Week 11

Last week was full of despair this week is so much brighter – and mainly on the same topic!

I must say that last time I had lost all confidence in my ability to train Lewi and thought he would never learn to behave decently in public. I have spent the week working hard with him. OK neither of us can manage training sessions of more than 5 minutes at a time, but I tightened up on boundaries. I started to insist upon him sitting properly before he was allowed out in the garden. I did a bit of ignoring him when he asked to play, and then when he was sitting or laying quietly afterwards, having a good play session with him. The other thing I had noticed was that when I was praising him for doing something right it had become a rather perfunctory “Good Boy” which, of course merges into the background in doggy ears. So I started making the praise more excited. Lesson to be learnt? Yes, as I knew already, failure of the puppy to learn properly is more down to the handler than the dog. I did email the puppy class and say I wouldn't be coming this week. I was beginning to make advances, but didn't want him (me?) to experience failure again when surrounded by all the distractions of other puppies. Fran replied that it was the last week so it would be a shame to miss it, also that it is very important for him to learn in the presence of others as learning is very contextual, so I relented and decided to go but not to expect any miracles.

Wow was he a wonder!. We started off finding our seats while Fran did the usual round checking all were OK and asking if we had experienced any problems that week. Lewi laid at my feet accepting praise and treats, but (fairly) quiet. He did quite well on the first exercise, walking on a lead while another puppy was walked in the opposite direction so we passed. I must admit, I was worried about the one where we walked about then had to meet in groups in the middle of the hall, sit the dogs and get them to stay patiently while we talked to the other owners. He laid down and had that look of “he's not going to let me play so I'll sulk”. The recall was a real eye opener. Fran held him on his lead while I walked away then called him. He ran to me, not even looking at the other puppies, and acted as if he hadn't seen me in a week. Going out of a door in a controlled manner was a walk over. We have practised wait at every kerb that we have ever passed since his very first time on a walk, the sit is almost an instinctive reaction to doors now and the come at the end was hardly needed when a door is involved! All the other exercises went well. By now I was really feeling upbeat about his reactions. Brushing him was OK as we do that regularly, but I had not taken his brush and we had to borrow Diesel's and that had long hard steel bristles, so I couldn't do more than a token brushing. The early encounters with the vet brought home to me the importance of getting him used to having feet, ears, eyes and teeth examined. I was amazed when he did the stay for over a minute while I was walking about, and didn't move till I got back to him. When Fran then came round checking their name tags, I realised that this was more than just a training class, I cottoned on to the fact that the other lady there was not a new assistant. She was in fact a moderator. We had been tested. OK, so who is the slow learner in our partnership. The session ended with Fran announcing that we had passed the Kennel Club Foundation Stage, but more than that, He'd passed the Good Citizen Bronze!

So my clever, well behaved little boy has 2 certificates and rosettes. They will be scanned and put on Facebook! I'm not sure that he understood why he got so much, genuinely excited, praise from me and Fran afterwards – but why look a gift horse in the mouth?

I am very seriously considering going for Silver in the new year, though some of the exercises look nearly impossible. We are going, this Saturday, to an agility display. Not entering! Though, I must admit I fancy having a go myself. More to give Lewi an opportunity to go somewhere where there will be millions of other dogs. The theory being that he will get used to the idea and they will become less of an exciting distraction on walks for him – I can but hope.

Other Lewi news. He is continuing to lose and grow teeth, though I must confess the only signs this time are gaps appearing and filling and the occasional bout of stubbornness there have been no signs of genuine distress and pain like before, though he does seem to ignore any boneless meat, the chewing is obviously the big attraction at the moment. I think, also, that I should start spinning and weaving with the loose hair that is coming out in his brush. OK time for his midday walk.