Great to be back Gordon

[flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk]

Thank you for encouraging us to start posting again, Gordon. I hope
this group will always stay as it was - gentle discussions with no
boasting about show successes, which are so prevalent on some of the
other chat groups. Nobody taking themselves too seriously.

We are coming back up to the Lake District in July, but won't now be
seeing you on Coniston. I hope you'll remember the trouble we had
trying to get yellow Flatcoat Rio on board your lovely launch a couple
of years ago, and then of course trying to get him off - all in the
pouring rain. During that same holiday we had such a game trying to
get him on to a train, but with the help of the guard we managed to do
so, only to have the same problem on the return journey. Last year on
holiday in Whitby he suddenly decided to go to ground whilst walking
across the harbour bridge. It (he) held up the traffic until a young
"Goth" arrived on the scene and swiftly picked him up in his arms and
carried him to the "safety" of the promenade. Rio is so crazy he
would run through fire, but I have no idea why he suddenly becomes
such a coward doing relatively safe things. Does anybody experience
similar problems or have answers ?

Dave and I are looking forward to taking our threesome to the coast of
Cumbria for a cottage holiday in July and then a week with them in
Bideford, Devon. They love going in the sea, so we should have a good
time. What plans do others of you have for holidaying with your dogs
this year ?

Are any of you planning to attend the Flatcoated Retriever Society's
Diamond Jubilee weekend bash in June ? Dave and I will be "in charge"
of the scurry, so hope to see some of you there.

By the way, our threesome are Rio - a yellow Flattie dog, Briar - a
black bitch and Ghillie - a liver boy. I doubt whether many people
have all three colours, but they do make a lovely bunch. Years ago we
had the same combination, but with three blacks - making up our
"Famous Five".

Best regards
Brenda Abbett

[Jean Glover]

Hello Brenda,
 
I do sympathise with your difficulties.  My own fcr's are more of the 'me first, me first' approach. However, a  previous collie/shepherd mix I had was a very fearful dog. I found that clicker training was a great success, because it breaks things down into such tiny steps - you're only asking the dog to take one step forward - not actually 'get into the train' etc..and rewards each step and 'takes control' of the situation. The first time I left my fearful dog at kennels, he woudn't go into it - I clicked him in step by step. I have seen a video of Karen Pryor doing the same thing with a horse into a horse box. It is easy to clicker train  - (if you need some tips, let me know.)
I would also practice (and reward) being calm in stations, near noisy trains etc.. and getting on and off trains etc.. when I wasn't going anywhere in particular etc..  Floor surfaces might be an issue, too. If they are slippery, it can increase fearfulness. You could try training hime to put his feet up and down onto a particular little non-slip mat that you use a lot at home, below and on stairs etc.. and then in different situations and then carry it with you. it might help you break the pattern.
 
Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, achieves miracles by using 'calm assertive energy' and doggy discipline to move dogs forward and communicate what is not acceptable to the 'pack leader'.  His theory is that if our own energy is assertive enough, and the dog is drained of nervous energy by walking on lead for some time, the dog will move into a calm submissive state and follow. I have seen him do great things. Lots of stuff around - on SKY every evening at 6. and videos etc.. I regularly incorporate his techniwues into my own training aproach and have found them very helpful with traditional fcr problems - like jumping on guests and 'obsessing' about balls and sticks. There is also a Cesar Milan discussion forum where behavioural challenges are discussed.
 
I hope you can help Rio move on so that he can enjoy all the great oppportunities you offer him. I believe there's always a solution!
 
Good luck!

 

Jean

> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:25:53 -0700
> Subject: [Flatcoats] Great to be back Gordon
> From: flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk
> To: flat...@googlegroups.com

[flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk]

I wasn't using a clicker at the time of the train and launch
incidents, but I had it with me on the harbour bridge in Whitby.
Nothing was going to move Rio that day. He took to ground and there
he stayed. Normally he would do anything for food, but wouldn't be
tempted by the nibbles in my bumbag. He's nearly 6, so not really a
young dog, but never too old to learn, I guess. He responds quite
well to the clicker in other circumstances :-) Thanks for the
encouragement, Jean.

Regards ....... Brenda

[Marilyn Wilkinson]

Brenda, I had to laugh reading about Rio's apprehensions.  Bobby is the same way. I call him "Chicken Dog".  I never know what will set him off. 

 

It isn't just strange places that spook him, it is strange things, too.  One time, I bought a new laundry hamper.  I brought it into the house and put it down to close the door behind me.  Bobby saw the killer attack laundry hamper and headed for parts unknown in the house.  I had to put a lead on him and gently bring him over to the hamper to convince him he had nothing to fear from it. 

 

There was a time when I took him to an obedience match.  We had to go up a handicapped ramp to the second floor to get to the obedience ring.  It was totally enclosed and painted gray.  What could be safer?  It freaked Bobby out and he splayed all four legs out to the side and planted his body firmly on the floor.  I didn't know dog joints could move that way!  I had to drag him up to the second floor that way, he would not move. 

 

He ended up getting his second leg of his novice obedience title that day and was so full of himself that I thought he had overcome any fears.  Wrong - I had to pull the splayed-out dog back down the ramp! 

 

The kicker is that my husband took Bobby back to the same venue 4 months later for an agility competition - also held on the second floor.  Bobby trotted up and back down like he owned the place! 

 

A trainer once told me that all dogs are neurotic, but it's part of what makes them so charming to us.  I think I have to agree.

 

Marilyn

[flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk]

What a coincidence, Marilyn. We use the name "Chicken Dog" too.

I hope you can open this link http://www.pbase.com/abwhitt/image/29371855
We visited this location during a holiday a few years ago when Rio was
a youngster. Dave and I had 3 Flatties with us and I can't believe we
walked across this bridge and another similar one, which had a
handrail on one side only, was only about 2 feet wide, with a one-way
route to the beach at Broadhaven, so no turning back. Rio and the
other two posed no problems and nobody fell in, so he hasn't always
been a coward.

Brenda

On Mar 30, 2:12 am, "Marilyn Wilkinson" <mgwilkin...@comcast.net>
wrote:

[flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk]

Here is a better photograph of the bridge http://www.pbase.com/abwhitt/image/34853925
I hope you'll look at some of the other photographs in this
collection, showing some wonderful places in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Brenda

On Apr 4, 7:36 pm, "flatcoats.brenda.abb...@blueyonder.co.uk"

<flatcoats.brenda.abb...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> What a coincidence, Marilyn.  We use the name "Chicken Dog" too.
>

> I hope you can open this linkhttp://www.pbase.com/abwhitt/image/29371855

[Marilyn Wilkinson]

LOL, Brenda, I looked at both pictures you posted and I think I would have been a bit wary of that bridge, too! 

 

I would say it was amazing that Rio had no problem crossing the bridge except that Bobby has had times when he seems quite fearless, too.  I just never know what is going to freak him out. 

 

What is funny is that since Cammii came to live with us three years ago, Bobby sees himself as her protector and is far more brave than he used to be.

 

I did look at many of the other pictures posted on the site.  Pembroke is absolutely beautiful!  They renewed a dream of mine to visit the UK that I have had since I was a very little girl!

 

Marilyn

----- Original Message -----

From: flatcoats.b...@blueyonder.co.uk

To: Flatcoats

Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 12:36 PM

Subject: [Flatcoats] Re: Great to be back Gordon