Made it to 0620!!!!

I am slowly pushing the time to get back so that maybe, eventually I might get a lie in until 0700 hrs.  All was well this morning despite the temperatures.  It is, however, logistically interesting to get Bramble out while preventing her from saying hello to the grandcats who are now both here for Christmas. Then it's out to get the big girls out for a charge around the garden

Once inside, segregation for feeding is next - for breakfast, big girls in the utility room and Bramble in the kitchen - still trying to keep her away from the cats.  She is very good and only wants to say hello, but the grandcats don't really believe that although Baggins is his usual sanguine self.

This morning, Bramble got through to polish off Teasle's last few bits. The look on poor Molly's ears was priceless - that is usually her perk for waiting patiently for Teasle's leftovers.  I felt so bad for her that I gave both her and Teasle a few pieces out of the box!

Bramble does like to get into bed with the big girls.  Teasle is getting more tolerant of that; Molly is not quite so comfortable with it.

Bramble looks askance at the big girls sleeping in the bed.  She has learned to bark - a little early I feel.  First of all it was with Molly and Teasle who, led by Molly, tend to bark at Alistair if they see him outside the window. I can't help but feel this is not quite the idea, but that Alistair is responsible.  However, she did just have a little bark, either at her mum, or at one of the cats - I didn't see that one, just heard heard the rather sweet little bark.

...and looking rather cute :)

Good things about getting up at 6 am

...well, there is time to blog, there is a quiet house and time to write now we are a little organised.  Today,of course, there is the lunar eclipse, which is rather cool for a geek like me ;)

However, now - 0715; I can't see it, which is probably the answer to why the TV is filming it from Belfast.  I did briefly consider nipping up the hill to see if there was a better view, but with frozen roads and cars I decided that was not an option - especially in my PJs.

As I speak, the three dogs are playing happily with the toys.  Teasle is now playing with toys more than ever before.  She plays really nicely with Bramble and does set her straight, with just a nose and mouth around the paw.  In the evenings, Molly will grumble at her sometimes, especially if Bramble tries to get into bed with them. However, she mostly just gets out although they can now often be seen with the big girls in the bed and Bramble close by on the vet bed.  She also seems to be learning that evenings are calm times, not play times.  I let her in yesterday and the door was open to the front room. Bramble just set off to lie on the vet bed in the dining room where we normally sit with her and chewed gently on a toy.  However, she managed it into the bed with her mum one time.

Bramble is learning that cats are not for chasing or playing with.  On one sortie around the garden following Baggins she jumped over the leg stays under the garden table.  It was too quick for me to say 'Get over' but at least it is unlikely that we will have a problem with her jumping from the looks of things.

She now walks quite nicely on the lead and sits if not too excited.  She actually sat and waited by herself for her food, but that was a little too difficult this morning when she was hungry and I had to hold her.  Having said that, she is like her mum and not a greedy eater although she is desperate to eat Molly and Teasle's food.  Molly would grumble at her, which would teach her, but Molly's food disappears so quickly that there is no problem.  Teasle backs off and would let her eat it. I may well continue to feed them separately until she goes on to the same food.

The weather doesn't seem to daunt Bramble except in the evening when she is tired. However, we managed to reorganise the utility room last night, shutting Kiwi in her crate for the night, which she is used to; so that Molly and Teasle could stay in as it was already -5 degrees Celsius at 9 pm and we are a bit soft. They have been fine outside, with hot water bottles and heat pads but we decided it would be nice for them to remain a bit warmer.  Everyone was fine this morning.

Now on to another day, some work to do and 2 offspring home to entertain, or keep us entertained.  Happily, it means other folk to pop the pup outside although I do actually like to do it.  The highlight of the day will be the Christmas shop arriving then a family board game this evening.  Then, enough already please, bring on Christmas which should arrive with the final family members and Pom, Kiwi's sister.  It should be a fun and animal filled CHristmas.

Ready to Rumble!!!!

It started with a little playtime.

Bear Fuller intently watching the others play.

Bramble and Bear play tug of war with the makings of my next lead!!!

Teasle is very worried about the way it's all going - needs supernanny to control this lot!!!

Bear, looking magnificent after removal from the play area for a while.

