Photos of Grey's bite from the beginning

Grey's bite at 16 weeks old.




Grey's bite at 27 weeks old after baby teeth have been removed and the adult teeth have come through. The issue hadn't righted itself and required further treatment. The adult canines are puncturing the upper palette and he is clearly overshot.






After he'd worn the brace for a couple of months and had had an adult tooth out:





Latest photos after the brace has been taken off. He's now 11 months old. Not sure it's looking too great. The front teeth have come through in more of a jumble. His lower canines still seem to be impacting on the upper gum. His teeth are a bit discoloured in parts where the acrylic plate was.

Training diary / March 16th p.m.

Palm Bay playing field.
4 month old pup in the distance and a man with a kite.
Let him watch the pup for a while. Reinforced him to look at me. Released him and he ran off to the kite man then came back to me fast.
Worked the long line with 3 x check ins. Refused 1 x recall. Just about to do another and he came in. Played with the toy 5 x. No bouncing off me. Back to the car. He struggled a bit and tried to back out of his collar. Managed to calm things and get into car.

Training diary / March 16th a.m.

Botany Bay.
40 secs for the 1st voluntary check in. 3 x voluntary check ins.
Worked the long line. Played with the labradoodle pup. Came away nicely. Ran back and came away again.

At home:
recall
up into the car
played fetch with the toy.

Training diary / 15th March p.m.

Botany Bay field top.
3 x voluntary check ins.
3 x good check ins on the long line.
Played with his friend the same age GSD. Called him back and he managed that.

At home did recall from outside, 'in your bed' and name recognition.

Training diary / 15th March a.m.

Out to Botany Bay. Tried out a flexi lead in case that was safer around other dogs. Not sure about it really. He was good on it, but it can give your hand a bit of a jolt and I can see how it's an issue for other dogs and your dog if the handle is dropped. I'll keep it anyway, as it might come in useful for something.

Interrupted play with other dogs x 4.
Recall on the line x 2 good.
Threw the toy on the long line x 4.
Had to settle him down to calm down and look at me when distracted by a dog in the distance.
Responded to name 5 x.

Article: On common bite faults

Interesting Article in PDF format to download. States the case for neutering of genetic faults and consequently refunds from breeders.

Grey's teeth issue clarified

Here's the letter from Grey's veterinary dentist. He had to have both milk and adult teeth out and have a plate fitted. The procedure was costly and unpleasant for Grey. Hopefully through selective breeding programmes this would be erradicated for future pups.

17/12/08

Ref your dog ‘Grey’ – Slovakian Pointer born April 2008.

Dear Miss XXX,

I am writing with a report on the dental problems and associated treatments we are carrying out upon ‘Grey’.

I fist saw him on 22/8/08 as a referral from you usual veterinary surgeon, who had noticed an abnormality in Grey’s teeth. I found that his lower temporary canines were erupted ‘inwards’ and as a result the tips were contacting the roof of the mouth. Also, the front part of the upper jaw was tilted downwards, resulting in the upper incisors being tipped slightly backwards, into the mouth, rather than being vertical. The tips of the upper carnassial teeth (large premolars) were catching on the gum of the lower jaw when the mouth closed, causing some gum recession. One final point was that some of the temporary teeth had small areas of missing enamel, the result of either an hereditary problem or an illness as a small puppy.

At the time I extracted the lower temporary canines to prevent damage to the roof of the mouth, and in the hope that the permanent canines would erupt into a more normal position. The enamel defects, being in temporary teeth needed no treatment, and we opted to monitor progress of the gum recession and upper incisor positioning as the permanent teeth erupted.

I saw Grey again on 19/11/08, at which time his lower permanent canines had erupted in the same plane as the temporaries, and were making deep indentations in the roof of the mouth. Additionally one of the upper incisors had erupted out of alignment with the rest of the incisors, necessitating extraction. Several incisors and premolars were either very slow to erupt, or had not erupted at all. At the time this was not causing a problem, although it might in the future.

