well sadly for us it wasnt a happy ending!
I so hope it will be for Blossom one day?
Blossom won my heart, I adored her! She fitted in to our crazy lifestyle, loved the big walks and was so fit, she adored my daughter Nia, and our nights in front of the TV lying upsidewn on my lap making little machine gun noises! She loved nibbling Stuarts ear, and chasing toys and playing football.
Her clicker work is just fantastic and her free shaping had us in stitches of an evening as she tried so hard and offered us the most fantastic behaviours! Her agility training was going really well her focus is 100% her drive is 100% and her heart and spirit is so bold! Her potential is huge!
I can hardly write this for tears, but we had to make the difficult decision that she couldnt stay with us any longer because she had an unhealthy obsession with Mouse.
Mouse is a Border Collie who probably would be on the manic scale of mental health. He never rests...is obsessive and switched on 24/7. He is very very herdy, and never rests his eye. He is also bottom of the pack and a bit of a goofy dog. He is always getting told off by the others for being a pillock...but they love him and accept him as he is, as he hasnt a nasty bone in his overgrown body. He is 'our mouse' and we love him.
Blossom I think found this weakness enticing and unfortunately her obsession with him grew and grew and I guess from a doggie heirachy pov, he was 'fair game' for her.
Her social behaviour in most circumstances had improved so much, and she could be taken to new places, and she was really good! Sadly, I wasnt able to curtail her unhealthy obsession with Mouse and while we could manage it at home by keeping them seperate, but there were occasions with the best will in the world where the plan didnt go smoothly and she managed to get access to him!
Once while we were away at Crufts when the cage door hadnt shut properly and she took her opportunity in a split second gripped his ear, and ripped it quite badly and then on Monday, she was out with the dogs on the lead and wearing a basket muzzle... I perhaps wasnt as quick to pull her away as I should have been (thinking she couldnt hurt him) but in pulling her off, she then went back in at 100mph and the muzzle snapped!
My fear was that I really struggled on my own to get these dogs apart... Mouse had a badly torn face and puncture wounds and I had to be realistic. To keep Blossom with us now would be unfair as I would be subjecting both dogs to the potential of another fight. Certainly not fair for Mouse but also for Blossom ... as the potential for serious injury to either dog or myself was too great.
I think being away with the dogs had escalated the obsession because she was living so close to him which was different to the situation at home. However, given this is how we spend most of our weekends during the summer months this too had to be considered and the risks were too great for them both.
so sadly, Blossom and I made the long journey back to Many Tears. Nia is so uspet, and cross with Blossom for not being friends with Mousie...
I really wish I could have helped her to be part of our pack, I miss her terribly and felt so torn but i do know that sensibly it was the right thing to do.
I want to say thankyou to Sylvia and Many Tears for letting us try to give blossom a new home, I believe that she would be absolutely fine as a single dog or with another confident dog, so if you have space in your heart and your home for Blossom please give her a try! She will give you so much love, she is clever and talented and loves training and if our pack had been different she would still be with us now! She is a special girl, and I hope so dearly she finds the love she so desperately needs!
I am happy to speak with anyone who thinks they can help Blossom and will give whatever support I can...
Until then I know she will be safe and loved by the team at Many Tears
xx
Friday, 13 March 2009
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Blossom and the birds
well Blossom is in her element its that time of year when our farm is full of twittering birds! They seem to be coming from everywhere! She is rather enjoying this time of year, and when given the chance thinks she would make a good bird catcher! ( although can a 13kg staffie cross climb trees?)
We had a bad day on Monday, one of the worst...I guess they were bound to happen, and to be fair although blossom started it, it was actually Noonoo who created most of the problems.
We were out in the paddock and Blossom was on a long line...Noonoo always comes up with her toy and stuffs it into your legs till you tug with her, I was trying to release the ball and Blossom jumped on Noonoo...well there was lots of fur and spit but nothing else thankfully, I managed to remove Blossom quite easily but Noonoo kept coming back to tell her off (not helful!) then Tonka (poodle) decided to pitch into Noonoo ...just hype. but Noonooo want in the mood and floored the little ginger nut ! I was worried about Tonka because she is so small, but after a day of sulking and drama queen impressions, she was back to herself again! Trying to seperate 3 dogs with 1 on the lead was a major task! I am glad it wasnt anything more than a 'spat' as it all happened so quickly!
