A Two Canoe doggie rescue

They say never work with animals or children. Well I’ve lived and worked with dogs for many years and wouldn’t change it. But as any dog owner or Pet Minder like me knows, occasionally what starts off as a normal dog walk can turn into something quite different …

Here on the Central Coast I was pet sitting two lovely dogs, Leo the Labradoodle and Toto a Lagotto Romaganolo (an Italian gun/water dog).

I’ve pet minded Leo for 150+ days and since he’s not yet two this is like his second home. I also trained Leo for his owner from when he was a puppy so am confident he can be free in any dog off leash area as he can be relied upon to stay with me.

Toto looking as if butter would not melt...

Toto has selective recall, which is a concern as by 14 months you need to know your dog will not be running off. In particular if he sees birds he will dash after them and ignore calls to return.  Because of this to be safe side he had to remain on a leash or long lead when out.

Our fun daily exercise sessions are on the beach, but we also have a great walk was along the edge of Brisbane waters, which is where we were this day. So far so uneventful – who could have predicted it would end up in a two canoe doggie rescue!

Leo was let off the moment we reached the grass, and I attached a total of 3 leads onto Toto’s harness making a long lead to give him freedom to run and play fetch in the waters edge.

Always alert looking for birds

Fun and games until…. Toto saw some ducks and made a sudden lurch that pulled the leads out of Gail’s hand. Before she could grab the end he was off, bounding through the shallows then swimming out towards the birds in the distance.

Cue much calling of Toto! Toto!! TOTO!!! – but to no effect. Even the considerable weight of three leads could not hold him back as he struck out with determination for the ducks.

Gail stayed where Toto had got free whilst I ran round the bend in case he came to shore on the other side of the mangroves.  I could see him but even calling ‘Toto, TREATS!’ (he loves treats and this normally work like magic when we are at home) had no effect. His mind was only on reaching the ducks who, being in their domain, simply teased him by calmly paddling just out of his reach. And all the time he was being tempted to swim further and further away and at times he was so far away his head was a dot. 

Occasionally he’d turn and come back in our direction and we’d think he was coming ashore – but then he’d turn back out to open water again.

I ran to where I knew there were some small boats hoping to find an untethered one, but they were all locked so I ran back.

"Where's those ducks, let me at 'em"

By now our calls were becoming louder and more frantic. And as if all the racket we were making wasn’t bad enough, Toto, hugely frustrated by the restriction of the leads and not being able to get remotely close to the birds, started screaming!  This unique sound he makes is like no other dog I’ve ever heard - it sounded like someone was being tortured. All this hullabaloo carried over the Green Point airwaves so that anyone within a half mile radius would have heard the commotion!

This had been going of for over 10 minutes and I was seriously thinking I’d have to go in and swim for him (there’s nothing I won’t do for ‘my’ dogs!). However, just then I saw on the far bank a home owner we’d spoken to earlier (who’d asked why Toto was on 3 leads) paddling over to us in his canoe! At the same time from house right behind us a lady was bringing out their family canoe and paddle. So all that noise did have the benefit of local people seeing what was happening and fantastically coming to our aid.

 Gail got in a canoe and she and the man in the other canoe herded Toto by a pincer movement.  Gail did not want to risk Toto slipping out of a collar if she tried to swim him in, so with the gentleman holding her canoe she grabbed Toto and lifted him into hers. 

During all this mayhem thank goodness I could rely on Leo to stick by me! In fact he found it great fun chasing me as I ran back and forth along the bank variously trying to keep an eye on where Toto was or to find a boat.

By now a group of people were on the bank watching the ‘entertainment’. And as she came to shore Toto was sitting upright at the ‘helm’ of Gail’s canoe looking like Captain Cook!

(I’d forgotten my phone – the one day I do this happens -  but the kind lady who lent us her canoe went and got her phone and took some pics and you can just about see Toto on the front).

Once out Toto absolutely stank of mud and the murky water, so back home it was into a warm shower. 

Toto is a hugely energetic dog and very wired even after exercise – but after this marathon swim he certainly slept well!

This shows on the right where Toto escaped and on the left where they canoe'd him back

you can see the red lines which show where I ran to the left to try and find a boat!

LAGOTTO ROMANGANOLO means ‘Lake dog from Romagna’ (Italy)

Traditional function is as a gundog, specifically water retriever. Today they are often used to hunt for truffles. This breed of dog is very smart and Toto is a good example of that.

A SERIOUS NOTE ABOUT RECALL:

Toto came to me for the first time when he was 12 months old. Although I’d been given permission to let him be off lead, it became clear to me early on that his recall was too unreliable to be allowed off in my care.

When I realised I could no longer trust him to come to call I made an 8 metre long rope lead and used that so at least he could at least play and run to some extent when we went out.

When his owner collected him after his first stay I introduced her to the long leash. It is better than constantly being on a short leash, but long lead or short, never letting a dog run free means if they ever do escape it becomes very difficult to get them back.

Toto is about 14 months now and had a long time to figure out that he doesn’t have to come back once he’s free as he knows you can’t catch him. At his age now to achieve a reliable recall would be a real challenge – even for a very experienced trainer.

Never being able to be run free unless within a fenced compound - a life on lead - is the future for dogs not trained to recall.  This is why it is so essential to train and work on obedience and ‘good manners’ training as soon as you get your pup – the younger the better.

Good recall might not only save your dog’s life one day, but will ensure a good quality of life for them too.

           

Help! My puppy won't come back!

