We got off to a good start with Hamish's first firework season a few bangs in the park and he looked up, cocked his head and then carried on sniffing. Then they got closer to home and the 5th November approached...a bit too close. I let him out in our garden for a wee without realising our neighbours three doors down were having a display in their back garden. As the sparks and bright colours burst into the sky Hamish bolted for the door and hid downstairs terrified. For four nights he wouldn't go outside after dark and then slowly got more settled but he didn't enjoy it at all. Let's hope next year goes better.
On a better note (don't want to speak too soon though) the good news is that so far Hamish loves his new whistle and comes bounding towards me when I blow it. I haven't really tested it with any big distractions so far though...slowly does it, Rome wasn't built in a day but I'm being super careful to make sure he keeps on loving it.
7 comments:
Hello Hamish
My mum uses a whistle and it is an odd thing. Whenever she blows it I automatically run towards her. I think there must be some invisible string that runs between me and the whistle as whatever I'm doing I instantly stop and am drawn to her. She says it's 'the best thing since sliced bread' but I think sliced bread is better.
My friends told me about these things called fireworks but I can't say I noticed them.
I like your robo eyes - do they sell them in the pet shop?
love rufus
ah, thatsittwhywehaventseenuinages!
its the whistle thingie...glad its working.
love
a
Hamish used to come running all the time too until his balls got bigger and he developed an attitude. So Rufus you have to promise never to cut the invisible string even when a girl dog comes flirting with you or squirrel pee buried deep in a pile of autumn leaves puts your head in a spin. PROMISE!
We'd just like to point out that redgirls don't score very highly on the obedience front. But we can't blame our balls. Or testosterone. We are just normal vizlas. Redgirls remember an earlier post where Hamish's ahemm credentials were on display and we think it would be a pity to chop them off.
That's what red girls think anyway.
XXXXX
We agree with Redgirls...it'd be a great pity to chop off the family jewels.
I don't think we can attribute all his disobedience to his 'maleness' but when the masters voice quite suddenly became like planes going overhead unnoticed we presumed his current level of distraction was due to puberty. It's very comforting to hear that the Redgirls can be disobedient sometimes too.
I think sometimes my expectations of the wee Hamish (still puppy lest we forget) are too high. As everyone seems to advise castration will solve a multitude of sins and I'm desperate to avoid that if possible.
All I really want is that he'll reliably come back to me when I know he's up to no good (e.g humping, bullying or stealing picnics)or in trouble.
Dear Ross and Steven
Di here. (Redgirls are in bed and I hope Hamish is too. After all we are discussing HIS bits). Do you know. I just think you've got a normal adolescent vizsla. Tis a trying age. They nearly all push you a fair bit. Yes I think it's a pubertal stage but girl vizslas do growing up things too. And unless Hamish's problem is with aggression/other boy issues I don't see what good castration would do. (oh and by the way depending on the time of the month vizsla girls can hump too do you know)
Yep recall is all vitally important. Practise practise with the whistle when he's focussed on you and concentrating and the results don't matter and then reward like MAD. Again and again. Hopefully coming back to the whistle will become a conditioned response.
Redgirls can be naughty. Going on disobedient. Going on anarchic. But. If it really matters .. with a combination of anticipation and the whistle we usually get co-operation.
Tho. To be honest. Not always. And big Berta at 2 years old still jumps up. Despite my best efforts.
Hugs to scot chums
XXX
Hello Di,
Many thanks for your comments. It is good to compare with your grown ups so that I know what the final outcome should be. The whistle seemed like a miracle at first, he was super-excited about it and loved rushing back to me for a treat or three. I've been careful to keep it special but I noticed today already he was slowing down in coming back to me in the park and then he ran off playing with a golden labrador and just wouldn't come back until he was good and ready. I really don't want the whistle to be ignored and become like planes going overhead too.
I guess it's not engrained enough yet to use it when he's distracted. How do I show him that it wasn't good to come back so slowly or not at all? What do I do when he ignores it?
Jumping up is getting better, humping is sporadic and aggression only concerns me sometimes when he gets a bit carried away playing.
Hope to meet the beautiful girls one day.
love,
Ross and Steven x
Post a Comment