Introducing Ginger. He’s the pup we bred who was returned to us after developing a rash on his stomach. He’s fine now.
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He’s 14 weeks old and coming along nicely. He is very relaxed. He likes to retrieve, shoes, wellies and even the odd puppy dummy. At the moment he is all legs and ears, a little bit ungainly. He’s seen a couple of pheasants go up and watched intently. Recall is good, we introduced the whistle at meal times from 3-4 weeks old. He naturally walks very nicely to heel, no idea why but not complaining!!
He’s coming with me on Saturday to stand well back and watch a drive from afar. A few people have said that’s too early but I did the same with his mother and she is very steady. The same people don’t let their dogs onto a shoot until they’re about 2 and then struggle with focus and engagement. Each to their own!
I’ve not had a dog dog before so I’m looking forward to a slightly different challenge.
Go well.
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Here is hoping for a long happy union, makes you wonder about fate and destiny and how sometimes all that planning can go out the window when the life dice rolls.
Did you ever find out what the rash was caused by? Every time I take a break from bitches and bring a dog home, I always find them so much easier and attentive to training, probably a bit to easy and why, being a glutton for punishment and a hard life, I always return to bitches. It is nice to have a holiday though with only the `going bitching' to have to deal with. Having said that I find it easier if the dog is really work focused then `bitching ' is most of the time just a passing hiccup, at least that has been my experience.
munstyman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 7:25 pm
I always find them so much easier and attentive to training,
I find the same! Don't understand why everyone wants bitches "because they are easier"!
On bitching again those that are work focused aren't a problem, I have just had three bitches in season and the dog was ok although this time he clearly understood what was going on , I did take him to work with me for one day when they were being a nuisance to him not him bothering them!!!
Thanks both. Vet tomorrow to see if the skin scrape revealed anything, it’s had a month to develop in a lab. His rash came back last week, the same day I cut the grass….I gave him a medicated shampoo on his stomach and he was fine the following day. He’s not scratching so seems ok to me.
On the flip side, my 12 year old lab Willow is struggling. She has arthritis and is a bit lame on her front left and back right. Last month she had a Librela injection but I noticed no difference at all. She’s happy, enjoys a short walk (ideal with the pup) and eats well. She’s not making any mess or anything like that. It is just hard to see her not able to get about as she once did. Still smart though- if we go into a field and she thinks we will just walk the boundary she stops at the gate and meets me on the way back!!
On the flip side, my 12 year old lab Willow is struggling. She has arthritis and is a bit lame on her front left and back right. Last month she had a Librela injection but I noticed no difference at all. She’s happy, enjoys a short walk (ideal with the pup) and eats well. She’s not making any mess or anything like that. It is just hard to see her not able to get about as she once did. Still smart though- if we go into a field and she thinks we will just walk the boundary she stops at the gate and meets me on the way back!!
It is something a lot of people don't understand, a lot say I must be sad when a really good dog dies, they are always a bit surprised when I tell them that for me the day that really upsets me is the one when I realise I cannot ask them to do as much anymore and I have to make them take a bit of a back seat, particularly when they still think they are 3 years old in their head!
Jelinga wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 7:39 pm
PRH, did you sell one of your pups to a GP?
I did! I saw pup and owner last night at Ledbury RFC and both were on good form. That pup was one of two small bitches. She is going to work with the owner and sitting in the surgery a few mornings a week, so meeting lots of people!
On the flip side, my 12 year old lab Willow is struggling. She has arthritis and is a bit lame on her front left and back right. Last month she had a Librela injection but I noticed no difference at all. She’s happy, enjoys a short walk (ideal with the pup) and eats well. She’s not making any mess or anything like that. It is just hard to see her not able to get about as she once did. Still smart though- if we go into a field and she thinks we will just walk the boundary she stops at the gate and meets me on the way back!!
It is something a lot of people don't understand, a lot say I must be sad when a really good dog dies, they are always a bit surprised when I tell them that for me the day that really upsets me is the one when I realise I cannot ask them to do as much anymore and I have to make them take a bit of a back seat, particularly when they still think they are 3 years old in their head!
Exactly that Nick. Even now when I reach for the shoulder bag with the dummies etc she wants to be involved. I’m just very grateful for everything she’s taught me over the last 12 years - I realised when she was 2 or 3 that I was struggling to drive a Ferrari with L plates on. She was far far too good for me with the knowledge and experience I had at the time.
I did wonder as I met the pup Amber last week when I went to a meeting at the surgery! She looks super and well behaved (so far!). The GP is my GP and he was out in the garden with her with a whistle round his neck, so I put two and two together I think she will be an asset at the surgery.
Jelinga wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:28 am
I did wonder as I met the pup Amber last week when I went to a meeting at the surgery! She looks super and well behaved (so far!). The GP is my GP and he was out in the garden with her with a whistle round his neck, so I put two and two together I think she will be an asset at the surgery.
That’s great! He did say it has changed the dynamic in the room with some patients, which is really positive!
but not complaining!! 
I think she will be an asset at the surgery.