Good dog going bad and then back to good

Here's how a good retrieving dog goes bad and what we did to make it good.

Larsen has become a pretty good retriever, but on his own terms and not yours.  He is not above setting a bird down a foot in front of you rather than bringing it to your side and to your hand.  This is a never-ending issue with Larsen, who either improves or deteriorates but never stands still.

We did a little yard work to overcome this resistance.

We played some fun fetch with a squeaky toy.  Larsen eagerly retrieved, but did not want to give it up. Look at the photos.  You will see that Larsen looks everywhere except eye-to-eye with me.  He loved the chase.  He loved the retrieve.  But he was conflicted on the fetch & give because he wanted to keep the toy for himself.  He sidled up to me, but would not look at me and offer me the gift.  

So we sat there and enjoyed one another's company.  Me breathing in the spring air, and Larsen being a pistol.  At some point he looked up at me; possibly out of sheer curiosity.  I gently said "good boy - - give" and took the squeaky toy.

I didn't tug at the squeaky toy.  I didn't blow at Larsen's nose, or pinch his cheek.  These actions may all have their places in establishing a nice fetch, but sometimes playing a calming mind game with a spaniel can teach a dog a new trick.  

Field spaniel

It's not your fault if you've never run into a field spaniel.  The AKC rates them as the 140th most popular dog in America.  That's right behind the Xoloitzcuintli at 139.  (Welsh Springer Spaniels are at 124, about where they have been for a while.)

I've now met two in the past two weeks.  They are good looking dogs.  Compact with some substance. Both had beautiful heads and dark brown almond eyes.  Long ears (moreso than the WSS).  Nice sized mitts for a swimming dog.  I can't recall if their tails are docked.  And, like any spaniel, a sweet, quiet disposition.

I look forward to seeing at least one of them in the field.

At the beach

Beachcombing takes on a different meaning when one of the drifters is a red & white dog. 

Replace azure skies with a leaden dome.  Drop the temp from 70 to 50.  Let the wind stiffen the flag and ring the grommets against the pole.  

Now you have a beachcoming day for a spaniel.

 

No fun for Larsen

I drove to Bowman on Saturday to pick up a crate full of birds.  There was nothing to the trip, really: a drive up and a drive back.  Larsen stayed at home, possibly believing that I was off by myself to have fun and chase birds and that I had inadvertently left him behind.

Larsen evaluates the empty crates.

Nothing in here, either!

Lonely dog.  

Washington mud slide

This welsh springer spaniel is serving as a search dog at that mudslide in Washington.  I don’t know this little dog,  but I know her breeder and she is understandably proud of the girl.