Jack - Border Collie, Dog (5 Years old).

Quite understand the ink problem although it does sound brillllllient in a designerish way I don't have to leave till about 12.00 noon if that would be time enough.
Also Ria will tell you I am an IT idiot so it has to be easy to download.
Love you posts for Jack you have worked so hard with him & he sounds a delight, shame he's turned into a thief!!! I blame the parents lol

I have to admit that I have been known to steal a biscuit or two myself!! Jack is definitely learning some bad habits from me... another reason why he needs a proper home!!

Thanks for the emailed poster, I will forward and also advertise round this way.

Yes, it must be the time for thieving. This morning I got a bread roll out of the freezer, then the phone went and I got distracted. I went back to the kitchen and thought "Where did I put it?". Searched high and low, thought I was going crazy, then saw the evidence of little seeds on the floor. How on earth can a frozen solid granary roll taste good? Anyone would think we don't feed these dogs!

ME!

I know that I am not the only one who would have a dog either... despite the occasional 'missing' roll or biscuit! You can't blame a dog for being a dog, after all. I quite respect their cunning and motivation to make themselves happy!

Yes, so there is a poster out there now... I have just shown it to the Graphic Designer and he was quite impressed, said, "it's a really good concept... it could have been executed better, but not bad!" I think that was a compliment. I have jus noticed something about the poster that has frustrated me though - the writing is not 'justified' where there are paragraphs... I guess it will just have to do. I'm not going for a job, just trying to find a very special dog, a very special home.

Jack's in a funny mood this morning. He seems really excited about something. I'm not sure what though... Maybe he knows something??

Psychic Jack?

...three holes in the ground!

No, there are no holes in any ground near me specifically speaking, it was just a kind of joke... it wasn't funny, huh? Well Jack's laughing! And I think that is what is superb about dogs; when everyone else doesn't 'get you', a companion dog will always be on your side. I tell some bad jokes, I know I do, but Jack seems to have a twinkle in his eye when I tell him something funny. He also enjoys my singing - it is definitely 'appreciation' that I see on his face when I am crooning along to the radio. Adele eat your heart out - not literally of course... I wonder if she would be interested in a gorgeous border collie...

Anyway, Jack and I have enjoyed a few good days with my parents who are staying with me at present. We all went for a walk together today and Jack showed his true border collie heritage with an occasional 'round-up' of his pack - checking that we were all staying together. He makes me giggle whenever I stop, he stops and then comes over to sit by me, then when I stoop to re-tie my shoe laces, he sits by me and uses the opportunity to get a quick 'snog' in - it's horrible! But funny for onlookers!

On Monday Jack and I went for a walk with my neighbour (his occasional dog-sitter) and her almost 3yr old daughter. She grabs onto his lead and tries to yank him this way and that way, despite me and her Mum telling her to 'stop it because Jack doesn't like it'... although actually Jack doesn't seem to mind too much - he just takes it in his stride, and may perhaps be a little bothered, but shows no intention to let the funny little human know about it. He seems to sense that he should treat her differently, and is so gentle with her. It's heartwarming to see.

Jack and I have plans - we have a date! On 24th July we are going to the Fete in St.Michael's, Tenbury Wells! It will be a bit of a challenging outing for Jack where he may be exposed to lots of things he is not used to. Thankfully we will be meeting up with another lovely human and her doggy companion who will also help to support him through this new experience. If you want to meet Jack, this would be a wonderful opportunity to do so - but please be aware that he will not necessarily be his normal self in the face of lots of 'new' things!

The show details are:

What: St.Michael's Village Summer Fete - FUN DOG SHOW!
Where: Sunnycroft, St.Michael's, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8PH.
When: Entries for dog show start at 2:30pm, and judging starts at 3:30pm.

Be there or be a fruit loop!

What a brilliant dog Jack is!

I took him to the Fun Dog Show today in Tenbury Wells and he really was a star in my eyes! With the help of some wonderful human friends, Sarah and Nina especially, we were both able to cope with the new experiences dealt to us at the dog show.