We fitted a type of brace in the mouth, under an anaesthetic, to cause outward pressure on the lower canines each time Grey shut his mouth. At present this brace is still in the mouth, and the lower canine teeth are slowly moving into a more normal position, and we hope that when the brace is removed, Grey will have a functional, pain free bite, whilst at the same time retaining all four canines.

I do feel that the multiplicity of dental abnormalities must have a mainly genetic component, since there are so many abnormalities in one mouth. One could speculate that a breed with small numbers will have a small gene pool, and abnormalities more likely than in a breed with larger numbers.

Yours sincerely

Training diary / 14th March p.m.

Took a trip up to the top field so he could meet some other dogs. Did 2 x recalls away from other dogs that he'd gone to say hello to. The recalls were really nice. On the way back we stopped off in the old town to try out the Newtrix Collar to see how he was on it as I'd been given the ok for him to meet other dogs and that we'd need to do that on a head collar so we could go somewhere without the car next week. He had a nice trot around the old town as much of it is pedestrian and there isn't much going on on a weekend. But he does seem to be better about traffic as well.

Training diary / 14th March a.m.

I had forgotten to write this Saturday morning up, so it's what I can remember. I said hello to a woman in the field who was just leaving as we arrived. He refused a recall and then I was just about to call him for a 2nd time and he came. He did this the next time too.

Training diary / 13th March a.m.

Dogs were already in the field when we arrived. Grey barking lots. We waited, but eventually decided to go to another field. Did some calm training in the car first. Once released he was a lot more zoomy and on edge. I got tangled up in the line and was pulled off my feet and hit my head when some geese flew overhead. Won't do that again.

Training diary / 12th March p.m.

Barked in the car on the drive to the field. 50 secs first voluntary check in. 5 x voluntary check ins. Last 3 stayed around. Worked 'this ways' on the long line. No pings. Refused 2 x recalls on the line. Collected him up and waited. He easn't able to look at me. Waited. Got him to look at me. Then 10 x CTs for response to name. Threw toy 4 x. He wriggled away when I was putting his lead on. Did an instant recall and scattered food on the grass. Was this a bribe? Anyway, I got hold of him!

Training diary / 12th March a.m.

Barked in the car all the way to the field which is 20 mins drive away. But did calm down once we got there. Waited for calm before getting out of the car. I realised I had forgotten his harness, so couldn't do line work. Did 5 x voluntary check ins. 10 x respond to name. A woman arrived at the field with two little dogs. Grey dropped to greet as usual. I took hold of his collar before the woman came into the field. Grey started frustrated barking and rearing up. He carried this on while the woman went right over the other side of the field. We left the field and went to the car.

Training Diary / 11th March p.m.

40 secs for the first voluntary check in, then 10 x treats.
5 x vol check ins in total. 3, 4 and 5 stayed close.
On the long line walked and worked 'this ways', 3 x voluntary check ins. 1 x bad ping on the line which hurt my hand. I hope I learn to handle the line better.
2 x recall on the line good.
toy thrown x 5. He bounced off me when I went to put the toy away. Put the toy away, held his collar gently and put lead on and parked. 10 x response to name with treats. A to B walked to the car. Quiet in the car and relaxed.

Home training / 11th March

Throughout the day, 4 x recall from another room and in from the garden - scattering treats on the floor every time.
20 x 'up up' and 'off' the sofa.
Downs, sits and 20 x 'touch'.
Greeted the drain man nicely who came to unplug the outside drain. But did jump up after 2 mins. Argh.

Training Diary / 11th March a.m.

