Quote:
Originally Posted by Samnooshka
Haven't thought of using them for sport, would be fun though, depends how he gets on with training. the breeder said that she would pick him for show as well, and that was before we had decided on that particular pup. as i said it depends on training. we can't really do anything with him that is too demanding under 9 months as he is still growing and this can cause problems in older age if you stress the bones too early.
We'll see how he gets on with things and how he develops as his personality grows, try him with different things as he gets older.
As for your neighbours dog barking, there is training she/he can take it to try getting her to buy one of those anti bark colars ;)
|
It's getting on for 18 months old and to be honest I think it's just trying to assert itself within the group. Most of the other dogs (Springer, ex-racing Greyhound and a Boxer bitch) generally stay indoors, so as the Mally is more comfortable outside it's seeing itself as first alert sentry.
It's probably the same position it would take if in a working pack. The Alpha male and/or female stays within the centre of the group and drives the younger males to occupy the outer edges. Their job is to be an alarm system.
To be honest it doesn't bother me as there's always a reason for him to set off, even if it is just someone walking by the back fence - which is where the garages (and therefore my bikes) are, so he's doing a good job. It's not like he sets my dog off. Well, not unless Kodo spots the same peron at the same time. :roll:
As for wheelie-sledging - I did chat to the guy a couple of times, apparently it's one of those little known but widespread sports - he even used to occasionally race his pair. Generally through large estates or managed forests - a bit like canine cross-country!
What struck me was the obvious enjoyment the dogs had. They really seemed to get a kick out of doing what was natural and had been bred for for generations.
You could hear the car coming with the barking, howling and yipping - they'd be bouncing off the windows as he got the sledge off the trailer and opened the door for them.
They would shoot into position and be bouncing on the spot still yipping their heads off until the harnesses were on - they it was like watching two tightly wound springs.
They would just go so quiet and be standing their quivering while the guy got into position in the running board thing.
Barely a word of command and they were off like a shot and totally in pace with each other.
I saw them a few times at the end of a run and they were more subdued and knackered, but their tails were high and they had that wonderful panting laugh. They would even wait in place until the sledge had been loaded back up onto the trailer and it was definately not coming back down again before they would get in to the already open car.
I swear if the guy had made to roll the trailer off again they would be all fired up just like before.
It's so nice to see breeds like that, ones that have a true purpose or calling, get the chance to strut their stuff even if they're not strictly a 'working' dog.
