Roll out the carpet - Greyhound trick training

I'm learning so much through my university studies.  Sometimes it seems the more I learn, the more I realise what I don't know!  Then again, we never stop learning do we?  The same is true for our dogs - no matter what their age. Our dogs are always learning - they're like sponges - whether intentionally or unintentionally you can bet our dogs are learning something from us .

As part of my university progressive dog training module, Mina and I were to take the college tests - a mix of 10 different exercises.  The tests included 5 compulsory exercises and then 5 from a selection of other exercises, one of which was to train a trick of our choice.

At one point, I honestly thought that Mina and I would never pass the module.  Not through a lack of 'trainability' on Mina's part but due to her canine catastrophe tendencies! In June last year she had to have her toe amputated and then not long after she'd recovered from the operation, and just as we'd started training again, she split the webbing on one of her back paws.

Finally, with several injury-free weeks behind us, one of the last weekends in October proved to be a dry enough day to video the exercises.

My favourite part of the test was the trick training... I finally discovered a use for my old yoga mat as the video clip shows.




The ground was a bit lumpy and Mina got slightly distracted by a smell but as you can see, she can 'roll out the carpet'.

So, did we pass the module?  Yes! With flying colours. I'm very proud of Mina - she's 10 years old and a greyhound - living proof that you can teach an old dog and a greyhound new tricks!

I'd be really interested to know what trick, or tricks, your dogs can do or what you'd like them to do...so please don't be shy and do leave a comment.

Remember, every comment left on my February 2012 posts gets entered into our Countdown to Crufts giveaway to win* a pair of Crufts tickets.

*Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway is open to UK residents only. Prize consists of one pair of tickets to Crufts for each of the two winners (tickets are valid for the day of the winner's choice).
The winner is responsible for arranging their own transport to and from the NEC.
Closing dates for entries is Tuesday 28 February 2012
Winners will be notified by email and/;or via my blog posts 

Product Review: The Tuffies dog bed

'Dog gone tired'
Over the years I have been on the quest for the perfect dog bed for the hounds.

When Mina first came to live with us, we had one of those plastic beds that you put bedding in.  Mina never seemed that comfortable in so we then tried another type - the stuffed duvet type. They worked well and would wash up nicely but soon seemed to flatten.

Stuffed duvet type beds

Stevie flattens his stuffed duvet type bed

Donut dog beds

We then moved onto a donut or nest type bed for all 3.  The hounds seemed to like them and often Mina and Jasper would cosy on up together!

Jasper & Mina cosy up in their donut bed

However, after a wee while it wasn't long before Mina decided to take the stuffing out of them.

Mina tries to perfect her 'It wasn't me' look

After the destruction of the donut bed, we were on the look out for something more durable...

And now a Tuffies bed

At Crufts last year however, I was fortunate enough to meet Luise from Tuffies. Tuffies are, as the name suggests, 'tuff' dog beds. I don't mean the kind that are hard to lie on; I mean the sort that are designed to withstand a 35kg greyhound (and sometimes 70kg of hound, when two lie on them) sleeping on them without going flat.

Tuffies Bed

Out of all the types of beds the hounds have tested over the years, the Tuffies bed has been by far the one that they all seem to prefer.

I must admit when the bed first arrived I wondered if the hounds would get used to it. For a start, it was huge (but then again, at full stretch so are greyhounds!) and it was covered in hard wearing, waterproof material - not the soft type of bedding the hounds are generally used to.  However, I needn't have worried.

The great thing about the Tuffies bed is that it NEVER and I mean never - goes flat. With all the beds the hounds have had, after a while they all go flat. No amount of plumping them up works (with the exception of washing and tumble drying the duvets).

Stevie & Mina bookends on their Tuffies bed

You can buy Tuffies in a number of sizes and shapes. We've got a flat waterproof one, for which you can buy optional soft covers (which I keep meaning to buy but haven't got round to yet - I'll probably end up buying one at Crufts) and there's also a Tuffies Nest and a chew-proof design.

Our Tuffies bed has stayed nice and plump for nearly a year now and is really easy to clean - simply wipe it (or in extreme cases of muckyness - hose it) down.  I tend to cover the bed with a blanket as my hounds like to make 'nests' of their beds.

The only thing I have noticed about the bed is that it's noisy! How can a bed be noisy you may ask?  Well, what I mean is that when Stevie, in particular, is settling down and trying to find that just comfy spot - the bed seems to make crinkle-like noises. That said, this is my only 'complaint' (and it's so minor it doesn't really warrant a complaint - but the right word escapes me) about the bed.

In reality, the bed has been a great addition to the hounds' day and night time resting places.  I would imagine that if you have a dog that loves to get muddy and then roll on their bed that a Tuffies bed would be ideal.

You can find out more about Tuffies and their prices at www.tuffies.co.uk

The final word and picture must belong to Mina though...

Who me? On my Tuffies bed? A 'dead' reindeer toy? Never!

What's your dog's favourite place for a snooze - do let us know.

PS Don't forget, any comments left on the blog during February 2012, will be entered into our Crufts tickets giveaway.See our 'Countdown to Crufts' page for details.


*Disclaimer:
Tuffies provided me with a free Tuffies bed to test and review.  I have received no payment for writing this review and the views expressed are my own.