Well where was I to start with our
story? Webster came into our lives after I felt the
need for another dog, you see we already had one Keeshond
the quietest and most lovely Keeshond Zoe. So I began
looking. Hardly any breeders were around and what they
had was expensive……but along came Tuesday’s
Courier with the free adverts for Items under $100.
Well there he was at just $99 and 11 months old.
 |
Well if you’ve
ever seen a Keeshond pup that had never been brushed
you would know what a disgrace he looked, looking
back I am surprised we took him.
He was a complete NUTTER in temperament
and truthfully not much has changed! Day 7 of
being with us and he still wouldn’t step
foot inside. Honestly he nearly didn’t make
it to Day 8. You really do take on other peoples
habits when you re-house a dog, and they are not
always the good ones!
He has always proven a difficult
dog to train but his endearing way with people
has always meant that being mad at him is almost
impossible. It took us nearly 3 1/2 years to gain
his Obedience CD title. We still have pipe dreams
of him one day collecting a dumbbell and competing
in an Open Obedience trial.
This brings me to Agility Training
where we are now.With a 5 yr old dog that is not
ready to continue obedience and too young to do
nothing with, we ventured back to Agility. You
see we had tried it once before and in my ignorance
I had lost patience with a dog that really was
just enjoying himself. |
If I can give any advice to new Agility
beginners it is to not be frustrated when you lose control
of your dog as he runs around the Agility equipment
like a mad man. Webster was enjoying it but I felt a
nuisance as he always ran off in the other direction
enticing me to play. Hence we stopped. Please never
make the same mistake; the dogs are enjoying it so much
they need a little time to settle down. Just like kids
with a new toy! Agility is not for the faint hearted,
it is hard work never telling your dog off, but still
maintaining control, MOST of the time.
We have been training
now for nearly 2 1/2 years and have competed 3
times in VCA Trials with mixed results. We recently
joined NADAC a gentler form of Agility and again
we have experienced mixed results. Some days are
brilliant and the next I walk away shaking my
head in disbelief. We do however have great days
out that always seem to include some great friends
and a huge amount of good food and even a bottle
of bubbly occasionally.
If Webster has taught me anything
it is that your dogs are always your Best Friend
first and everything else they do for you is a
bonus. |
|
Look around you next time your training
and find those people that struggle regularly to train
there dog’s, they often are a wealth of knowledge
as they have probably tried nearly every option available
to them and perhaps even a created a few new methods
too.
Webster turned 7 a few months ago and
is now entitled to be a veteran at NADAC agility. We
have not yet taken that option as anyone who has ever
seen Webster run at his best would know he is more than
capable of mixing it with the top dogs. Now if only
I can get him to do it on a competition day……….
P.S. If you have never had the pleasure of meeting
Webster just place your hands in your pockets and he
is sure to appear looking for a treat.
