Dog Training and Love

When I was 10 years old Dad brought home what I thought was the perfect dog She was a beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer.   I know she was his perfect hunting dog and field trial dog, but she also became my best friend. Dutchess became the first dog I ever helped to train. She was my first obedience project but also my very own circus act.  But as it always does time moves on.  I guess I spent a lot of time looking for a replacement for her.

My husband and I have had a lot of good dogs. I guess all in all over the last 40 years we have owned 13 dogs.  From our first dog together a Min. Poodle Mignon, our Boxers, a Saluki, a Black English Lab, Drizzle, a Standard Poodle Jessica, to Shadow our rescued Doberman and Ben our Rottweiler that we lost 10 years ago at age 13. Even Dante our rescued Chihuahua, that I was never able to train at all but grew to love his very badness. He was at least 12 when we got him and the few years he had with us taught me to appreciate small dogs.

My last project was Absolute Scarlett a Jack Russell Terrier we got for our daughter.  Abby the JRT has to have been the biggest challenge of my life. And when my husband suggested another Terrier well lets just say I was nervous about getting into that struggle again.

But I have never had anything like Heddwyn enter my life.  She is ALL TERRIER a wonderful tough little dog that every guy would love to have around. But also my loving LAP dog that is always ready to cuddle and play.  I do not know if all Border Terriers are like her but if they are I understand the devotion I hear from other owners.

Maybe it is because she has been with me ever since she arrived. It is wonderful that I can take her to work and our life allows her to be so much a part of our time.  But I think it is also because she is just a WONDERFUL DOG!  She is smart and pretty tolerant of all of the mistakes I am making in training her.

Dog training has changed in the 45 years that I have been involved with dogs.  When I was 10 it was ALL about corrections Dad had the perfect hunting dog and I had a very well behaved playmate but I am not sure SHE was having fun.  Even when I was training Ben I believed that the only way to control a dog was with total CONTROL and maybe even a little fear. I was the ALPHA  and that was all that mattered.  I had very well behaved dogs. Dogs I was always proud to take anywhere. BUT with Heddy I have learned about training with love and FUN. 

It may take a little longer for her to figure out what I want her to do rather than me forcing her to do what I want when I want it. But I have to believe and hope that the lessons will last longer when she figures it out on her own. 

SO FAR SO GOOD.

OH How She Has GROWN!

Loch Cu Heddwyn has been with us for 6 weeks now and oh how time has FLOWN.

We picked up Heddy on January 1,2010and when we got home she weighed in at 4.2 lbs. 

 

 

Now on February 16th she weighs almost 9 lbs. Has outgrown her first coat  and is attempting to do all that I ask of her.

   

I know it is hard to believe but we have loved every moment she has been with us. In our minds she is the PERFECT PUPPY. 

BOX PLAY

Ahh the things you can do with a BOX from the store. We are still basically house bound so I am still trying to find things to keep a very busy puppy entertained.  Heddy is not the Boldest puppy in the world so we spend a lot of time introducing her to new and different surfaces or spaces.

I took some large boxes and put treats in them.  The small tight Cheerio Box was more than she was ready for.  But it only took a little while for her to manage to go into the larger box and find her treats. I then put her toys in the box and to play with a favorite toy she has to go into the box get it and bring it out.  We are now adding a sit and wait while she is in the box.  Sometimes when physical exercise is lacking mental exercise will have to do.

Am I A BIRD DOG

Today Heddy managed to get close to those feathered tormenters.  I really believe the Birds at the feeder thought she was part of the snow mound.  She stood Frozen ( in more ways than one) watching the birds at the feeder.  When she could take it no longer she finally broke her pose. Unfortunately or fortunately, depends on if you are the bird or the DOG, she found out that birds can FLY.