Hunter

HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Jennifer said:
Hunter is now 9 months old !

Over the last few weeks or so Hunter seems to be gradually getting the concept of retrieving. I got him a Kong comet for Christmas to try and increase his prey drive, get him excited about retrieving etc. It’s possibly not the most conventional method of training the retrieve but it seems to be working. I throw the kong, Hunter runs for it, picks it up, I start running the opposite way shouting fetch it loud and excitedly, Hunter races after me with kong dropping it when he gets to me. It’s not pretty and goodness knows what people passing who hear me must think but Hunter’s having fun.:happy:

You probably already know the RCVS have brought in new rules which mean dogs need to be seen by a vet every twelve months to get prescription wormers. Despite the fact Hunter was seen in August I had to take him to the vets last Sunday because he’s not been seen since the new rules. It was his first time going since I couldn’t carry him and It was interesting. I need to do a lot of work on getting him used to the car again. Now I can’t lift him in I had to take the crate out so he can jump so now he needs to get used to being in the boot. Outside and inside the vets he was super worked up/excited nose stuck to the ground. We got Mike the vet who’d looked after Scout and put him to sleep. Unfortunately he didn’t give Hunter chance to calm down however Hunter did let him examine him. The only thing he didn’t like was the stethoscope. When he put that on him he jumped like it was a branding iron. Thankfully we had first appointment so it wasn’t busy but it was rather hard work albeit for a different reason than with Scott and Scout. He did say hello to a man and his dog who where in the waiting room with us so I don’t think he was nervous. I guess all the strange, new smells were super exciting and he didn’t get time to calm down. At least that’s what I hope. He’s now 25.2kg by the way.

View attachment 40244
Click to expand...
Gorgeous photo of Hunter, and it sounds like you're doing great work on the retrieve. Other people probably think 'I really should have more fun with my dog...' :D Stilton is nearly 10 months and has similar changing feelings about going in the back of one of our cars, which we need to work on. Their world is changing so much for them, I guess we're bound to see changes in their behaviours as adolescence progresses.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Super picture of a stunning young dog! Just keep him enjoying his retrieving regardless I say!

Our vets offer free "advice" sessions with the vet nurses, for puppies to build up happy associations with going to the surgery and also you ca pop in any time to use the weigh scales in the waiting room., so the dogs don't have an examination everytime they go through the door. I think it's really good thing.
Does your practice offer such things @Jennifer ?
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

@Selina27 That‘s a good idea Selina. I think they might do. If not I don’t think they’ll mind me turning up. They open an hour before surgery starts so I could start going when it’s quiet and build it up maybe.

@Kelsey I think the most retrieves we’ve done in a row is 6 but it can be as few as 3. Hunter gets bored and spots a stick or something which is obviously much more interesting.:wasntme: I remember with Scott and Scout though that they have a short attention span at this age so I try to stop before he does.
 
Kelsey

Kelsey

Jennifer said:
@Selina27 That‘s a good idea Selina. I think they might do. If not I don’t think they’ll mind me turning up. They open an hour before surgery starts so I could start going when it’s quiet and build it up maybe.

@Kelsey I think the most retrieves we’ve done in a row is 6 but it can be as few as 3. Hunter gets bored and spots a stick or something which is obviously much more interesting.:wasntme: I remember with Scott and Scout though that they have a short attention span at this age so I try to stop before he does.
Click to expand...
That’s exactly it, Hugo is all about sticks and smells! Which is so different from Axel who was ball obsessed since he was 4 months old and lived and breathed fetch!
 
Granca

Granca

Jennifer said:
@Selina27 That‘s a good idea Selina. I think they might do. If not I don’t think they’ll mind me turning up. They open an hour before surgery starts so I could start going when it’s quiet and build it up maybe.
Click to expand...
Maybe you could take him in and weigh him regularly, just to get him used to the surroundings, as well as sitting on the scales. There’s a pot of treats by the scales at my vets and they always encourage weighing on the way in anyway.
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

It’s Hunter’s birthday today !!! I can’t believe it’s gone so quickly. While Hunter does have his moments I think I’ve dropped on lucky with this one, well so far anyway :fingers: He has developed some occasional selective deafness and does sometimes test the boundaries but having said that he is very good. I’d like to thank you all for the help, support and advice you’ve given me over the last 12 months it’s made life so much easier. :mmm:

1D4FF18B-8138-4111-A15F-C804AA4D3A0B.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top