You can train hounds.

I remember always reading that breeds from the Hound group were stubborn and hard to train. Obviously, Coco is a huge mix of breeds, but I am confident that she is mainly Hound, based on her looks anyway!

I was a little dubious about training her tricks, I wanted to try but I am quite impatient, but after the success of teaching her 'Paw' I had a go at 'Touch'.

I made a target out of some card, and made it memorable and noticable, so she could see it easily and recognise it. It is bright orange, with black and pink target pattern and a couple of do pictures, just so it was differant to anything she has seen before.

I held out the target, and tapped it and pointed at it until she sniffed it, then gave her a treat. I kept doing this over and over again and she quickly picked up that when she hit the target with her nose, she got a treat! I placed the target on the floor in differant places and made her sit, then touch. She hit the target about 8 times out of 10 so she has been doing brilliantly.

I eventually hope to teach her to shut the door by sticking the target to the door and asking her to touch, and push the door shut.

She is so smart, and picks things up very quickly (as long as there are treats involved!)

We will hopefully be going to dog training classes soon, to do the Kennel Club Good Citizen scheme, where you can achieve certificates, once you have taught your dogs commands like 'Stay' and walking to heel. I'd love to take her to agility classes one day, she'd be amazing, she is great at jumping and is so fast!

1 week...

I can't believe that she has been here for a week! In one way it has gone really quickly, but it also feels like she has been here forever. She has settled in so well, she is such a little character.

Her bloods came back from the vets, great results! She is on anti-biotics now to kick any infection and she will go back next week for a follow up. If she is still not right, she will go on Propalin to see if that works.

She is fine in herself, loving her walks and new experiences.

I bought one of my dog walking customers back yesterday, to play with her. Charlie was not bothered, and prefered chasing sticks, but Coco was desperate to make him play!

 

We've been going on plenty of new walks, she loves all of the new smells and likes to explore. She also likes meeting other dogs, though she can go a bit too playful with them. Most dogs like to play back but some grumble at her because she is a bit rough. I'm so pleased she loves other dogs though!

She isn't a fan of strangers, but she is never aggressive. She is a bit shy but that is to be expected! She has improved already and goes over to new people to sniff them, and some people she will let fuss her.

And ever the lady, covered in slobber.

We've done a bit of training today, and after a lot of patience, and even more treats, she has learnt to give her paw!!!

Expensive little bear!

The bear has been to the vets today. Generally good news. I've got a fantastic Portugese vet who is really interested in researching about Leishmanaiasis - which is great considering the first vets I called suggested putting her to sleep!!!

Basically, we do not have to worry about the floppy tail, she has most likely just bashed it or strained it because she has been wagging it too much! It will recover on it's own and hopefully she will have her wag and her swag back soon!

The vet wanted to be certain that she has a UTI before she is put on anti-biotics, rather than putting her on them 'just in case'. She'd like to keep her off any medication where possible because of the strain her kidneys are already under with the Leish and Alupurinol. So, she took a blood test to check her kidneys are functioning properly, and a urine sample to make sure that it is a UTI. Another possibility, and it's looking more likely at the minute, is that she has a leaking Urinary Sphincter, caused by early neutering. This can be treated with Propalin syrup every day, but never fully cured :(

She was such a good girl in the car and at the vets though so she had a treat of raw chicken wings today, to cheer her up!!!



I just feel a bit over whelmed, I am worried about her poor body with having all this life-long daily medication before she is even 2 years old. I just want to make her happy and healthy!

Teething problems

Coco has been here for 3 days now - though it feels like she has been here forever, and I think that is half of the problem! It is really hard for me to remember that she has been through so much in the past week, and that her life has changed so much, and she needs time to just step-back and relax.

She has found a great friend in my cousin's dog, Ozzy. He is a working cocker, 2 years old and so sweet!

I thought she was very easy-going, taking everything in her stride and enjoying her new life. I think for the most part, this is true, but I think I have taken it too far and expected too much from her.

She had a bath on Monday morning, then came to the local pub for the day with me and some friends. She spent some time with her new friend, Paddy, and I think she generally really enjoyed it.

That evening she seemed a bit stressed and worried though, she couldn't settle and just wasn't happy. I think she was just a bit upset and overwhelmed, and I probably rushed her into too many new situations. I want to socialise her and introduce her to new things but I need to slow down and let her do it in her own time.



I'm also noticing that she is now getting more insecure with strangers. She is certainly not aggressive, she just barks in a defensive way. She just needs her confidence building. I've hung treats on the door so when people come in the house, they give her some food and hopefully she'll associate new people with good things.

She will be going to the vets tomorrow, I think she has a UTI and also Cold Tail - http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/coldtail.html
I'm just praying that there is nothing wrong with her back or nervous system.

Poor girl! Fingers crossed she will be feeling better soon! I start a new job at a kennels on Thursday, and she can come with me, but I think I'm going to leave her with my Mum for a quiet day to relax and enjoy her new life.

Fingers crossed she will be feeling better soon. She is such an amazing dog and she is so sweet and kind, she loves other dogs and I already can't imagine life without her.

The clown has landed...

Coco has arrived, safe and sound.

She was bouncy and happy when we met her at the services, the transport guys loved her and she clearly loves my Dad!!!

She came home I let her have a mooch around the garden, she chased a ball and played frisbee for about an hour. We went on a little walk round the farm, and she had a good look at the hens!

I bought her in the house to settle and relax, but she decided playing was much more exciting and got her toys out one at a time, throwing them round and 'killing' them.

She doesn't seem to be able to settle, she is a bit stressed being in the house, pacing and panting - but what can you expect? She has never been in a house before, she has been travelling for 3 days, in a strange place with new people, and without other dogs for the first time! She is doing amazingly considering her situation.

She's a little star!

72 hours.

Heard today from the shelter that she is getting her bath before she leaves. She's heading for the transport guys house in the morning, then setting off tomorrow night, crossing the channel Saturday morning, so fingers crossed she will be with me in 72 hours.

4320 minutes too long!

I spent about a million years choosing her food this morning, hope to get her on half kibble half raw diet. Got her stacks of supplements to help with her Leish...I so hope she will be happy here. No more peering through bars, howling all night and sleeping on the floor.

3 more sleeps, girl.

Not long now...

Just got confirmation of Coco's transport. 4 more sleeps.