Bit short on time today, and will be really till next Monday - will try keep up here, but apologies if I dont manage it.
Both dogs had me up at 4am today, no idea why - Custer decided he might as well have a wee as we were up, Jaja just wagged his tail as he had got Mummy up? We have since found out there was an earth tremor in North Wales, which is a distance from us, but its not impossible for it to have been felt by animals, my friend was up at this time with her's too.
But then Jaja and his side kick Custer thought 6am would be good to go too, afraid they got a snarl a piece then, we are up for the alarm at 6.20am anyway, that 20 mins is very valuable.
So, today's walkies was under control - Custer still fought like a spoilt brat for all of it, but I did manage to keep him off the floor. There is so much hope for this boy, he was very naughty last night, tried to get on the back of the sofa to get above me, then push into my space, had to throw him off altogether and ignore him for the night, I usually let him in the bathroom too, but no.. shut the door on him. When it was time to go to sleep he came around to me, lowered his head and licked my nose.. I like to think he was saying sorry, so I gave him a kiss back and told him 'good boy, go lay down now' and he did. So.. hope there is. I was also talking to one of the walkers earlier today when I had Jaja and Bailey, she was telling me that her BIG and I mean BIG lad Max, was the same at 9 months old, he too used to launch himself at the floor at walk times, she advised a halti and a harness.
Good news is Max is a wonderful dog now he is about six, and a Giant friendly boy.
I have been busy with chores etc today, so Custer has been left a couple of hours in his crate. Part of the dominance thing is I have to make him wait now before I let him out, I think I am winning on this one too, I wait till he is calm. We have been out and played ball, and I have taught him the word 'swapsies' to swap the ball for a small treat, so he is giving it back now and learnt the word.
Big night tonight, as Custer is going to dog school - just going to sit and watch tonight, see how bad he is with other dogs in a safe place. I had hoped his 'yellow dog coat' would have arrived by now, but no. No lead, coat or harness has arrived yet. One of the girls at dog school is bringing me a gencol tonight? no ... I am not sure either, but she has suggested it might help. She has a rescue cocker spaniel who is very hand shy, worked absolute wonders with this dog, so totally understands the needs of a rescue boy.
Not sure If I mentioned, I wont be around so much as we have our fund raising event this weekend, set up tomorrow for Friday, Saturday, Sunday. We run a tombola and a dog show, at Southport Town and Country Fair, to raise funds for local and other dog rescues, we are 'Woof Beginnings' and have been raising funds for about six years now.
I know, it was not the best time to be getting a rescue dog - and we are not sure how we are going to go on with Custer, just hoping its not too hot and he can stay in the car behind me on the stall, hopefully my friend Sylvia will be there some of the time to help out, otherwise as usual it will be just the two of us trying to do it all. Makes for a very tiring weekend.
Tomorrow, I have to walk the dogs, do the shopping for the week (usually go Friday) walk the old dog I walk at lunchtimes, take Mum to her hospital appointment, then go set up the tent and tombola, as I cant get there before 10am on the Friday, and it starts then.
I will be glad when its all over and Monday is here again! I hope to keep this up but if not will see you Monday.
Well, its not quite so easy when there is just one of you! Custer was of course less than pleased that Daddy escaped to work whilst he was watching me prepare my breakfast, he had quite a good night, just awoke the once to bark like blazes at goodness knows what at 1.30am, keeps us on our toes - and they do say sleep is over-rated.
I took Jaja and Bailey out first, then with great confidence, after all I managed fine last night - got Custer hooked up in all his collars etc, came out the house introduced himself to the neighbours and off we went, or so I thought............................ we got less than five minutes down the street and down he went, I'm afraid despite my best efforts after at least ten times of dragging him up for him to plonk back down on his back on the floor I lost my rag, which as we know is not going to help anything!! I marched back toward the house ready to take him home never to set foot outdoors again... but then crossed over the road and decided to calm down and continue the other way. There was about another ten episodes of plonking down, on the way back I did try a few games, chase the treat etc which did work for a while. I was out about an hour and a half with him, but cant say we walked too far in that time.
