Minnis Bay walk

Earlier this week we'd been out to Minnis Bay. It's so lovely if the tide is out. Grey's a bit harder to handle there if the tide is in because that forces lots of dog walkers to stick to quite a straight path. Although once past that bit with now the dreaded beach hut and BBQ distraction obstacle course, we're out onto natural ground with a shingle beach on one side, much like Dungeness and rough grassy areas below the sea wall. Perfect for bits of fun scent work. Plus that bit is free of cyclists and a lot of the dog walkers don't go on that path as it's rougher. So we drift between the three areas, rough ground, paved sea wall path and wide wide beach stretching out to infinity. The week days are easier as there are less people about. The winter is bliss here, but then I'm northern so I like that kind of bleak landscape.



Grey was quite hyped up here this week and so we're giving it a break for a while. He's got a wee eye infection too, so a break from the sand will do him good.

Back to the old neighbourhood

Well, back to the hood for me and the other half, but it's always an adventure for Grey. We also got to realise how much of a micro-climate we live in here in Thanet, because we left misty cool breezes and arrived in London humid heat. We had the aircon turned up for Mr Grey in the car. The other half went boxing after picking up our load of toilet seat, hob, tap and sink. Grey and I got off the busy Hackney Road and headed for Haggerston Park and the shade. I was amazed how much it's been developed there. Really nice football pitch, tennis courts and woodland walk. Very nice. Grey stayed on the lead and we managed to mooch around in the shadows under the trees and sit on the grass. It was Grey's first five a side football match and he didn't seem too impressed. So we did some nice clicker training on eye contact and also I paid up for passing people, vans, bikes etc with nice calm acknowledgement and a look back to me.

We headed out to our old neighbourhood in London Fields. AMazing how full of people it is now. The park has definitely been recaptured by the community. It was absolutely packed full of people and picnicers. Lord knows what Grey would have done if he had been offlead in that situation. He would have probably ramraided a few and gone off with his booty.

While we were off to get some chips down Broadway Market we bumped into a vizsla and his two owners who I've met before when I'd admired him in his smart Hurtta harness with the handle at the back. It turns out this is Hamish and he know's Anna's Ziggi. Grey was quite enthusiastic about meeting Hamish, but eventually settled to lie down on his side. We strolled off our separate ways. Then we bumped into another Vizsla, Vigo and her owner who had already heard there was a slovak in Hackney. How could anyone miss Grey? He was shouting his head off outside the offlicence at the entrance to London Fields when L had gone in for some water. Funny, because he's stopped shouting like that in Margate. Grey I mean, not L! Must have been the excitement of being in London town. It made me wonder what it would be like to live back in town with a dog like Grey. I suppose we'd adapt and do more at weekends. We'd probably miss the beach and more free running.But then I don't know, I'm sure I'd find a new environment.

So we're very happy to have met some more blogging dogs. Very sorry to hear of Radio's passing, Andrea. It looks like an awful condition to strike at a young dog like that. We had a similar experience with losing both our maine coon cats, Rock and Clark at 4 years old to feline HCM. Our breeder has screened for it now. Losing a young animal like that is heartbreaking.

Back to today, we had some lunging at traffic in Hawley Street this morning. We'd started to head home from a leadwalk to the beach where we found the tide in. Boo! He seemed more on edge today. It was probably my fault that the walk turned out longer and with no offlead run first, he found it hard to deal with the traffic. It's a real trouble road for us to cross there as it is busy and we have to wait to cross. This seems to be a trigger if it is going to happen. If I keep him moving, it doesn't seem to trigger him. Once he's set off about a van, lorry or cycle, then he'll often start on all following vehicles. So still lots to do on this.

Hot sunny days

I've not been posting for a while on how things were going. But we have been busy. What is it? Make hay while the sun shines?

We've been doing early morning walks and then late evening to avoid the heat of the day. Then short lead training bits during the day or bits of retrieve or stay training in the back yard. I had a really brilliant week with Grey this week. He felt like he had passed another corner and was slightly steadier and, you know, more grown up. He came away from other dogs easier. One one morning he more or less followed me round a playing field offlead while a rottie was the other side. I've been doing lots of reinforcement for being with me with the clicker and going out before breakfast. I tried some stay training in the field too, but I'm now looking at being more steady and careful with that on the advice of a friend.

And then there are days like today where it all goes haywire. He jumped on the dining table! Stole a mask from a lady's stall we were at in the old town and was incredibly over energised this evening and hard work. But then you get days like that.

But I have been really pleased to see that we can walk some distance on the flat collar now and again. So a huge YAY!

I forgot to post feedback on the second opinion on his teeth. The dentist said there is nothing more to be done. So I've booked in with a one to one session for ttouch, which hopefully will help him.

Another teeth update

I'm going to get Grey a second opinion on his teeth situation. They still seem to be bothering him and since he has matured things seem to have changed. His front teeth are jumbled and multi-layered. They clash and there is still some impact of the left canine into the upper gum.

It could be affecting his training and behaviour on the headcollar. Which is a bit of a catch 22 situation. I can't really handle him without one on. The dogmatic seems to be the best fit so far as far as his eyes go. But it's still not ideal. This will require ongoing treatment it seems.

Training update

I've not really been updating the blog the last few weeks. I blame it on the sunshine and long walks with Grey and his friends. We've settled into bits of training. Lots of socialisation round town and walking with other dogs which has really paid off. He seems to have really calmed down. Yes, still a monkey and very much a character, but I'm learning to work with it. We've got a weekly session with J locally and that gives us more than enough to work on. At the moment we're working recalls, retrieve with a stuffed toy that he brings to me to get a treat out of it, twist, heelwork and general calm around traffic, leave it training around food.

He is able to look at approaching vans now and more or less not lunge. I haven't had a lunge for a week. That is really good and I'm really proud of him. It's a huge step forward for us.

I'm trying to plan ahead and think what I'd like to do with Grey. I have always thought it might be nice to do some kind of activity. He enjoys doing stuff and it would be nice to find something that I can manage timewise and that will get his tail wagging. So what to do: agility, scentwork or some specific gundog training?

This weekend it was really hot and he laid up most of Saturday. We went out to the beach in the evening and it was really lovely. Shame about the messy summer beach users leaving a trail of rubbish in their wake. He unfortunately scoured discarded BBQs, but thankfully no bones found.

Ha ha I just spotted lots of pics of Grey

From last year's slovak fun day. See if you can spot him:

http://www.slovakianroughhairedpointerclub.org.uk/events.htm

He was about 6 months old then.

Lily the weimie service dog in training video

Really nice video of a weimie called Lily who is a service dog in training following The Levels programme.



See, HPRs can do this stuff!