In the hunting dog world the term ‘pick up dog’ refers to a dog trained to retrieve fallen game, if I remember correctly, shot by someone other than their handler. My somewhat fuzzy memory also thinks the term is used to refer to the experienced retriever who would go out and retrieve birds that a younger or less experienced dog couldn’t or wouldn’t find and bring back.
Anyway, no bred retrievers or spaniels in my life at present, so no retrieving of game. Tom says he’s not a retriever, he’s a guide dog, and he doesn’t retrieve. At all.
But I have trained a pick up dog none the less. And she’s pretty damn good at it if I do say so. Both in the fields. And on Wednesdays.
Wednesdays are kid days at my house. When the mass of young nieces and nephews arrive for the day.
Zora’s assistance and willingness to be Pick Up Dog is highly valued.
The baby drops her bib somewhere challenging to reach and grab while balancing said baby in one’s arms. “Zora get it.”
Toddler chucks a wooden puzzle piece. “Zora get it.”
Another one spills blue berries all under the kitchen table. “Zora get it.” seriously, she retrieves them, without eating them. Blueberries, pasta, popcorn, crackers, cereal, carrots, peas, she’ll pick them up and bring them to me.
Crayons, legos, pacifiers, towels, bouncy balls, magnets, blocks, lolly pops. They drop it, she picks it up and brings it to me.
Have I mentioned how much I love this little dog? On Wednesdays my back adores her for sure!
Wow! Good for Zora! Even better for you!
my last rescue was a corgi from Puerto Rico… and I have to say I can’t get enough of Zora. Has she taken to herding the kids yet?
Sweet that you had a corgi as well! No she doesn’t herd the kids. she willingly plays fetch and hide and seek with them. she will politely herd my husband when she wants him to do something though it’s actually really amusing as there are many times he’s completely unaware of it. LOL she herds him to the couch, and to the back door, if he stops she gently nudges his calf, if he starts to turn the wrong way she moves into his path so he corrects. It’s hysterical but if I laugh I give her game away LOL.