I went home and had a large cuppa, no valium in the house though I was in great need, my poor nerves were frazzled. At this point it was time to do some research on the web, I concluded that Custer must be scared, after all I found out today.. or sort of found out there is some doubt about his age, he is not 16 months thats for sure, might be 14 months or younger, we simply do not know. So, we can also assume his history might be in doubt too, so we do not really know what on earth we are dealing with. The history of a rescue dog is always a big help, or should I say the 'TRUTHFUL' history.
Armed with this new knowledge, or lack of it - I set about researching what to do to help, majority opinion was a harness, I do not have great faith in those really... so managed to locate one with a different style, set up to help the rescue or fearful dog.. perfect, I am of course now totally broke, what with this, his new coat, his new leads, collars etc... but have opted for one of these http://www.xtradog.com/shop/harnesses/fleece-dog-harnesses/new-style-xtra-dog-walking-harness-large-size.html
I spent the rest of the day playing ball, find it and fetch - also putting on his collar and short lead walking him around the house, and around the back entry, to try rid the 'fear'. Seemed to be a very long and tiring day, luckily after 5pm Daddy came home early.. Custer was very pleased to see him..
This meant it was walkies time again, I had explained all the above to 'Daddy' - and also that I was in that much pain for all the lugging about of 'Mr Hefty Legs' it was his turn, I joined them and took Jaja too. Not ONE problem, no fear... no throwing himself at the floor (well, only the once) trotted along nicely for Daddy!!!!
As much as I am loathed to use the word 'dominance' I do feel this to be the case, that or simply 'leading Mummy a merry dance' which was not so merry from were I was standing.
Oh yes, also today while I did try to salvage some work I had on.. Custer was into everything, and winding Jaja up, and generally being a naughty pup. You would think after about 22 years of rescue dogs I would remember the first few calm days, before paws are under the table and the true personality arrives. Now, I am trying to catch up on the days chores etc, and were is the pup himself?
SNORING LOUDLY ON THE SOFA!!!!
What we got to day 4 with Custer already? how on earth did that happen, and it has gone so fast. Well, actually with the sleep deprevation it has pretty much all rolled into one Custer experience.
Not that much to say today - which can only be a good thing, right? I think the boys are both still pretty tired from their big day yesterday. It was also another long night, Custer didn't do too badly really, aside from being a guard dog so he went totally nuts at 4am when some drunks went loudly passed the house. Then, Jaja had a poorly tum, so we were up at 5.30am and 7am with him. Custer was good and slept mostly on his own bed though, probably would have had a quieter night if Jaja hadnt been so unsettled. Lets hope so as 'himself' is back to work tomorrow after the bank holiday so its a 6.30am start to the day, could really use some sleep for that one.
Custer's walkies went fairly well today, this morning with his new Daddy he only sat down 3 times - we have now concluded he has not been walked on a lead before, as is showing typical puppy behavoir with the sitting down and not liking the collar, halti or anything over his head.
I took him for the later walkies, he did superb.. I noticed he was getting a bit aggitated so we stopped for a cuddle and that helped. All went well until 'little miss idiot brain' and her collie came from the park on a long line, saw me asking Custer to sit, wait and be good but still proceeded to let the dog run toward us, so Custer went nuts of course, I then had to wrestle him back, thanks for that 'Miss idiot brain' next time maybe think, and 'give a dog some space' - maybe have a read of this website,
http://www.yellowdoguk.co.uk/ and learn that NOT all dogs want another in their face, they may well be new rescue dogs that the owner is TRYING to train. Luckily, after that we settled back to the route home - I did have a relaxed lead aside from the incident time, so things 'were' getting much better.
Custer and Jaja did have a long relax on the sofa together today, the growls and teeth from Jaja are getting a lot less. although another incident earlier when Custer thought barking loudly at Jaja would be a great idea did not end so well, I did have to intervene with that one, most of the time I try not too. Poor young pup has an awful lot to learn.
Yes, that ungainly sight above is part of the Lurcher, just to show he was on his back on the sofa so not the pose of a stressed dog is it? Poor Custer just wants to be his friend.
Just the three of us tomorrow, see how we get on. Feel awful as I do have to leave Custer in the crate first thing while I walk Jaja and Bailey. But we have left him for a couple of short periods to test him, and he has been fine so far. The neighbours are good too, as we have warned them, and they are fine - which is always a good thing.
