But Not The End

Do I Look Grown Up?

Because of not being able to attend a suitable training class, his initial obedience training was limited to my short, intermittent attempts. I eventually joined the local club, which has to use voluntary trainers. There was a six-week wait until the start of the next course, but joining reminded me to train daily. I could only attend four of the ten classes for the first course, but to my delight Barney passed the class one test, and was the only one to do so. I attended the first four sessions of the next course, but my health problems stopped me from continuing to take part.

Can You Light This Fire Please?

I carried on training for short periods at home, going to the club just to socalise, so to my surprise and delight, Barney passed the class two test. Because of the unsuitable methods used at the club, which are inclined to make dogs aggressive, we had to stop going; I have started short sessions of obedience several time a week, and after a few weeks his heelwork is now fairly good.

Thank You!

His one weakness is he will not retrieve. He has almost no interest in toys, only being motivated by food reward. He can manage a short hold, and has retrieved a ball, but if we were to do obedience seriously, I would have to do much more hard work. To pick up an object, which he did in for the class 2 test was a real achievement.

My This Photography's Hard Work!

Barney continues to be a joy to take out, making new friends and additions to his ever-growing fan club almost daily. The last 19 months of hard work are becoming very rewarding, and he has turned into a top class dog. His main annoyance is his ability to show me up, something all dogs seem superbly capable of. He will wait until we are in the company of friends or aquaintenances, especially people in the dog training fraternity before running off; totally ignoring me. Yet if I walk around with our regular friends who know him well, he will stay close at hand for long periods with no guidance from me, yet will come instantly when I call him (unless he is eating something disgusting he has found). Another of his 'tricks' is to hide behind the bushes, or depressions in the ground, to carry out these unsavory activities.

What Do You Want Me To Look At?

The dictionary definition of a Lurcher is: "A crossbred hunting dog, especially one trained to hunt silently, usually a cross between a Greyhound and a Collie." Many-experienced Lurchermen will state a CollieX is the true Lurcher. They take to every aspect of Lurcher work like a duck to water, being naturally good at whatever is asked of them. They are hardy and courageous, and have good feet, jaw and coat. The scope of the Collie X Greyhound knows no bounds, and add the tenacity of the Bedlington and Barneys 'pedigree' shows just why he is the super dog he has turned out to be.