Rocky the Otterhound: A dogs life - Hard work, fun and relaxation.

Rocky's training classes are continuing, although numbers have dwindled due to the holiday season. Rocky would (I'm sure) prefer to interact with the other dogs than do any work but ........







"Daddy" reminds him that he is here to work; to learn how to be a good and responsive dog. He knows he is a good dog but occasionally needs reminding that he could be a little better at some things!





"OK Rocky, lets work on your recall"! First send your dog away (throw food, it works every time with Rocky)!








Look at him go! You won't find Rocky letting any food get away from him!!!







Next step is to recall him - and then you repeat the exercise for reinforcement.

Rocky does find it easier to concentrate with less distractions in the room . but he has to learn to listen even with distractions.

You're getting there Rocky, aren't you?!





Next is the "ignoring other people and animals while walking" exercise.







This has worked really well and has paid off huge dividends when we take him out for walks on the lead.

Well done Rocky!!




"Now Rocky, let's see you pay attention to me and sit, for quite a time"!!













"OK dad, you've got treats ...... of course I can do this"!!

"Hey! That's cheating, where you goin"?

"Come back with that food"!!!

Of course, to reward all that hard work and concentration our young Otterhound gets his favourite play time ..... TUNNELS!!

Lots of fun in the tunnels!!!

What a happy Otterhound!

And after all that hard work our hero gets home and goes fast to sleep!

Such hard work for a big puppy!!

Rocky's expedition was to the plain again, look how high the grass has become!

This is a real treat for Rocky - all dogs love bouncing in long grass but it isn't often Rocky comes across grass long enough for him to bounce in!!

Enjoy it Rocky!!

We meandered through the long grass on the way to see what this summers (apalling) weather has done to our favourite watering hole!

Despite the rain we have had, the pool had gone down quite a bit. Loads of animal tracks around the edges showed just how busy it must get.

A little like an african watering hole I suppose ...... Only without the elephants .... And the sunshine ... and the eaty other animals type of things!!

Still, it was interesting enough for Rocky to want to go and have a little investigation.

In fact he was even interested enough to do a little scuba diving!

Just then our hero got a little excited . he'd heard something?!!

Some new friends were heading his way!!

Yippee!!

However, unlike our intrepid Otterhound these guys headed straight for a swim!

"Hey guys, what you doin"??!

I'm here, lets have a game of chase ... It'll be fun"!!

To Rocky's delight his new friends left the fun of the pool for the fun of the chase.

And a great time was had by all!!

When they left Rocky was a wee bit wet and a wee bit covered in grass seeds and sticky burrs. Still nothing that would take long to rectify!

A quick shake will do for starters!







Once Rocky's friends had moved on, "dad" decided it was his turn for a game with his favourite dog.







Note the classic Otterhound puppy play stance .. Head down, ears back and bottom tucked low . Weeeeee!!

He tore this way and that ....

Then that way and this .......

This was great fun!!








Then "dad" did a great trick, he ducked down in the long grass and Rocky couldn't see him! "What, what ... where's my daddy"!!

...More charging about!





It was at this point he became a very bouncy Otterhound indeed ..... Bouncing as high as he could to see over the grass and spot his "dad"

Clever Otterhound!

All I could think about while I watched him was "Tigger"! I'm surprised I managed to get any photographs, I was laughing so much!

After Rocky had found his "dad" and had had a good wrestle he was a tired and happy Otterhound.




However, a closer inspection showed that while playing Rocky had managed to collect just about every grass seed and sticky burr in hi path!

He resembled a cross between a brillo pad and velcro!!

He tried a quick bit of grooming ...... But it was no use!












He tried to rub them off by rolling in the grass ...... But this only made it worse!









"Dad" gave up trying to pick them off once we'd counted to fifty!

Oh dear ..... We see a big grooming session ahead!!

So we put the brillo pad in the car and headed for home.











So while our hero relaxed after his fun and games, we soldiered on and undertook a mega grooming session!

At the end of our toil (about an hour and a half later) we had a lovely fluffy Otterhound and an enormous amount of seeds and burrs!

Bet that feels better?!

But we think we'll take him somewhere different next time!


Talking (or writing) about relaxing ........ If Rocky is anything to go by, Otterhounds are masters of the art of relaxation!

Note how Biskitt is sat to attention while "dad" has his late night TV dinner (popular in our house)! On the other hand ..... Rocky prefers to beg while lounging about all relaxed like!

Even during the day, when he is more alert, he manages to beg from a rather relaxed position!

No point in straining if you don't have to I suppose!!





When he's just standing about for no particular reason - he relaxes!

He is leaning against the chair so hard that if you knock his back legs sideways he falls over . We know ... we've done it!!




When watching the TV or listening to conversations ..... he relaxes!

And when it's just about Rocky's bedtime - Well ....

Night night Rocky, sleep well!!