Letting Pup Run Loose

[Nubian]

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Hi there!

I'm asking for a bit of advice again!

My pup is now six and ahalf months old and is rapidly reaching the day when he can start his race training. I have always been fairly liberal and allowed him to run around with other friendly dogs in the local park. None of these dogs are whippets or greyhounds so he does tend to have an advantage when he is chasing them or they are chasing him!

My worry was heightened a few days ago when he was running around in the park with a border terrier when all of a sudden a Canada goose landed on the grass several yards ahead. The terrier immediately gave chase and was in turn being chased by my pup. As expected, my dog quickly caught up with the terrier and was so interested in nipping playfully at it that I can't even say whether he even saw the flipping goose even when they were within a few yards of it when it flew away as the dogs got closer.

My point is that the pup was so interested in playing with the other dog that he probably didn't notice the bird. Normally he would chase after anything, birds, squirrels, other dogs, even cyclists if the mood takes him!

I then thought " Am I allowing him to develop bad habits?" ie if he his so interested in play when he his chasing is there a real risk that he will turn his head and start playing with other dogs when he starts racing?

I don't really want to stop him having a good run around with his local doggy friends but perhaps I should be easing off as I approach his the time for his race training? The problem is that he is our only dog and I do want him to get used to running around and socialising with other dogs as I'm sure it keeps him fit and happy but I don't want him to turn his head as a racer.

He is going to be quite a small dog. he wighs 18/19lbs and is not far off fully grown and I was hoping to start training so that he will be ready for his first race at about 9 and a half months which is about three months away.

Should I carry on letting him have his fun or am I storing up trouble for the race track a few months down the line?

Once again any advice would be most welcome!

 

[friggsy]

GET HIM ON A RAG HE SHOULD BE CHASING A LITTLE RAG THE REST OF THE LITTER ARE CHASING A LITTLE RAG I SEE JOHN GIVE HES 2 20YARDS AT DEVON

 

[Nubian]

GET HIM ON A RAG HE SHOULD BE CHASING A LITTLE RAG THE REST OF THE LITTER ARE CHASING A LITTLE RAG I SEE JOHN GIVE HES 2 20YARDS AT DEVON

Thanks for that Friggsy!

I have no doubt that he will chase a rag but I was really thinking about allowing him to run free with other dogs when exercising him out on our daily walks and whether this will affect his behaviour once he starts racing. I was planning on starting him behind a rag when we get back from holiday so theres a few weeks left yet.

 

[friggsy]

GET HIM ON A RAG HE SHOULD BE CHASING A LITTLE RAG THE REST OF THE LITTER ARE CHASING A LITTLE RAG I SEE JOHN GIVE HES 2 20YARDS AT DEVON

Thanks for that Friggsy!

I have no doubt that he will chase a rag but I was really thinking about allowing him to run free with other dogs when exercising him out on our daily walks and whether this will affect his behaviour once he starts racing. I was planning on starting him behind a rag when we get back from holiday so theres a few weeks left yet.

I WOULDENT LET HIM RUN FREE WITH OTHER DOGS

 

[Trojan]

How long is a piece of string!!!

Good question i think but i think you could have many varied answers to it. I personally think free running with other dogs is a good lesson and helps them socialise, but at the same time agree that by 6/7months they should also be playing and ragging lures or pieces of rag to keen them up and get them interested for racing. Hopefully when your pup has had a good few trials he will be so focussed on the lure that once another dog is introduced by the side of him, he won't be alarmed by it and if he has had good experiences with other dogs this shouldn't phase him. You will get many different opinions on many of the do's and don'ts when training and will be given lots of advise, listen to it all as it costs nothing to listen and then use your own judgement. Good Luck with his training :luck:

 

[gabbitas31]

:thumbsup: I think that's very good advise. Di

 

[Nubian]

Thanks for the advice Ditto, DI and Friggsy!

I had no idea that at 6 and ahalf months I should have started to get him chasing a rag. Perhaps I should really have started a couple of weeks ago. As I say i was going to start him when i got back from holiday but I suppose it won't hurt to see what I can do with him this week-end. It will be interested to see how he takes to it!

 

[Trojan]

Like i said earlier there is no right or wrong time and we all have differing views, but I like to get them playing with rags/lures early just as a game and once they realise its fun to chase (only a few yards and it can be a bit of rag on a piece of string to start with in the garden or home) its a good first stepping stone no rush just do a little at a time and see how he progresses the main thing is to make it fun at the beginning for him.

 

[wild whippies]

I do feel if you want strengthen a developing youngster the best way is through free running because they aren't under any duress to over-exert themselves. However, we do have 'rules', them being the dogs do not sprint in different directions to one another, they do not come running full pelt at us and they get read the riot act big time if they try to nobble each other whilst running. I do feel letting youngsters fool around with other dogs has the potential to form bad habits but I also believe that you can free run dogs together providing all concerned know how to behave. The problem with free running your own dog with other people's though is you can never quite know how the other dog will behave.

Lure play and ragging I think was mentioned to you last time you posted so I expect you've been doing this. The thing I find overwhelming about non-peds is the desire to please you and I believe that so long as you praise them, then those of sound character will chase that lure so long as you show them that it's what you want them to do. This may involve you looking like a loon as you dance about with tea towels / carrier bags /cuddly toys etc but it will be worth it. When you start at your club, keep this praise going, it is a personal vex I have seeing folk put leads back on their pups straight after running, take your time, if your club's a decent one they'll expect it.

Whilst I've posted my own advice, I do agree with Ditto, you'll get lots and they can be conflicting but I don't think you can't go far wrong with having a good perception of your dog and how it will behave in a given situation. This should help more than anything when making decisions on your youngsters training. Good luck! :luck:

 

[Nubian]

Thanks for that Wild Whippies!

I will definitely get him on the rag soon. But as for getting your dogs to behave themselves and not nobble each other when they are tearing around 100 metres away for me sounds like hard work

 

[wild whippies]

It would be and you can't possibly exercise any kind of discipline when the dogs are so out of your range. I have some peds like this and they're not allowed to free run with other people's dogs for this reason. It's not because I worry that they'll 'play' with other dogs, more a matter that I worry they'll get attacked and I won't be close by to intervene. They're angels on the track but drive me insane free running because they go tone deaf beyond 50yds and I have to be on their case to stay close by ALL the time! :wacko: