Rodders and I left for puppy class and he whimpered a bit in the car to start with, this is becoming a bit of a habit :-(
When we got there Juno was waiting and we could see Tinker still in the car (her owner has another dog that does the class before). Molly joined us in the car park and just as the class began Molly's brother joined us. We also got to see Tarka to find out how she got on at the next level class - it was much harder apparently.
Sam joined us and she greeted all the puppy's, Rodders even seemed pleased to see her! We all swapped puppies and after a quick look to see where I was Rodders was happy to accept treats and fuss from other people. He was still pleased to come back to me though.
We went straight out to the field as it was very sunny and bright (flipping cold though!) with Rodders and I in the front. He was walking nicely to heel until we got to the field and then wanted to run and sniff. This could be because he is a bundle of energy or it could be because I usually allow him freedom on fields so I am going to try a couple of things: 1. We will do a walk before Puppy School next week to make sure he has got rid of the excess energy and 2. At least one walk a week on the field will be on his normal lead.
We were all walking around some posts to heel and he was still being a monkey but we had to stop and clear up as he pooped. By the time we caught up we were doing heel & down rather than heel and sit. He did OK at this and was going in to the down position better than he had been.
We then played with tuggy's and I was having to say no and check him two or three times before he would give up his toy so Sam came and showed me how she would do it. Rodders nearly went in to the next field! It would appear I need to be tougher. But after Sam had checked him he wasn't too interested in the toy and wanted to eat mud and rabbit poo. Another thing I need to practice when we are on the rugby field.
We then tried recall by making the puppy's sit, wait and then come. Rodders wouldn't wait until Sam stood on his lead but when asked to come he couldn't wait to get to me for a treat. We did this twice and he was as bad both times.
We then did a bit more heel work before going on to down and stay. He did a little better at this but I was only ever a lead length away and didn't let go.
We then heeled over to the agility course but we were running out of time so we only did the A Frame and the tunnel. Neither were a problem but it would be better if he would wait at the start of the tunnel without Sam having to hold him.
As we were walking back at the hall I was chatting with Sam and telling her about our week. She thinks that all the extra socialisation is working well and she can see how much more confident he is. She also thinks that him getting bolder may mean that he is testing his limits and I need to be a little firmer with him.
We got back in to the hall and he did a good sit and wait at the door. Once inside he went in to down as we wrapped up but when everyone else made their way back to the door he was happy to stay where he was!
I did get him to come out and got him in to the car and for the first time in days he wanted his treat. On the way back I ran in to the little Tesco for bread and milk and left him in the car. He was silent until I got back in and then gave a few squeaks to make sure I knew he was there!
Back home he has had a quick play, has eaten about half a bowl of kibble, has been in to the garden twice and is now having a snooze.
Showing posts with label check. Show all posts
Showing posts with label check. Show all posts
Friday, 9 December 2011
Friday, 2 December 2011
Week 5 of puppy school
Just before we left for puppy school I managed to get the final bits of ice out of the freezer, cleaned up and switched it back on. It has taken 24 hours and I suspect that half the stuff in the cool box will now need to go to the tip :-(
Rodders asked to go out in to the garden just as I was about to get my coat and wellies on so I was able to do it in peace. Once in a slipped his lead on and we went out to the car. For some reason he cried for the first five minutes today.
Once there we spotted a new puppy in the car park, a 12 week old red setter called Juno, so we went over to say hello. This is his first week out on a lead so he was happy to see another puppy and kept batting Rodders with his paw. Rodders didn't seem to mind! Tarka joined us and then Tinker. Sam finished with the previous class and called us in to the hall, just as we were doing sit and wait at the door the little black cocker spaniel that Pete brought to class a couple of weeks ago joined us but this time with her owner.
To start with we just had the dogs sat with us while Sam introduced Juno and his opener. We then made our way out to the car park again and swapped puppies and handed out treats. Rodders still spends half his time looking to see where I am, possibly because the other puppies treats are too big for him, but he is getting better.
