ooch Sc Issue No. 13
October 2011
p
M O NTHLY
Springwood diStrict dog training club inc.
My First Dog “Puddles” W
hen I was very young I pleaded with my parents for a pet dog. They were not animal lovers and couldn’t understand why I so desperately wanted a dog. Initially to appease me they gave me a squeaky toy dog, which I took everywhere, when I played with him in the bath I would fill him up with water and squirt water everywhere and so I named him puddles. Of course I was not satisfied with a toy and eventually wore them down and they took me to a place that was probably the old days equivalent of a puppy farm. There were pens of puppies to choose from. I was told to choose a male so they wouldn’t have to pay for desexing. The puppy was sold to us as a cross cocker spaniel/black and tan terrier. Of course I named him “Puddles”. He quickly grew into a dog that very much resembled a kelpie cross. He was my responsibility, as no one else in the family had any interest in dogs. Imagine a five year old girl raising a dog of that type with no idea and no assistance in a suburban backyard. I took him out for walks - he dragged me everywhere and regularly got away from me. I wrestled with him in the yard and he ripped my clothing and nipped a lot. He bit the neighbours children when they touched my things. If my father went to smack me the dog bit him. He cleared our five foot fences with ease and terrorised the neighbours. He barked a lot at night and the neighbours complained. He chased the postman and I can remember the green grocer trying to deliver to our house and running around the front yard with “Puddsy” nipping at his heels. He fought with other male dogs in the street. My mother in her wisdom thought that it was a good idea to let the dog out for a run around sunset and then he would come home for dinner and he got into all sorts of scrapes on these outings. I often think that it was a shame that my parents
Sponsored by
Bill, Ella, Mary-Anne & Mick
didn’t choose a breed that I could’ve managed better by myself, but then imagine if he had been a Rottweiler. In spite of all this I thought he was the greatest dog ever, I could never see any harm in him. He was my best friend. He lived a long and happy life, his behaviour never improved he just slowed down as he aged. I think I learned a lot about dog behaviour from him - the hard way. As an adult dog owner I am much more responsible and in control. Since then I have had several dogs and they have all been great dogs in different ways. I have found that when I have a new puppy if I take them everywhere when they are young I don’t have many social problems. These days you will see me at dog training with Diva, my little black and white spaniel cross. Diva by name and Diva by nature, she’s a little princess. About a year ago Diva developed epilepsy. She fitted for a long time until the vet medicated her to stop. The vet advised us that this was very worrying and would most probably have caused some brain damage. She has made a very good recovery and I don’t see much difference in her except occasionally, especially when she is tired she seems just a little bit wonky. She is on daily medication which seems to have her under control, she has had a couple of minor episodes in the last couple of months, but nothing major. We also have our daughter’s black lab Strider living with us. After the usual 2 years of mayhem and destruction that is common for labs he has become a much loved part of our clan. He and Diva are constant companions. I hope to be able to do some obedience training with him before too long. By Lynn Forward (Diva & Strider)