Today was a big day for Custer. The RSPCA had their big fundraising event at one of our town center parks. So we took Custer and Jaja along to see how they got on..
As you can see in order to have any level of control with Custer when out, this requires a collar and lead, and a halti and extra lead - and even then its a struggle. We are still not sure of Custer's intentions with other dogs, although we have now worked out that he really is not so fond of entire males (un-neutered), they are the ones he will shout at the most and lunge forward, then their are the lady dogs who he is quite fond of and again will lunge to get at them. If you have a large untrained rescue dog forget ever having shoulders that dont hurt again!!!!
One of the things that did upset me during our time there was other people, or more to the point other dog owners. They see a Labrador (with their great reputation) and assume it to be just fine to allow their dog to jump in his face and startle him, when he is still unsure of life as it is. I will always remember my fabulous dog trainer demonstrating this fact human - human.
Imagine if you will, I was to come right up to your face and jump around right infront of you, blocking all your field of vision and demanding your attention, what would you think? would you find this kind of behavoir acceptable? so why should my dog?
I have been a supporter of 'Yellow Dog UK' for sometime, but until now not needed their help. I came straight home today and ordered a coat and a car sticker, also printed out a poster - and I have also ordered a yellow lead with 'I need space' printed on it. You can find more information about this organisation here http://www.yellowdoguk.co.uk/
We did enter Custer in the 'Best Rescue Dog' part of the dog show, he did very well behavoir wise, and did wow the judge. Alas not his turn for a rosette yet. Here is proud Daddy in the ring with him..
Another plus to the day was our dog trainer (from when we took Alfie) was on the Battersea stand raising funds, and amazingly invited us and Custer to dog club for some socialising and training, she loves a challenge! So, we are going to go along on Wednesday evening just to watch and introduce Custer to some pals, he has already met Barney who he was very good with, until he tried to mount him of course... yes, he does need a lot of work on manners.
At the end of the day, and after another walk - for me to practice control, only four battles of Custer plonking his bottom to the floor and my having to heave him back up by the collar... he came home and annoyed Jaja again, but then got up on the sofa next to him, were they both went to sleep for a while, we were very happy with this result in such a short time..
They have done it again since, so there is hope that we may well have a peaceful household again in a few days. All is quiet again now, as they have had a big day.
Meet Custer!!! This is the photo taken on day 2 of his meeting with us his new family . As you see Custer is a Yellow Labrador, he is aged 16 months and we are to be his fourth home. Can you believe that? a dog so young...
But that is just the thing these days, firstly poor breeders - and I mean 'Poor' as in 'BAD' breeders of which they are NOT all - will give up a puppy to anybody with the cash. Then, many individuals are just not prepared to put in the time and training it takes for a good dog, they are not born!!! but trained. But that lecture is for another blog post (and trust me its on its way!).
Custer has had zero training. My husband describes him as a 16 week old puppy in a 16 month old body, which is BIG and powerful - not a good mix. Custer has been with us for 28 hours, in that time he has pulled hubby on the floor twice, peed on the bedroom carpet, kept us awake for most of the night, and is a complete and total pest to the Lurcher, resulting in an awful lot of teeth and growls.
On the plus side - yes there is one! I have taught him what 'ball' is, taught him to 'find' ball and sometimes even retrieve it, this one is going to take more work. He is loving his grooming, and his coat is starting to improve and having been out this afternoon and purchased a 'halti' he is learning to walk on the lead without pulling folk on the floor. Not a lesson he is enjoying much as this is the most stubborn Labrador I have even met in over 16 years of dealing with Labradors and rescue dogs.
Custer is a loving and insecure boy, he is guarding the house (a bit too much) and obviously has no idea what is role in life is, very confused by all the homes and lack of guidance he has had so far.
A busy week ahead, he needs registering at our vet, and taking to meet our supervet Uncle Owen. Also needed is a training school, were he can learn some controlled socialisation, as this is something else he has no idea about. In the future we hope there will be other activities to focus his brain and teach it how to work more positivley. Custer is of course too young for agility as yet, but hopefully this is something he can do in the future.
Thats all for now, whilst I make sure he is not chewing anything he shouldnt be.