Then it was on to the field for some heel and sit and heel and down, Rodders still doesn't like going down and as the class wore on he was getting a bit snappy so earnt a good few checks. He did much better at slalom through the other dogs but is easily distracted and moves out of sit. When we moved on to playing with their tuggies and practicing leave he was a bit of a monkey and Sam thinks we need to move on from the puppy lead this week to have more control. She thinks we should also practice this at home with his lead on.
He didn't do so well at sit and wait out on the field today and Sam had to hold him while I walked away. We didn't even try sit and stay as he was being such a monkey so he had to be held in the down for about 5 minutes while the other puppy's did it (apart from Juno, bit much at a first lesson!)
We moved on to the agility course and Rodders did great at the jumps, the tunnel (which he loves) and the A Frame (much more confident this week) so we could have an agility dog in the making!
We walked back to the hall with the puppies at heel before doing the down command again. Rodders was better at this by the end of the day but we are going to need to practice this too. This was Tarka's last week at Puppy Class and she moves on to the lesson before us from next week.
Sam mentioned that his sit and wait at the door is much better and can see that we have been practicing. She also said there are some great pictures at the vets from Wednesday night and we had a laugh about Appa holding off the other dogs.
Back in the car Rodders was fine on the way home.
Rodders asked to go out in to the garden just as I was about to get my coat and wellies on so I was able to do it in peace. Once in a slipped his lead on and we went out to the car. For some reason he cried for the first five minutes today.
Once there we spotted a new puppy in the car park, a 12 week old red setter called Juno, so we went over to say hello. This is his first week out on a lead so he was happy to see another puppy and kept batting Rodders with his paw. Rodders didn't seem to mind! Tarka joined us and then Tinker. Sam finished with the previous class and called us in to the hall, just as we were doing sit and wait at the door the little black cocker spaniel that Pete brought to class a couple of weeks ago joined us but this time with her owner.
To start with we just had the dogs sat with us while Sam introduced Juno and his opener. We then made our way out to the car park again and swapped puppies and handed out treats. Rodders still spends half his time looking to see where I am, possibly because the other puppies treats are too big for him, but he is getting better.
Then it was on to the field for some heel and sit and heel and down, Rodders still doesn't like going down and as the class wore on he was getting a bit snappy so earnt a good few checks. He did much better at slalom through the other dogs but is easily distracted and moves out of sit. When we moved on to playing with their tuggies and practicing leave he was a bit of a monkey and Sam thinks we need to move on from the puppy lead this week to have more control. She thinks we should also practice this at home with his lead on.
He didn't do so well at sit and wait out on the field today and Sam had to hold him while I walked away. We didn't even try sit and stay as he was being such a monkey so he had to be held in the down for about 5 minutes while the other puppy's did it (apart from Juno, bit much at a first lesson!)
We moved on to the agility course and Rodders did great at the jumps, the tunnel (which he loves) and the A Frame (much more confident this week) so we could have an agility dog in the making!
We walked back to the hall with the puppies at heel before doing the down command again. Rodders was better at this by the end of the day but we are going to need to practice this too. This was Tarka's last week at Puppy Class and she moves on to the lesson before us from next week.
Sam mentioned that his sit and wait at the door is much better and can see that we have been practicing. She also said there are some great pictures at the vets from Wednesday night and we had a laugh about Appa holding off the other dogs.
Back in the car Rodders was fine on the way home.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
A late breakfast
All Rodders wanted to do this morning was sleep, up on the sofa with me, on his new bed pad, on the landing, on the bathmat, on my bed, on my knee.
He has had a couple of short bursts of play but it has really been sleep, sleep and more sleep.
At 9.45 I thought this was madness so I woke him up, popped his lead on, grabbed my coat and put on my wellies. This seemed to motivate him and we got out the door. He walked nicely to the Nicky Line but does bark at everyone he see's even if he does keep walking! We headed towards the rugby field and I swapped leads so that he could have a run about. He has a new game, dancing right in front of me! He was also on the hunt for treasure and found a McDonalds coffee cup that was huge and pranced about with that for a while, he also wanted to go and chase crows and to go and play with a greyhound. I wonder where he would be off to if he wasn't at the end of a lead! Generally he does come when called and will wait if asked, but with other distractions I am not so sure!
