I would like to take this opportunity to tell
you about my dog and how we came to be involved in Flyball.
I actually bred Cameron myself (a black
Labrador) along with his 7 brothers and sisters and
they were all sold at 8 weeks of age. The people that
bought Cameron were a mature aged couple. Everything
seemed right at the time. Yes they had owned a Labrador
before and yes he would be allowed in the house.
12 months later we received a call
from them. Could we please come and collect the dog,
he was neurotic and paranoid and their vet had advised
them to have him put down.
Well hold on a minute. Of course we
will always take our dogs back but before we go to any
of these drastic actions let's try to resolve the problem
first.
Well the fact is it isn't really worth
it. We're going on holiday overseas for 10 weeks and
for the cost of putting him in boarding kennels we thought
we would just buy a new pup when we got back.
Fine we'll be there to pick him up
this weekend.
He was neurotic and paranoid and grossly
over weight. I took one look at him cowering away from
me and thought what happened? And what am I going to
do with him? I remember driving home and thinking maybe
the vet was right.
It took only a few days for him to
start trusting us and getting used to our lifestyle.
At the time we were extremely busy with other projects.
We had newborn puppies, and were obedience trialing
and training our own dogs - Cameron had to learn to
fit in. And he did. We learnt quickly that Cameron does
not like to be ignored.
Once
we had gained his trust it was time he started school
and socialising with other dog's and people. This was
where my Mother stepped in. She has to be the most patient
(or stubborn) person there is. Tell her this dog can't
be fixed and she will show you it can.
To start with all she did was walk
around the edge of the obedience classes not actually
entering in the class. Every time anybody tried to approach
him she would tell them to ignore him, he had to find
his own feet. If he panicked at something she just acted
it like it had never happened.
By 6 months there was a huge improvement.
He had lost all the excess fat and was much fitter.
He was also able to be part of the obedience class,
although he still baulked at any form of contact from
strangers.
It was at this time that our club had
a visit from Eric van Zuyden, Nicole Kendt and friends
from the AFA. They were giving us a Flyball demonstration
and some tuition. We had brought Cameron along for the
socialisation.
It was never our intention to try him
at Flyball. But it soon became obvious Cameron had other
ideas. When he saw the other dogs playing with tennis
balls it was just too tempting and we soon realised
we had found a bargaining tool. (He had to face his
fears if he wanted that tennis ball.)
With the help and support of his fellow
teammates, and the sport of Flyball it didn't take Cameron
long to get over the majority of his fears - after all
there was more important things to worry about - like
getting that ball!!!
Cameron has now achieved his FDX title
and is on the way to achieving his FDCh. He has also
taken on the challenge of training for the obedience
title C.D. This is proving difficult, as there is a
Stand For Examination involved. Of course it doesn't
help in training when the Flyball equipment is set up
a few feet away screaming out for a good time to be
had by all!. Cameron will suddenly dash off from a sit
stay unable to control himself any longer .
I just laugh.
After all Cameron wouldn't
be the dog he is today if it wasn't for Fyball.
oooOOOooo