It really was all handbags and fluff thankfully but I hate dogs fighting and was quite surprised by Noonoo's reaction! Hopefully blossom will 'learn' that Noonoo wasnt too impressed with being 'gripped' ....Its not an incident I would like to repeat!
Since then, Blossoms offlead work in the paddock is going well. I have taken the clicker work outside, and apart from a little birdie detour, she is really focussed and enjoying herself
Here is the naugthy Noonoo butter wouldnt melt little girlie!
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Blossom the beautiful!
Another week....amazing, she is still here!
Well we have another week of tears and tanturms but some real good days too!
Blossom and I went off the farm for the first time at the begining of the week, I was really shocked as this gutsy confident bundle of muscle turned into a gibbering wreck! Our lane is fairly quiet but it does have traffic, and it can be quite fast. Blossom heard a car and just froze to the spot! This happened to be the middle of oncoming traffic so we had to carry her to the side of the road. She was very scared and refused to move at all. She must have been loose on a road for this kind of fear to have this affect on her, maybe either dumped, or more likely perhaps got loose and run on a busy road? She could even have been hit? Who knows!
We have had several trips up to the local post office since then...boy is she heavy to carry! She is improving, and i now take Noggin with us too to ...and Nia to give her some confidence.
Work in progress I think!
Good thing is we dont need to do much roadwork here, she has 12 acres to play in so hardly any of our walks involve traffic.
Basic training:
Continuing the freeshaping which she loves, and is really responding to!
Agility...
Just playing at the moment with a couple of jump sendaway and the low A scale.
she has done a couple of runners this week offlead, so isnt having as much opportunity offlead until the recall improves:
On a long line her recall is really good now, but she is no fool and one of her 'runners' this week involved visiting the horses, and the cat which is of course...soooo rewarding!
her chase drive is high, so I need to do alot more work to feature anywhere on her wish list while she is in that state of mind!
Gripping...
I have to say her behaviour with the other dogs has improved a great deal! There have been a few scuffles and maybe we are just getting better at managing her behaviour amongst our pack?
She likes all the dogs but still wants to bully Mouse dog! (poor darling!)
Today for the first time, she came in the lounge with Mousie and although on a couple of occasions thought about duffing him, she responded really well and the short episode went without incident!
Blossoms first outing..
I really wasnt sure if this was perhaps a little bit much for her at the moment, We train at Wrexham on a Thursday, a group taken by stuart and it is very hyped! We decided to bring her in the van for the ride and I have to say she really surprised me! She seemed quite chilled in the van ...so during a session break I brought her out to meet everyone! She was excellent! Trussed up with far too many gadgets she had her harness, her halti and her bungee lead attached to a collar,even blossom couldnt have made a bid for freedom! She saw a couple of dogs work, and although very interested, was a very good girlie! She lapped up all the attention and I did a bit of clicker work with her in the school....very focussed ! She then returned to the van staying until the end of the session.
I was really pleased with her! xx
Well we have another week of tears and tanturms but some real good days too!
Blossom and I went off the farm for the first time at the begining of the week, I was really shocked as this gutsy confident bundle of muscle turned into a gibbering wreck! Our lane is fairly quiet but it does have traffic, and it can be quite fast. Blossom heard a car and just froze to the spot! This happened to be the middle of oncoming traffic so we had to carry her to the side of the road. She was very scared and refused to move at all. She must have been loose on a road for this kind of fear to have this affect on her, maybe either dumped, or more likely perhaps got loose and run on a busy road? She could even have been hit? Who knows!
We have had several trips up to the local post office since then...boy is she heavy to carry! She is improving, and i now take Noggin with us too to ...and Nia to give her some confidence.
Work in progress I think!
Good thing is we dont need to do much roadwork here, she has 12 acres to play in so hardly any of our walks involve traffic.
