There are different levels of treats.  When it comes to training something new or in an area where there are many distractions, I bring out the tasty treats.  For something they have learnt well and have completed lots of times, I use the lower value treats.  When I say lower value, I mean things like dried kibble and shop bought training treats.  Don’t get me wrong, they are still quite tasty to my dogs, but they are similar to the food they get every day and they no doubt think ’why should I work so hard now as I’m going to get a bowl full of that stuff later?’.  To put it another way; you are offered a cheese cracker and asked to do something special that takes a lot of hard work or thinking power and in an hour you are having your lunch which is a box full of cheese crackers complete with cheese.  Would you work hard for that one cracker?  Maybe you would, but the chances are if you were offered something that you really find tasty such as a huge slice of cream cake or a roast chicken dinner, you would work that little bit harder with your carefully prepared packed lunch all but forgotten.

Now, I’m not saying you should feed your dog cream cakes or a roast dinner.  I’m saying for the demanding tasks, offer something tasty.  This can be hot dog sausages (smelly and tasty, most dog’s dream!), small pieces of cheese (make sure they are small as cheese is fattening), chicken, beef, ham and so on.  I often use left over meat from a roast for training treats.  I also make liver cake.  I have yet to find a dog that will turn its nose up at this delight in my treat bag.  Personally, I loathe liver, but it flicks my dogs’ switches so I make it and freeze it then I always have some to hand.

I found a recipe by Sarah Whitehead and adapted it ever so slightly…

1 lb liver, 1 lb flour, 3 eggs, 2 garlic cloves, oil and milk or water.  Liquidise the liver, eggs and garlic together and then add the flour.  Add some oil and enough milk or water to make it into a smooth cake mix.  You can either put it into a microwavable dish and cook on full power for about 10 minutes or bake in the oven on gas mark 5 for about 30 minutes or until firm to the touch.  Cut into small pieces and freeze.  If not freezing, use within 24-36 hours.  Note that if you don’t quite like the smell of liver, you will want a scented candle on the go or an air freshener to hand…

And there you have it, home made treats that your dog will love you for and won’t cost the earth to make.

She also loves to follow you around as she is like most dogs and doesn’t want to miss out on anything.  Especially if you are in the kitchen.  There’s food in there and it just might be for a certain dog!  This following around should mean that it is easy to take a photo of said dog.  Not quite so.  To take a good photo of a dog you need to be down on their level and as soon as you get down on your hunches to take a shot, she’s right there in the lens!  Hence the rather close up photo of Jenny.  And yes, there’s something in her mouth!

They think that everyone should have some Dexter or Digby love as everyone needs a lift these days.  They don’t worry about the financial crisis we are experiencing, love from these two comes for free and there is oodles of it for all!  Luckily Digby loves food and Dexter; his ball, so there is always a way to get them to sit still, even if it is only for a very short time.  A glint flashes in their eyes and they are off again, bounding after a rolling leaf or pouncing on an unsuspecting blade of grass.  So long as it moves or stays still, gets away or gives up the chase, it’s fodder for these two chaps to have some fun with.

]]> http://www.walksandmore.co.uk/the-bounciest-dogs/feed/ 0 http://www.walksandmore.co.uk/dog-walking-daisy-and-belle/ http://www.walksandmore.co.uk/dog-walking-daisy-and-belle/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:56:24 +0000 Ruth http://walksandmore.co.uk/blog/?p=95 Let me introduce you to Daisy (the white and grey fluffy one) and Belle (the smooth grey and white one).  Not necessarily a couple that you would normally put together as Daisy is typically what Belle, as a Greyhound, would chase.  Yet they get along like a house on fire.  Beware the dog who tries to beat up on Daisy – Belle will step in and put him in his place faster than you can say ‘ew, you don’t want to do that’! 

Poor Belle was in a bit of a state when she was rejected as a racing greyhound, but she fell on her four paws when David found her and took her home in time for Christmas.  After he gave her some major TLC and a lot of understanding, she has come on leaps and bounds and you wouldn’t recognise her.  I do sometimes struggle to realise just how she didn’t make it on the track; that girl is fast.

