|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 9, 2014 21:47:09 GMT
He's toying with you!
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 9, 2014 21:59:47 GMT
. I think I need a
|
|
|
Post by antoniaalfie55 on Mar 9, 2014 23:54:29 GMT
Ah that can happen when you give a loony lurcher freedom on a beach, I have been there
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 14, 2014 16:47:23 GMT
Walk in the fog with Sophie and Comet this morning. Both on leads as visibility was only a few yards. And yes, I did manage to lose my bearings on a walk I do regularly and had to get myself back to the car park by following the sound of traffic. Both hounds totally useless at finding the way back as just not interested in going home of course. I have been taking the dogs out in pairs as I found I could not really manage four hounds together. Neil having gone away for a few days Comet had to be left alone in the house with Sophie for the first time this morning while I took Joey and Dylan out. He was a star. I came back to peace and quiet and nothing had been touched. This is the boy who was picking up everything not nailed down when he first arrived including the floor mats. Very, very pleased with him. He has been visiting Simon and Helen's Ringo and Ruby with Joey and he always meets and interacts with new dogs with perfect friendliness. He can be a little bit excitable if dogs we meet on walks initiate play but he does listen and calms down when asked. He would of course help himself if we left food within reach but does not pester while we are cooking or eating and I have not heard so much as a growl when I am preparing and doling out the dogs meals. In fact, he has never shown any signs of bad temper in any circumstances. Before I forget, whoever adopts him may need to know this, he will let you do very unpleasant things (drops into eyes) if you get somebody else to scratch his chest while you do it! He is paying more and more attention to his name being called and now understands the hand-signals I use to direct the flow of dogs throughout the house particularly when I send them all to their individual feeding stations. He is bright and definitely very willing. I just know there is a sighthound lover out there who would love this boy. His sunny temperament and antics certainly brighten our lives.
|
|
|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 14, 2014 17:33:22 GMT
A gorgeous, stunning boy, with a lovely temperament.
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 19, 2014 20:17:45 GMT
Comet has been doing well with his recall at home and on the long lead. His reward came today when we drove to a well-fenced arboretum and gave him his freedom. He can run fast but is short on stamina and runs out of puff quite quickly. It is going to take him a bit of time to build up muscle and improve his fitness. Video I need a rest! He did not disappoint and ran and played without losing his wits, keeping close to us and not even investigating the fences. The wild eyed panicky look he had when finding himself free has disappeared and he came back every time he was called. We were however in a totally game and stock-free enclosure (rabbit and deer-fenced). He is a lot of fun at home and can be mischievous. He loves pretending to take his friends for a walk: He has settled and calmed down tremendously and can now be left loose in the house with the other dogs for a couple of hours when we are out. He still has not worked out how to put his body into a sitting position but lies down on command and walks nicely unless something terribly exciting happens. He waits quietly to come out of the car and no longer tries to push past and run out when a door opens. In fact, he is well on the way to turning into a proper gentleman!
|
|
|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 19, 2014 20:43:11 GMT
Fantastic. Annette's kindly and well administered rules and regulation continue to pay big dividends for Comet, fka Jet, fka Houndini.
|
|
|
Post by sighthounds on Mar 20, 2014 7:51:07 GMT
Loving these updates and pics/vids, gorgeous looking boy, you can tell he has so much character. Great job you are doing.
|
|
|
Post by antoniaalfie55 on Mar 20, 2014 8:32:10 GMT
Great pics and video, that Commet is such a character
|
|
|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 20, 2014 9:12:33 GMT
Just spotted that Comet's toes seem to have improved further.
