Winter is here!

The Autumn weather has really been amazing this past week, I'm so glad I've been off school to really enjoy it. Indi and Ernie have loved going for long runs down the field everyday, or down the beach or park or wherever really! Now the clocks have gone back there will be a lot more days I wont be able to take the dogs out at all, and the dogs will probably only get about half hour off lead run on school days. I hate it, thats the only part of winter I hate. Of course, it leaves plenty of time for tricks, obedience and just about everything training wise.

One thing I really want to work on is Indi's stays. He has a stay, they are just not very reliable. I would also like to train a stand stay and then teach Ernie to go and jump over him. I have now finally got some ideas for some new tricks and shaping games so we will be kept busy this winter! I will keep this updated mainly so I can keep track with what were working on! Ernie is doing great with building his confidence around strangers, one thing we've been working on. Indi, however still has a long way to go but we are slowly getting better.

Now I have a really cute photo of Max, he isn't getting any better but is still as soppy, playful and cute as ever :).

A very eventful walk!

Well today the weather was really really nice again, so I decided to grab the opportunity. I took Indi on his own for a long walk to the park that I've recently been going to a lot with Ernie. When we got there however there were dogs everywhere, so instead we went on to the beach that was close by.
It is pebbles and the sea gets deep quick but we both had a lot of fun. The first exciting thing was that we saw a seal! I was so lucky to get a pic as it came up once and then disappeared and then came up again and I took a pic and then it disappeared again. It's the first time I've seen a seal down at this beach!
Indi loved it and went right out, as you can see from the pics. He didn't swim, but he really is becoming a water dog! Although, he did scare the life out of me! I was filming him in the sea (I'm going to make a new vid soon) when a wave went right over him and he went right under! I thought he was under for a while, but after looking at the video he was under for about a second before he reappeared. I was a bit wary about letting him go out too far after that, but he wasn't phased at all!
While we were walking home I noticed a strange colouring on his bottom. It looked like pee, but it was coming from his bum. All the way home he kept dripping a strange white/yellow goo out of his bottom. I was actually glad he was pulling on the lead or his tail would have wagged it into my leg! It was disgusting, and it worried me a lot but now I think its hilarious! It was only because he had drunk sea water (the stupid dog)! People must have thought me so weird just randomly stopping and staring at his bottom while he dripped another splodge out! Of all the dogs of course it would be my naughty, crazy Indi! I had to give his bum a wash with wipes and the hose, which he was not too pleased about but he's fine now and lounging across the sofa:). Silly doggy! :)

So here are some photo's from the most eventful dog walk I think I've ever been on in my entire life! Oh and of course the seal:).

Finally progress with Indi!

Today we went to flyball training and had so much fun! Ernie did fantastic and was going and getting the ball from the third jump! I was so pleased with him! He had a great run around the field, and had great fun playing in the stream behind the field! We also went on a walk around the field with two of the little ones that go to flyball and Lily a cute little working cocker spaniel who is the mum of Forest, my nan's sprocker spaniel! I got Ernie jumping over Lily, jumping over the little one's arms and standing on there back! They loved it, and it was good for Ernie to practice his jumping over another dog trick with a dog he didn't know and building his confidence around children. Ernie is a very strange dog, he absolutely adores some children and others he is not a big fan of! When he was a puppy and I was at a flyball competition I was watching the flyball when I turned and a little boy was giving Ernie cuddles and Ernie was wagging his tail like mad and giving him kisses all over! When I sometimes take Ernie to the school to pick my little brother up he sometimes just stands there wagging his tail waiting for a child to come and give him a cuddle! Sometimes if the child is a bit over the top, loud and scary he is a bit wary so it was a good experience for him to work with children! It was also so fantastic to have a dog that I could trust around Lily and the little ones! This time last year I wouldn't have trusted him off lead around Lily, he has come so far!
I also took Indi, as you probably guessed from the title! He had one incident at the beginning of training where he went mad at a staffie, but after that he was really good. He did however start on Ernie at one point, so I have a lot of work to do this winter. I let him off a lot more than before though, and he also had great fun playing in the stream and playing fetch! At the end of flyball when everyone is clearing away all the friendly dogs are usually let out to have a run around and play (it's complete madness as there are dogs running everywhere!). I have always let Ernie join in and he loves it, chasing all the Border collies and its also great socialisation. Well the last time I had let Indi off, it had been this time last year and he had had a few leaf issues. Today he was actually really good with the leaves, he got a bit distracted at some points but he didn't go deaf like he did last year. Last year, he ran around chasing every leaf that blew and he wouldn't come back at all. It was a nightmare. So today we did it at the end, but of course he had to wear a muzzle. He wasn't too happy about the muzzle, but it was well worth it. He barked at Millie the GSD but once he realised he couldn't do anything and that the other dog wasn't going to hurt him he just sniffed her. He then didn't attack any other dog once, and he was in the centre of lots of BC's, a GSD, Kez's brother, Ernie and all my nan's dogs minus the two girlie collies. He sniffed the other dogs and was really well behaved. I was so pleased! Hopefully if we keep doing this he will get more confident around other dogs and we will get to the point where he can go off lead around other dogs without a muzzle! We still have a LONG way to go, but we are now finally starting to make good progress.
Well no new photo's, I forgot to take my camera =(.

