The Fressinghill Four - Dog Diary

16/06/2022

Reasons why Raven can’t stay;

- He’s not brown, in any part
- He’s not got ANY spaniel in him. None!
- I don’t want 5 dogs
- He turns left and all our dogs turn right for flyball - that’s a deal breaker! 🤣
- I didn’t want a collie
- I still don’t want a collie
- I don’t actually ever want a collie

P.S
I loves him

14/06/2022

Beautiful out there tonight

07/06/2022

Looking less like a donkey daily

05/06/2022

It’s hard to see change in a dog you live every day with, but today Raven is so much more the dog he deserves to be.

We went on a slow explore around the village with no set agenda other than to gently broaden his horizons. He sniffed. He peed. We sat on the bench and watched the world go by, while I monkey-groomed him to sort some pesky grass seeds. Small small moments but so rewarding.

I love that he can now have so many more ‘normal’ moments. He couldn’t even sniff previously, let alone relax enough to just sit and chill.

His shadow chasing has reduced by 95% or more, it’s very rare to see him do it now, but he can’t resist a sudden moving shadow occasionally. However he soon reverts to other, new rewarding behaviours like sniffing.

His ears, for all they are hilarious, are so communicative, he’s the most communicative dog I’ve ever known, which really helps to live with him without stress.

Hopefully he can start physio this week and begin the next part of his rehab, helping him build up muscles and flexibility after so much time being confined previously.

A home-Ed friend commented that I’ve been ‘unschooling’ Raven, and to a certain extent I have. He’s had no pressure put on him, just been allowed to find his feet and learn about being a normal dog. 7 weeks in, I’m so happy with his progress

27/05/2022

Another week, two out with injury (one tail, one dew claw), Tally never gets in the photos as she’s elsewhere marching to the best of her own mad drum….

23/05/2022

Look at Raven chilling in the team tent at flyball - not chasing shadows, not bothered about other people and dogs, just laying and watching and enjoying being out

20/05/2022

14/05/2022

Yogi has searched all over, but alas this frisbee is lost forever

13/05/2022

3 weeks in and Raven is looking (and feeling) much better in many ways - standing less like a donkey, managing to do a lot more relaxed walking / sniffing rather than charging / pulling. He settles well when left and is generally displaying a lot less OCD behaviour (although in that photo he was fly catching!). We managed a walk in bright sunshine today with not a single moment of shadow chasing, which is massive progress.

He is, however, quite territorial in certain situations but with careful management I’m teaching him he has no need to feel uneasy. He has definitely been forced and kicked previously and is very sensitive about being touched when he is tired and chooses a spot to plant himself in. But his communication is so very clear, and the circumstances are predictable and therefore avoidable.

10/05/2022

Happy birthday Pippilotta, you are awesome 💖

09/05/2022

Smart boy

09/05/2022

Raven has had a great few days, enjoying some time at the dog run, a morning at flyball with our other dogs and experimental off lead running on our own field. He doesn’t come back close enough to be put back on lead (he’s not daft) but stays with us and follows the pack back indoors at the end.

He so much prefers being outdoors, I wonder if he has been kept outdoors previously.

He had a good groom (he was free to choose whether to be groomed or not, and could walk away whenever he wished), and he chose to stay and be groomed. He really appreciates physical contact on his terms. His face is definitely softening, as is his body posture.

07/05/2022

04/05/2022

Are you interested in taking up the fun and sociable sport of Canicross but concerned you have a reactive or anxious dog? Do you worry about how your dog will react to the Canicross kit, sounds and smells, not to mention the other people and dogs running ahead, behind and alongside them? Well, exper...

04/05/2022

Puppy love

03/05/2022

A long but slow walk by the river this morning, and what a star Raven was. He loves the water, is learning to stop and smell the roses, is learning to be still briefly and to pause for a break

03/05/2022

Yesterday was day 12 and I had my first proper cuddle with Raven. Every evening I sit on the floor with him and if wants to interact we do, usually he brings me a ball but also had a few bum scratches. Last night the bum scratch turned into a proper leaning in snuggle, and when I stopped fussing him so as not to overdo it, he pawed for more - twice!