Out at the field in Marshside at 9a.m. Weather sunny and nice. The first voluntary check in was longer today at 2 mins. He had gone over to an area of the field we'd not been in before and also had a poo in this time. We did 5 x voluntary check ins in total. 3,4 and 5 he hung around after release. Did a nice bit on the long line although pinged the line twice. He was slow on 1 recall on the line, then refused a 2nd. I walked the line and quietly parked him. Waited 2 mins for eye contact. Then 10 x treats for response to name with eye contact. Threw the toy 5 x.No bouncing off me or barking. A to B walk back to the car.

Training Diary / 10th March a.m.

Session 6 Tuesday March 10th
back to the old field at 8.00.
30 min session.
Calm to get out the car.
A-B walk to field.
Calm before 'you're free' release cue.
Came back at 20 secs including having a poo.
5 x voluntary check ins 10 x treats.
Long line 'this ways' 3 x check ins 10 x treat.
Recalls x 3 on long line all instant and good 10 x treat.
toy - can't sit for it. I still played with him and he didn't bounce off me.
A-B walk back to car.

home training:
20 x 'up up' and 'off'
20 x response to name
various sits and downs
played with rope toy, had to be reminded with treat to release on 'thankyou'

Training diary / 9th March p.m.

30 mins
We went to a different field. I didn't like the field because I was worried he could run back to the car. So won't go there again.
A-B from the car to the training area.
He relaxed quickly. 1st voluntary check in 15 secs!
Check in 3, 4, 5 he hung around. I messed up the order of the long line routine. He free ran with it instead of me holding it and doing 'this way'. He refused the 1st recall, then came back after 5 secs on the 2nd recall. So that taught me the importance of the programme. Got hold of the end of the line and did the 'this way' and reinforced check ins.
Struggling to get him to sit with before the throw of the toy. Tried waiting and waiting for him to sit or to reconnect. he just carried on staring at the toy. Need to check what to do about this.
Realise I messed this session up and should have gone home after refused recall and at least should have done some recalls on the line.

Training diary / 9th March a.m.

8am - 8.34am
Calm getting out the car. A-B walked into the field. Parked and waited for relax before release. Didn't seem to take long this time.
x 5 voluntary check ins. First one 50 secs, but he had a poo during this time too!
Stayed very close for the last 3 check ins.
Worked 'this ways' on the long line. Got 1 x voluntary check in on the line.
Did 3 x recalls. 1st recall was instant. 2nd he refused and then I counted to 10, recued him, he didn't come back straight away, and just as I was about to walk the line he came. I held his collar gently, parked him and waited until he looked at me.
Then threw the toy 3 times. He isn't managing to sit yet for the toy.

home training:
1 x recall from another room with treats scattered.
1 x recall from outside to inside the house with treats scattered.
Both times instant return.

Noticed that humping me behaviour has stopped at home. Barking in the house has improved too.

Training diary / 8th March p.m.

Picked Grey up from kennels at lunchtime, so we didn't have a morning session.
Waited for calm before releasing, but I made a mistake. I accidentally let him go and he zoomed off without the 'your free' cue. Argh!
It took him 50 secs to check in.
5 x check ins in total. Check in 3 and 4 he didn't even go away from me after being released. He hung around for more.
Did work on the long line. A couple of pings but mostly staying in range. 3 x recalls with 100% success. 3 x throws of the toy. Then at the end of the session he started to get freaked out at something and just started barking and barking. I parked him and had to hold on to his collar. He couldn't look at me or respond to his name. In the end I collected him up and walked him A to B style holding his collar to the car. he jumped up himself on the 'up up' cue.
Session length 30 mins.

home training:
worked on sits and downs and responding to name. Also working 'up up' on the sofa and lie down before getting 'off'.

Training diary / 7th March a.m.