Basic training:
Continuing the freeshaping which she loves, and is really responding to!
Agility...
Just playing at the moment with a couple of jump sendaway and the low A scale.
she has done a couple of runners this week offlead, so isnt having as much opportunity offlead until the recall improves:
On a long line her recall is really good now, but she is no fool and one of her 'runners' this week involved visiting the horses, and the cat which is of course...soooo rewarding!
her chase drive is high, so I need to do alot more work to feature anywhere on her wish list while she is in that state of mind!
Gripping...
I have to say her behaviour with the other dogs has improved a great deal! There have been a few scuffles and maybe we are just getting better at managing her behaviour amongst our pack?
She likes all the dogs but still wants to bully Mouse dog! (poor darling!)
Today for the first time, she came in the lounge with Mousie and although on a couple of occasions thought about duffing him, she responded really well and the short episode went without incident!
Blossoms first outing..
I really wasnt sure if this was perhaps a little bit much for her at the moment, We train at Wrexham on a Thursday, a group taken by stuart and it is very hyped! We decided to bring her in the van for the ride and I have to say she really surprised me! She seemed quite chilled in the van ...so during a session break I brought her out to meet everyone! She was excellent! Trussed up with far too many gadgets she had her harness, her halti and her bungee lead attached to a collar,even blossom couldnt have made a bid for freedom! She saw a couple of dogs work, and although very interested, was a very good girlie! She lapped up all the attention and I did a bit of clicker work with her in the school....very focussed ! She then returned to the van staying until the end of the session.
I was really pleased with her! xx
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Blossom and the clicker!
Well she has been with us for two weeks now...
We still have alot to work on, and her duffing up and gripping behaviour is still a biggie (especially with the Moose dog!)
but I feel she is starting to show her sensitive side! (not sure Moose would agree!)
Its interesting that the dogs arent particulary phased by her behaviour at all which suggests to me it is more innappropriate hype than anything!
The cat and Blossom had a bit of an incident last night....and I think the cat won!
Cats are all to tempting for a blossom at the moment, and one of ours will 'give back' so I do really have to be careful as her chase instinct is pretty powerful!
I am trying to teach her a 'nicely' command and when things are calm she can cope quite well but our dogs dont do 'calm' and so the potential for naughtiness is always there as Blossom finds it difficult to contain her excitement! It just needs channeling and refocusing when she feels the need to grip!
Her recall away from the other dogs is getting quite good, I am having to use alot of rewards but it does seem to be working!
I have this week introduced her to the clicker...well that big head certainly has a brain!
She is fantastic! I have to say probably the quickest dog to pick up free shaping ...even the collies!
Aw she has just wadered in wth a large teddy shoved in her mouth!
It took no time at all to 'load' the clicker, and within 1 session she was starting to get the gist of what I was asking and is now offering behaviour very quickly too!
She can Sit/Down/ target in hand and on floor/ Bear /stand on back legs (with a lure)/ left and right twists with lure
I am totally impressed!
The speed at which she repeats behaviour while shaping is really good... especailly with the target!
We also introduced a 2 jump sendaway in the snow which she thought was fantastic, and she has met the low A Fram which she thinks is fab!
...... she is a little star!
xx
We still have alot to work on, and her duffing up and gripping behaviour is still a biggie (especially with the Moose dog!)
but I feel she is starting to show her sensitive side! (not sure Moose would agree!)
Its interesting that the dogs arent particulary phased by her behaviour at all which suggests to me it is more innappropriate hype than anything!
The cat and Blossom had a bit of an incident last night....and I think the cat won!
Cats are all to tempting for a blossom at the moment, and one of ours will 'give back' so I do really have to be careful as her chase instinct is pretty powerful!
I am trying to teach her a 'nicely' command and when things are calm she can cope quite well but our dogs dont do 'calm' and so the potential for naughtiness is always there as Blossom finds it difficult to contain her excitement! It just needs channeling and refocusing when she feels the need to grip!
Her recall away from the other dogs is getting quite good, I am having to use alot of rewards but it does seem to be working!
