Friends

This is me and my friend Duke. He is a rescue boy, like me. He'd only been with his 'forever' family for a short time when mum went to visit them, to try to help with some problems they were having with Duke's behaviour.
One of the problems was that, like me, Duke over-reacted when he saw other dogs. Duke's mum started to bring Duke on our 'Sunday Social Walk'. The first few weeks a lot of us barked our heads off but bit by bit we began to realise that nothing bad would happen when we saw another dog. Duke's mum listened and followed my mum's advice and no we are the best of friends!

Snowy days!

We had lots of snow in Lincolnshire. I loved it!!! I even got snow on my nose. It was nice to go home after a lovely snowy run and snuggle by the fire.
Mum's been reading a book called 'In defence of the dog' by John Bradshaw. She says it really makes you think about the out dated ideas of dog training and puts a new perspective on the way humans think about their dog.
If only humans could understand how we dogs think about them!!!

Is this how Santa comes down the chimney?

This is me and Charlie (Heeler/Jack) practising getting into small spaces. I wonder if Santa practises squeezing down chimineys?

Too much exercise!

Here I am with my new friend Charlie, the border collie.

His Mum called my Mum because Charlie had been aggressive towards other dogs, particularly small dogs (that was a worry!) It turned out that when Charlie went out his Dad liked to play ball with him ALL the time. Charlie was fixated on the ball so when another dog came close, he would try to 'see it off'. Mum said to try cutting out the ball play and see how thing went. Charlie's Mum said he became so much calmer, really quickly.

If dogs get too much exercise or stimulation they can find it really hard to calm down and relax. Mum says if, after a nice walk/run, a dog doesn't go home and have a good sleep, if the dog isn't relax and chilled, then the exercise has been too much.

A Heeler/Jack

Last weekend Mum visited some people who have a very handsome dog. His name is Charlie and he is a Heeler/Jack Russell like me! Of course, they weren't having problems with Charlie, he's a good boy like me! The people have two other dogs and one of them is very 'stressy'. She's a little Yorkie and has been very worried about going out and seeing other dogs.

Mum says, it will only make Ellie more stressed if she has to keep facing the things that are worrying her. Charlie's Mum and Dad really want to help the little girl and are going to put Mum's 'Action Plan' in place to help to reduce the stress and build her confidence.

Of course, Charlie will be leading the training as us Heeler/Jacks know exactly how to behave!

Loose lead walking

Mum visits many clients who's dogs pull hard on the lead. Why wouldn't they if they've never been taught not to?! We don't know what you want unless we're taught and tugging, yanking and pulling us around is no way to teach us how to walk nicely on the lead. Teach us where you want us to be, give us space (we might not like having to walk 'stuck' to your leg, personal space, personal space!) Don't use equipment that can damage our necks or backs but put in the time and be patient and we can learn to walk calmly and nicely.

Holiday!

I've been on holiday to Wales. We stayed in a fantastic 'dog friendly' holiday cottage. Mum and Dad said it was the best dog friendly holiday cottage we'd ever stayed in. I agree! The cottage had paddocks, a wood and a stream that I was allowed to go in. We also went on loads of lovely walks in the Brechfa forest, up hills and down valleys and also to a seven mile long sandy beach at Pendine...loved it.

If you want to give you much loved dog a special holiday, check out the webisite -

www.holidayinthebarn.co.uk

Camping!

I went camping for the first time ever!! I was sooooo good, Mum and Dad were very proud.

We pitched the tent in the corner of the camp site field. Dad attached me to one of his horse long-lines and I just lay and watched everything that was going on. There was another dog, with it's family, about 25 meters away but I didn't bark at it, I just watched. We went walking in some woods, had an ice-cream outside a cafe (well the humans had an ice-cream) and walked by a river...what a lovely life!

The only bit of camping that I didn't like was the night time. It got really cold in the middle of the night so Mum and Dad invited me to lay between them because I was shivering. Then I stopped shivering and it was all cosy.

I wonder when we'll go camping again?

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Gracie

This is Gracie she is a rescue dog who was saved by the Doris Banham Sanctuary, like me.
One of the volunteers got in touch with my mum because Gracie has problems. Gracie is terrified of other dogs.
Mum said she could come along to our Sunday morning social walks so her new mum brought her along a few weeks ago. As soon as Gracie saw me and my walking mates she reacted. She didn't bark, she didn't whine, she didn't yap...she screamed! Mum said she'd never heard anything like it. We set off walking with my Mum and Gracie's Mum and Gracie walking FAR away from the rest of us. Gracie screamed all the way round the common!
So...Mum said NO going our except to come to the social walks.
Gracie is toooooo stressed. When we get stressed hormones are released. It can take between 3-6 days for those hormones to come down to a normal level. If we have to keep facing the things that stress us, the levels aren't able to come down. We can get ill through stress just like humans.
Mum says, no going out for now while a 'stress reduction' programme is put in place. Gracie's new Mum is really working hard to help Gracie.
Last Sunday, when Gracie arrived at the common there was no screaming, we didn't realised she'd arrived until we saw her Mum waving to us all. She did react a bit but not half as much as she used to. Gracie's Mum says she's much calmer at home too, not reacting to every sound in the house or garden.
Bit by bit, step by step, with lots of patience and love Gracie will 'get there'.
Gracie walks far away from the rest of us at the momment but I'm looking forward to the day when she walks WITH us.....I think she's quite pretty!

