The summer so far has been non existent. The odd few days of sunshine, but rain has plagued us for what seems like the best part of three months. All this bad weather has done no favours to my garden, it is green, just green, the usual flowers for this time have failed to put in an appearance, but no need to worry about that, as Mirabelle has been decorating the garden with underwear that she steals from the washing pile. Bras, socks and knickers, are all stolen from under my gaze, then she hotfoots it out ino the garden, deposits her loot, then comes back for more. She is one of those dogs that loves to pick things up. Odo loves to empty the washer and dryer for me, it was a very easy thing to teach, now I will have to teach him to retrieve all the underwear that his daughter strews across the garden.
Retrieving.... often a word associated with gundogs, but any dog can retrieve, as so often witnessed in parks with dogs and their owners playing together with a ball. It is a joy to watch a happy dog chasing across the park for a ball, or jumping into a lake to for a toy....and then these retrieving skills can be transferred over into the field of Service or Assistance Dogs, picking up dropped items, or bringing something the owner needs. So why then, if retrieving can be made into a fun game or job, do gundog folk make such a song and dance over it? I've had a fair few tries at the gundog thing....enjoyable, but not something that can be carried out in London, so it usually involves a very long drive....and that's probably why I enjoy these days more, out in the countryside with friends, and camping. But to be honest, if it were an agility day or water training, I'd be equally happy. But.....although I have dogs that are all happy to retrieve from land or water, I have never taken it seriously, it is all just fun for me and the dogs, if they don't enjoy something, then why do it? Take a look at the link, would you go to these lengths to get a dog to retrieve? The fun has gone out of it and it has become quite serious when you have to resort to this. Hmm!!!!
http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/the-forced-retrieve-gun-dog-Page1.htm
Read both pages then consider if this is for you and your dog!
Retrieving.... often a word associated with gundogs, but any dog can retrieve, as so often witnessed in parks with dogs and their owners playing together with a ball. It is a joy to watch a happy dog chasing across the park for a ball, or jumping into a lake to for a toy....and then these retrieving skills can be transferred over into the field of Service or Assistance Dogs, picking up dropped items, or bringing something the owner needs. So why then, if retrieving can be made into a fun game or job, do gundog folk make such a song and dance over it? I've had a fair few tries at the gundog thing....enjoyable, but not something that can be carried out in London, so it usually involves a very long drive....and that's probably why I enjoy these days more, out in the countryside with friends, and camping. But to be honest, if it were an agility day or water training, I'd be equally happy. But.....although I have dogs that are all happy to retrieve from land or water, I have never taken it seriously, it is all just fun for me and the dogs, if they don't enjoy something, then why do it? Take a look at the link, would you go to these lengths to get a dog to retrieve? The fun has gone out of it and it has become quite serious when you have to resort to this. Hmm!!!!
http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/the-forced-retrieve-gun-dog-Page1.htm
Read both pages then consider if this is for you and your dog!