There were people and dogs everywhere - as expected, and it really was a challenge for Jack to remain calm in an environment like that. His anxiety got the better of him a few times, but mostly he was able to walk amongst the other dogs without undesirable behaviour. He made a few doggy friends of the calmer canines, sniffing them politely and then ignoring them when it appeared they were not going to play... there were a few tense and/or excitable dogs and puppies around that Jack did struggled to cope with. He seems to feed off tension/excitement and so reacts to other dogs in those sort of states.

Jack really does need a nice, calm home and lots of positive experiences with other canines. A calm canine companion for walks would really help Jack learn how to behave in social situations... either now (any offers?) or in the future when he finds his forever home... which I really hope will be soon. He is too lovely to be 'left on the shelf'.

We entered some of the dog show rounds, and he was given a certificate recognising him as a 'special rescue dog'. He's certainly special... However, he was not placed for most handsome dog! Jack was not very happy about this and barked in disgust when the winning dogs collected their certificates. In all honesty, it would not have been fair for him to win when all the other dogs were so well behaved and beautifully turned out... Jack was relatively well behaved, just not comparatively!

Jack wore a 'Give me a home' jacket in a fetching red colour, beautifully made by Maureen. He looked gorgeous! Nina took some photos of him (and me - hope the camera is ok) in his jacket and collecting his certificate, and so hopefully they will be posted somewhere... I'll find out, and let you know.

Today was such a good experience for Jack, and one that he handled so well. I am sooo proud of him! I see little steps all the time with him, and I know he has come so far... there is just a little further to go, but I KNOW he will get there. He is such a fast learner - so clever and eager to please those he loves. The plan is now to give him more experiences like this one, where he can meet other dogs and learn to cope.

If you want to help Jack, but cannot home him, and you have a calm dog you would not mind me using as a 'scrooge' please let me know. I think it would really help him to have regular walks with a dog who will lead by example by being calm and showing no aggression. Jack always gets on with these types of dogs, and it makes me so happy to see him interact with another dog without anxiety.

BIG BIG thanks goes to Sarah (hope Jess has recovered!) and Nina (and partner - sorry I didn't ask his name) for being so supportive during the Fete today! I wouldn't have even got there without Sarah, and Nina (and partner) made the day a much more fun experience for me. Thank you! (sunshine and flowers remind me of the wonderful day we had)

Becky it was lovely to meet you & the handsome Jack, you must be thrilled by how Jack coped in such a different environment, I hope that you can find someone local to you to walk with as I agree it would be so good for Jack.

Jess is fine but i feel she is still a little unsure herself especially in new places & I think this excited Jack, but he is such a happy waggy chap & he was as you say fine with the more mature dogs & indeed quite a flirty boy with some that I hope you both enjoyed your day. Jess certainly approved of his kisses!!!

You must be very proud of all your hard work starting to make Jack into such a special boy, let's hope his forever home is just round the corner as that smile is going to win somebody's heart.

Thank you - it is encouraging to know that I might be doing an alright job with the little fella. He really does have a winning smile!

I have submitted an advert for Jack on www.agilitynet.com, which will hopefully be accepted and displayed on their website. I think that agility would help him channel his energy in a more positive way, and I am sure that he would LOVE AGILITY! Also, those who are into agility are more likely to be experienced dog owners with high levels of training skills/abilities. Jack is so intelligent, it would be a waste not to allow him to use his brain.

Fingers crossed we get the happy little fella sorted soon... But, goodness knows I'll miss him!

I shall look out for Jacks advert, as you say I'm sure he needs to channel his energy in a positive way & also to use his intelligence in a productive way. I am sure you will miss him & he will definitely miss you he looks at you with such love in those bootiful eyes. Fingers crossed he has lots of interest & you can choose the right person.

I thought I would post Jack's pictures from the dog show on here as well so that everyone can see just how hadsome he is

I think he looks very smart and a bit like a superhero character here with the red coat, Jack the Superdog.

And finally, Becky and Jack with their Special Rescue Dog Certificate. It was lovely to have finally met you both and see just what a superb and special dog Jack is in person.

I was very pleased to see that there was no agression in him, just anxiety and insecurity in a new and a bit overwhelming situation, which he can overcome with more practice. Keep up the good work Jack, you are a quick learner and I know that with Becky's loving support you can come out of your shell and let everybody see what a sweetheart you really are.

