----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Wolf <[log in to unmask]>

> Celt is now about 10 months.  The other day I came home and went into
the
> house and did not see either Celt or Frog.  When I looked out the
window they
> were playing on the other side of the house.  I was disturbed that
they did
> not notice that someone had driven up the drive and entered the house.
I
> realized that although Celt does a lot of looking around neither dog
alerts
> us to cars arriving.
> Is this an age thing that will develop later?  Is there a way that we
can
> encourage more of this alertness.

Maybe it's age-related in some dogs.  My dogs alert to visitors, and
have since they were tiny.  I always know when my husband is going to
arrive home at least a full 30 seconds before he pulls into the
driveway.  I've often wondered what they're picking up on, when his car
hasn't even come over the hill in front of our house yet but the dogs
*know* he's on his way, and they're always right.  (He doesn't work
fixed hours, so it isn't a routine/ time of day thing, it's clearly
related to his car).

Raven has been going through her Junior Protector stage the past several
months (she's just one year now).  When we're out somewhere, she'll
greet everyone nicely and then settle into guard mode:  any late
arrivers (on the soccer sidelines, or to herding class, or whatever),
are alerted to with a hard stare and a low woof.  I have to acknowledge
her and greet them before she'll "turn off" the warning.

Mary Peaslee
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www.englishshepherds.net