Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. It sounds like you are doing great Kate and making lots of progress already. Brilliant. ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Thank you everyone! He really is doing well, expecting maybe to see more of his natural personalty coming out, definitely a more attentive and focussed dog than Benson with people. Will have to be careful that he doesn't get too much individual attention, so he understands his boundaries. The dog walker is really helping with socialisation, helping Casper get familiar with other people/dogs who will be a constant in his new life He had a lovely off lead walk with his new bessies today Now able to leave him for 1 3/4 hours without any signs of distress, so happy that we are getting there slowing but surely, it's only been 11 days after all! We did have a sad moment, Casper got very agitated when he heard babies crying on the TV, so I guess there were small children around in his previous life.. :'(
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Do you know nothing about his background Kate? The fact he is so responsive to you and learning so quickly it's surprising and sad he is a rescue. At least he has you and new buddy Benson now. ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=Jen link=topic=8180.msg117056#msg117056 date=1413389203] Do you know nothing about his background Kate? The fact he is so responsive to you and learning so quickly it's surprising and sad he is a rescue. At least he has you and new buddy Benson now. ;D [/quote] We only have a little information, and of course Casper himself. Oddly we do have pedigree papers for him, and his has a spectacular lineage, with Hawksmoor Webster as his grandfather ( he sired Carpenny Walpole who is also related to Benson ) Makes it all very strange how on earth he has ended up at Clare pound in Ireland.. :'( :'(
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=8180.msg117128#msg117128 date=1413405761] [quote author=Jen link=topic=8180.msg117056#msg117056 date=1413389203] Makes it all very strange how on earth he has ended up at Clare pound in Ireland.. :'( :'( [/quote] It makes no sense at all Kate how these lovely dogs end up on death row, Charlie came from a pound in Ireland too :'( :'( I am thrilled to bits at the progress you and Mr Bean have made with Casper and in such a short time. Very well done and to Benson too xxx
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. What a lovely story, with definite progress along the way. Good for you!
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Casper continues to do well, he has only been with us for just over 2 weeks, it feels like so much longer when we think where we started, this scared, worried looking black labrador with no name. Socialisation, (with the help of a few friends. ) is coming along a treat. He is very well mannered when meeting other dogs, still difficult for him to restrain the impulse to run over at a 100 miles an hour to say hello, but pretty confident he will come straight back without causing a bother, there is the odd occasion when we have caught the hesitation, have recalled successfully from the distraction. Going back over recall and catching attention has also helped Benson, really firming up his response to recall and keeping close. It is really lovely watching both dogs play, chasing each other and sharing sticks! Benson has also got Casper into water, we think maybe for the first time. He raced around like a mad puppy afterwards with sheer excitement! He has had 2 sessions with our dog walker, they went well, so he now goes out happily with Benson and his new friends. Actually some feedback I got was how protective Casper is of Benson, made me well up to hear that... Lots of things we are still working on, the main one is separation anxiety, we have left him up to 1 hour and 3/4 and each time not a problem. Well we did have a blip the other day when he got distressed, not sure what the trigger was, so two steps forward and 3 steps back we go. But that is OK. Looking at trying to use the crate in another room, so some time is spent away from us for part of the evening, he tends to follow us around from room to room. We are also considering full day care just for a couple of days a week, the change in scenery may help to prevent him getting too bonded at this early stage, and thus getting anxious when we go.The bond with OH is already very strong. This would be with our dog walker who he knows and I trust completely. Heel work: Coming along nicely, when there are no distractions, well we expected this so focussing on lead and off lead using clicker. I think this will just take a lot of patience and consistency with both of us. Couple of videos with OH practising off lead walking and a bit of recall, Benson helping as always... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjuUgqWhDZY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oWmC9FFdOI Finally, check at the vets on Friday, Casper was given the all clear. He has lost a kg so far in weight. Needs to build a little more muscle on back and legs, he agreed a little hydrotherapy would help.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. That is great Kate! Is he still a foster, or is he more official?