He sat and waited as I swapped leads as we came off the rugby field and had to be checked a couple of times to remind him that he still needs to walk to heel.
Back home he had a quick play before eating more than half of his breakfast and then asked to go in to the garden.
He wasn't ever so happy when I interrupted his play out there to hang out some washing but has come back inside to play with his yoghurt pots and to beat up teddy.
He has had a couple of short bursts of play but it has really been sleep, sleep and more sleep.
At 9.45 I thought this was madness so I woke him up, popped his lead on, grabbed my coat and put on my wellies. This seemed to motivate him and we got out the door. He walked nicely to the Nicky Line but does bark at everyone he see's even if he does keep walking! We headed towards the rugby field and I swapped leads so that he could have a run about. He has a new game, dancing right in front of me! He was also on the hunt for treasure and found a McDonalds coffee cup that was huge and pranced about with that for a while, he also wanted to go and chase crows and to go and play with a greyhound. I wonder where he would be off to if he wasn't at the end of a lead! Generally he does come when called and will wait if asked, but with other distractions I am not so sure!
He sat and waited as I swapped leads as we came off the rugby field and had to be checked a couple of times to remind him that he still needs to walk to heel.
Back home he had a quick play before eating more than half of his breakfast and then asked to go in to the garden.
He wasn't ever so happy when I interrupted his play out there to hang out some washing but has come back inside to play with his yoghurt pots and to beat up teddy.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
The devil woke up
So, after a very nice snooze on his new bed bed, the puppy that woke up appears to be a different one to the one that fell asleep!
Instead of the lovely, well behaved puppy that I started with I seem to have a little devil! But the little devil can be quite funny too!
He woke up and sneakily started to bite his new bed pad and when I stopped him from doing that he tried to bite me :-( His lead has been put back on for a while to see if we can stop that. I have put the bed pad back in the crate for now.
He then saw his yoghurt pot and went bouncing off after it and played for a while with that. Next he tried to get the bed pad out of the crate, luckily he can't do that as it is quite a good fit. But we do have to stop him biting it.
We have played fetch with his ball until he got bored, he has tried to bite me and been checked a few times, he has tried to eat cables and been given a firm no and he is still bouncing off the walls. I do hope he is still like this when OH gets here!
So it would appear that sleeping on snuggle fleece or on my lap does not give him a proper rest and this new bed pad is very much needed. Maybe even his bed itself is now too small, honestly I haven't seen him this lively in a couple of weeks.
Instead of the lovely, well behaved puppy that I started with I seem to have a little devil! But the little devil can be quite funny too!
He woke up and sneakily started to bite his new bed pad and when I stopped him from doing that he tried to bite me :-( His lead has been put back on for a while to see if we can stop that. I have put the bed pad back in the crate for now.
He then saw his yoghurt pot and went bouncing off after it and played for a while with that. Next he tried to get the bed pad out of the crate, luckily he can't do that as it is quite a good fit. But we do have to stop him biting it.
We have played fetch with his ball until he got bored, he has tried to bite me and been checked a few times, he has tried to eat cables and been given a firm no and he is still bouncing off the walls. I do hope he is still like this when OH gets here!
So it would appear that sleeping on snuggle fleece or on my lap does not give him a proper rest and this new bed pad is very much needed. Maybe even his bed itself is now too small, honestly I haven't seen him this lively in a couple of weeks.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Took a while
It really did take a while for Rodders to wake up this morning. Even when we went upstairs for me to get washed and dressed he wasn't interested in his Kong for ages and wanted to curl up on the bath mat. Eventually he ate the easy stiff, the kibble that had fallen out of the Kong. This is what was left from his supper last night and the first thing he has eaten, apart from treats, sine 6pm last night.
It did seem to perk him up and by the time we moved in to the bedroom to get dressed he was getting livelier. Getting dressed was interesting as he was trying to catch my clothes.
