So... feeling really happy about the pooch these days! Sunday afternoon the OH and I took Simba to our happy place trails, I had my ball, treats, and whistle, and let him off lead to see how it would go Answer: pretty much perfect!! Focussed on the ball and fetch, with zooming out to get it and zooming back to bring it to me. Just as we took him off lead, we were surprised by another dog running up behind us - owner was on a bicycle and we just didn't hear them, or we wouldn't have chosen that moment to give him freedom....of course owner called his dog and of course Simba was off like a rocket right behind him. Thankfully the other owner stopped, which meant the dogs stopped too, or I just don't know how far Simba might have followed! But the two dogs were milling around the bike, etc, and I just called Simba, not wanting to use whistle as I have never done a recall away from dogs. But....he turned around and came right back!! ;D ;D Wow! Continued on the walk, all great with pooch enjoying the ball game, running and sniffing. He ventured into the woods once, following a scent, but I did't let him get too far before I blew whistle - he stopped and looked at me and came right back. Other dog and bike caught up with us again, we had a brief chat with owner - he was asking us how Simba's recall was, so we told him we were still training. He had a GPS on his bike with a transmitter on his dog's collar - great idea!! Might need to look into that! We put Simba back on lead after that, with the other dog running away again I didn't want to push our luck. A really great walk. Next night we had people over for dinner, after supper we went across the road to the field which has a playground in it as the couple had a little boy. OH said to bring pooch and ball and all the stuff, so I did, and with a slight tremble let him off lead there - the field is bounded on all sides by roads, and although it's not really busy, still........ But - perfect! Simba just wanted to play ball, so I hucked the ball for him as the boy played, we came home with no trouble at all. Just got back from the AM walk, we went to the rural field close by where I took all the stuff and played fetch, did a couple of whistles, etc. A beautiful morning out with my dog. So pleased with the pooch, you have no idea! It's a work in progress, certainly, and I need to do the proofing on the whistle, but.....I am happy. Now....need to work on the jumping up on visitors.... :
Re: Really pleased! Well done that's so great to read Lisa. I bet you were/are so happy even if your heart was in your mouth occasionally. ;D Brilliant. You see Simba is fast becoming a 'real' dog.
Re: Really pleased! Lisa, well done, all that hard work is paying off. It's a lovely feeling isn't it? I still get joy with meg. I've had to train her to hand signals cos she's deaf and I was over the moon when she picked up what she had to do.
Re: Really pleased! Well done all your hard work is having results. The jumping up when excited is something we are still working on. Alice
Re: Really pleased! The jumping up appears to be the bug bear of the labrador owner's life. Trying to train them out of something that is natural to them is very difficult. At Puppy Romp the Instructor just tells people to turn their backs on Molly. Fair enough in an enclosed field where you have decided to put yourself at risk of being jumped on (one lady with a small dog makes a fuss and gives me filthy looks). But you cannot expect the rest of the population, especially children to do that in their every day lives. It makes it very difficult to find a place to let her off. I wish he'd offer some advice instead of the "some Labs don't grow up till they are two or three."
Re: Really pleased! Well done Lisa and Simba. 8) It's a great feeling when training goes well isn't it?
Re: Really pleased! well done lisa and simba,.....i think your o h is right to take some chances, so pleased they paid off,.....i think dogs have got to be in real life situations , i have always just subjected jasper to the real world apart from recall, recall was my hardest task, i am happy to say with perseverance we mastered this to perfection it took us 10 month to perfect good luck with all your hard training
Re: Really pleased! Lisa, you and Simba so deserve your success. You've slogged with that dog - but more than just hard work, you've approached it in an intelligent, thoughtful, way with a great deal of kindness and tolerance and determination when it got tough on you and your family. Enjoy every minute, and celebrate what you've achieved. Just brill! Well done.
Re: Really pleased! Thanks, all, it really has been a great few days here. Julie, you are too kind. You know a thing about perseverance yourself, methinks
Re: Really pleased! Lisa, I am thrilled to bits for you and the wonderful progress you have made with Simba. There really is no substitute for very hard work, consistensy, patience and love. You deserve this success so please enjoy lovely walks with your lovely Simba A big hug from us xxxx Well done big boy Simba x