Lovely Photos of Jack & Becky Nina, they really show how well Jack coped with a
very new experience for him, & what a loving boy he is, Super Dog is certainly an apt description of Jack on Sunday

Just thank you Nina! Superb photos of Jack... not sure about me, but who cares - I don't need adopting!



Look how gorgeous Jack is in these photos, and today... no photos but I can report that we had a successful walk in the park with other dogs around AND this evening he had a fab playtime with a GORGEOUS young little working cocker spaniel. I think it was lurrrrrve actually! Just didn't get any photos - they moved around too fast! Lol. He enjoyed every minute of running around the garden with his new laydee. Pure fun - this is what he needs in his life.



He WILL get there, he just needs someone to let him and support him. He is such a fabulous dog. I'm just so glad I am not the only one who sees it.

That's great Becky you must be so pleased, he really was great yesterday, must have done his confidence good as he sounds a real Casanova today!!

I have stumbled across a really informative website that sheds some light onto Jack and how he may experience his world and why he sometimes displays confusing behaviour with other dogs... I always wonder why he is fine with some and not with others!

The website talks about stress and how stressful situations effect dogs. The following is a direct quote:

"Each time a dog is over excited or is caused stress the adrenal and thyroid glands, testosterone and hypothalamus begin to increase their production. The output from these glands reach a peak 10-15 minutes after the incident, and takes between 3-5 days to return to the level they were at before the incident.

This is why certain dogs can become aggressive for no apparent reason when meeting another dog; they are still experiencing the rush of adrenaline etc from an incident that happened 10-15 minutes beforehand."

available online from http://www.dog-games.co.uk/stress.htm [accessed 27th July 2011]

If Jack is living in a world that he is constantly getting stressed about due to outside influences, then he is never fully relaxing. The 3-4 days of returning to a level state never happen for him because there is always something happening to cause him that stress. He is living in a constant state of stress, which explains an awful lot about him.

I can see that I need to increase his opportunities to relax and be calm.

The main stress area for Jack is dealing with other random dogs when we are out. They worry him completely, and he gets fixated on them unless I walk him away from the situation. The website mentioned above suggests this technique...

"WALKING IN A CURVE * is another strong calming signal and is another variation on those described above [see website for further information]. It is used when dogs are approaching one another (and sometimes when approaching humans) rather than walking in a direct straight line towards them (which dogs and wolves regard as being aggressive and "ill-mannered" body language). This is why so many dogs have behavioural problems when being walked on a short lead while their handlers are walking in a straight line - the dogs do not have the opportunity to curve away as other dogs are coming towards them. These dogs become anxious and feel unable to escape the situation; they often become defensive, "insulted" by the other dog's "bad manners" (walking directly towards them), and resort to aggressive behaviour in order to resolve the problem. If, however, the dogs met off the lead they would instinctively walk in large wide curves past one another, allowing the other dog its own personal space so that it felt comfortable, and would gradually make shallower curves until the dogs met sideways on to each other. Sometimes it is impractical to let dogs off the lead (eg. on a path by a road). In these cases both dog owners should begin making a wide curve (eg. one crossing to the other side of the road) well before the dogs are due to meet one another. This curving will greatly reduce both dogs' apprehension and stress levels, and you will soon find that the dogs will lessen the depth of the curve as they relax and pass each other. When dogs are given the opportunity to curve because the handler walks with them in a curve rather than in a straight line, it is possible to gradually change their aggressive behaviour as their confidence grows on how to approach other dogs - even when on a lead."

available online from http://www.dog-games.co.uk/calm.htm [accessed 27th July 2011]

And another Jack behaviour is jumping up which I had previously believed to be a dominant feature, but the following would suggest it has a different intention:

"JUMPING UP is a perfectly friendly calming signal that many young dogs do to show appeasement and welcome to people. This is mimicking the behaviour of the young puppy when it greeted its mother and licked her face to stimulate her regurgitated and chewed food while it was being weaned. As Life Rewards explains, if we look at the dog or speak to it we are giving the dog attention and it will keep repeating the behaviour as it is so rewarding. However, if we CONSISTENTLY use calming signals (eg. Turning away, averting our eyes) and do not speak to the dog, it will stop jumping up at people as there is no reward of attention."

