- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Loving this thread 
ALEX, the Bodeguero cross
- Thread starter snowbunny
- Start date
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Amber and Alex got into a tussle today. Amber has been a bit jealous because Alex spends all his time with me I think. Also she tries to get him to play but he ignores her. Alex didn't fight back so it was all noise really. It all came to nothing when I grabbed Amber and calmed her down.
Alex had a chicken leg today and I think it must have been his first ever. He was ecstatic! I've never seen a dog so excited about a chicken leg.
He still follows me everywhere and mostly ignores anyone else. Today he actually had his nose on my leg as I walked around the house. He really is a sweetheart!
Alex had a chicken leg today and I think it must have been his first ever. He was ecstatic! I've never seen a dog so excited about a chicken leg.
He still follows me everywhere and mostly ignores anyone else. Today he actually had his nose on my leg as I walked around the house. He really is a sweetheart!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I'm loving your updates - so wonderful to hear how well Alex is doing. I can imagine him going nuts over the chicken leg. Hopefully Amber will forgive him soon for being so attached to you. She'll have to get used to it, that's a Bodeguero 'thing'.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Alex is doing very well with his recall. If it wasn't for the wildlife (rabbits especially) I'd be tempted to let him off lead in safe places. I need real faith in a recall first though.
He also played with a puppy today. He was a bit clumsy and the puppy got rolled over a couple of times but he got the hang of it eventually. I'm hoping he will remain friends with the puppy as it grows up and that it will lead to playing with my other dogs.
Amber is still jealous around him but also still tries to get him to play.
He has taken a real liking to Bear, strangely. I think it is because Bear is old and doesn't get into his face wanting to play.
He goes nuts for his chuckit balls (thank you Fiona for that tip) and as they are extremely high value to him they make a great training aid.
One funny little thing he does is that he will suddenly get up on his back legs and walk like a human! I have seen no triggers for it at all. He just does it out of the blue. Bods are bonkers and I love that about him.
It has become clear that he is very much my dog. OH and grown son don't get a look in unless I am with them. He whines if he can't see me and will give up whatever he is doing if I go to a different room. I'm hoping he will eventually mellow out a little bit with this as training him to stay and wait could be a problem otherwise.
All in all, he is an amazing little dog who surprises me all the time.
He also played with a puppy today. He was a bit clumsy and the puppy got rolled over a couple of times but he got the hang of it eventually. I'm hoping he will remain friends with the puppy as it grows up and that it will lead to playing with my other dogs.
Amber is still jealous around him but also still tries to get him to play.
He has taken a real liking to Bear, strangely. I think it is because Bear is old and doesn't get into his face wanting to play.
He goes nuts for his chuckit balls (thank you Fiona for that tip) and as they are extremely high value to him they make a great training aid.
One funny little thing he does is that he will suddenly get up on his back legs and walk like a human! I have seen no triggers for it at all. He just does it out of the blue. Bods are bonkers and I love that about him.
It has become clear that he is very much my dog. OH and grown son don't get a look in unless I am with them. He whines if he can't see me and will give up whatever he is doing if I go to a different room. I'm hoping he will eventually mellow out a little bit with this as training him to stay and wait could be a problem otherwise.
All in all, he is an amazing little dog who surprises me all the time.
He sounds like a sweet little man and you've fallen for him in a big way. It's so good he's doing so well xxx
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
This morning has been a bit up and down with Alex. I woke up to him mauling me. I have some huge bruises to prove it. I shoved his wubba in his mouth and sat up to see what his body language was like and he obviously wanted to play. Not the best start to the day I have to say.
Then the magic happened! I took all the dogs to the stream and after a dip Amber and Poppy started to play. Alex (on his long line) watched them for a moment and then he play bowed and joined in!!! I was so pleased! They played really nicely for a few minutes with me trying to keep his lead out of the way and then all jumped back in the stream for a splashy play.
On the way back he play bowed again at Amber. I stopped so they could play again but Amber just got growly and it ended in a scuffle.
So it was a bit up and down but progress was made I think.
The biting is becoming hard work but I know we will get there in the end. Nobody likes being mugged by their dog but sticking with the training always wins out in the end.
Then the magic happened! I took all the dogs to the stream and after a dip Amber and Poppy started to play. Alex (on his long line) watched them for a moment and then he play bowed and joined in!!! I was so pleased! They played really nicely for a few minutes with me trying to keep his lead out of the way and then all jumped back in the stream for a splashy play.
