Dublin Rescued Pup

[laika]

Hi everyone,

We live in Dublin Ireland just on the edge of the city.

 

My wife was collecting some DIY material in a busy industrial area 2 weeks ago when she spotted a very frightened loose Border Collie puppy running through 3 lanes of heavy traffic.

He was anxious, confused and quite upset. She pulled her car over and with the assistance of 2 German tourists (who were equally anxious about the dogs fate) managed to calm the dog down and get him into our car safely.

 

We brought the dog home, calmed him down and fed & watered him. He was very quiet and timid. But most worringly he was incredibly skinny, filthy and dehydrated.

 

Obviously we cleaned him up, brough him to the vet and reported him as lost to the local police. The vet gave him a clean bill of health and advised a program of feeding to build him up. She estimated his age at 6 to 8 months. The police have posted him as missing and have our address, they believe he was an unwanted Christmas present that was probably dumped last January (he would have been he would have been around 12 weeks old then). They said the area we found him in is notorious for the dumping of unwanted Christmas kittens & puppies.

 

We've had 'Sparky' now for 2 weeks and of course by now we are both completely in love with him. We already have a cat and Sparky is a challenge but is fitting in nicely. We've always wanted a dog and are so gald to give a home to an abandoned pup, especially a collie. I grew up on a farm in the west of Ireland and have always had collies around me, I have a deep respect and love for the breed and can't believe one has joined our family!

 

Anyway, I was hoping for some advice.

 

Sparky is by now a massive ball of energy, he is hugely affectionate and knocks me over with excitement when I greet him. We have a large rear yard and Sparky has access to a shed and a brand new kennel which he sleeps in every night. We walk him for an hour every evening in the nearby park (1,760 acres). He seems very happy indeed.

 

As we have to walk through some busy roads before we get to the park we keep Sparky on a short lead, the problem is he is straining so hard at the leash that he is literally dragging us down the road! He trots tight into the wall, crouched in 'stalking mode', eyes darting with head down, obviously excited to be out and absolutely dying to chase the traffic! Is it possible to calm Sparky down to walk at our own speed and not to starin so much at the leash? On the way home he is tired from his run and often lets the leash hang slack.

 

Another question, when we get to the park I really want to let him off the leash for a good run and to have some fun with a frisbee etc but I'm worried that as we have only had him for 2 weeks that he might run away and not come back! Any tips on gradually letting him have more freedom?

 

We sometimes feel guilty having such a proud work dog in a city, but we knew we had to help him and we really want to put the effort in to give Sparky a happy energetic life.

Thanks for any feedback!

[Elizabeth77]

Hi and welcome to the Boards.

I live in Cork having returned here 5 years ago from Dublin, where I spent most of my life.

Sparky is a gorgeous fellow not unlike my Meg in colouring; he is so lucky finding your family.

I am not going to attempt to answer your queries as there are so many more knowledgable people here . I have learned a lot since I joined.

One thing I can tell you having researched the subject; while there are very few dog training facilities down this way there seem to be several good places near Dublin. I think you could get Sparky involved in agility and other BC pursuits if you wanted to consider that. If you are interested I will try and find these places for you.

I wish you many happy years with your new friend and companion

[NC_Y2K9]

Sparky is adorable!! He's so lucky to have found you!

 

I, too, will let others with more experience comment and give suggestions, but I know the city-living can be done. I managed 3 dogs in an apartment for two years (one was a Border Collie). My next door neighbor in the same building had two Border Collies. All dogs were happy and healthy!

[laika]

Sparky is adorable!! He's so lucky to have found you!

 

I, too, will let others with more experience comment and give suggestions, but I know the city-living can be done. I managed 3 dogs in an apartment for two years (one was a Border Collie). My next door neighbor in the same building had two Border Collies. All dogs were happy and healthy!

 

Thanks guys! That's reassuring to hear that its possible to raise a happy collie in a city.

 

Hi Elizabeth and thanks for the kind welcome, I've found 1 or 2 training schools that I'm going to try out.

I don't think it will be a problem for Sparky, he's just eager and excited, he's also well behaved and responds immediatly to SIT when we are at a busy traffic junction..

[WildFlower]

Hello and welcome! What a wonderful life you will give this guy - he is so lucky to have you in his life.

 

I am sure that you will get many suggestions to help you with your issues from the people on these boards. That is what I find so helpful, is that so many people have been through similar situations but there are many different solutions and ideas.

 

For pulling, I also have a puller and a wannabe car chaser, I have used the Easy Walk Harness with much success. The harness is design to basically turn the dog around towards you when it pulls since the clip is in the front rather than on the top of the back. This doesn't mean you don't have to still work on training but it greatly has helped me. When Daisy starts to pull I stop walking and then the harness turns her to face me. I then only start to walk again when there is slack in the leash. I would say that I am able to walk her for about a half hour now with only giving one correction. As for the car chasing, that is still a work in progress, but I find that if I can get her sit or face the other way she will just watch the car dreamly go by.