available online from http://www.dog-games.co.uk/calm.htm [accessed 27th July 2011]

It's all worth trying for the little fella. Although I think his lack of socialisation is the only challenging issue facing a new owner, and he has already come on leaps and bounds with this. This is why it is so important that his new owner is experienced and knowledgeable about dogs, and willing to continue his education. You only have to meet him to know that it is all worth the effort, and what a wonderful feeling it would be to see Jack develop into a confident and happy dog. I have seen so many positive changes in him since he has been with me - only two months! It is an absolute joy to see him make little steps in life, and it is so rewarding to see him benefit from all the efforts I have put into his life. I am the lucky one here - surely there is someone else out there who would like to be as lucky as I am?

And on a final note:

"Some dogs have learnt that humans use SMILING as a form of human Calming Signal. The dogs copy this behaviour when they approach humans (and even other dogs!) as it usually results in attention (a very powerful Life Reward), being stroked and the humans smiling back."

available online from http://www.dog-games.co.uk/calm.htm [accessed 27th July 2011]

I always knew that Jack's smiles were real and not just me being fanciful!

Becky,

This actually explains a lot about Vik's behaviour too, and I will download the information and print it off for Vik's new owner. It is interesting, because when off lead, dog's do circle (but I always thought that was to sniff the bums ).

We will put an area together where we can add all this useful information on the forum.

Thanks for the info, and good luck with Jack's continued training. He did SO well at the dog show on Sunday. A real credit to your perseverence and patience with him.

Thanks Ria!

I have had a dog in my life since my birth... and still I am learning! There are so many different theories out there, and they have evolved over the years. We have come so far from the days when we were told to rub our dogs noses in their feaces if they had an accident in the house. Now, we know that this is just cruel and completely irrelevant to a dog who lives in the moment - no good telling a dog off for something that happened before that 'moment'.

Anyway, I have been employing some of the advice from the website this morning already. When Jack starts getting excited because I am moving around the house, I turn away, avoid eye contact and pretend to yawn (sometimes it's not pretense!). The result is unbelieveably clear to see - he calms down almost immediately and lies on the floor. It's a little shocking really! All I needed to do was to learn some of his language. Just amazing! I would definitely recommend the website.

I will of course continue to let you know how it goes...

I use the turn away all the time when Ferdie is too boisterous, or if he won't give over his ball. I turn my back and just say, "Not playing" and he keeps trying to get in front of me so I continue to spin around and walk away. It works. It's about being consistent. It's the same clipping his lead on. He is so boisterous, so I turn my back and say, "No walks", and he does the same dancing around in front of me. He then sits, but when I go down to clip it on, he gets up and starts to jump around again, so again I turn my back, and he finally stops still.



It does drive you mad when you read so many conflicting views on training, but I think the one that works consistently is the ignore and turn around. This is true of pulling on the lead too, but the problem we all have is the lack of time to reinforce it, because it takes a long time to get it right, but once you have, that tends to be it. Also, you look a right wally walking down the street and stopping suddenly and turning round! Street cred straight out of the window. So much better to practice in the garden!

I have had a phone call today from a lovely lady who is interested in Jack. I don't like to be too optimistic, but she sounds perfect for him... she is phoning me again tomorrow after speaking with her 'other half' about it. I will keep you all posted!



I am a bit excited that this might be 'it' though!!

Oh Becky will be keeping everything crossed for Jack & you tomorrow, he is such a lovely boy & deserves so much to have a forever home, I'm sure they will love him as much as you do when they meet.

Ps thanks for the dog-games website it is really interesting, I'm sure I shall learn loads from it

Oh i do hope this is Jacks good luck time & he has been dealt the FOREVER HOME card. Start packing your biscuits Jack.GOOD LUCK GOOD LUCK. Baz has got his paws crossed for you.

There was no phone call today from the lady enquirer, unfortunately... hopefully there is a good reason for the lack of contact, and not a bad reason, i.e. the 'other half' saying a blanket 'no' to Jack.



Hopefully we will hear something during the week... good news would be nothing less than great!!