We came downstairs and he had a quick play in the conservatory before asking to go out in the garden for a poo. Once he was back in we got ready to go for a walk. As soon as my coat went on he started jumping up and getting excited but did contain himself so that I could get my wellies on without him knocking them over.
Once outside he spotted Adam and started to bark, he seemed quite keen to get to him but once we got close he hid behind me until he felt a bit braver and came out for a sniff. He so wants to greet people and he is getting braver, but there is a little bit of him that wants to hide still. No doubt he will get there.
We were joined by another neighbour, who got barked at as well, and she and I walked with Rodders to the mini roundabout before parting company. Rodders did bark at another lady as she passed us, she thought it was funny, I thought it deserved a check.
We got to the Nicky Line and turned right towards the rugby field. Rodders walked to heel a lot of the time, stopping to sniff but coming when called, even when he could hear lorries and air brakes. This is huge progress!
We walked the length of the rugby field and just as we were about to move on to the field itself OH called so I stood still while I talked to him and let Rodders have a sniff about. When I hung up we walked to the field and swapped leads.
I spoke to Nicci at Puppy Party last night and explained that I wasn't happy to let him off lead yet. A) Because I am not sure of his recall and B) If he didn't come back he isn't micro chipped yet. But he is desperate for some freedom and wants to run about. We talked about using the extendable lead and she talked about the pro's and cons and suggested that he is walked to a park or field on a normal lead and we then swap to let him have some freedom. We can also practice recall that way.
So today was his first time on the rugby field with his extendable lead and he loved it. To start with he didn't realise that he could get further away from me than normal and it was a bit of a shock when he realised I wasn't beside him. For a little while he would just stop behind me and wait to see how far I would go. I would then call him and he came running for a fuss and he would then try it again. Sometimes he wouldn't come straight away to see what I would do, he didn't take his eyes off me.
Once he got the hang of it he was happy to run about sniffing things and then running to catch up and get past me. As we came down the third side of the field he spotted a man on a bike on the path and started to run towards him barking. I locked the lead and called him, as he turned and came back towards me I let the lead recoil and we carried on down the field and did the fourth side before swapping back to his normal lead and heading for home.
He had a quick play while I grabbed something to eat but has now curled up on snuggle fleece at my feet.
It did seem to perk him up and by the time we moved in to the bedroom to get dressed he was getting livelier. Getting dressed was interesting as he was trying to catch my clothes.
We came downstairs and he had a quick play in the conservatory before asking to go out in the garden for a poo. Once he was back in we got ready to go for a walk. As soon as my coat went on he started jumping up and getting excited but did contain himself so that I could get my wellies on without him knocking them over.
Once outside he spotted Adam and started to bark, he seemed quite keen to get to him but once we got close he hid behind me until he felt a bit braver and came out for a sniff. He so wants to greet people and he is getting braver, but there is a little bit of him that wants to hide still. No doubt he will get there.
We were joined by another neighbour, who got barked at as well, and she and I walked with Rodders to the mini roundabout before parting company. Rodders did bark at another lady as she passed us, she thought it was funny, I thought it deserved a check.
We got to the Nicky Line and turned right towards the rugby field. Rodders walked to heel a lot of the time, stopping to sniff but coming when called, even when he could hear lorries and air brakes. This is huge progress!
We walked the length of the rugby field and just as we were about to move on to the field itself OH called so I stood still while I talked to him and let Rodders have a sniff about. When I hung up we walked to the field and swapped leads.
I spoke to Nicci at Puppy Party last night and explained that I wasn't happy to let him off lead yet. A) Because I am not sure of his recall and B) If he didn't come back he isn't micro chipped yet. But he is desperate for some freedom and wants to run about. We talked about using the extendable lead and she talked about the pro's and cons and suggested that he is walked to a park or field on a normal lead and we then swap to let him have some freedom. We can also practice recall that way.
