Tilly the collie.

[John and Fiona]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Thank you so much for that Hemlock, we shall be implementing that game. We are certainly coming to realise and appreciate that we need to be putting in so much more effort into Tilly than we have been...and please know we already spend as many hours a day with her as we are able from 5.30am through until 9pm ish when we retire. Again, it is not a chore as such as she is so adorable and relishes activity. The vocalisations might take a bit more adjusting to however. We took her to the supermarket at first light this morning and she freaks right out if anyone comes near the car and then onto the village farm where we buy our fresh milk and vegatables from and same again...and what a strong bark they have, oh my word! Penetrating. Having said all of that, you really have given us so much more understanding and hope for the future and we will absolutely be going the extra mile with her.

Afterthought...I would just like to say guys, again perhaps more so to yourself @Hemlock we do feel a tad silly now coming here to ask for help and yet, to put you into the loop as it were, both Fiona and myself are deeply private people (yes, even though Fiona works at the local school as indeed I used to) and in honesty we are both reserved to a greater degree than most folk for sure. We just felt massively alone with Tilly and even "afraid" what on earth to do. You have given us that strength we needed, that almost "kick up the butt" and that better understanding. Yes, the more research we are doing particularly now we have added her Kelpie blood into the equation the clearer it is all becoming. Knowledge is power and good support is strength. Massive thanks dear Hemlock, massive thanks.

 

[Hemlock]

It's a pleasure! I love it when people commit to their dogs. And you are NOT silly for coming here. I used to say when I was lecturing that no question was silly - if someone wanted to ask, I wanted to answer. But always use your bullshine filter, and if something doesn't seem right to you, then it probably isn't. Nobody knows your dog better than you do.

 

[John and Fiona]

It's a pleasure! I love it when people commit to their dogs. And you are NOT silly for coming here. I used to say when I was lecturing that no question was silly - if someone wanted to ask, I wanted to answer. But always use your bullshine filter, and if something doesn't seem right to you, then it probably isn't. Nobody knows your dog better than you do.

Good morning to everyone and hoping you are all managing to keep safe and well. As promised, an update regards our Tilly. Yes, she is still a very troubled girl and progress is indeed very slow. This corona virus malarkey has certainly done no one any favours I think you would all agree? With regards to the same and Tilly we have obviously been unable to have our weekly visits to the doggy psychologist which hasn't helped. Having said that, we have been showering her with so much love and attention, games and rewards etc and slowly, slowly slowly we are starting to see a slight improvement. I guess every day she is a day nearer to that "magic" two years old and it figures she is starting to mature ever so slightly which also helps. There is not much more I can tell you all at this stage other than what I have said. We are so pleased we never gave in as we all so easily could have done which would, sadly, have meant the inevitable. She is such a massively loving dog inside, moreso than any other dog we have ever had. So much love and so many doggy snogs. All she wants to do is please, talk about intelligent. @Hemlock, Fiona plays all the little games you advised and more on top. She was out in the garden yesterday with all her agility equipment set up and she loved it...no yipping, no yapping, just solid play. It was great. OK guys, be back soon with another update. All keep safe. Love and regards to all.

 

[Hemlock]

Thanks for the update, which is very much appreciated. I admire your commitment to your dog.