Field at Marshside.
Time: 8am.
Waited for calm before allowed out of car. Settled quite quickly. Lead in A-B style with hand on collar to the field. Waited for calm before released with 'your free'. He zoomed around for 34 secs before checking in for first time.
Did 5 x voluntary check ins with treats x 10. Last 3 check ins was really close and short time between each one. He stayed standing and didn't do the lying down thing to take treats which seemed an improvement.
Put on the harness and long line. Worked 'This Ways', much less hard running and only pinged on the line once. End of line released and did 5 x recalls and he did every single one. Yay! Got the toy out and he bounced off me once. Toy put away. Parked him and released him after check ins. Toy out again. waited nicely but excited. Couldn't get him to sit. Threw the toy 3x. First time had to walk the line. Second time he dropped it near me. Third time I walked the line and took it off him nicely. Walked quickly A-B style back to the car. Jumped into the back of the car with no lure.
Session length 34 mins.
No afternoon session as he went to kennels for the night.

Grey's training plan /month 1

Haven't manage to have the time to update the blog since last week. Which is not to say that things haven't been happening in Grey's world. Quite the opposite. We're busy and so busy I've not had time to post. So this will be by way of a mega catchup.

We had an amazing day out on Thursday training with Helen. It was great to be assessed by someone of Helen's knowledge of HPRs and who is also a great clicker trainer. It was very much an assessment of both of us, which was really useful. Helen is a really positive and encouraging trainer.

We got up at the crack of dawn and set off for the other side of the country. With traffic on the M25 it took the best part of 5 hours. That's a bit of a trek, but seeing as he's ok in the new car, it wasn't too bad. He doesn't even bark at motorbikes or lorries in this car.

The session started with Helen chatting to me on my own over a cuppa. Then she wanted to assess how Grey was with me without her intervening. So I got him out of the car and struggled as usual to keep hold of him with him boinging all over the place. She was quite amazed I'd put up with it like that for 10 months. This was his most exciting kind of place: in the countryside, presented with a new person, and fresh out of the car. He's way more excited in that situation than if I'd got him out of a car in town. But still, pretty awful after all the work.

We headed off up to a field, passing some pigs on the way. Grey's first meeting of pigs. It went well. He had a sniff and moved on. Then we started the process of letting him off the lead to see what he would do. He zoomed off back in the direction we'd come from. It took him really ages to come back and he didn't really look at me. We were just standing there. And here lies the work that that I've been set to work on. Building in calm, building in attention, checking in with me, being with me.

Helen taught me how to do a process where you wait for him to regain his self control. Lots of this is now in his programme. I slip my hand under his collar and wait for him to sink back, to relax. I drop the length of the lead on the floor, step on it with my weight bearing foot. Then gently and slowly let go of his collar when I can feel he has relaxed. I then cue him a release cue 'you're free' if he is free to go. This process is used in situations where I'm about to let him run free, or where I've had to go back to him after he's done something like refuse recalls on the long line. Once I've collected him up I can also work on waiting for him to check in with me by looking at me. Working on responding to his name by looking at me. Calming down after he's been lunging and barking.

For the next month I'm doing the following:

- Two training sessions of approx 20-30 mins daily, morning and afternoon in a secure field with no dog walkers.
- Getting out of the car I wait for calm before allowing him out. Balancing out however the fact that we need to train and sometimes he is just very very excited so have to weigh up just how calm he has to be to get out of the car.
- Quick A-B walk to the field. Because Grey is a nightmare on the lead and if he's excited he can lunge at traffic, we do this by me holding him by the collar and quickly getting into the field.
- Step on the lead so it's at the right length for him to be able to stand but not jump up. Gently hold his collar until he is still and sinks back. Gently unclip the lead and release him with 'you're free' cue. Time the amount of time before he comes back for the first voluntary check in. We started at 1.59 on Friday and have improved down to 15 secs today.
- Reward each voluntary check in with 10 x treats given in succession.
- Work through 5 x voluntary check ins. I think it might have been 3, but I've misplacced my notes in the mess at home. So for now, I'm doing 5. What's been happening is that he's vastly reducing the amount of time he takes between each check in. The last few sessions he has more or less stayed around for the next one. I tell him how good he is and generally speak to him all the while I'm giving him the food.
- Put his harness on and the long line. Cue him 'you're free' once he's relaxed. Hold on to the end of the line and start walking. Get him to follow me with 'this way' if he's gone the other way. Hopefully he will and usually does before he pings the end of the line. So i try to keep a loose line.
- Do 3 x recalls on the line with 10 x treats.
- Reinforce voluntary check ins again x 10 treats.
- get his toy out. Try and get him to sit before throwing it. Let him run free on the line to get it and have the toy a little while. Then go and get the toy by walking the line and cue 'thankyou' to get it off him and repeat. Any bouncing off me, it gets put away, then we do something else and try again. If he does it again toy gets put away until the next session.
- If he refuses to recall when free running we pack up and go home.
- We end the session with A-B walk to the car.