New friend

Earlier this week Mum visited a client who had a dog who was 'hyper'. His Dad thought that by giving him lots and lots of exercise, Dexter would be worn out. Mum explained that in fact, Dexter was just getting fitter and over-stimulated. Although it is important for a dog to run, play, sniff and socialise, it is important not to over-exercise. Depending on size and breed, Mum says dogs need between 14-18 hours of quality rest each day.

Dexter's Mum and Dad brought him to our 'Social Dog Walk' on Sunday morning. We had a really good time and 'shared' this long stick! I liked Dexter.

Wolfhound!

Today Mum went to visit a Wolfhound. Mum said he was 'magnificent'! Wonder if I'm 'magnificent'?
The 'Wolfie's Mum' is having trouble walking him on a lead as he pulls so hard. Mum has asked her 'dog colleagues' which harness is best to use for BIG dogs.
They have suggested the Mukuti Balance Harness or the 'Perfect-fit'.
I wear a harness, even though I walk nicely. Mine is made of soft fleece material. Harnesses don't damage a dog's neck, back or throat if they pull. I love my harness!

Happy New Year!

Well, that's another year over! Today I helped Mum and Dad to put away the decorations.

The house looked so pretty over Christmas and now it's all gone. Still they've got me to enhance the house!!

Snowwwwwww!

Yipeeeee snow! Dad says snow goes straight to my head! When I spotted the snow in the garden yesterday, I ran and ran, round and round the garden, full pelt...what fun! When I finally came back inside I dived into my bed and flicked my blanket over me with my nose. Brrrr, that soon warmed me up.

Fun on the beach!

Frrreeeeeeedoooooommmmm!! Last weekend I went to the beach with my cousins, Tao and Ronnie. We had great fun! After we'd been running on the sand for a while Ronnie ran off into the dunes and went exploring. He didn't come back when he was called so dad and Ronnie's mum, Hannah, had to go and get him. He'd got stuck in some thorny bushes and looked really worried. Dad eventually pursuaded him to push his way through. Poor Ronnie had lots of thorns stuck in his fur. Mum said he was lucky not to get any in his eyes or paws.

Me and my mates!

Mum has started some 'canine social walks' for some of her clients and me. I can get a bit anxious when I see other dogs, but only when I'm on my lead. Mum has several clients who also have reactive dogs. To try to help us all, we are meeting up on the common. We have only met three times but we're beginning to like eachother already! We start off with some parallel walking and then we set off across the common. We all end up nice and relaxed! Today my friends Alfie, Duke and Ruby came...our mums and dads were very proud of us!

Through the corn field

Here I am bouncing through a corn field!! It was such fun. The corn was almost as tall as me so I had to jump my way through it. The corn has now been cut down so it's not so much fun.

Awww a puppy!

Mum went to visit some clients who had several Hungarian Vizslas. One of them was a puppy! Mum couldn't stop talking about how cute he was. As I am a rescue dog, Mum and Dad don't know what I looked like when I was a puppy but you can be sure I was really cute!

HAPPY EASTER!

There are some strange things in the house. I spotted something odd on the mantle piece...some funny looking animals that mum calls 'chicks'. Mum and dad thought it was really funny when I stood on my back legs trying to have a good look at the 'chicks' (dad said I could be in the circus!) There is also a bowl full of chocolate eggs on the sideboard and they smell so good. I'm not allowed any as human chocolate is poisonous to dogs (what a shame) so that means they get them all!

Action shot!!

Natalie, the pet photographer (www.love-my-dog.co.uk) sent Mum one of the photos she took of me at the weekend. Look at my muscles, shiny coat and intelligent expression! If you're looking for an action shot, well I'm your boy!

Fame at last!!

Mum had a telephone call from a 'Pet photographer' called Natalie. She helps to raise funds for the dog sanctuary where Mum and Dad found me. Well, Natalie is taking photos of dogs who have been successfully re-homed by the Doris Banham Sanctuary ready for a 2011 calendar. I am a rescue dog who now has a 'forever home' thanks to the Doris Banham volunteers.
Anyway, being so handsome and full of character, Natalie obviously wanted to include me!
Mum and I met her on our local common and I set to giving it all my best moves. There was the 'flying through the air' move, the 'digging up mole hills' move, 'charging up the hill' move and 'fetching my ball' move. I do hope she caught my best side.
Mum's been telling everyone and saying what a 'little star' I am....awww, I'm such a loved dog!