The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on December 16, 2012, 06:35:28 pm

Title: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: plumseverywhere on December 16, 2012, 06:35:28 pm

First of all, thank you to all of you who gave me tips, advice and support last week when Murphy came to join us!

I've taken everything on board and am pleased to say that you were all completely right when you said that the issues with the cat and the sheep would calm down.
Murphy follows me about while I do my jobs in the garden/fields now and is great company. First week kept him on his lead, now he just follows me and if he gets caught up sniffing I call him (in that silly excited voice  ;) ) and he runs over and is rewarded.

Walked in the sheep field today, the bossy ewes kept an interested eye on him but no attacks.

We start training on a good citizen scheme on January 5th.

Occasional poo accident in the house still, working on that though.

Title: Re: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: Rosemary on December 16, 2012, 07:14:22 pm

Well done both - I think it's going to be a great partnership  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: Mammyshaz on December 16, 2012, 10:31:20 pm

Great news  :thumbsup: there will still be a few backward moments but there will be great leaps forward too. Enjoy   :love:   :dog:   :love:

Title: Re: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: sabrina on December 17, 2012, 06:18:15 am

Good to hear, sure you will both do well together  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: happygolucky on December 17, 2012, 08:51:48 am

Dogs are just like us, they start off playing and you need to train them, then they do everything you say, then they get to the teenage stage and put 2 fingers up to you...then, they soon become adults and comply!!!!!!

Title: Re: What a difference a week makes!
Post by: Bionic on December 17, 2012, 09:09:12 am

Plums thats good news. 
Don't forget that there will likely be some backward steps along the way too when he will appear to have forgotten everything you have taught him, or when he has 'selective' hearing. It certainly sounds if everything is going in the right direction now though.
Glad the sheep are working out too.  My girls have just come back after being away for 2.5 months. I wasn't sure if Archie would remember them or how he would behave, but actually he seems to be a bit scared of them. If I am patting the sheep Archie will sit quietly some distance away, watching. Once I move away Archie comes with me. He will wander about their field and eat their poo :-( but not go near them which is good news.
Sally