Autumn fun!

Autumn is officially here! The leaves are golden and falling, much to Indi's joy! Today, me and Ernie went to a park we don't usually go to. It's actually closer and bigger than any of the other parks I usually go to so I may be going there more often:). He had great fun, and there were plenty of trees for some tree agility and lots and lots of leaves for a small photoshoot.
Not much news, I am working on teaching Indi the 'bridge' hand target for teeth checks etc. and have also done some progress on his left and right wraps around objects. I am really running out of tricks again, so may need to think of some! I have also been training both Indi and Ernie to crawl under my Jacob New Moon blanket! They both love it, and are both getting the hang of it really quickly! Ernie is a bit ahead in the learning process as he's done this exercise before, but Indi is not too far behind!
That's about it really, so here are our first Autumn pics of the year :).

Winter is on its way!

Well winter is well and truly on its way now. I'm starting to not be able to go out for a walk with the dogs without a jacket, and can feel the frosty wintery feeling in the air. In fact, I love that feeling. I love walking dogs in winter, especially early in the morning when everything is frozen:). Ernie is liking this weather a lot, even though there is less time in the day for walks we don't have to worry about the sun. Indi and Lola don't really care.
Well Max isn't getting any better but hes not really getting worst either. I took him out for a 5 minute walk last week for the first time in about a month. We only went for about 5 minutes because he limped constantly. He is still as crazy as ever, but after he's been lying down for a while and starts walking he limps unbelievebly badly. I really do miss walking my crazy Maximus.
On other news yesterday me and Ernie went to flyball training. We couldn't take Indi this time as my nan didn't have a cage to put him in. Ernie did really well, and is really getting the hang of flyball. We still have a way to go but at least there trying with him. He was out for about 5 hours and spent most of it running around the field and playing in the small stream behind the field! We also did some mini agility courses with trees, by getting him turning left and right around them. He had great fun! I mixed it up a bit by using trees on hills and he really did have tonnes of fun! There was also some poles set out like weave poles. They were a fence, but were close enough together to practice some weaving. Ernie did really well, and really got the hang of weaving for the first time! Clever pup!
Well no new tricks, at the moment were focusing on obedience work with Indi and just having fun with Ernie! It's half term next week which means I will be able to make a new video! I have a couple of new tricks of Ernie's, but I mainly want to show off Indi's leg weave. It is amazing! I thought Ernie's leg weave was amazing, until I saw Indi's! Although, Ernie's is more consistent and he finds it a lot more fun. Indi gets bored after a while and starts spinning instead!
No new photo's either, but as winter comes that means plenty of photo opportunities:). (I love taking photo's of my dogs in the morning frost:))

Madness

These past few weeks have been complete madness. School work has been piling up and up, and I've had a lot to do outside of school so the dogs have had a lot less time. Well, its half term next week, so I will catch up on all the time I've missed then! Hopefully make a new video as well!
The main news is that at the moment poor Max can't go out for walks, I took him today for the first time in ages and he just limped constantly. The vets told us his life expectancy was around 8 years old, and he is now 8 and a half, 9 in February. We are all just expecting the worst at the moment, and preparing. I am treasuring every second I have with him, he is still the crazy, bouncy Labrador I've always known! Of course, this could all just blow over and be nothing, he has been fine before! He is a fighter, and keeps on fighting!
Well today on our walk, we saw a rabbit. I've seen rabbits before, but none of my dogs have ever been bothered before. I only noticed it when Lola just stopped and stared in the direction of the rabbit. Then, Ernie went running over, and Lola followed. They both spent a few minutes hunting this rabbit, and luckily came back with nothing! Ernie was very distracted for the rest of the walk, but we still had tonnes of fun!
Not much else to report, and no new photo's!