 

At this point, I wouldn't let Sparky off leash. First, you guys are all still bonding with one another. In just a few weeks, trust may still not be solidified. I would work with him on a long line or lead in a park. I have/had a 30 foot training line that I used with Daisy in the park. This allowed her to run more and I was able to have control over her. It is also helpful to work on recall with. Allow Sparky to get good and distracted and then give the command "Sparky come!" (or whatever your recall word is) and then reel him in like a fish if he doesn't immediately come. Give lots of praise either way and a treat if you like. The two keys to success (in my opinion) are #1 make being by you the BEST place ever! and #2 repitition. Once you have had Sparky a bit longer and you are starting to trust him you could allow him to drag the lead around behind him (assuming that it is an open area and safe to do so). I did this with Daisy after I felt I could trust her. We did this for a few months in the park. She could run and play freely but I still had a piece of mind that I had a better chance of catching her or correcting her if needed.

 

And as for living in the city, so do I! There are many city dwelling Border Collies on the Boards that are wonderfully happy and loved dogs. Daisy and I walk a hour a day during the week, longer walks on the weekend along Lake Michigan, play in the park with friends a few nights a week, goes to day care one day a week, we do agility training once a week, and we even make a monthly trek out for some "herding" lessons.

 

Good Luck!

[Brad]

For both of my dogs, I've used a method of applying body pressure to train heeling. It's easier if someone shows you, but essentially you walk with the dog and as they try to pass you, you spin quickly and walk towards them, causing them to stop and give you space. As soon as they concede, you give them a good puppy, or treat, whatever method you use for rewards. Turn and start walking again, repeat as required. Both my dogs stopped pulling and walk perfectly after only a few 1-2 minute sessions. As I said, it's easier if someone shows you, but it worked well for me. The trainer that taught me this does recommend a gentle leader/halti style harness for dogs this doesnt work on, but it worked for 5 of the 6 dogs in that class, and then I used it on my second dog at home, again, with success.

As for letting your dog loose, I wouldn't unless there are no other distractions around. My first dog was a rescue, and the first weekend I had her, we were staying at a beach resort on Vancouver Island. The beach is about 21km long, so I thought it would be ok to let her loose. and it was, for a few minutes, until she saw another dog about a km away. Poof, gone! I did track her down, but if it hadn't been on such a long open beach, I might not have. It took me a month before I was comfortable letting her loose.

[desertranger]

First, since you live in Dublin go have a pint of Guinness for me. Next, take a Saturday and go to Bangor, N. Wales, I used to go to school there, and have a Guinness for me.

 

As for letting Sparky loose to run and frolic let me suggest a lunge line of light rope, 5-7mm in diameter and 25-50ft long. That allows for a fairly long run and you are still in control.

[HoosierMike]

As for letting your dog loose, I wouldn't unless there are no other distractions around. My first dog was a rescue, and the first weekend I had her, we were staying at a beach resort on Vancouver Island. The beach is about 21km long, so I thought it would be ok to let her loose. and it was, for a few minutes, until she saw another dog about a km away. Poof, gone! I did track her down, but if it hadn't been on such a long open beach, I might not have. It took me a month before I was comfortable letting her loose.

 

Poof , gone... I couldn't agree more with that analogy. Luckily, the first time I let mine off leash we were inside a fenced school football field. She saw a dog outside the fence and I don't think I had completely stood up from unclipping the leash...Poof, gone. I had only had her for about 5-6 months at that time, and needless to say , she stayed on a long dragline for a long time after that incident. I still keep her on a shorter dragline when we're out in the open now. Her recall is about 90- 95% now, but I never want to have that "pit in my stomach" feeling again, now that I've seen how fast she can actually move.

[mobcmom]

Thank you also for rescuing Sparky.

 

One suggestion I would make is to make sure he has tags with your contact information and is microchiped. That way if he does get lost he can be turned to you, his family.

 

A training class and working with Sparky will help. No one cared enough about him, to give him the guidance and love he is probably craving.

 

Basic obedience training does wonders to create a happy and well behaved family member. I am always amazed at the progress of an owner and dog by the end of an basic obedience class. No one cared enough about him, to give him the guidance and love he is probably craving.

 

The correct equipment will also help. I've noticed several people have mentioned harnesses. A gentle leader head halter is another good option. Both give you more control with out putting strain on the dog's throat.

 

I've seen two techniques to help with pulling on the leash. One is a more passive technique than the other but they should both work.

 

Method 1 - Passive method- When he pulls on the leash just stop. One the leash is slack start walking again. Every time he pulls, stop. Once the leash is slack start waking again.

