Tam & co the great winter escape

[Northernraider]

Well Tam, nothing else is working, so I´ll add the thought that came to me last night when I couldn´t sleep.
The problem definitely is not you!
I think Ela has been abused in a house in the past, and associates houses with abuse - hence the cowering, hiding behind the furniture and not wanting to come back into the house from the garden. This probably also translates as a fear of any enclosed space, so she´s happiest running free so she can escape any potential abuse (in her mind).
I think it will take a dog behavioural expert to overcome this problem, I certainly have no solutions, unfortunately.
Fingers crossed you can overcome the memories of her previous (suspected) abuse.

Im not sure its specifically a house.

She does this with the van too , i cant get her in the van if not on a lead.

Its doors , and gates ...she has a problem with going through any door or gate without being led.

 

[daveinspain]

I think its sounds like any confined space frightens her, sadly.

 

[Chris]

I hope it works out with Ela Tam.

Loved following your trip as ever

 

[Val 3 dogs]

My dog is 9 months old and his recall is usually good but occasionally (out of the blue ) it isn’t So he gets off lead on walks only when there’s a group of other dogs with good recall, then pack mental means he sticks with them. Other than that he is on a 10m flexi lead or on a 20m long/lunge line. I make liver cake to chop up as treats, which he loves. I also hand fed him exclusively at one stage to up his engagement with me. I find making sure he hasn’t been fed before a walk or training session helps. I can post the liver cake recipe if you want?

Is the recipe for the liver cake on general offer? If so -yes please- I would love to have it.

 

[Val 3 dogs]

Tam, the guy I told you about last night also has a whistle training video On Youtube.
As with the name Ela must not be allowed to learn that it can be ignored.
I have always used a whistle (as well as my voice) for my dogs simply because it carries a greater distance.
I have used a "sheep dog" whistle for mine for donkey's years simply because I lived in a busy 'dog walking' area where most people seemed to use a so-called 'silent whistle'.
My thinking was how could the dogs differentiate between tbe whistle intended for them or another dog.?
With a sheep dog whistle one
could make a totally different sound.
However my latest two mastins, one of whom I have had since she was 3 weeks old (now 3 years)actually respond far better to the softer note of a different whistle I aquired recenly.

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[Northernraider]

Tam, the guy I told you about last night also has a whistle training video On Youtube.
As with the name Ela must not be allowed to learn that it can be ignored.
I have always used a whistle (as well as my voice) for my dogs simply because it carries a greater distance.
I have used a "sheep dog" whistle for mine for donkey's years simply because I lived in a busy 'dog walking' area where most people seemed to use a so-called 'silent whistle'.
My thinking was how could the dogs differentiate between tbe whistle intended for them or another dog.?
With a sheep dog whistle one
could make a totally different sound.
However my latest two mastins, one of whom I have had since she was 3 weeks old (now 3 years)actually respond far better to the softer note of a different whistle I aquired recenly.

Yeah the guy you mentioned is one of the ones i follow on YouTube. Ive seen the stuff with the whistle and im keeping it in mind

 

[The Dotties]

The greek for come is Ela


Thats how the name stuck

So what name do you call the dog by? As far as she is concerned all you do is tell her to come. She appears to be nameless.

 

[3DOM]

My old dog used to chase people on a bike.
In the end i had to take the bike of her.

I,ll get my coat.

Really hope it works out for you Tam.

 

[jumartoo]

My parents last dog, another rescue, came from a home where the boyfriend hit him with a horse whip. He was very good at recall unless you changed the tone of voice and sounded anxious. He then seemed to withdraw into himself and didn't seem to hear. If you ever raised your voice, even slightly, at him he'd curl up and actually, scream. Once he screamed so loud that their neighbour came to see what they were doing to him.

He never got out of that, but he was good at everything else.

He looked very like Ela, strangely enough.

 

[Stonemags76]

We have a Springer, & we’re determined to get a good recall. As others have said hand feeding, combined with a whistle has worked well. This book, although written for Springers, was absolutely invaluable! Molly now has excellent recall, but it took time & a LOT of patience!
Amazon product ASIN 1846891493

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[Zoobec]

Is the recipe for the liver cake on general offer? If so -yes please- I would love to have it.

 

[Zoobec]

There you go it’s a bit smelly but very cheap and a good high value treat

 

[L' Hobo]

View attachment 599506

That's Christmas Dinner down the OAP Orphan Hostel sorted for this coming year!

 

[dna]

I know absolutely nothing about dog training, but I was wondering if Ela doesn’t understand English, esp. with a Scots accent.
Does the word come have a different meaning in her ‘native‘ language, even to the point of being a word of abuse or obscenity.

I was wondering the same - if there is a Greek word that to a dog sounds the same as come but Ela associates with being mistreated

 

[Manic]

Having watched umpteen dog training videos where they always make it look so easy i have ordered a few tricks of the trade namely a slip lead and a proper long training lead rather than the made up rope ive been using till now. They should arrive on tuesday

Just my thoughts but is a slip a good idea with the training lead, or are using them separately

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[Just smiffy]

I seem to have wondered on to a crufts website….

 

[Northernraider]

I was wondering the same - if there is a Greek word that to a dog sounds the same as come but Ela associates with being mistreated

The thing is everyone is assuming that ela is greek. I left Elea beach in march 2021 and she was not there. I returned in December last year and she was . Therefore someone dumped her there. She may not be greek, she looks like a Transylvanian/Hungarian hound so who knows she may have come from there originally, she may well have spent time traveling around with someone else in a van before being dumped or she may have been in a house ....no one knows.