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Wonderful news Kate, love the videos. Casper has come on leaps and bounds you must be so proud with the gorgeous Bensons help? xx
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. So three weeks has passed. Casper is gaining in fitness, and also has lost just under 2kgs, so he is there or thereabouts. Healthy and fit with a little stiffness, but this is improving. Walking on lead...still needs a lot of work, and this is difficult to practice as it really needs 2 of us to work on. On lead down our driveway he is perfect, but just like a puppy this needs proofing in different environments. Off lead..this is really improving, very much in line we suspect with his settling in. What we think is happening as his excitement and impulsiveness are reduced, his natural characteristics are emerging, and we think those are of a very attentive dog. We are continuing to work on the basics, walking to heel, off lead, on lead. Also adding a short "sit stay" so basically a "sit" with a release cue. This is working well and he has also picked up the release cue fairly quickly, this is useful on recall, if both dogs are recalled I want them in position until released. Interesting I don't want to hold him in a sit for too long as it is clear he is not used to it, more from the perspective of fitness (muscle, strength etc..) than anything else. So might start to use a "stop" cue quite soon and work in a hold from there if that makes sense? Quite a long way away yet methinks, but ultimately I would like to be able to "stop" him quickly at a distance, and hold until another command, recall etc...
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Lovely to hear how well you're doing with him. You need to update your signature to include Casper, really make him one of the family Can I ask how you know how he's doing when you leave him when you go out? Do you video him?
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8180.msg120027#msg120027 date=1414402530] Lovely to hear how well you're doing with him. You need to update your signature to include Casper, really make him one of the family Can I ask how you know how he's doing when you leave him when you go out? Do you video him? [/quote] We have a Motorola monitoring system which works remotely via an external server which is available through a free downloadable app. I have this on my iphone, and can access any time across 3g or wifi spots. The camera is only compatible with the monitor everywhere software, but it works fine for us. It also has a 2 way microphone, so I can hear if he is barking, plus pan and tilt
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Little bit concerned about his stiffness, I am sure it is OK, however want him to be as fit and supple as possible. Pretty sure it is to do with how he has been kept. I would love to take him on longer walks, at the moment an hour an a half is about his limit, although he looking much fitter and generally healthy. So we are booking Casper here for a few sessions of hydrotherapy, as our vet suggested, and also some gentle physiotherapy. Considering some of their alternative therapies for anxiety. Casper had what appears to be a dog version of an anxiety attack the other night, it was horrible... :'( http://www.chapelfarmrehab.com/home/ Apart from that he is picking up a longer "sit stay" really well, and we are progressing from the treat streaming method to be able to walk away, back turned for about 20 seconds, his tail is in constant wag with this exercise! ;D ;D Casper will also retrieve, only if a ball is a few feet away, and if Benson isn't around, which is a bit odd. The minute Benson arrives on the scene he won't retrieve anything and actually looks a bit nervous.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. Also thought I had taught Casper to "leave". It worked well earlier. OH gets home... I proudly get both dogs into sit. Place a piece of liver cake in front of both dogs, and say "leave" Like greased lightening Casper eats his cake...then wolfs down Benson's liver cake. Bensons face was a picture! ;D ;D
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. LOL! Poor Benson! ;D It sounds as if Caspar is learning most things really quickly though.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks.. It's lovely to read how well Casper is doing Kate. He is making so much progress you are doing a fantastic job. [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=8180.msg120583#msg120583 date=1414619427] Also thought I had taught Casper to "leave". It worked well earlier. OH gets home... I proudly get both dogs into sit. Place a piece of liver cake in front of both dogs, and say "leave" Like greased lightening Casper eats his cake...then wolfs down Benson's liver cake. Bensons face was a picture! ;D ;D [/quote] Waste not want not is obviously Casper's moto. ;D ;D ;D. Poor Benson sometimes an old dog doesn't need to learn new tricks he's already an expert.
