Have you tried the whacking tennis balls against a wall trick having him skip about for them, PREFERABLY catching them again yourself but letting him 'oppppssss butterfingers!' have the odd one...?
If not have your tried Red Bull?
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
I rather think Di, that were I to start whamming tennis balls against a wall, Zorro would take to his bed with a migraine! But being as I'm such an eager, willing kind of gal, I shall try and unearth a tennis racket and give it a go - Flo would adore it if nothing else and Zorro could always sit on the sidelines with a cold compress on his head!
My goal for the week is to take a photo of Zorro in training for the 'steely-eye' thread! ( ) His version is more sort of semi-closed-eyed and long-suffering! It'd amuse me anyway!
The frustrating thing is, that for all his excelling in 'steadiness' (aka lack of enthusiasm) I know darn well if a pheasent appeared over the horizon, he'd be off like a rocket without so much as a by-your-leave!
Still, nothing can dull my enthusiasm. I just KNOW that beneath that cool, calm exterior, beats the heart of the next field champion! And at least he's not setting the bar too high for when New-Pup comes along and takes over the gundog-training-baton!
Quick update - Since the introduction of Thumper-the-rabbit-skin-dummy, Zorro has become hot, hot, HOT(ish!!) So whoever it was who suggested it, take a gold star and go to the top of the class!
I've been quite mean with letting Zoz have it though, and generally only so one puppy-retrieve (after doing some 'where's Thumper' teasing first) and then a more structured retrieve or just letting Zoz hold it whilst we do some heel-work before Thumper has to go back in the bag.
I guess I need to start alternating it a bit with an ordinary canvas dummy do I, to stop him getting so hooked on Thumper that he doesn't want to pick up a boring non-Thumper dummy? I'm thinking of when he has to do the direction-retrieve in the test - if he had the choice of Thumper and an ordinary dummy, he might make his own mind up as to which one he decides to fetch, which isn't what I want.
I do LOVE this gundog stuff though. Its good to have to think about things in a different way and with a new purpose.
Glad you are making some progress Becs. Inja is getting better too, although still thinks the canvas dummy is dead boring compared to balls or other toys. I'm thinking I might pick up some phesant feathers (plenty around at the moment!) and tie them on. She's picked them up on walks before so I think she'll be interested... Maybe I should roll it in fox poo as well - they seem to love that (but not sure I'd want it in the house then!!)
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And at least he's not setting the bar too high for when New-Pup comes along and takes over the gundog-training-baton!
