Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[pokefast]

I remember the days when we had to go down the bottom of our street to use the phone box!

[pokefast]

I remember the days when we had to go down the bottom of our street to use the phone box!

Shouldn't have posted this sorry,we are gonna get a tikay story involving some tin cans and a bit of string now for sure!

[pokefast]

Odd how technologies and people change. None of my sets of grandparents ever had a house phone even though they did not pass away until the early 2000's. Always remember my grandad popping next door and giving the lady 10p if he wanted to ring my dad and talking so loud we could here him in the garden.

Even now my mum won't have anything to do with mobile phones and twice a year i have to go round and reset any digital clocks when they change.

[AlexMartin]

Hi Red,

She's coming on an absolute treat, got her to know what no, sit, wait, leave it mean already
She's 9 weeks old now and im trying to get her used to wearing a collar, which she seems to be getting the hang of. Iv been told by the vet that she shouldnt get in contact with other random dogs yet as she's still to have her 2nd jab, but hes told me to get her to socialise with other dogs as early as possible in her life. Any experience you have in this? Iv found myself addicted to the dog whisperer of late which has made it just how clear cut dog psychology is from dog TRAINING. In particular iv scaled back the NO for tsst when shes interested in something she shouldnt be (wasps, shoes, nipping etc) as apparently the harshness of the word can excite puppies more than a flatter (in tone) expression for no. Also wanted to know if you had much experience with age etc for when it would be best to get here out and about. I can see her getting bored sometimes (our garden is decent sized for a cottage but still tiny) and i think i should take her out in close supervision to a quiet copse on a farm near me (to get her used to being on a lead and being in her natural environment) but i dont know if i should wait longer. I intend for her to be fully working (probably doing some ratting, some lamping and when shes older doing a little work in the beating line) but i dont know if im being a bit premature with her. Any advice would be fantastic as i know you have profound knowledge of the countryside and animal behaviour (its impossible to find good advice for working terriers on the internet iv found).

p.s Iv ordered that book.

pp.s here are some photos

Click to see full-size image.

By helloell at 2009-09-29

[RED-DOG]

She's gorgeous Alex.

Don't take her where it's quiet, take her out and let her experience as many things as possible NOW, don't wait until vaccines kick in, you lose so much learning time while her mind is mallable and she trusts your judgement over hers.

Don't put her on the ground, carry her in your arms. Stand near busy roads or on crowded streets. take great pains to make sure she doesn't get hurt, but show her everything you can manage.

Also, get her used to the inside of your car/van or whatever you use. If she doesn't like it, just do a few mins at a time without actually going anywhere, try feeding her in there, anything to make it a positive experience.

She will require some grooming when she's older, (Borders have a special, super tough, dry and warm coat) just run a brush or comb lightly over her for a few seconds for now, she will soon come to see it as petting and will love it.

For socialising with other dogs you will have to wait until the vaccine kicks in. Then, just let her meet them on her own terms, don't hold her back, don't make warning noises (This will cause her to think that she is in danger) Let nature take it's course and she will give off all the right signals instinctively.

Speaking of instinct, try to work with her natural behaviour patterns as much as possible. If she's chasing something, make an excited "Ssss" sound, if she's searching for something, say "Find it" , if she picks it up say "carry" and then make a huge fuss when she does what she was going to do anyway.

Don't bother with teaching "Trick" type stuff while she's so young, Dogs are clever and soon realise that some of the things we try to teach them have no real purpose.

Don't rush, don't put her off, and watch every move she makes. Some people learn to interpret a dogs body language with amazing accuracy, others never seem to get the hang of it.

Read "Tales of a rat hunting man" and anything else you can find by D Brian Plummer. They are not teaching books as such, but you can't help but absorb knowledge from them.

[RED-DOG]

BTW- Let her "Meet" other dogs while you carry her in your arms. (By meet I don't introduce her to them, just stand where she can see, hear and smell, not touch)

[RED-DOG]

It's all about confidence at this stage Alex. In you, and in herself. Building building building all the time, slowly but surely.

Eventually, she will walk in to Hell if you tell her it's OK.

[RED-DOG]

I think all dog owners should read this poem. It's called "His Apologies" by Rudyard Kipling



Master, this is Thy Servant. He is rising eight weeks old.
He is mainly Head and Tummy. His legs are uncontrolled.
But Thou hast forgiven his ugliness, and settled him on Thy knee...
Art Thou content with Thy Servant? He is very comfy with Thee.

Master, behold a Sinner! He hath committed a wrong.
He hath defiled Thy Premises through being kept in too long.
Wherefore his nose has been rubbed in the dirt and his self- respect has been bruised.
Master, pardon Thy Sinner, and see he is properly loosed.