So today was his first time on the rugby field with his extendable lead and he loved it. To start with he didn't realise that he could get further away from me than normal and it was a bit of a shock when he realised I wasn't beside him. For a little while he would just stop behind me and wait to see how far I would go. I would then call him and he came running for a fuss and he would then try it again. Sometimes he wouldn't come straight away to see what I would do, he didn't take his eyes off me.
Once he got the hang of it he was happy to run about sniffing things and then running to catch up and get past me. As we came down the third side of the field he spotted a man on a bike on the path and started to run towards him barking. I locked the lead and called him, as he turned and came back towards me I let the lead recoil and we carried on down the field and did the fourth side before swapping back to his normal lead and heading for home.
He had a quick play while I grabbed something to eat but has now curled up on snuggle fleece at my feet.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Quite a walk
Rodders did his usual somersaults when I put my coat on and it was tricky getting my wellies on when he was jumping up and knocking them over but we were ready for our walk after about 5 minutes.
It took 3 attempts to get him to sit and wait at the door but we got there and could get on our way. We headed to the Nicky Line and then headed right to run parallel with the Rugby field. We walked right to the top and then on to the field itself. Rodders was very happy and so we walked two sides of it before coming back via the road. He sat down twice and lay down once on the Nicky Line but walked all the time in the field.
I have been trying to get him to walk to heel on the roads but giving him a little more freedom on paths and fields. Coming back today he was getting spooked by the traffic and I had to keep stopping him and making him sit as he was almost strangling himself trying to run ahead. He did eventually get the hang of it and I only needed to do gentle checks. He did sit and wait as we crossed the roads so we are getting somewhere.
Once home we had the same problem getting him to sit and wait at the door, 3 attempts. He then came in and ran around like a nutter for 5 minutes, behind chairs over carpets and back. He then collapsed at my feet on snuggle blanket and has been there for almost two hours.
I am not too bothered as I think Skevi will be in soon and I need him rested for Puppy Party tonight at the vets.
It took 3 attempts to get him to sit and wait at the door but we got there and could get on our way. We headed to the Nicky Line and then headed right to run parallel with the Rugby field. We walked right to the top and then on to the field itself. Rodders was very happy and so we walked two sides of it before coming back via the road. He sat down twice and lay down once on the Nicky Line but walked all the time in the field.
I have been trying to get him to walk to heel on the roads but giving him a little more freedom on paths and fields. Coming back today he was getting spooked by the traffic and I had to keep stopping him and making him sit as he was almost strangling himself trying to run ahead. He did eventually get the hang of it and I only needed to do gentle checks. He did sit and wait as we crossed the roads so we are getting somewhere.
Once home we had the same problem getting him to sit and wait at the door, 3 attempts. He then came in and ran around like a nutter for 5 minutes, behind chairs over carpets and back. He then collapsed at my feet on snuggle blanket and has been there for almost two hours.
I am not too bothered as I think Skevi will be in soon and I need him rested for Puppy Party tonight at the vets.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Chewing, biting, walking
Once Rodders came in from the garden he was being a little horror, chewing the rolled up carpet and then trying to bite me when I said a firm no. I put the lead on him to make it easier to check him and he carried on trying to bite my arms or legs. So he kept getting checked.
This doesn't seem to bother him much and he rolled over on to his back to chew the lead!
I decided it was time for a walk to try and calm him down. He was very excited when I put on my coat and wellies and it was difficult to get him to sit and wait at the door but we managed it. We followed yesterdays route to the Nicky Line and back under the bridge. He walked better to heel getting there and I managed to keep him walking past another dog without him barking or wanting to stop and play but once we had got part way down the Nicky Line he was being a little odd and kept giving the odd whimper. He has not done this before and I stopped to check he was OK and had nothing obvious stuck to him.
We didn't seem to be making much progress forward so I turned around and started to head back the way we had come but went under the bridge and followed the path to the Rugby Field. He stopped whimpering and was walking quite nicely. Once we got to the field he wanted to run and I wished that I had the extendable lead with me. It seems a bit mean that he can't have much freedom yet.