Elly's a Delta Therapy Dog

On a beautiful New South Wales Spring day I was enjoying walking Elly (my daughter’s Delta Therapy* Dog) around Curl Curl lagoon when I became aware of a woman walking a Staffie puppy. I noticed her as she was giving the puppy a non stop stream of ‘commands’.

The fact the puppy was completely ignoring the owner didn’t curb the torrent of words. Certainly anyone within earshot would have known her dogs name was Zippy…..

Zippy! don’t jump up

Zippy! come here

Zippy! leave it

Zippy! come on, I’m leaving you behind, I’m going home

Zippy! come away, no, stop that, this way

Zippy!! Oh no, opps, sorry she did that (to a passer by she jumped at)

Elly who's 8 thinking she's a pup

Whilst the owner thought she was giving commands, all her dog heard was ‘Zippy bla, bla, bla, Zippy dag, dag, dag, Zippy dag, bla, dag, bla.’

By chance Zippy ran up to me as I was giving Elly a treat, the owner said I could give Zippy a treat too. In excitement Zippy began jumping up (of course!) but I got her to sit and then gave her a treat. I then began chatting with the owner and asked if it was her first dog. It was.

Just then Zippy, who I found was 12 months, started to run towards a couple of dogs – and the owner immediately went to call her back. I suggested she let Zippy go and meet the other dogs.

I didn’t understand why at an off leash park she kept calling her dog back. First of all you're setting yourself up to fail if you call as your dog is running towards others. Secondly, your dog is there to play and interact. She said she called Zippy to stop her jumping up at people (a strategy clearly not working!)

Turbo walking round Little Manly

So this time she let Zippy go. We watched and I waited for the ideal instant to recall Zippy and saw it when, just for a moment, Zippy was standing on her own. Right then, before she found another distraction, I called really loudly and with lots and lots of inflection in my voice:

ZIPPY!! COME!  ZIPPY!!!

I put my arms out and how I wish someone had been filming because Zippy, who had met me barely 5 mins earlier, came flying to me in a straight line like a missile. As soon as she reached me I gave her a treat. The owner could barely believe it and said ‘Wow, she’s so good for you!”

It wasn’t magic, it was just that the owner, being inexperienced, was making a number of common mistakes but perhaps the biggest was:

STOP TALKING!!

To Zippy her owner was background noise - like us being at home and having the radio on. A training voice has to differ from background noise. If your dog can’t hear you, they can’t respond to you. And your dog won't hear because it will tune out and and ignore ‘commands’ which are given in a continuous monotone.

Talking is fine to reinforce bonds, but with training the command voice has to be distinctive -  loud, clear AND encouraging.

Also, I always work to achieve a relationship where dogs I'm caring for find me more interesting than anything else. This is essential as you need a dog or puppy to want to come to you as you cannot make them do this from a distance. To achieve this they must ALWAYS associate returning to you with good things, fun (play) and/or food (tasty treats, chicken or steak work best).  

Some dogs work for fun, others for food, some for both. Find the key to your dog and you are half way there.

Elly and I were leaving and nearly at the car when I saw Zippy - she’d followed the food/fun person! The owner was calling in the distance - and of course Zippy was ignoring her! So I called Zippy and ran towards the owner calling ‘Zippy!’ using my most exciting voice. Zippy bounced along next to me enjoying this play - which is what it was to her - and as we reached Zippy’s owner, once again she was amazed.

The owner was constantly calling Zippy back in an attempt to stop her jumping at people. But if a child has bad manners at home, would you expect them to behave well when eating out? 

To stop a dog jumping in public you first have to teach them not to jump up at people in the home. This is an issue I help owners with routinely.

Training dogs take patience, time, repetition and commonsense. But if you are new to dogs it really is worth the investment of even one session with a trainer. The reward is results which come fast once you know how to implement effective training strategies.

I’ve trained many dogs and below is a reference from Sarah who owns the wonderful Turbo, an Australian Bulldog. Rather than taking Turbo walkies, Sarah was taken for a daily drag! One session with Turbo and he was walking to heel :-

Turbo the Australian Bulldog who I've trained

Dear Maralyn...

Turbo and I are very grateful we met you. It has  greatly improved our relationship...we  now understand each other ...

and it only takes three little words!!  sit...heel...come...maybe four.. as sometimes I say "lets go"....

I now understand how to control him with a lead.... we have more eye contact as well.

My back is also very grateful to you...

I've even heard people say when passing what an obedient dog.. if only they knew what we looked like before your training!

I've been singing your praises to all my doggy friends...and anyone that will listen...you did a magnificent job.

I still let him sleep on my bed as he now knows who is mistress!. But.. he still refuses to wear silk pyjamas......

Lots of licks....Sarah and Turbo

Turbo does love to chew a ball!

Zippy’s owner had a demonstration of what a couple of minutes can achieve when you know what you’re doing.  I gave her my card and very much hope she calls me.

If you are having puppy or dog problems do contact me. A one-to-one hours session is $65 which could be the best and possibly only investment you need to get on the right track with your doggie partnership.

*Delta Therapy dogs. Before a dog can be accepted to become a Delta Therapy Dog there are many tests for not just the dog but also the owner.

Using a willing volunteer as an Elly Chair!

Once they have passed the rigourous selection process the dog and owner make regular trips to aged care facilities, hospices and children in homes.

This whole scheme is run by volunteers and my daughter with many others gives up her Saturday mornings so those who love dogs but do not get to see them due to their situation or illness, can pet them.

Click here for more info on Delta Therapy Dogs