Master, again Thy Sinner! This that was once Thy Shoe,
He has found and taken and carried aside, as fitting matter to chew.
Now there is neither blacking nor tongue, and the Housemaid has us in tow,
Master, remember Thy Servant is young, and tell her to let him go!

Master, extol Thy Servant, he has met a most Worthy Foe!
There has been fighting all over the Shop -- and into the Shop also!
Till cruel umbrellas parted the strife (or I might have been choking him yet),
But Thy Servant has had the Time of his Life -- and now shall we call on the vet?

Master, behold Thy Servant! Strange children came to play,
And because they fought to caress him, Thy Servant wentedst away.
But now that the Little Beasts have gone, he has returned to see
(Brushed -- with his Sunday collar on) what they left over from tea.

Master, pity Thy Servant! He is deaf and three parts blind.
He cannot catch Thy Commandments. He cannot read Thy Mind.
Oh, leave him not to his loneliness; nor make him that kitten's scorn.
He hath had no other God than Thee since the year that he was born.

Lord, look down on Thy Servant! Bad things have come to pass.
There is no heat in the midday sun, nor health in the wayside grass.
His bones are full of an old disease -- his torments run and increase.
Lord, make haste with Thy Lightnings and grant him a quick release!

[AlexMartin]

awesome advice, knew it would be worthwhile asking. Thanks mate, i owe u favour!

looks like rest of week is gonna be busy then

[RED-DOG]

While I'm on dog poems...


A Dogs Soul
by
Author Unknown



Every dog must have a soul
Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
Are buried with his pride.
Where he decides the good and bad,
The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgement carefully
Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for
Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho'he is unloved,
And he'll serve tho'badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
An understanding Soul!

[RED-DOG]

One more and that's it


The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passsion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

[sovietsong]

She's gorgeous Alex.

Don't take her where it's quiet, take her out and let her experience as many things as possible NOW, don't wait until vaccines kick in, you lose so much learning time while her mind is mallable and she trusts your judgement over hers.

Don't put her on the ground, carry her in your arms. Stand near busy roads or on crowded streets. take great pains to make sure she doesn't get hurt, but show her everything you can manage.

Also, get her used to the inside of your car/van or whatever you use. If she doesn't like it, just do a few mins at a time without actually going anywhere, try feeding her in there, anything to make it a positive experience.

I followed red's advice with my German shepherd pup i took her in the car, started the engine, put her in the boot closed it and then came straight back, lots of little things that get the dog used to situations you face later on.  I am really seeing the benefits now.  I carried her to main roads at 7/8 weeks and just stood about talking to people who had dogs, it made things much easier compared to other people I have met who's dogs are fearful of situations because the owner 'protected' them too much.

One thing I wish we had done earlier was lead work, when we first got her I only walked her on the lead and she was good as gold, but as I live next to a park I got into the habit of taking her out off the lead, it was easy for me as she always returned to me when called and kept close by, however it made life a nightmare for the missus as although she was still quite good she didn't have the same control I did, this meant when we put her on the lead she was a bit more difficult.  We've cracked it now but it took much more work than it would have had we done more on the lead earlier.

Another thing to do (in my limited experience) is not to let the dog control 'play time', you decide when it starts and finishes not her.  We had too many toys that she had access to all the time, this caused us a few issues later that we ironed out but could have been avoided.  

it has been a steep learning curve for me and Michelle.  barring a few teathing problems (mainly due to me and Michelle not the dog!) we are getting on great guns now.  We joined a class which taught us a lot, other experienced people to ask questions.  it actually is really simple, the dog whisperer is awesome!

[bolt pp]

She's gorgeous Alex.

the dog's quite cute as well

[EvilPie]

Just on to the dog thing for Alex.

As soon as she's vaccinated get her on her lead and walk her through the busiest town centre you can find.

Quiet parks are no good at this age. She needs to get to see as much as possible so that when she gets a little bit older she isn't fazed by anything.

Try to get her introduced to livestock as well if you're using her for ratting etc. You don't want her running off chasing sheep when she sees one for the first time. Introduce her now and she won't care about them.

She looks gorgeous btw mate. Very cute. If you treat her right now and introduce her to as much as possible then she'll be more loyal to you than any human could ever be.

Something that a friend of mine once said:

"Take your wife and your dog and lock them both in the boot of your car. Drive around for an hour then open the boot. Which one do you think will be pleased to see you?"

[RED-DOG]

If ex soldiers do meet in civvy street, do the ranks they once held have a bearing on their relationship/conduct etc?

What if it's a biggish rank gap, i.e private/captain?

Also, what exactly is an NCO, and how high up the ranking ladder can he climb?