I have this week introduced her to the clicker...well that big head certainly has a brain!
She is fantastic! I have to say probably the quickest dog to pick up free shaping ...even the collies!
Aw she has just wadered in wth a large teddy shoved in her mouth!
It took no time at all to 'load' the clicker, and within 1 session she was starting to get the gist of what I was asking and is now offering behaviour very quickly too!
She can Sit/Down/ target in hand and on floor/ Bear /stand on back legs (with a lure)/ left and right twists with lure
I am totally impressed!
The speed at which she repeats behaviour while shaping is really good... especailly with the target!
We also introduced a 2 jump sendaway in the snow which she thought was fantastic, and she has met the low A Fram which she thinks is fab!
...... she is a little star!
xx
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Well a step backwards...then a few forwards!
A strategy rethink!
I have been using the idea that Blossom needed to use up some of her energy and as she seemed to be loving her free running time, I thought we were on the right track... We had been using the soft muzzle, however, her chase games seemed to be taking her to another level!
Her fixation towards Mouse had become a bit more than I was prepared to accept, so following a chat with a friend who is not only knowledgeable but also experienced and sensible.... I made the decision to stop the 'chase games' as I think it had just become too stimulating and I was reinforcing quite alot of negative traits that we wanted to try and ditch!
OK so back to the drawing board, she is still having free run time but only with the older boys who she wont react to and whom will hopefully correct her too.
Blossoms social behaviour is what I have to address...and I am now working on trying to provide positive role models for her in an attempt that she will learn from them without resorting to headbutting and gripping!
She spends the mornings with me doing some basic training and on a 1/1 in the house she is an absolute darling!
She then goes for a big walk on lead with the entire pack... which she loves!
and on her return goes out in the pen with 'the boys' Noggin and Binka and Tog. This is working well, up to now, then she gets a short crate spell after her second walk and in the evening after her food, she comes into the lounge for a cuddle and play.
I am using about 50% of her food as treats at the moment, so she is having to work hard for everything... and this is going quite well.
I have also started to use a halti rather than the muzzle as this enables me to redirect the blob of muscle commony known as a head if she starts to fixate! Its working...I am not a fan of headcollars but I think for the time being it is helping! She is also turning into a female Arnie by pulling into the harness.
The Ruffwear harness has proved really useful but the muscles on this girl after only a week are incredible! She seems to have changed shape completely!
Will try and get some pics in the snow!
A strategy rethink!
I have been using the idea that Blossom needed to use up some of her energy and as she seemed to be loving her free running time, I thought we were on the right track... We had been using the soft muzzle, however, her chase games seemed to be taking her to another level!
Her fixation towards Mouse had become a bit more than I was prepared to accept, so following a chat with a friend who is not only knowledgeable but also experienced and sensible.... I made the decision to stop the 'chase games' as I think it had just become too stimulating and I was reinforcing quite alot of negative traits that we wanted to try and ditch!
OK so back to the drawing board, she is still having free run time but only with the older boys who she wont react to and whom will hopefully correct her too.
Blossoms social behaviour is what I have to address...and I am now working on trying to provide positive role models for her in an attempt that she will learn from them without resorting to headbutting and gripping!
She spends the mornings with me doing some basic training and on a 1/1 in the house she is an absolute darling!
She then goes for a big walk on lead with the entire pack... which she loves!
and on her return goes out in the pen with 'the boys' Noggin and Binka and Tog. This is working well, up to now, then she gets a short crate spell after her second walk and in the evening after her food, she comes into the lounge for a cuddle and play.
I am using about 50% of her food as treats at the moment, so she is having to work hard for everything... and this is going quite well.
I have also started to use a halti rather than the muzzle as this enables me to redirect the blob of muscle commony known as a head if she starts to fixate! Its working...I am not a fan of headcollars but I think for the time being it is helping! She is also turning into a female Arnie by pulling into the harness.
The Ruffwear harness has proved really useful but the muscles on this girl after only a week are incredible! She seems to have changed shape completely!
Will try and get some pics in the snow!
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