A Few of the Terriers relaxing after a "Jack Russelling" session in the countryside!
This week sees the arrival of the sun, at last, on the East Coast! With spring in the air some of the dogs have livened up! Ok by some of the dogs I am referring to my Terriers in particular! The outdoor scents, specifically rabbits I suspect, are encouraging their genetic senses to surface (I am referring to running off and completely ignoring any commands!) This is something quite specific to my Jack Russells and Parson Russells, both distant cousins of the Fox Terrier, with Peter more closely linked being a cross between Fox and Jack Russell Terrier! So much more lead work is required this time of year to remind them of the boundaries of our walks, the practice of not running off and staying with me, therefore all keeping safe. Clearly, this is not so appealing as searching out wild rodents! So we vary the route and play ball games to inspire them, it will take some time (read patience) to reinforce their learned behaviour to come when called, thus overriding their hereditary instinct.
Every year at this time it's the same thing with the Terriers, I love the spring, but it has it's problems that winter doesn't, which also includes busier beaches which means getting up earlier to avoid tourists! For now the temperature is still cold so they are all settled in for the evening by 5pm, in front of the fire, bellies full and bodies tired! The other breeds, don't seem to have seasonal changes, Monty the Gt Dane still remains the couch potato, Jack the Chihuahua the lap dog, Max the Dobey....well Max is just Max a laid back dog dressed in the suit of a Doberman, and the Setters remain true to breed and love the outdoor life no matter what the season.. a few more seagulls around add to their interest on the beach ....to them they are strange looking pheasants and Lucy tries stalking them showing her pure working breed instinct...Just miss-placed, she's supposed to "set" not stalk as well! To Max they are something to chase, and boy can he chase, he gets up an impressive speed! If they sit on the rocks out at sea he will stand and bark at them, not able to understand why they don't leave the rocks as clearly a Doberman is telling them what to do ...Alpha Male status has no impact on seagulls!
As for the household this week so far the light bulb in the lounge blew on Monday (once Simon had returned to work of course) but it didn't just blow it wiped out the fitting...so no main light until Simon returns home with a new fitting! The tumble drier continues to work only when it feels like it and the washing machine is kindly pouring some of its water onto the floor...to help with cleaning the floor..... I think not! The blinds in the sunroom took another hit from the Terriers and this time are broken, cat was at fault in their opinion for strutting past the window..I mean a pack of Terriers and a small furry moving animal!
We also had a helicopter land on the beach, I was out walking with Peter so that was a new experience for us both! I remained calm and so did he - a triumph for us both!
Peter has also learnt to walk next to my bicycle so we can use cycling to drain some of his high energy, this requires physical balance from me so there's a huge challenge. Which is on hold currently as my trusted bike has given up after much riding across these uneven tracks. Well it was a road bike and I can't really call these tracks roads! So until we can get a mountain bike I shall have to keep thinking up other ways to tire Peter out! I did think and even ordered some roller skates, copying Cesar's idea of rollerblading with his pack for high energy exercising, however my attempts at skating around the house (now that's stretching it ...more like lunging from one foot to the other with ski boots on and no snow) proved this to be a bad idea! The boots have gone back thus enabling me to carry on walking without the aid of crutches! Peter seems far more in touch with his Fox Terrier side as he grows older, so this week we played ball on the beach, which is something Fox Terriers enjoy and is proving to be a good game for Peter, he focuses on playing with me and ignoring what is going on around him.
Dogs can learn well from each other so I have employed Patsy and Alfie (both calm submissive dogs) to help Peter on his walks. The latter, Alfie one of the English Setters, who unless off lead is reliably obedient and Patsy, who has no interest in other dogs, both positively influence Peter's behaviour. It's important to only take out calm dogs with Peter, as there's also a negative side, Peter picked up some habits from the Jack Russells which I'd rather he hadn't! This has been working well, but Alfie didn't understand the ball thing so I let him off and he vanished presumably doing his Setter thing! Mind you this week Alfie has returned when called..not sure why yet, hopefully I'll be able to explain this soon.
In between walks I have been doing some more research and study into dog psychology. I've read up on Cesar Milan's techniques and continue to use some of his methods to balance my pack. On reading further, The Dogs Mind by Bruce Fogle, I am beginning to understand so much more about their behaviour, genetically and learned....why they do what they do! This even explains why Mickey (Jack Russell) waves at me with both paws, because I always react smiling and welcome him for a cuddle i.e. rewarding his behaviour with affection, so he's not just a clown after all....fascinating! The subject of types, causes and treatment for aggression are proving useful in treating Peter's problems. Although I am beginning to think he has more than one type! However, I also note specific references to Fox Terriers (remember Peter is half Fox T) - known for their male dog on dog aggression and that keeping more than 4 can lead to inter-pack fighting. Apply this to my pack, I have 6 Terriers so that explains a few of our previous issues and fights between the pack, especially when you consider that previously there have been at least 9 Terriers in my pack! Guess I could have done with knowing this a few years ago! Oh well, too late now, we'll just have to manage the situation, which has evened out now as they are older and intermixed with 7 other breeds. By older I mean that they have passed the 2-2.5 years stage, which rather belatedly for me explains that this is the stage when inter-pack dominance aggression arises, while they sort out their internal pack hierarchy. So for now the balance and hierarchy is established - for this I am eternally grateful!
Peter's been doing his homework too. We have been walking past other dogs and correcting any aggressive displays, there are a few calm submissive dogs who live near us and we've been walking close by, conditioning Peter with rewards to reinforce wanted social behaviour. We always end our homework sessions on a positive note, so sometimes they take a while!
Another added bonus of these new techniques I am using to communicate with my pack, is that the delivery man from Tescos can come by with my shopping safely! He gets out of his van and drops off the shopping without a chorus of barking dogs angrily watching him, which must have been pretty scary when you think about it! They bark to let me know he has arrived (no need for door bells here) and then I tell them to relax and they trot off to their lazing about places, apart from a few ever curious Terriers who watch....quietly! Peter even lets me go out and see him without accompanying me....now that was a hard habit of his to eliminate but hey success is a wonderful experience!
All the dogs are helping me with my studies, they just don't know it! What I think they do know is that as their owner and leader I am learning their language and how to read them - they can't get away with as much as they used to! Dogs don't have morals or understand human morals, such as fairness ... so that's good! They live in the now so simply accept the new boundaries and changes to rules, with consistent practice and positive reinforcement (food treats) they are learning fast. Strangely enough, the one who seemingly rebels the most to my new behaviour is Bob, set in his ways he doesn't like wearing his lead, and has an apparent look of disgust, of course this emotion is not one a dog has as they don't have such complex emotions, I'm humanising his behaviour here, so it's probably one of reluctance to obey commands (the spirit of the Jack Russell side of him outweighing the collie side!)
So let's keep the Terrier spirit for enjoying life...welcome in the Spring!
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