hello all. very interesting experience with Young Brodick at weekend. As you know he is a tad wildlife focused, and when around rabbits looks like a demented wasp, glazed eyes, nose down, panting, tail doing that fast excited wag, completely oblivious to all around him, including his owner :. He has just started running with me, having hit one. When he runs he always asks to carry something ( he tried to carry my sleeve for his first few runs, with me wearing it which was very cute but made running tricky), now I give him a glove and he is happy as larry and carries it looking very pleased with himself. I go through the same pre run routine with him, tell him its RUN time, he goes into Focus Mode instantly, he will run beautifully with me (on lead), won't stop for a single sniff (and he is one sniffy lad), will run past fox poo (normally I'd find him upside down in it rolling happily), ignores his dog mates, but most interesting is I ran him through High Population Rabbitsville at the weekend and there was not a flicker. Not a sniff. not a single nose down episode. Not even as much as a glance in their direction. He was Running with me, and that's what he was going to do...so got me thinking that there are things we can do with them as well as gundoggery stuff which they will still see as Work...its like he knows we are on a Mission Together of some sort, a Job, and he takes it all very seriously. When we stop running I tell him Good Run, and he goes loopy with excitement, leaps about and tries to bum tuck on lead in triumph...they do seem to enjoy anything that involves a Job these labs, whatever that Job is.....and gives me hope that there are things out there that are more important than rabbit chasing
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador Debsie, that's brilliant. Maybe I should take up running with Charlie! ;D Helen x
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador Umm...don't think I will have a chance with that technique Well done you! jac
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador brilliant, would love that level of focus but couldn't do the running part. sounds amazing though.
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador Sounds wonderful Debsie , what fantastic exercise for you both . Sam sees everything as work and when in the mode , will totally ignore everyone around him ( except me ), other dogs too, he does get a bit serious about it all for his age x
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador That sounds wonderful to do. Wish my knees weren't so bad or I'd give it a go with Lady. I know she's love it too. As you say, they like to work and feel they are part of the team I think, going all serious and all. ;D
Re: what counts as 'work' to a labrador thanks everyone. Cuillin loves it too and I've had a few runs with both of them at the same time, which has been great too though requires careful management! though poor Cuillin insists on running staring fixedly up at me (serious about it too!), and took quite a tumble a few weeks ago. wee soul is quite accident prone anyway, but that was an accident waiting to happen :-\ Hopefully she will drop that habit soon... I'm dead chuffed they like running with me as am a bit of a long distance triathlon addict so they can join in the running part of the training and be part of The Team. entering us all in for some dogs allowed long hill races once Brodick hits eighteen months or so and can really build up his distances. you should see the Gear you can get for them, am hoping to get them carrying my water supplies in their cool new multi purpose running harnesses! and of course they are getting to take me to Gundoggery classes so its not all about me ;D