Also because she happened to be on a beach in greece doesn't mean everyone she encountered was Greek or speaking greek to her , the woman who neutered her was german , as was the guy in the blue and white sprinter that fed her and the other dogs daily , and the guy who tried to take her but said he couldn't cope with her ..they probably all used komm or kommen sie , then there were french , dutch , brits , you name it .... who all probably used their own language or just beckoned to her.

We will never know her past or history its just all speculation. When i first met her i never knew anything about the germans in her life before me till i met Diana in the vets. Even her age isnt exact one vet said 18 months another said 11 months

She wasn't there in march last year or I'd have seen her , even at 1 year old in December that means she spent at least 6 months somewhere else with whoever. She was in far too good condition to have been stray that length of time.

I called her Ela because jackie and i had thought at first she's in greece therefore she's greek but im hindsight that isnt necessarily true.

She knows her name. She just chooses when to ignore it.

On a few videos ive watched trainers have shown that really the word "come" means nothing to a dog ...its tone and association that counts . One showed how she changed the come command to octopus and the dog still came.

So im not sure its the word its just shes been allowed to ignore the command .

Mostly because i try to run before i can walk . I need to start from scratch with a lead attached everytime i ask her to come so i can enforce it otherwise she chooses to ignore knowing i can't make her.

 

[Northernraider]

Just my thoughts but is a slip a good idea with the training lead, or are using them separately

The slip and training lead get used at different times. The slip is for walking mainly when i want her to not pull , not jump and for initial recall. Once she comes on that lead i can progress to the longer training lead.

And the training lead gives her doggy time outside of training so she can snif and explore etc but still be controlled. A substitute for total freedom at the minute

 

[125BEER]

I am one of the ones who you said shouldn't comment, and I know nothing about dog training, but do you think trying a few Greek words might help she may know what you mean then.
I am being serious, if she already knew some Greek commands, you might be saying something that means quite the opposite to what she knew.

Come in greek=ela.....

 

[reckless]

I realise how hard it's going to be for you Tam, with 2 other dogs and a lot of other stuff going on also. Once again here we all are with the best of intentions, suggestions coming at you every which way.
One thing I remember from training was don't overuse her name. A different clear word or sound (indicator if you like) for each desired outcome. I'm sure you know that.
We've also noticed Roly has taken to reacting to hand/body signals - if she feels like it. We didn't teach this, she just picked it up. After all they teach deaf dogs! So I don't think Ela=come in Greek is necessarily relevant? I hope you find a good behaviourist who can help.
I won't comment further but continue reading with fingers crossed.

As for the liver cake Zoobec what a mess it makes of the blender I made it once, felt like Hannibal Lecter never again!!

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[jumartoo]

When we lived at Totana, we used to take the lovely Lola out with us walking. Sometimes she would just switch off and ignore us, even back away from us. BUT ... she learnt "do you want a biscuit" and if we said those words she changed totally and ran back to us.

You need to find something Ela loves and get her responding to a word/words/whistle associated with that.

I do think a few sessions with an expert will be beneficial, and help you to work out just what you need to do.

I wish you the best of luck

 

[gpat]

The thing is everyone is assuming that ela is greek. I left Elea beach in march 2021 and she was not there. I returned in December last year and she was . Therefore someone dumped her there. She may not be greek, she looks like a Transylvanian/Hungarian hound so who knows she may have come from there originally, she may well have spent time traveling around with someone else in a van before being dumped or she may have been in a house ....no one knows.

Also because she happened to be on a beach in greece doesn't mean everyone she encountered was Greek or speaking greek to her , the woman who neutered her was german , as was the guy in the blue and white sprinter that fed her and the other dogs daily , and the guy who tried to take her but said he couldn't cope with her ..they probably all used komm or kommen sie , then there were french , dutch , brits , you name it .... who all probably used their own language or just beckoned to her.

We will never know her past or history its just all speculation. When i first met her i never knew anything about the germans in her life before me till i met Diana in the vets. Even her age isnt exact one vet said 18 months another said 11 months

On a few videos ive watched trainers have shown that really the word "come" means nothing to a dog ...its tone and association that counts . One showed how she changed the come command to octopus and the dog still came.

Absolutely. Dogs dont do languages. We have two dogs. One is called Honey. I can say shunny, bunny, funny, dunny or even big variations like donny, Bobby etc. and she comes running. They seem to recognise the number of syllables....well sort of...but like you say the intonation is everything.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Indeed, my remaining dog is called Rudy, but for some reason I call him Bob sometimes, but he knows what's going on and comes back. Don't get hung up on changing words, names etc. In December I call him Rudolph, he still gets it!

 

[Northernraider]

Sometimes youd think she didn't like me , then other times .....

Big clumsy oaf sent my glasses flying though wanting her belly rubbed

 

[Northernraider]

Indeed, my remaining dog is called Rudy, but for some reason I call him Bob sometimes, but he knows what's going on and comes back. Don't get hung up on changing words, names etc. In December I call him Rudolph, he still gets it!

Yeah i only call her ela when im calling her etc ... other times its mou mou , jade gets called paddles , and Milo is dilo ...they all have nicknames i use when im just talking to them for my benefit

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[TUCANO]

Great photos but who is training who here

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Love the lapdog pictures, I think she is just confused at the moment, hopefully you can unravel it. I've only had dogs from pups, even then they can take a while to find their feet (place) and that's knowing not much could have happened to them in the first 8 weeks of their lives.

 

[Northernraider]

The other new thing that has started is when i go to put a lead on her in my mum's house she wees on the floor
Never ever did that in the van

 

[rolosroller]

The other new thing that has started is when i go to put a lead on her in my mum's house she wees on the floor
Never ever did that in the van

Think she's taking the piss

 

[Janine]

The other new thing that has started is when i go to put a lead on her in my mum's house she wees on the floor
Never ever did that in the van

That sounds like anxiety.

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