It’s been a busy 2025 with amazing animal experiences that I couldn’t have imagined before qualifying with COAPE. Working with Elephants and their handlers on my trip to South Africa has to be the utmost experience.
As for Zeke, he is 4 years old now, he is mature and wise with the enthusiasm of a Lab. He’s been so accommodating and taken the changes at home in his stride. We’ve added to the family with the addition of Oaken, if you don’t recognise the breed from the pic, he’s a Flatcoat Retriever.
Oaken is a quick learner. Sit and Down have been easy, recall is currently selective and hugely dependent on the availability of chicken. He will stand outside the patio doors until he knows it is available as payment. We start training classes next week, so it will be interesting to see how much he remembers in a class setting (with all of the distractions there).
Oaken is crate trained so spends a couple of hours in his crate over the day. At night he’s in a soft crate, with the roof off so it resembles a play pen. I don’t think it will contain him for too much longer, he’s getting taller and longer every week. Given he doesn’t give Zeke enough (any) personal space and tends to charge around acquiring things, mixing is closely supervised to protect their future relationship. He is a chewer, and his puppy teeth are sharp. He has an Olive Branch for teething, lots of Kong rubber toys, and a few rope toys that worked well for Zeke.
I’ve noticed daylight is holding on for longer since last week, which makes afternoon walks so much better, and the cold means little to no mud! 🥳
Until next time
Jen
