Your Dog, Cat, Pig, Snake, Spider, Ant... Your PETS TOPIC :D

[Gareth]

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Oh, who's that?

His name is Ryder, my brother couldnt keep him cause his daughter has allergies, so hes with me, but he's a great dog, Havanese breed(Cuba) so freaking cute, like a living stuffed animal, a lot of fun to play with him, Ive only had a couple of dogs, when I was a teenager and in college, they were really bad tho, and had to give them away( a poodle that ran away constantly and far, impossible to deal with, and a mixed mutt that destroyed all my possessions in college)

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He looks awesome.

[SteveC]

Ryder looks like a sweet dog, congrats ! 

[Gareth]

Molly and I exploring some of the woodland paths near us.

[SteveC]

Nice one G  ! 

[SteveC]

Rosie waiting patiently for me to throw the ball

[SteveC]

It's been a rough day 

[Gareth]

It's been a rough day 


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A very happy looking pup to me. 

[Sneider]

Baby blindworm

[Gareth]

Baby blindworm

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Awww, that's quite sweet.

[Gareth]

A question for my more experienced dog walkers; what do you do now the nights are getting shorter?  I ask as Molly likes a good run around at the local park, but it's mostly unlit and, frankly, I don't quite trust her not to get lost in the dark.  I know you get LED tags and whatnot, but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

 

[Kev D]

I keep Milo on a lead in the dark. I have one of those 8m long retractable ones to give him a bit of freedom. He also has a coat with a reflective strip on it and an LED tag on his collar, and I also have one on the bottom link of the lead.  When the weather gets colder I'll break out his fur lined coat.

I see some people using those 30m long tape leads for dogs who tend to run off. If you want her to have more freedom but not disappear in the dark you could try one of those.

Edit: this is the type I lead I mean https://www.amazon.co.uk/100ft-Training-Large-Various-Colours/dp/B00NB2AQE4

[gregozedobe]

A question for my more experienced dog walkers; what do you do now the nights are getting shorter?  I ask as Molly likes a good run around at the local park, but it's mostly unlit and, frankly, I don't quite trust her not to get lost in the dark.  I know you get LED tags and whatnot, but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

First thing is to improve the reliability of her recall.  Some (hopefully useful) tips:

1  Have really good treats or favourite toys to reward her when she does come when called. (so good she is constantly trying to mug you to get them, also a hungry dog is usually more appreciative of food treats, a variety is usually better than all one thing).

2  Reward enthusiastically as soon as she comes within collar touching range (ie don't insist on a sit first, as then she may think the reward is for the sit, not the recall)

3  Do lots of recalls and then let her go back to what she was interested in when you called.  If you only call her when the fun is over and she is going home she will not want to come back to you when you call.

4  Only call her when you are quite confident she will come back.  Otherwise you are training her that she can ignore your calls if she doesn't want to come back.  If you must get her then you go after her (at a "threateningly steady" pace, not running or any fun at all).  The first few times it may be a long, drawn-out process. but once she learns there is no escape she should be easier to catch.

5  Put a flashing LED light on her collar to help you locate her in the dark.  Plenty of cheap ones available on ebay from China.  Take a good, powerful LED flashlight with a decent amount of throw (this will allow you to see other animals/humans in the dark, not just your dog).

6  For some dogs training a "down at a distance" can get them to re-focus on their handler, and then the recall will be more reliable.

7  [start lecture]  It is my considered opinion that a truly reliable recall may save your dog's life one day, so it is worth putting in considerable effort to train it.  [end lecture]

[Kev D]

A question for my more experienced dog walkers; what do you do now the nights are getting shorter?  I ask as Molly likes a good run around at the local park, but it's mostly unlit and, frankly, I don't quite trust her not to get lost in the dark.  I know you get LED tags and whatnot, but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

First thing is to improve the reliability of her recall.  Some (hopefully useful) tips:

1  Have really good treats or favourite toys to reward her when she does come when called. (so good she is constantly trying to mug you to get them, also a hungry dog is usually more appreciative of food treats, a variety is usually better than all one thing).

2  Reward enthusiastically as soon as she comes within collar touching range (ie don't insist on a sit first, as then she may think the reward is for the sit, not the recall)

3  Do lots of recalls and then let her go back to what she was interested in when you called.  If you only call her when the fun is over and she is going home she will not want to come back to you when you call.

4  Only call her when you are quite confident she will come back.  Otherwise you are training her that she can ignore your calls if she doesn't want to come back.  If you must get her then you go after her (at a "threateningly steady" pace, not running or any fun at all).  The first few times it may be a long, drawn-out process. but once she learns there is no escape she should be easier to catch.

5  Put a flashing LED light on her collar to help you locate her in the dark.  Plenty of cheap ones available on ebay from China.  Take a good, powerful LED flashlight with a decent amount of throw (this will allow you to see other animals/humans in the dark, not just your dog).

6  For some dogs training a "down at a distance" can get them to re-focus on their handler, and then the recall will be more reliable.

7  [start lecture]  It is my considered opinion that a truly reliable recall may save your dog's life one day, so it is worth putting in considerable effort to train it.  [end lecture]

That would work for a younger dog like Molly, for an old half blind half deaf dog like my Milo, it's more about making sure he doesn't panic and run off in the dark and not being able to locate him easily. Hence why he is kept on a lead, for his peace of mind so he doesn't get scared, and my peace of mind that I can't lose him.  It's slowly getting that way in the daylight as well.

Treats are always a good motivator for dogs. That's what I used when mine were much younger and teaching them to stop at kerbs, etc.

[Gareth]

Great stuff gents.   

Greg; that's almost exactly how we've been working on her recall training, but your point number 3 is a good one I'd not really thought about.  I completely agree on point 7 as well, I can't imagine how I'd feel if she got hurt, or worse, because I'd not trained her properly.  I'll pop a good light in my dog bag and go order up a collar light or two. 

[Kev D]

Lovely evening yesterday when I walked Milo. He enjoyed his long walk

[Gareth]

Looks lovely.  We've had a very mixed bag of weather up here for weeks, but as I type it is clear blue skys and I'm getting ready to head with Molly.

[SteveC]

Nice one Kevin 

[Sneider]

[SteveC]

Shop toads Swiss cousin   

[Gareth]

[Syncop8r]

Toadally hidden.

[MadPlumbarian]

The Mrs was goofing with him, needless to say he had his eyes glued to her,, come on who wouldn’t, lol
JR

[Ron Who]

.

[Kev D]

Moo

[SteveC]

The Mrs was goofing with him, needless to say he had his eyes glued to her,, come on who wouldn’t, lol
JR

mesmerizing 

[ducttapetech]

Shop toads Swiss cousin   

[Monrogue]

Bingah and Maliya getting along well for the most part

Proud SAKMC member

[SteveC]

Cute ! 

[MadPlumbarian]

Here’s one of our little guys hanging out..
JR

[SteveC]