and take obi away. Stop and turn, send him out to his food, then when he's finished what's in his bowl I recall him for another small handful. We get 3 or 4 goes with a meal.....it also helps slow down his eating as he inhales his food! :

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

And thank you everyone for your lovely comments.

He's scrumptious and we love him

 

Re: Just wondering how Obi the Clumber is doing Barbara?

He's achingly beautiful. Wonderful dog - you are so lucky to have him.