Sorry for absence, been a long four days... Custer and his family have been fund raising for Woof Beginnings, who raise funds for small needy dog rescues. We managed to raise just over £500 which when banked will be donated. The monies raised from the dog show is to be donated to Freshfields our local animal rescue, and our friends at Husky Welfare.
The last few days have been VERY tough going for us all, as nice as it is to have good weather, heat is very tiring for us and the dogs, and the stall was so busy my helper Sylvia and I had barely no time away from it, which sounds good but six hours without a toilet or food break is hard going, and eyes in the back of your head from the 'unpleasant people' who try to steal, or win prizes by dishonesty which is of course STEALING from charities in my book and is also difficult. We REALLY need some more help if we are to do this again later in the year.
I think Custer was ready to drive us home at one spell...
As even the largest of crates is still a bit on the small side for him...
But he did enjoy his small training sessions to stretch his legs, with Daddy...
My favourite thing of the whole weekend was watching this talented man and his gundogs, I only got to watch two displays as I could not get a break from the stall, but I was totally captivated by what I saw, I have always loved to watch a gundog work - it is after all what the breed is for. I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with Arthur Telfair (dog trainer) who kindly came to have a look at Custer and has told us we have a tough time ahead but he is a nice dog who can one day become a well behaved nice dog, I am hoping this will be with Arthur's help, he has a great website here with lots of information about how he can help with dog training for dogs like Custer, and gundog work.
http://www.dogtrainingsouthport.com/
Just look at those two (above) should have seen them work for him, and no fear either which does make a nice change to watch.
The money raised from the fun dog show is to be divided between our local animal rescue 'Freshfields' and our friends at 'Husky Welfare'. The rest of the monies raised which was around £450 will be banked this week then donated to a couple of rescue's registered with Woof Beginnings.
By 6.00pm last night the dogs had enough and were ready for home please...
On the whole though, Custer did very well and was certainly a very tired boy last night. So tired we had our second full nights sleep since he arrived which was nice! He has also been pretty quiet today so far. Poor Jaja found it all a bit much today too, he was happy to have a gentle stroll on the beach this morning with Bailey, then come home to sleep on the sofa.
To close, here is Custer doing some obedience work in the ring with Daddy, he can 'sit' at least.... hopefully Arthur is going to teach us some heel work so walkies will be a bit less fraught as that is one of the main problems we are having. A VERY strong dog with no lead training, and a streak of stubborn.
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.