Despite her size, Daisy rules the roost and ensures she is in the middle of everything, especially when I have my trusty treat bag within reach…  She learns tricks very quickly but when Kate tries to get Daisy to perform, all of a sudden she becomes slow and has a look on her face as though to say ‘nope, not got a clue what you want. But I’ll have that sausage if you don’t want it?!’  Cheeky monster…

It’s taken a while, but I have eventually got Belle to relax a little when taking a photo of her.  She is like many dogs who don’t like having a camera pointed at them, but a piece of sausage and taking the photos from my lap works wonders!  The only problem for a long time was the second I had a decent shot of Belle, Daisy would appear out of nowhere and I would end up taking a photo of her backside.  See what I mean about having to be in the middle of everything?!  Daisy, on the other hand, loves nothing better than to sit and pose for the camera, but just at the crucial moment she blinks, moves, yawns, looks away – you name it and she’ll do it.  Except sit still.

But, I did get this shot of her not looking her very best…  We were out just after the rain and Daisy and Belle were in and out of the tall grass having a wail of a time.  The downside to this is they got soaked.  And covered in burrs.  So, I couldn’t miss on the opportunity on sharing with you what Daisy looks like after such a walk – sorry Kate!!

A client of mine is looking for another dog and despite my best efforts to get him to take a dobermann on, clearly I’m failing and here’s the proof. He has just sent this photo to me of a border terrier x jack russell puppy he recently saw.

But hey, so long as he gets the right dog for him and his girlfriend, who am I to argue about the breed?

Jules is a typical Springer Spaniel in that she is obsessed with her ball and nothing in the world will take her from it when we are out on a walk unless she’s given it to me to throw for her.  If she loses it, there is hell to pay and nothing is safe in her path!  She does her best to find a replacement, but really there is no such thing in Jules’ world.  Unless you have another ball.

She ignores people and meets dogs with her ball in her mouth and won’t let it go until they have passed us by, as heaven forbid they may try and get it from her.  Bad move pooches!  The other day she had a go at a scarecrow without once letting her ball go, barking along the lines of ‘aurouff’!  Her cheeks flapped out on the ‘ouff’ and her hackles were raised as she danced around the sticks dressed in a green check shirt and orange dungarees, complete with a brown herringbone flat cap.

Can’t blame her for barking at it really, it was a fashion disaster…

Essex Dog Walking

When I first met Willow, she didn’t stop.  She ran all around the room and I wasn’t hugely sure of what she looked like apart from a hairy blur!  I remember thinking to myself that there was no way I was going to let her off the lead as I’d never get her back…  But, after just one walk we had bonded so well that she hardly left my side and if she did go too far, all I needed to do was give a whistle and she came charging after me – her King Charles ears flapping behind her.

Then she’d mug me for a bit of sausage!

So, the first bit of news: Tipsy has a new home. She has gone to live with a gentleman who was able to give her a second chance and lots of love that she dearly wanted. Good luck to them both

Woody has turned 1 and is now bigger than Sacha but she still rules the roost which he is happy to let be. He had to have emergency surgery earlier this year – he’d swallowed something he shouldn’t have and it got stuck… Not my most calmest of hours I can tell you. But after 2 days at the vets we gladly got him home again, although it was much to Sacha’s disgust!  Bless her, she thought she had the place to herself all over again…

I’ve also started running dog training classes and one to one training sessions.  More to follow with hints and tips aimed at helping you to bond and train your dog.  

Told you I’d been busy!!

Now, I understand that there are dogs out there in our own UK shelters who need homes and I will happily publish any stories on this website in an attempt to re-home a dog, but this is the first time I have been approached to try and help.  In Cyprus there are not many shelters who work with a non-destruction policy.  Many dogs are put to sleep over there because of the lack of willing helpers and the ignorance of some dog owners when it comes to neutering their pets.

If you think you can help or if you want some more information, please email me and I will put you in touch with the right people.

Harry the Collie is now a firm favourite with Sacha and Woody.  Not only does he want to play all the time, but he lets them run off with his toys.  Little do they realise that this is what he wants…while they run off thinking they have got the prize, he gets his fill of herding them!  Harry is an oldie in doggie years, but he is a good example of the new adage I’ve just made up: you’re only as young as the dog you’re chasing!