We completed the final week of our course last weekend. I have really enjoyed our classes together, spending quality time dedicated to training. It is very different when you’re training in a class with your own dog. During the final session we completed Settle; Four paws on the floor (not
Zeke loves his food. Yes, he is a Labrador, but he really does thrive on his four meals a day. I haven’t moved him to three meals yet. Mainly because there’s no rush for convenience as I’m with him all day, but also because the amount of food he has
We’ve been practicing settling this week. Not only because I’ve had lots of virtual meetings, or that I need some peace myself from time to time, but because it’s part of our class homework. Zeke sees his crate as a safe place and he will often take himself off to
Puppy teeth are sharp! Zeke has the double whammy of being a puppy, and a Labrador. All puppies explore the world through their mouths. They also grow a mouthful of adult teeth in one go (ouch). Chewing relieves the pain. I’ve been dodging the excited teeth, the tired teeth, and
We attended our first puppy training session last week. There were four dogs in the class, with screens in place to help the puppies concentrate. A mat to mark the place to put your dog’s settle bed, and a chair for the human. Zeke and I were next to a
Oh the joy to be back on my lovely laptop, the poor thing survived a coffee spill last year (half a mug all in the keyboard). And then last month I dropped it, it landed on the plug and shattered the screen. But… with the kind help from an IT
The sunshine brings back such happy memories of being on the beach with Jake, Leo and Truly. I still miss them enormously, and think of them daily. Little mundane activities trigger memories of picnics and holidays. I try to focus on the good times we had, rather than thinking about
I’ve been building up time when Zeke spends time alone. Every morning he goes into the garden, has breakfast, has a play, garden, then has a nap in his crate downstairs. This is when I leave him and take the opportunity to shower and dress. I don’t hear a peep
Zeke has been doing really well out and about. I’ve been introducing him to people we know as it’s easier to manage the situation than telling a stranger how you want them to interact with your dog. I ask friends and neighbours not to greet Zeke unless he has four
Yes, it’s training terminology. It actually means ‘becoming used to something’, a rather grandiose term. I’ve been getting Zeke ready for his first steps into the big wide world outside of the back garden. Every day I’ve been building up Zeke’s exposure to his harness and lead, initially letting him