Then at home we're working on the following:

- recall from another room and lots of treats scattered on the floor.
- name recognition.
- 'up up' and 'off' the sofa.
- 'up up' and 'off' the back of the car in the drive.
- all his usual sits, downs, touch etc at home and the back yard.
- any bad behaviour and he's put in his room for a time out or we do the collar holding and parking thing to wait for calm depending on what he's done.

So that's it. I'll now post his individual sessions since Friday.

Training diary / 6th March a.m.

session 1 - 6th March
Had to drive around and look for a suitable field. I ended up stopping by the side of the road near Marshside at what looked like a great solution. Field had a public footpath running through it, but not in an area with a lot of dog walkers. Grey was stressed and was barking and lunging at traffic outside the field. I tripped and stumbled over at one point but held on to him. Got into the field and calmed down. I released him with 'your free'. He ran round, had a long wee.
First voluntary check in 1.59mins This includes having a wee.
5 x voluntary check ins with treats x 10 each.
The last 3 check ins he was staying really close to me.
'This ways' on the long line.
10 x response to name.
Recalls x 6. He responded to all and ran past me on all of them. Bumping my legs on one as he ran past. I walked the line and waited for check ins. Then did respond to his name.
Got his toy out and he bounced off me so I put it away.
After the last failed recall we went home.
session length 38 mins.

Review of the walkezee harness

I've tried out the walkezee harness this week on Grey and it wasn't a success. I didn't like the velcro strap that attaches the front strap of the harness to the normal collar. It seems to move round and the chest strap was often lob sided. It was quite a palava to get it on and then it's not supposed to be left on for free running. I hadn't realised it wasn't to be left on for offlead when I ordered it and that is a big minus for me. It feels like an over amount of equipment when it's on. I got the coupling connectors and they jangle. Making me feel like I was walking a guidedog. Then he seemed to respond better to the halti harness in terms of stopping pulling, which can be left on when offlead. So I'll be sending the walkezee back.

Poor Grey got bitten

We had a bit of a scary end to Friday evening. We were meeting up with Grey's springer friend for a beach run. We've not seen them in ages. We parked up and R was chatting with a friend by a car. The car had dogs in. Grey and I approached the car and then out of nowhere a male black lab shot out from behind the car and went straight for Grey. It was a horrid snarling noise, Grey was screaming, all the humans were reaching in trying to seperate the dog. Grey's front left leg was bitten. We got the dogs separated. Grey was paniced and was backing out of his collar. I was struggling to keep hold of him and didn't want him to slip his collar next to the road and the commotion. We stopped the traffic and went to the other side of the road to check him over. He settled down and we thought he had just a scrape on his inner left front leg. He was fine with his springer friend.

He got up fine on Saturday and I took him straight out to see if he'd be ok with some positive experiences with other dogs. He played fine and had a nice run with a couple of labradoodles. But by the evening he started to limp and his leg swelled. He became poorly puppy and was generally sorry for himself.

We took him to the vets today. He's got an infection under the skin and a slight temperature. He's on Metacam and some antibiotics. He's supposed to have rest for 3 days. He seems much better already, so not sure it will be easy to get to the end of 3 days rest.