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SANDRA DAY
Jan 30, 07 - 11:58 AM |
Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Hi Everyone
I'm Sandra and am new to the forum and have just joined the RSCTA and am 'mum' to Lacy (Border Collie), Lulu (Whippet/Collie x thingy) and Glen (RC).
Glen came to us from 'rescue' aged 8 months, he is just about to turn 2 and is an absolute 'sweetheart'. BUT .... Glen is a nightmare with slippery floors! We initially took him to training classes in Jan 06 where he was fine until he slipped on the floor and as a result just 'shutdown' and put his claws out like a cat refusing to budge. We were given various advice but the bottom line OH and I decided to abandon those classes as not being suitable for Glen (nor us, just stressing us all out and the pressure of being watched was feeding straight down the lead to Glen). I then, after a lengthy search, found more suitable classes with controlled numbers of dogs (no more than 7) which were outside but inside during the winter months and matting on the floor.
Glen has been doing really well. The Club, have been selected to present a display team for the Bronze GCA at Crufts in a few weeks time and OH and I are naturally over the moon that Glen was picked to be part of this team without hesitation. Great news. BUT (again!) this meant a change of training venue to a hall which has the flooring which is a type of vinyl but has a grainy finish to it - so not too slippery.
No problems at first until last week. A BBC cameraman was there filming the class for Crufts. As a result everyone was on tenderhooks and there was tension and some of the dogs were very 'gobby' and overexcited. Glen had also had an exciting day that day due to the snow (first time for him .... bless). So probably feeling tired and he had been in the same hall the previous evening training. The training is quite layed back by the way but obviously this night there was a different atmosphere.
Anyway, basically Glen was doing weaving between other dogs when he just 'bulked', stuck the anchors on, went all rigid and as a result had no grip on the floor and just wanted to pull away back towards the sidelines. I'm kinda thinking the floor is secondary? He had clearly had enough (fair play) and then once he started slipping on the floor he got his knickers in a right old twist. OH made the mistake of resisting him which didn't help, but to be fair he had never anticipated the behaviour kicking in in the first place. They did 'recover' and Glen did complete the exercise if in a somewhat disorganised manner. At the end I then encouraged Glen back out on to the floor, which he came with me of his own choice, I sat down and just a bit of a game with him. He wasn't really too bothered as obviously he had 'other things on his mind' but I was relieved that he did actually walk properly on the floor in his own time.
When Glen came to us we were told that RC can be extremely 'emotional' and 'stubborn' and are 'blighters' with not wanting to walk on certain surfaces (I'm told!). The emotional side I definitely see. He's come a long way since being with us - he did have a few issues over food.
He was originally in a home from 8 weeks of age to 8 months (when he was handed into rescue)with a very elderly, frail, non-dog savvy lady and was purchased from a breeder as a companion for the old lady, by relatives, as she had recently lost her husband. I'll leave it to your imagination as to what wasn't done.
He was in the rescue system for 2 weeks until he came home with OH and I and as you can imagine it must have been like 'doggy-heaven' suddenly having two cheeky girls to live with who did a grand job of teaching him the boundaries - as did we ... Ha!
It's this floor business I'm looking for advice about. I know about the paw wax and will try that - hopefully the matting will be down (specially for Glen!) when we next go. But if anyone can give me any hints/tips I will be eternally grateful! One of the things I'm a bit confused about is on the one hand you want to 'chivvy' him along - you know 'c'mon Glen, stop being silly' and walk properly but to be honest that doesn't seem to work and you run the risk of making him worse! If you allow him to just drag you back to the sidelines - are you not then just reinforcing him i.e not giving him the confidence. People have said to thow food down on the floor, get him boots. We've tried the food but considering he is a 'foodie' by nature, he really isn't interested in that scenario.
Can anyone help ......?
With regards to crufts - the arena we will be displaying in is fully carpeted, fenced (with a good distance from the general public). We will have a 'stall' - now, I'm pretty sure he will have a lino type floor to walk on as we go in and in the surrounding area - what do we do though if we come across 'lino' and he sticks his anchors on? Pick him up and carry him to the carpeted area? I obviously want to keep him in a good frame of mind and calm.
Help, please ...
Sandra
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Joan
Jan 31st, 2007 - 9:59 PM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Hi Sandra, sorry you've met this problem, I've been there too from time to time, usually when trying to train in front of someone important! You're right not to want to reward Glen when he's panicking but in a class situation you may just have to allow him to get to the side of the hall BUT then ignore him till he's calmed down then casually wander him out onto the floor again on a SLACK lead giving him something really tasty from time to time, don't try to force him to have a high head carriage until he's ready. I don't think you'll have a problem at Crufts as the floor round the Good Citizen ring is usually carpeted and your bench won't be too far away - carry him that bit if necessary. what day are you on? Good luck & enjoy!!!!
