We went up to see Coco with Belle for the final time today. It is a week since he has seen her, and he was mainly very calm with her. He had two attacks of the zoomies, which involved bothering Belle, but he can be distracted with a ball and moved away easily. He is walking OK (in the field) on his collar and lead, and comes back when not distracted, for a ball or a treat. I have bought a Canny Collar, on the recommendation of the lad up there who knows him he best, but hope to get him off that asap, it's for initial walking in public places where I think we/I will need extra control. Lots of work to be done when we get him home next week, but that's part of the fun of dogs, and I'm really looking forward to it. As an aside - OH is really annoying. I have tried to impress how important consistency is, and how we shouldn't use commands willy-nilly and repeat them ad infinitum, but he goes ahead anyway, and will NOT take direction from me - he appears hurt and insulted if I offer comment. I am just going to have to change the recall command to one he doesn't use. I shall be starting Total Recall with him when we get him home. Here's a couple of pictures from today. "HERE!" - I have lots of mature Manx cheddar in my pocket P1040982 by Sue Doyle, on Flickr With Belle P1040987 by Sue Doyle, on Flickr ..and his Handsomeness.. Labby head German Shepherd colouring - but his ears are neither one thing nor the other. Gotta love a mix. P1050020 by Sue Doyle, on Flickr
I love his brindling. Sounds like a done deal then You won't be the first person on here to have a completely different set of secret commands kept hidden from an OH
We bring him home next Saturday (or Sunday - depending on OH's work), then we're both off work, at home for a week. It's going to be a long week!
Lovely expression on his face. You know I'm not sure it matters that your OH behaves differently with your dogs than you. Molly seems to understand that the 3 of us in our household have differing commands and expectations and she behaves slightly different with each of us without it causing problems.
Oh yes....I have a OH who creates bizarre new cues....because they work! Drives me nuts...I stand there with clenched teeth sometimes in our training sessions....
My OH has one cue "tup-a-tup Charlie". It means: leave it, come on, here, lead on, get on the sofa, give me your bowl, heel, down..... The amazing thing is that Charlie more or less understands what it means in any given situation.
He's gorgeous! Good luck with the home coming ... Guide dogs use this cross a lot. Here is a photo of Gable, now in advanced training. He's a fabulous dog.
My OH has one command said in very quick succession Mabelmabelmabel. I've given up. He's a beautiful boy, enjoy and Belle's gorgeous too
Well we've been walking round and round (and round) a field on a lead this week..and all I hear is "Coco gently, gently Coco, here, Coco here, gently" AGGHH!!! He's getting better as the field becomes more boring. I've done some loose lead training alone with him and a clicker. Going OK so far, just really slowly up our road - stop start. He's just on his flat collar when I do this...but on a harness when OH is in full swing, so at least he gets the difference. Gable is beautiful. More shaggy than Coco, but just the same looks.
Love the close-up shot - gorgeous boy! I think Belle and Coco will be great company for each other. I have friends who have just said farewell to their 7th and last guide dog puppy, Hal He is a GS/retriever cross - brindled soft shaggy coat and so huge he has to bend his head down to sniff your pockets for treats! Fabulous nature though
