Today we join Heart Like A Dog and co-host Dogs N Pawz for Follow-Up Friday.
Storm
Storm is over her false preganancy. She has even been out training a few times. She doesn’t seem to have missed a beat. Unfortunately the shorter days limit training time in the evening and my ability to go along and take pictures. Here is a picture from February 2011.
Thunder
Thunder is still limping. The orthopedic vet told us it would be at least two weeks so we are trying to be patient. He has been spending part of his day outside in his “run”. As you see, he spends most of his time sleeping. 🙂
Stacking
There were a couple of question/comments on yesterday’s post about Stacking.
Doggy’s Style asked if Freighter is going to be a year soon. Yep he will be one year on November 21. I think that is the same day Doggy will turn a year old. 🙂
Jen@MyBrownNewfies wanted to know if the tail has to be out or relaxed when a Chessie is stacked. I am no expert, but I don’t think it matters for our breed. Many of the breeds present the dogs in a certain way for a stack that just isn’t done with Chessies. I have seen dogs with tails tucked under win. For our breed a lot of emphasis is put on movement and correct coat. As long as the tail does not curl over the back (gay tail), you are OK.
In the two pictures I posted, I think Freighter looks like he is ready to jump in the first and just looks over all more relaxed in the second. My preference is for his tail to look like it does in this picture. 🙂
Many people commented that they don’t think they could get their dogs to stand still. It is like anything else, you just have to train it. I have heard of people putting out blocks of wood and having the dog practice standing on them so it gets the idea of where to place its feet. That is similar to when we have used a box during hunt test training to help the dog be steady.
One thing we have done with our dogs is to attend conformation classes. The training facility where we take obedience classes offers a drop in conformation class. Not only will the instructors watch and give tips to help you show the dog at its best, but the dogs can practice having strangers “go over” or touch them like a judge would in the ring. There are other dogs in the ring so the dog really gets an idea of what will happen at a show. It can help a dog become more comfortable and understand what is expected in the ring. Of course we bring lots and lots of treats!
Its The Weekend
The brown dawgs are overjoyed to hear that their trainer is out of the hospital and on the mend. They hope he takes all the time he needs to recover. They miss training, but want him to be well.
In the mean time hunting is on tap for this weekend. I think Storm is getting the call. Unfortunately we are supposed to have beautiful weather so I am not sure how many ducks will be around. I hope she gets a retrieve. Poor thing always seems to get out when the weather is nice and the ducks are scarce.
Have a nice weekend!
Great follow-up! It sure seems to be taking Thunder’s leg a long time to heal up. It must be getting frustrating. Poor guy! I sure hope Storm gets a retrieve this weekend, it will make her day! Glad to hear your trainer is out of the hospital and re-cooperating! Have a great weekend!
Thanks for all those answers! Have a great weekend and go get em Storm!
Thanks for joining us in the FUF blog hop. 🙂 It’s interesting to get the scoop on showing dogs, since neither of my dogs has papers it is probably something I would never do, plus I worry that it would be too stressful. (You know me. :-)) Glad Storm’s getting the call for hunting, I’m sure it will be good for her.
Have a great weekend!!
Thanks for answering the stacking question! I wasn’t sure if, because they are hunting dogs, if the standard for the tail would be different. Sounds like the same standard for the Newfs! We thought Leroy had a gay tail when we first got him-he carried it so high! but the older he got the more he was able to settle it down! Whew!
I love to look at pictures of your Chessies! Ash is a Chessie but she is a lighter color and from the looks of your dogs, she is much littler. Of course, she isn’t trained and doesn’t hunt but she is a great dog and we have learned so much about Chessies since getting her. I hadn’t even heard of a Chessie until she came into our family! Have a great weekend!
All our dogs are brown, with Thunder being medium brown. Perhaps your Ash is deadgrass? More like the color of a yellow lab? We know a lot of deadgrass dogs but we don’t have one that color. Storm and Freighter are within the standard for size. Thunder is a bit over-sized. But with Chessies a wide variety of size is acceptable so it does not surprise me that your dog is smaller. The people who put together this breed did not want a cookie cutter breed with color and size being something that could vary depending on the job the dog was going to do.
For example if you are going to hunt a river in a canoe, you probably would not want a Thunder-sized dog, But Thunder is excellent when it comes to hunting thick marshes.
So glad Storm is better and hope that Thunder makes a perfect and quick recovery. Have a wonderful weekend.
Great Follow-up Friday!! Thunder looks more like he is moping, poor guy, he will be beside himself when he finally gets the go ahead to run again, hope it’s real soon. Maybe the weather will turn bad tomorrow so Storm will get a good days hunt, after all it is Michigan 😉
Thunder it will get better, Lexie knows how long it feels like its hurt. Storm good luck this weekend hope you get lucky and there are ducks. Last very happy trainer is out of the hospital and doing well 🙂
Just a comment on getting your retriever to stand still, I’ve taught my dogs the “whoa” command along with the “stop” whistle and hand signal, because if they’re hunting with pointers I want them to honor the pointer. “Whoa” is different for pointers and retrievers – with pointers it’s how you start them out on pointing, with retrievers its stopping and waiting for the next command. These may be options for getting a lab to stand still.
Hopefully Thunder will get in some hunting time in this year.
That is a very interesting way to train stand. If we do upland testing that is something we will have to master. Typically we do not stop our young retrievers when they are first retrieving. We hold the collar rather than work on steadiness. We do not want to stifle their desire to retrieve until they are to a certain point in their training. We do teach stay and stand but away from hunting/retrieving.
Sorry we havent visited lately….. we are catching up. Sorry about the false pregnancy. We have had more than our share of those…. its the worst seeing all the signs… then to find out… nothing…..
Yay Freighter, it’s nearly your birthday!! Are you gonna have a big party? 🙂
Hope you’re having a fun weekend guys,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Glad to see Thunder is one the mend, lots of sleep is good for that 🙂
Have a great sunday
Slobbers
Sorry to hear that Thunder is still limping. It must be very frustrating for him.
So sorry to hear that Thunder is still limping. Hope the injury heals up for him soon. Sleeping is fun, but gets old after a while.