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 20, 2014 11:38:35 GMT
The poor thing did not seem to have had much exercise at all for quite some time when he arrived but lots of walking and playing and now some running should see him improve. If the vet had not checked him over and passed him sound with no heart problems I would have been worried sick the first time I let him loose and he literally keeled over after a minute and lay there panting and whining for some time. I kept it to myself and decided to watch him carefully and he is now able to keep up with the pack but still gets out of breath quicker than the others. You are right Simon, his feet are no longer flat on the ground and have tightened up slightly but he does have long toes. I suspect he is going to have quite a bit of acceleration when he is fully fit as he is not doing badly now!
|
|
|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 20, 2014 21:59:33 GMT
Met Comet again this afternoon, on my visit to Annette & Neil's to collect Joey for his play-away weekend with us. Spent more quiet, one to one and up close time with him than previously.
Comet's a magnificent chap. Clearly going to be a formula 1 league speedster with his sleek build and looong legs. Lovely gentle nature, with adorable eye contact and polite approach for attention,,,, once the initial greeting's done. And what a greeting Annette's pack can provide!
A lot of play, friendliness and fun runs through Comet's blood. He's going to make his own permanent family very proud and happy.
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 21, 2014 12:04:00 GMT
Letting it all hang out. One very relaxed Comet, but a nice chest and tummy rub would be very much appreciated of course:
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
I am offline
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2014 14:24:56 GMT
he looks like a very happy, relaxed little man!
|
|
|
Post by antoniaalfie55 on Mar 21, 2014 14:31:26 GMT
Gorgeous
|
|
|
Post by alfie&tillysmum on Mar 21, 2014 15:15:53 GMT
g0180Lovely boy x
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 23, 2014 22:02:11 GMT
Another trip to Hayling Island this week-end. Low tide was quite early so we nearly had the beach to ourselves. Comet did not give me any near heart attacks this time, in fact he got over his initial tenseness quite quickly and relaxed enough to accept treats after the first five minutes. Cue: freedom! He did not try to wade out to sea and never went far from us. He also went and said hello to a trio of german pointers in a very sociable manner and came back fairly promptly. He is so mild-mannered that I can let Ollie run with him and Sophie without worries, and there is no need to muzzle him when he races with other dogs. His recall has to be timed right though or it may not be very effective. I wait until I feel his attention is back on me before I call him at the moment. Walking away from him is more effective than calling him would be if he is distracted so at least he is keen to stick with his pack. This is obviously not ideal but I feel he is making good progress and hope he will improve further with a bit more training and the help of some irresistibly meaty treats. He will home in on a bag of frozen beef mince in a factory sealed plastic wrapper from quite a distance now with NO training!
|
|
|
Post by loosecannon on Mar 23, 2014 22:39:09 GMT
... a factory sealed plastic wrapper from quite a distance now with NO training! ... Natural hunting instinct kicking in. It's like hunting wild haggis.
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 24, 2014 21:28:59 GMT
We had visitors over the week-end. My daughter-in-law and my just walking grand-son came over on sunday. I can report that Comet is quite unfazed even by a staggering toddler, he never showed any signs of nervousness and stayed totally relaxed throughout the visit. We monitored closely any interaction between him and Rowan of course but he took it all in his stride. He has a very gentle side which he showed again today when waiting for his second vaccination. We were sharing the waiting area with a family. The young boy was keen to get to know Comet and when given permission, he came to pat Comet who moved his head towards the boy's hand for a stroke. He was very happy and welcoming. He can be very bouncy (and ever so slightly loony in a nice way at times) so would be a liability with young children but he is definitely child-friendly.
I am going to try and cat-test him soon. He looks at cats in the street but does not react to them. This makes me hope he might be cat trainable even though he definitely would chase a rabbit or a squirrel.
|
|
|
Post by planete on Mar 30, 2014 21:06:18 GMT
The off-lead training is going well. Comet never fails to come when called even if occasionally he finishes what he is doing first! He comes and stands to have his lead put back on as well and we are working on his loose lead walking which is very good if he is alone with me but a bit hit and miss if the other dogs are with us. Still no sitting, he seems to find it physically too challenging, he is just the wrong shape. Lying down in a sphinx position his bottom remains several inches clear of the ground! He is no longer last when racing around and can now give the others a good work-out:
|
|