Happy birthday Ernie, Alfie and Kez!

Today is a pretty big day! It is Ernie's 3rd birthday, his brother Alfie's and also Kez, my nan's little lurcher crossbreed's 1st birthday! Ernie has come so far in such a short time, I am so proud of him! This time last year he only knew a few tricks, flyball was impossible and he had no recall around other dogs. It's a whole new story just a year on! He is such a clever little boy!

Alfie is still very unconfident, and is completely unmotivated. He is exactily like what Ernie used to be but as my nan doesn't have the time to spend with him like I do with Ernie he hasn't changed. Even so, he is still a very confident dog out on walks, is completely crazy and a very sweet little dog!

Kez is completely crazy, and I have clicker trained her to do quite a few tricks. She is such a sweet dog, its amazing to think that she's a year already! I still remember meeting her for the first time and how small and sweet she was!

So, for now some old pics and new pics of the two birthday boys and the birthday girl!

Kez the first time I met her!

Crazy little Alfie!

Kez, at around 4/5 months old!

Ernie and Lola on his first day with us!

Ernie on his first day!

Flyball training

All morning me, Ernie and Indi have been at flyball training! It was a lot of fun, and the first time I'd been since February! It was the first time I'd been with Indi since he was attacked there, so it sure was an interesting experience for him. I was so pleased with him, he was actually really well behaved. He was in a cage for most of it, and he settled really well in there considering he used to REFUSE to go in cages. He barked when dogs went past, but after a while he realised barking wasnt getting him anywhere and gave up. A few dogs went really close to him, and he didn't go for them at all. Although, saying that a group of spaniels walked past us and he almost dragged me across the floor trying to get to them. Yeah, we still have a long way to go. He also barked at a little 7 year old, which I wasn't too happy about but after he knew her he was fine. He also growled at a few people when they stopped to talk to me, we really do have so much to work on, but we'll get there slowly.

Ernie did fantastic! He was a bit iffy at first, but once I got the clicker out he was fantastic! I didn't have to run up with him, he went straight ahead and came back! What a clever dog!
I suppose the biggest news of all though is that Ernie is 3 tomorrow! Happy birthday to Alfie and Ernie! It's also Kez, my nan's little lurcher crossbreeds first birthday! She was born on Ernie's 2nd birthday!

Not much else to report, so just a few pics from flyball!

More beach fun!

Well today we went to the nearest sandy beach to us, again! It was VERY windy but we had so much fun! Indi was much more confident, and went even further out to sea! He really is becoming a true water dog! He nipped River, my nan's friends whippet, but other than that he was really good. We bumped into another dog, a greyhound/lurcher and he looked at it but didn't go running over. We are slowly beating this problem, its just taking a long time!
Tomorrow he's coming with me and Ernie to flyball training. Not to do any flyball training but just for socialisation and confidence building. We shall see how it goes, it may be a disaster or it may be a success. Of course, Ernie's going to be there as well so that might help as well! We will just have to wait and see.

I haven't posted anything on new tricks for a while. At the moment I am working on teaching Indi to be confident in trying new things with shaping. I was shaping him to put his paws in my shoes and he just wouldn't put both in. So I'm just clicking and treating anything new, not really working on any specific tricks with him at the moment. Although, I have now started training him the 'close' command which is heel just on the right side. With Ernie I'm working on a lot of different things. I have started training him to 'hug' teddies, bring his paw to me and am of course doing lots of flyball training everyday. I set up a little tiny jump, put a ball on one side and him on the other. Then just say 'GOO!' and he goes and gets the ball jumping over the jump on the way there and back! We still have a way to go, but he is doing so well!

Well winter is well and truly on its way. This is great news for Indi as it means leaves!!! Of course, we will be able to do NO flyball training as he finds leaves just too distracting:). I prefer winter, and so do Indi and Ernie. Especially Ernie. It means I can go for hours and hours on walks not having to worry about the heat or getting sunburnt. Oh and theres the snow too!:).

So here are some pics from our walk today!