Setters in Scotland

Comment by Margaret Sierakowski on January 6, 2010 at 3:38pm

http://www.scottishkennelclub.org/dogcare/training-directory.html#cen

Look at classes listed in Strathclyde, there are two or three different ringcraft classes in the Glasgow area

Comment by Dee Rance on January 7, 2010 at 3:52am

Thanks Margaret that has given me a few other types of classes to look at.. he 'the brat' is going to need more than just ringcraft classes.

Comment by Margaret Sierakowski on January 7, 2010 at 4:31am

Dee, I suspect the SKC list isnt complete, there may be more classes that are not listed here. For example Pat Dempster's excellent ring training class at Foveran , north of Aberdeen, isnt listed here. And I know of another smaller one near Elgin that isnt listed either. And that is just my local area

Comment by Margaret Sierakowski on January 7, 2010 at 4:49am

How is everybody in Scotland coping with the snow? It is pretty bad up here, and I havent been able to get out since 18th December. The dogs are now confined to the enclosed dog run outside the back door, as the snow is so deep that is is dangerous to let them out of the front door into the field. There are huge drifts on the river banks (I have 3/4 mile of river bank on my land) , so if they fell in they couldnt climb out again. No walks,so they are getting bored , and the puppies are becoming destructive , ripping up bedding and anything else they can get hold of, This week they have had my slippers, a pair of shoes , socks and a sweater! I cant blame them, and they cant be kept crated all the time, and it is too cold for them out in the run more than about 20 minutes
Any ideas for indoor games to play with bored puppies? I'm getting a bit tired of throwing tennis balls down the hall!
And now we are starting to ration dry dog food, only 45 kilos left! So I am making bread every day to mix with the dry food, and boiling up pots of rice and lentils
And it looks like this is going on for another two weeks at least. The Moray council have given up clearing the road across the Cabrach, and even even if they did, I cant get from the house to the road, not even on foot
The good news is , the power and the phones are still working, and I have plenty of fuel to keep warm. Up here , everybody lives in isolated farms and gamekeepers cottages, and everybody is cut off, but we all keep in touch, phone each other to check people are OK, and watch that lights go on after dark in the next farm or cottage. And I'm sure if somebody was ill or running out of food or fuel, the keepers would find a way to get to the house - the wife of one of the keepers had to be got to hospital on New Year's Day to have her baby, and they got her out

Comment by Ossian on January 7, 2010 at 5:26am

If you are stuck in its a great opportunity to train! I am lucky i use clicker bur even if you dont you can still play stimulating mind games (and ones that are gundog related)

you can teach go left go right, walk backwards, turn round.and touch. I use touch for "shut the door"

Name my toys, (identify the ball, the squeaky, the rabbit, the doll and once you have them identified you can play fetch the rabbit/doll/etc and then you can hide them in all sorts of places and ask for the doll, rabbit etc.

If its a show dog you can take a moment or so every day to "stand handsome" "teefies"and the one I have been pracrising is "feet".

Walk the puppy into a show stand hold the head and move the foot to show position saying feet! over a little while you will find if you walk the puppy into show stand (and have let it feel/ shown it where its feet should be) then when you say "feet" it will automatically shuffle to position.

I think its easy to think "I am stuck, there is nothing i can do" Ten minutes training in the morning and the afternoon will floor them better than any walk will.

Have you highlighted to outside agencies that you are beginning to get low on stocks?

Comment by Nicole Wilson on January 7, 2010 at 5:46am

That sounds quite like an adventure, Margaret. I hope you'll all be OK foodwise. The snow is great but when you are cut off like that you don't want it to last too long. Down here in Edinburgh it's not too bad. Some roads have not been gritted but generally it's OK to drive on them. Hopefully, you'll be able to get new supplies soon.
A good game to play with puppies I found is the hide and seek game. Hiding toys/treats/items of clothing or even feathers/wings, etc. and making them go and look for it. Or hiding an item under one out of three cups and see who gets it first. That will tire them out mentally for a while :-)
Good luck up there - thankfully you've got the internet!

Comment by Dee Rance on January 7, 2010 at 8:52am

Oh Margaret I feel for you. Having been there for many years, I know what it is like trying to make something go just that little bit longer, I was lucky where I lived although I couldn't get out with my car, I was able to walk, well hobble, down my lane (6-7 foot drifts)
Although the games that you can play with the dogs when you are actually able to get out, are nice, the dogs soon get board with them, Its thinking of something different for every day and then motivating yourself to do it, I do think that you start to go ''stir crazy'' and the complete solitude.....thank god for the phone, I used to spend most of the day on the phone. And for me the TV...I would go totally mad if I didn't have that...
There was one Christmas probably 10-12 years ago when everyone's electricity was cut off, I had all the family over it was thundering and lightening snow was coming down by the bucket full, and the overhead cables (electric) touched, blew every fuse for miles around. Christmas Dinner was soup made on the open fire, have to say it was great fun, all huddled around the fire, dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns, all very cosy, playing board games etc, we don't do enough of that kind of thing in this day and age...
Margaret I do hope things get better for you soon and the dogs don't eat too much of your house before you are ''rescued''

Comment by Margaret Love on January 8, 2010 at 4:48am

Hi Margaret - thought you might be snowed in again this year - even worse than last years weather when you were snowed in for weeks. I remember trying to get up to collect Caley & Isla and how we had to postpone it several times. I hope the food lasts and nobody gets injured like my silly boy !! Its quite bad in Glasgow too but at least i can run my pair - you must be going mad trying to find ways of occupying all your dogs and keeping your cottage together - i presume they are bored with the stag horns ....... How old are the puppies you have - who are the parents ?
We had a good day at the West Lothian show - sorry you couldnt make it down but we will hopefully see you at another show. We missed the deadline for the January show in Livingstone / Edinburgh ? but would appreciate if you or any of the other owners could send me any information you have on future shows and will definitely consider entering. Trying to organise ringcraft classes to help !!!
Hope you get out soon in the meantime take care of yourself and the dogs of course

Comment by Ossian on January 8, 2010 at 5:08am

Hi Margaret
so glad to see you on. Waverley show was cancelled this weekend so it doesnt matter but I have your address from the catalogue so will send through any interesting schedules.
Happy New Year
Stay warm and safe

Comment by Margaret Love on January 8, 2010 at 5:30am

Thanks Evie - hope the New Year is good to you too. Will they reschedule this weeks show ? would be great to get some info from you re other shows. How is Fergus ? Caley & Isla are loving the snow just now - think its because they were snowed in with Margaret during their first few months .........history repeating itself now for her unfortunately.

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