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SANDRA DAY
Feb 1st, 2007 - 3:26 PM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Hi Joan
Thank you for the quick response. We're there on Friday and Sunday.
Will get there early on Friday to let Glen get used to the arena and have a practice and I'll do what everyone else does (Ha Ha) - just pick him up if I see any suspect floor! I wont even give him an opportunity to 'think about it' and be a 'girl's blouse'!!!
I found a very good article which may interest some of you http://veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1612 . Thank 'Dog' it appears to just be floors that get his knickers in a twist and then it goes down hill from there. Other than that he is an extremely laid back lad and nothing seems to particularly phase him - although you wouldn't think that so, when you see him go into 'wibble-scaredy' mode!
Some of our training prior to Crufts will be done outside. This is good because it will give him a chance to get to know the other 3 dogs (who will be the only ones present apart from my other two) and we can go nice 'walkies' afterwards and have some fun. Our trainer is going to get hold of the matting, especially for Glen - everyone go Arhhh! for when we go in to the hall.
I'm quite 'chilled' about this now that I have had my mind put at rest - in everyday life, I'm struggling to think when he ever has to go anywhere with a slippery floor? Well, the vets, but again I'll scoop him up and the last time he went he walked in on all for legs and we're only talking a few footsteps from waiting room to surgery. In the summer months all the trainig is done outside in a paddock - it was just unfortunate on that particular evening but at least its made us more aware.
Come and say hello if anyone is at Crufts on either of those days ......
Sandra
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Pat
Feb 6th, 2007 - 11:07 AM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Hi Sandra,
If it's any consolation, I am going through exactly the same scenario with my Rough Collie! I was warned about it being a Rough collie thing before I went ahead and bought one and witnessed it first hand at a breed show I went to...however having got over the problem with one of my shelties (she used to jump over shadows too!) I was undaunted.
Last year when my girl was a puppy, she was fine at both halls I train at, but then suddenly she flatly refused to budge and was trying to back off her lead at both venues.
She also has a fear of passing the windows and a serving hatch at one of the halls and tries to back behind me or walk on her claws!
Gradually we have been overcoming this with the use of toys, food and play. Last week we had a major breakthrough by letting her loose and wander around on her own. Then I brought in one of my other dogs and trained it, whilst ignoring her cpmpletely and....... guess what...she joined up with us and completely ignored the windows and the floor!
For the rest of the day my trainer kept her on a lead in the hall particularly in areas she didn't want to be in and ignored her completely. She soon got fed up with creating a fuss about it and by the end of the day she was able to work up and down the hall on both sides quite happily!
I'm just waiting to see if we have to go through the whole thing again next time!
BFN
Pat
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SANDRA DAY
Feb 6th, 2007 - 12:59 PM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Aww Pat, funnily little souls eh! Well, Glen was fine in the same hall last night - at first he went into 'wibbley mode' but once he chilled out and relaxed a bit he was fine.
What we did notice though, or rather my trainer noticed - we led him across the middle of the room when it was quiet to watch him walk round and noticed he is slightly unbalanced. Now upon thinking about it,hmm, yes I have noticed he looks a bit lame but it' so slight it can easily be missed and I couldn't exactly tell you which leg - and then he walks again and looks fine - so i've never worried about it too much.
Anyway, as a result he is off to see a McTimoney Chiropractor on Thursday .... just to get checked over. I have noticed he holds his tails slightly over to the left? Might be nothing. But I'll mention it anyway to the Practitioner.
I'm hoping that like your RC Pat, Glen too will gain confidence and not take so much notice about the floor. I notice too, if we stay relaxed it helps - it's just that with the best will in the world, it can be difficult to be relaxed when you're thinking 'Oh no, here we go ....!!!'
Sandra
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SANDRA DAY
Feb 8th, 2007 - 3:51 PM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
I am a very proud 'Mummy' - Glen passed his KC Bronze Good Citizens Test last night and mega news - there was no matting, so the floor was the one he originally had his wibble on!  the other week! Actually have to say he 'breezed' it  . Better still there were at least 18 other dogs of all shapes sizes who turned up for the test who were in 'yob' mode and Glen just took it all in his stride.
We are lucky though - Glen is just one of those dogs that all the other dogs and owners just 'like' he's such a 'sweetie'  and he did the most wonderful down/stay alongside his friend Milo the Border Collie - they looked so cool together  )
Great stuff!
Sandra
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Pat
Feb 8th, 2007 - 7:46 PM |
Re: Rough Collies and Slippery Floors?
Heh heh! Well done on the Good Citz Sandra & Glen. He sounds quite the star and it sounds like you are you are both enjoying yourselves.
Going for Sliver now? If you have the stays sorted I reckon it's easier because you don't have to walk on slippery floors!
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