Success!

See above: the new group photo has finally been acheived!

This took some doing; place one dog, another one moves.  And it was chilly, so Remy didn't want his semi-hairless bum touching the grass for longer than strictly necessary.

Making good use of the Premack Principle, however - by which 'life rewards' such as running off lead, chasing things, playing a game are used to reward good behaviour (so a dog is rewarded for sitting by being allowed off lead) - I persuaded the rabble to pose for their photo on the proviso that they got to charge at me and play afterwards.

Of course I had to keep the camera going for that bit...

New Picture?

Mission Updated Picture has begun.

Attempt #1 has however not gone to plan.

10 minutes spent arranging dogs; most of that spent telling Saffi to SIT; finally get everyone arranged and ask them all to wait.  Back away - Saffi comes after me.

A further 10 minutes spent arranging dogs; most of that spent telling Saffi to SIT and WAIT; finally get everyone sorted, ask them to wait and begin backing away.  Stop Saffi moving before her bum has finished leaving the ground; back away again.  S-l-o-w-l-y.

Success!

A rubbish picture.

Regrettably, although I did manage to fit all 7 dogs in the last patch of sun, it was right behind me - so half of River has been obliterated by my very dark, looming shadow.

Attempt #2 will begin tomorrow morning.

Time for a new photo soon...

Well, the lovely group shot that took me so long to get is officially out of date!

As of December 29th - incidentally also Soli's Gotcha Day, so a huge Happy 4th GD to her! - Raine joined the rabble.

Raine is a 14 month labrador X belgian shepherd (I reckon Malinois type).  She had become quite aggressive and "went for" one of her owners, and as the other owner childminds at home, it was agreed that the best thing was to rehome her.

Ray has major suspected food allergies; when she came to me she was thin, utterly flat, not herself at all (I have known this dog through work since August), and VERY toothy.

A week-and-a-bit on, she is gaining weight, the bloody poo has stopped (thank dog), and she is so much happier - and not toothy at all.  She was in pain, her hormones were wonky (only spayed on Dec 22nd), and she'd had training methods advised that were far too harsh for her (not mine I hasten to add!) - fortunately I know the trainer and have explained why, things have been taken on board.  But all of these things meant she was sore and confused so was lashing out to keep people away.

Happily though she is settled, we just have some nervous barking happening a lot - again, she is a very sensitive dog (and BSDs are highly strung dogs, although she is only 1/4 BSD it is definitely the dominant breed in her, genetics-wise) - but that is easing off as she settles in to what is a completely new way of life: dogs everywhere (she was alone before), no kids in and out, only 2 adults, walks in new and interesting places... hopefully soon we can go to the woods, assuming the ice has finally melted there (I'm not holding out hope at the moment).