Plan on working in short sessions maybe, 10-15 min at a time, then do something else. You can increase the time and distance of the walks/training sessions as he gets better.

 

Method 2 - I tend to like this better because the dogs catch on pretty quickly. You might want to use a shorted leash, like 4 foot leash. Start walking and every time Sparky start pulling change direction, and keep walking in the new direction. he will probably run to get in from and start pulling in the new direction. Every time he starts pulling change direction. Pretty soon he will figure out that he is not going anywhere and start looking at you direction and to figure out what is going on.

He will learn pretty quickly that pulling gets him nowhere but walking next to you is better and he will get to go places and see things.

 

Exercise will help wear Sparky out. I've found Frisbee or disc dog to be a great way to quickly wear out a dog. A long line can work but I also like to go to a local school with a fenced soccer oops "football" field. You can turn Sparky loose to run and he can't go anywhere but the fenced field. (note the field I'm thinking of is a chain link fence, not a stock type fence that a dog can squeeze through.)

 

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

mobcmom

[laika]

Ok, we promise to bring Sparky for a Guinness on Saturday.

 

Thank you all so much for this priceless advice, we both feel a whole lot better about having Sparky in the city, we really had no clue what we were letting ourselves in for but it's been fantastic fun so far and we can't imagine life without him now.

 

We're going to try all those tips out this weekend and we'll keep ye posted on Sparkys progress.

 

In the meantime here's a pic from the day we found him just after his first bath..

[Elizabeth77]

He really is a lovely dog, maybe sometime he and Meg will get to meet, here or there.

[Sue R]

I think you are positively wonderful for rescuing and giving this handsome youngster a loving and forever home!

 

You've been given some good advice. You can also use the "search" function at the top of the page to look for particular topics (it won't accept words shorter than four letters, though) that have already been discussed that you are interested in.

 

As mentioned, there are a number of folks here who have Border Collies (sometimes more than one) living happily and mannerly in cities. It is the home and environment you make for them more than just where they live that makes for a fulfilling and satisfied life.

 

Very best wishes!

[desertranger]

Thank you for taking such a pretty puppy in. You always have support here so let us know if you need anything we can helkp with.

[ShoresDog]

I think you are positively wonderful for rescuing and giving this handsome youngster a loving and forever home!

Yeah, me too! I hope you'll keep us posted on his progress.

[laika]

Hey guys,

Quick update; we got a 30ft harnass for Sparky and it's made our walks and outings to the park SO much easier!

He's not pulling as much, it's not hurting his throat (the regular lead was never going to work!)

 

All in all, much better behaved and now stops and sits automatically at any traffic junction!

 

And, I think we love him even more this week, if that's possible!

 

Thanks again everyone..

[Sue R]

It's good to hear that you are all doing well. We had a pair of dogs living in town with us, and they were better behaved at street crossings than most people. It's all in the training/handling.

 

By the way, Ed and I were in Dublin in 2005, when he had professional meetings. He was in meetings and I got to take some tours, we went to Scotland (Glasgow and environs) for some more meetings, and then back to Tullamore to watch the 2005 World Sheepdog Trial (I told Ed he could go home sooner but I was staying for that). The folks at Dublin airport were very thorough when we left - I was the one "chosen" for searches at every stage, including the pat-down. I must look like a terrorist or some other hazard to society!

 

Seriously, Ireland is gorgeous and steeped in so much history. I was fortunate to have guides and tours set up that were very educational and got me to some lovely locations and in touch with wonderful people. Dublin was totally hectic - I expected something a bit more sedate but it was absolutely lively and bustling.

 

Best wishes!

[Tommy Coyote]

What I really liked about Dublin was that the people were so nice to us there. Everywhere we went. We had a great time in Ireland. And Scotland, too. We went over to see the Scottish Nationals.

 

But the people in Wales were so rude to us that I would never go back there.

[Ms.DaisyDuke]

Thanks for taking a chance on a stray -- and keeping him!

I'm glad you've gotten the pulling thing under control. You should still practice loose leash walking with him a bit in your back yard with less distractions. See if he gets better over time. He may not, I have a puller and so far the only thing that's slowed her down was a second dog. Go figure.

I am also a huge advocate of a long line while training a good solid recall. I have a 50' one and it helped a lot! Especially in really stimulating environments.

Also, if you are going to look into training classes, which will be great for your relationship, I would suggest that you pick out a few and drop in on a class or two to pick a trainer that you really like. It's a lot easier to walk away if you don't agree with the trainers methods if you haven't paid any money yet! The majority of training facilities will let people drop in on classes (no dogs just the humans) to view the trainer and how he/she interacts with dogs and teaches a class. It can save you a lot of frustration and money in the long run!

Good Luck!