|
Well, Maddie is growing up a bit now; she has had two seasons and is getting to be a big girl. Growing up in her head is another matter. What has she been up to of late? Firstly, we had a day out at Driffield Championship Show, Open classes to us. But she was fidgety all morning while we waited for our breed to start. She wasn’t badly behaved but she wasn’t concentrating either…paddling about when she should have been standing still, looking around to see who was watching instead of moving with the flowing movement we all know she can. Generally having a nice day out. She is still mischievous when she wants to be for example; I took her on a Sunday down to a hall myself and friends hire to do some obedience training and Pam who lodges with me took her Border Collie ‘Mackie’, well he is such a sweetie, he has a solid temperament and loves the girlie’s, he is a good play mate with Mad’s at home. Having a good play together for 10 minutes each morning. I was on the floor myself with Mad’s doing some of her tricks and teaching her to come when called, rewarding her each time for returning quickly and willingly. Then it happened – up gets Pam and Mackie and started doing some heelwork, Mad’s of course with the eagle eye spotted him immediately and off she shot up the hall like a blooming whirlwind, all white hair flying and piston legs pumping, you can imagine the scene I hope. Once she got there and he did not respond to her, carrying on nicely with his heelwork, she barked and grabbed his tail, no response, barked and grabbed his leg, no response – well that did it she jumped up grabbed his cheek and lip and hung on like grim death, doing the heelwork in duo with her buddy. I called and called but no response, so I called Pam to halt. And Mad’s just stood there with his cheek in her mouth and he just sat there looking at his Mum as though to say – Boy if this is another trick to make me look away you have had it, I win. We did get her off him, and then they had a quick play. Now poor ‘Mackie’ or ‘Nitwit’ whichever you thinks suits, puts up with lots from this bundle of white hair. The other evening he came into the lounge where Mad’s was chewing her rawhide bone. She looked up, stood up and of course he thought ‘Play time’ – oh, no not Mad’s, she chased him up the lounge snapping at his bum as though to say ‘My bone, get lost, or you die’. He got to the top of the lounge, which is 27”, and looked at her, she had now rushed back and grabbed her bone. Gingerly he started to go back to her, she dropped the bone and shot after him, and again he got to the top of the lounge and stopped. This happened three times, and we then took the bone off her. With the bone out of the way she was back to being buddies and up and down the lounge they went. Rolling about, jumping up and over each other. So she has got possessive as she has grown, and quite willing to stand her ground too. A few weeks ago I was really trying to get some work done on the computer and I had Mad’s out playing but she was being very naughty, wanting my attention and trying her best to get it. Jumping on the sofa, pushing her head down the back of the cushion until she had pushed it onto the floor, then run and stand staring as though to say – Can you see what I have done? She then would come and jump up, scratching at my arm and as soon as I looked down she would again run and stand looking at me. In the end I had had enough, so I decided she would have to do something positive to use her brain…now what…oh yes, I will teach her to ‘Nod’ – now she places her head on one side quite often as though questioning what I am saying or doing – so with this in mind out came the ‘Clicker’ and the titbit tub (liver cake of course). Once she saw the clicker and tub, boy, she was raring to go, jumping up and grabbing my hand – which I ignore – then off she went, twist, spin, through legs left, then right, round the body, bow, sit, stand, paw and I still did not click & reward – By this time you could see her getting puzzled – so she sat, I waited and waited and waited, then she tipped her head on one side and I clicked & rewarded. She went through all of it again, then sat and eventually tipped her head, click & reward. Then she tipped her head, click & reward, tipped her head, click & reward – she had got it and all within 20 minutes. So next step to put a command to it. Firstly, I said Twist and round to the right she went, lie and down she went, sit and she did, ‘Nod’ and she waited, and I waited and she waited and I waited, then she tipped and I click & reward. Then I say ‘Nod’, she waited, thought about it then tipped her head, click & reward. So she had it. She now ‘Nods’ on command. She will also ‘Nod’ when I put my head to the side. Could be handy in the ring, make her look sweet! Well one can hope. One thing she also does is ‘Nod’ when SHE wants rewarding – so you sit at the table eating your tea and she appears and sweetly sits waiting and if you happen to look at her, she ‘Nods’ as hard as she can in case you will reward her. I’m not that daft, she does not get rewarded from plates, ever. I am trying to persuade my daughter to do heelwork to music with her as I am sure she would love all the attention and especially the excitement of doing all her tricks at once. So watch this space…I could have something to report later.
|