On the way back he play bowed again at Amber. I stopped so they could play again but Amber just got growly and it ended in a scuffle.
So it was a bit up and down but progress was made I think.
The biting is becoming hard work but I know we will get there in the end. Nobody likes being mugged by their dog but sticking with the training always wins out in the end.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
It's great that he is already starting to play, he just needs to learn when to 'back off' but I would be happy with that. Sorry about the mugging. An odd thought but could you have some treats handy to do early morning mugging training? x
x- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Yes, I do but the shock of being mauled awake rather threw me this morning. I'll be better prepared in future though.It's great that he is already starting to play, he just needs to learn when to 'back off' but I would be happy with that. Sorry about the mugging. An odd thought but could you have some treats handy to do early morning mugging training?
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I had initial issues with both my Bod fosters with biting. It wasn't biting to harm, but biting for attention/to initiate play. Especially Toby, my foster last year, was terrible for that the first few weeks. I wonder if it's a Bod thing? In both cases, it got better pretty quickly and wasn't a long-term issue, so keep hope alive (and maybe wear some long sleeves!).
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Amber has been picking fights all day with Alex. They don't come to anything, just a lot of noise but it is grating on my nerves a bit. Alex can be quietly playing with a toy and she will pick a fight over it or he'll be eating and she will pick a fight. Thankfully nobody gets hurt but I am getting well exercised breaking them up. She is really a jealous little wotsit!
Having said all that they have had some really nice games of tug today. They both enjoyed that.
Having said all that they have had some really nice games of tug today. They both enjoyed that.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Theres a lot of good stuff written about us giving them time , building up trust etc . but resident dogs need to build up trust too , and visa versa . It has always taken a few days - few weeks for mine to sort themselves out and trust one another , depending on the nature of the rescued one . It sounds like you are doing great @Aitch , keep on doing what you`re doing x
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
When OH and I take the dogs out for a walk OH does this little sing song thing as he lets them off the lead. "Ambers off the lead. Poppys off the lead. Bear stays on lead" I have grown used to it and pay no attention as I'm usually untangleing leads at the time. This morning my head shot up as I heard "Alex is off the lead." I made a ripe comment at OH and called Alex with my heart in my mouth. He came straight to me and I gave him a treat and put him back on the lead. I was sure he would either just run off or refuse the recall. I was so impressed with Alex, not so much with OH. Poor OH was just not concentrating and did it automatically but I'm just glad I've been working so hard with Alex. Perhaps I need to start retraining OH!
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
It's very early days for Alex and your dogs. They need to settle, get to know each other which will come in time. Understanding doggie boundaries, the do's and don'ts between each other. Don't lose heart it will all come together eventually. Just a thought but as Amber is obviously a little put out by Alex's arrival, would taking her out for a little 1:1 help? I think you're doing a great job with all your dogs? xx
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Alex and Amber have been playing together more today. However, Alex has been very sick this afternoon. I think it may be that he has been dashing around in the heat but if he is no better by tomorrow then it is off to the vet with him.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Oh poor boy, hope it's nothing to worry about xx
xx
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I hope he is ok
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Alex is much better today. I have fed him chicken and veg as he loves it so much and he is back to his usual bouncy, bonkers self.
He and Amber are beginning to come to terms with each other now. There is still the odd telling one another off but over all progress is being made.
Alex is still biting but is also showing signs that he is beginning to understand that all play stops when he bites. When I stop playing he will sit and wait for me to do something now instead of frantically biting anything he can reach. Since he has only been with us a week now I am hugely impressed with his learning abilities and the progress he has made.
He and Amber are beginning to come to terms with each other now. There is still the odd telling one another off but over all progress is being made.
Alex is still biting but is also showing signs that he is beginning to understand that all play stops when he bites. When I stop playing he will sit and wait for me to do something now instead of frantically biting anything he can reach. Since he has only been with us a week now I am hugely impressed with his learning abilities and the progress he has made.
Beanwood
Administrator
Huge progress! I remember when I first joined BRX, one of the things that really stuck in my mind was this piece of advice from Jem ( who runs the organisation...) "the dog you see on day one will be a different dog at 2 weeks...and then different again by two months..." She was soooo right!
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
This morning I took the dogs to a "safe" area (double fenced but with trees and bushes) and let Alex off the lead with the others for the first time. He was ecstatic! He had his first zoomies and then just ran around with the others. It was so joyful that all I could do was laugh. He came back every time I called him. This little dog is an absolute joy. I am so lucky to have him.