We walked towards the main road but turned left before it and headed home past Kev & Jane's. Today as we reached roads we needed to cross I made Rodders stop, sit and wait each time and this was really successful. He was also walking to heel a lot of the time but had his nose down a lot too.
When we got home I made him sit and wait before he came in the door.
Once inside he went for a quick play before having a mad 5 minutes where he was running the full length of the house, round chairs and over the rolled up carpets. He then asked to go out for another run about the garden. By the time he came back in he was exhausted and flopped on to a snuggle fleece.
This doesn't seem to bother him much and he rolled over on to his back to chew the lead!
I decided it was time for a walk to try and calm him down. He was very excited when I put on my coat and wellies and it was difficult to get him to sit and wait at the door but we managed it. We followed yesterdays route to the Nicky Line and back under the bridge. He walked better to heel getting there and I managed to keep him walking past another dog without him barking or wanting to stop and play but once we had got part way down the Nicky Line he was being a little odd and kept giving the odd whimper. He has not done this before and I stopped to check he was OK and had nothing obvious stuck to him.
We didn't seem to be making much progress forward so I turned around and started to head back the way we had come but went under the bridge and followed the path to the Rugby Field. He stopped whimpering and was walking quite nicely. Once we got to the field he wanted to run and I wished that I had the extendable lead with me. It seems a bit mean that he can't have much freedom yet.
We walked towards the main road but turned left before it and headed home past Kev & Jane's. Today as we reached roads we needed to cross I made Rodders stop, sit and wait each time and this was really successful. He was also walking to heel a lot of the time but had his nose down a lot too.
When we got home I made him sit and wait before he came in the door.
Once inside he went for a quick play before having a mad 5 minutes where he was running the full length of the house, round chairs and over the rolled up carpets. He then asked to go out for another run about the garden. By the time he came back in he was exhausted and flopped on to a snuggle fleece.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Back home
Once we came in Rodders had a mad 5 minutes running about all over the place before asking to go in the garden. Isn't it strange how a walk seems to have this effect on him!
He was happy running about the garden and found his strawberry for another chew before spotting Bob and Pat going out. They deserved a bark of course! Bob and Pat are brilliant, if Rodders is in the garden they always stop to speak to him, even when all he does is bark in return. I went out to see what he was barking at all called him to me. As soon as he is by my side he stops barking so that we can pass the time of day and I pick him up to go and get a fuss over the fence.
He was happy to stay out in the garden and play on his own while I came back inside. I was keeping an eye on him, even once I was on the phone talking to yet another recruitment agency about a potential 6 month contract.
I was doing quite a good job at explaining my work experience but had to ask them to hold on a moment while I stopped him chewing the cover on the seat outside and brought him in. Luckily she has 10 week old kittens and knew that they could go from being good to destructive in a second! I managed to carry on talking to them while he was trying to bite me and so I also had to slip his lead on and check him a couple of times. At one point, I was carrying him about as I talked.
Eventually he was happy to go down and has now curled up on snuggle fleece. Time for me to have a look at my cv and forward it on.
He was happy running about the garden and found his strawberry for another chew before spotting Bob and Pat going out. They deserved a bark of course! Bob and Pat are brilliant, if Rodders is in the garden they always stop to speak to him, even when all he does is bark in return. I went out to see what he was barking at all called him to me. As soon as he is by my side he stops barking so that we can pass the time of day and I pick him up to go and get a fuss over the fence.
He was happy to stay out in the garden and play on his own while I came back inside. I was keeping an eye on him, even once I was on the phone talking to yet another recruitment agency about a potential 6 month contract.
I was doing quite a good job at explaining my work experience but had to ask them to hold on a moment while I stopped him chewing the cover on the seat outside and brought him in. Luckily she has 10 week old kittens and knew that they could go from being good to destructive in a second! I managed to carry on talking to them while he was trying to bite me and so I also had to slip his lead on and check him a couple of times. At one point, I was carrying him about as I talked.
Eventually he was happy to go down and has now curled up on snuggle fleece. Time for me to have a look at my cv and forward it on.
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