His personality is shining through in glimpses like this more and more often

02/05/2022

Working on the two boys tolerating each other … both in harness for a walk / run

01/05/2022

Celebrating small successes with Raven

Due to him being shut away in a summer house for months by himself in his last ‘home’, his shadow pouncing habit has been repeated and repeated and his muscles are all in the wrong places. His back legs have nothing, his front is strong, he stands like a donkey, all hunch backed.

10 days in and it is improving slightly through gentle exercise and normal movement but I think he’s going to need rehab to come good. He breaks my heart daily.

BUT today he actually focused enough outdoors (cloudy day) to do some target training, the most he’s felt able to concentrate so far. He’s such a fast learner, it gives me hope that we can help him live a more normal doggy life

30/04/2022

Day 10.. Raven was reunited with his rescuers and enjoyed a good play at the dog run Let's Go Walkies at GWC

27/04/2022

He’s almost been here a week and today is the first time I saw him relax.

27/04/2022

Raven

26/04/2022

Day 6

Raven is looking better already, I think?

Today was his first time being left and I kept dogcam on so I could check in for barking but he only barked when Jon came home, which is reasonable!

Getting to know him better day by day, I think he would thrive being an only dog, while he gets in fine with mine he in no way relies on them. He needs somebody to be around most of the time, and to have a job of his own to do - he would excel at Canicross, being a strong puller, or would love to try flyball or Scentwork as he’s very ball orientated.

He definitely needs a home with a lot of collie experience, with knowledge of canine conditioning to gently get him back to fitness as he currently has no muscle mass from being shut away without exercise.

Currently not castrated but will be.

He is eager to learn, but has a very low frustration tolerance and will need to learn how to manage that. He currently uses a huge crate as his safe space and is happy to sleep in it, and be left for short periods. We have covered the crate to stop any shadow chasing.

His OCD is quite ingrained but also on the decline as he settles. Each new environment triggers a relapse into shadow chasing and persistent barking but he is now more easily redirected from it.

On the positive points he is housetrained, has good dog manners, is quick to learn and eager to be taught. Loves a tennis ball or tuggy. Familiar with children (ours are 8 years plus), has shown no reaction to vehicles passing. Happy to travel in the car, happy to be groomed and handled.

This boy needs a very special home indeed that will help him to fulfill his obvious potential.

25/04/2022

Day 5 and Raven continues to make good progress, although in typical collie style is throwing in some new stuff just for fun!

He is fantastic with other dogs, although currently he is still entire. He’s showing more affection and is learning a recall (which has been non existent).

He is a very strong puller and clearly hasn’t been walked on a lead (he came with an anti-pull harness which I ditched).

He is settling well in his den and is happy to be left for short periods which is a relief.

He has no muscle condition at all so tires very quickly at the moment, so taking it slowly.

Here he is NOT chasing shadows ;)

24/04/2022

Day 4. Came to flyball training with us and didn’t disgrace himself. Played ball nicely with lots of people, loving his food, has his own hook on the door ….

24/04/2022

Another early morning walk today BUT they all slept through the night 🐾💙❤️

23/04/2022

Canicross prospect?

22/04/2022

I swear he’s smiling

22/04/2022

He Who Has No Name has had his first sunrise and sunset here and continues to amaze me.

He is so genuine and is trying so hard to please. He’s making much more eye contact, checking in with us and doing normal dog stuff like just sniffing and chilling.

Somebody at some point in his 4 homes (5 including this) has taught him hand touch, sit, down, paw, play dead, and probably more that we don’t know yet. He’s super bright and quick to learn, he’s polite with other dogs, he loves a ball.

We are working on his (extreme) shadow chasing and boredom barking, both of which have subsided massively in just the first day of proper food, interaction and exercise.

He has broken my heart. How anyone could book this dog in to be put to sleep makes me angry, sad and despairing. This is a Good Dog and I keep telling him so.

21/04/2022

The Fressinghill Four are now (temporarily) five!

This boy needed a safe place and so here he is.

12/04/2022

Clingy pup, in case I forget to pack him too!

10/04/2022

Yogi’s first full runs to a triggered box and under 5 seconds, he’s such a dude 💙🐾🎾

04/04/2022

Dog trainer Niki French said that walking your dog too often could even negatively impact the animal's behaviour

03/04/2022

Slo-Mo Pippi