Ex-Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Board

Sadie arrived at our house on 15th February 2008 aged around eight months and we would not be without her. Our dog Gemma is nine years old and loves her and who has been given a new lease of life with Sadie in the house. Sadie has a few problems i.e. she loves us but hates strangers and will eat them for breakfast. We have three cats, our older cat doesn't blink an eyelid and carries on as she did before but the other two are taking longer to come round. Sadie is still being toilet trained. We are working on these problems all of which are not insurmountable, it will just take time. You can view pictures of Sadie in the Message Board Gallery. Will write more later.
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04.05.2008 We asked Gail from WAC&DTS (07723041921) who is a dog trainer what we could do to help Sadie. Gail came down to see Sadie and true to form Sadie showed Gail how not to behave with visitors. However, during her one hour visit with us Sadie was sitting next to her, then they went for a walk together and Sadie came back without her muzzle on and even gave her a lick. Sadie fell asleep all aggressiveness gone which was amazing. Sadie did, however, go back to form with Gail upon waking up because she had obviously forgotten her good turn around during her nap but soon came round again.

We now go training lessons at Widegates Cornwall once a week, it's held in a field when dry and in the village hall when wet, we have been lucky and have had both lessons in the field so far. Gemma our older dog has been doing all the training, which has been good for her. Sadie's initial training is not so much to take part but to watch everyone and she gets handed round to different people during the course of the training. She is amongst everybody and will even sit after a few growls with men in hats (whom she hates), so it is all positive.

With Sadie there is no quick fix, she is still aggressive when anybody come to the door but we can handle it more positively now and Sadie will eventually calm down - if they stay! She is learning to socialize with people, she has no problem with animals. In our house with us she is the perfect normal dog except for the toilet training which is still ongoing, we have never for one moment regretted having her and she is part of family.


Sadie & Gem


Sadie


Gem

Sadie at Dog Training


Not too good at stay!
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We were very suprised that she came when called
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She is getting better at walking at heal
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She not quite sure of when play times comes and all the dogs are let lose at the end of the training, as you can see!

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Next week the trainer say we try her without her muzzle on, ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Ah the command that is ignored - come here! It looks good where you are - lots of people and dogs around - perfect for letting Sadie meet new friends to chase!

she so much better Well lets say she ownly trys to bit now a few times in the lession & not all the time!
what we are scard of is shes getting use to the group ownly and not to people outside it! time will tell! its still very early days we only had her since late Feb!

Sadie turned 2 years old last week and we think at long last we may have got her house trained fingers X

Happy (belated) birthday Sadie!

If you do have any more 'presents' left then I can highly recommend baby wipes... they shift and lift everything

On Monday the 23rd Nov Sadie got a sister Mia from Gables Farm - Mia is about a year old and is a collie x jack russle more details and photos later!

OOOooooh 2 beasties in the house...we have thought about it but decided he is not quite ready for that yet. Looking forward to seeing the photos