Dora watching the goings on, pretending it was nothing to do with her!!!

Puppy pile!!!

Someone else's turn!

You will be pleased to know that the care bear has a new nose, and the pups' noses are all intact.

OK, so what now????

Teasle still looking worried :)

Dora leaves the fray shortly before they all go back to bed!!!

Teasle's Litter of 2010 leave home

So, Teasle's litter have now all left home.  All lovely pups with their own personality, it was lovely to see them go with their people to their families.  It did of course reduce my workload but also, having got to the stage where they were all wanting attention it is good to know that, not only are they all getting the attention they need, but I can also give Bramble the attention she needs and start her training.

Molly was the first dog I have tried to train as a gundog.  As a novice, I naturally made mistakes. Bramble is part of my family first, but as a dog with a very good working pedigree; the aim is to have my own chocolate field trial winner (I will leave the aim for a field trial winner for later ;) ).

Now the adage here is: 'Nice dog, shame about the handler' so my aims do need to be tempered with a huge splash of chocolate humour and humility!!!

However, I shall proceed, with this blog, to map out our progress with Bramble and also Molly and Teasle.

So how has it been so far?  It has been great fun.

I am mainly sticking to my rules.  Where I haven't; not only did we have the little accident blogged previously, but that continues.

Bramble has been very good.  She doesn't whine overnight but then I was fortunate to deal with that very early on and she hasn't had a home move.  We had one accident overnight, but I realised I had got cocky as she was so good at just shooting out to the loo and back in again.  The previous evening I hadn't been out with her for her last visit to the garden.  She didn't whinge to go out though.  However, she does during the day if she needs to go. Yesterday she went out through the cat flap but couldn't make it back in, so she definitely knows where to go when she is able to.  I actually settled them all at 9 pm last night and got up at 6.30 am today although there as not a peep from her; she was busy pulling plastic carrier bags into her cage to rip them up and quite happy, so things are moving in the right direction.

I discovered that teaching her to 'sit' by holding something over her head, while this worked with some pups like Columbus and Bear, she just stood up on her hind legs to reach it.  Sitting her with a hand on her rear, with treats as a reward, simply made an association between the word 'sit' and small pieces of chicken.  This had the effect of getting her very excited and looking around manically for chicken. The method that has worked is to stroke her into the sit position together with the word.  However, the best effect, not available to all, was to have all three in the garden and telling them to sit. As soon as Molly and Teasle sat, so did Bramble - it was lovely!  These are the times I kick myself and wish I had the camera - maybe we can do that today.

Bramble still spends a fair amount of time in her crate.  She has learned to come out gently and only when told although she doesn't sit before coming out yet. She now knows the way out from the dining room to the back door and when let out when she needs to go out; will go straight there.  Playtimes with Teasle and Molly have calmed down as, if she gets too excited, she goes back into her crate.  She now comes out for quite a bit of time each day, but only if I can watch her.  We have had a few incidents with my laptop cables, but she has been told a firm 'No!' and now seems to be happy with her toys, brushes and anything else she can find.

She is fed on her own still. She has to sit and is learning to 'shake a paw'.  The food is then put down and she is held, struggling, to 'wait' before she is allowed her food. This is simply another 'steadiness' exercise.  Molly and Teasle both wait to be told to eat and Bramble needs to learn for when she is fed together with them.  She already leaves her food when she hears their food being put out.  However, she does go back and eat hers well.

Here she is eating her dinner last night.  Need to get her outside and take some good photos today.

There was a close encounter with the large cat 'Baggins' the day before yesterday. She was trying to play with him like a puppy and he wasn't impressed. I told her off and put her back into her cage.  Then yesterday I spotted Baggins with her in a half nelson so I think Bramble has learned.  She has been told to leave the cats alone but is still learning.  Kiwi is much more nervous.  There was a close encounter this morning when I let Bramble out.  Kiwi was at the door wanting to come in.  Bramble was interested but didn't chase her although Kiwi just ran through.  It is surprising as, as a kitten, Kiwi held both Molly and Tosh, out old dog, at bay with no trouble.  Kiwi is getting bolder though and will sit on the chair with Bramble having a run around.

I have introduced the slip lead over the last few days.  On the first day she was not impressed.  She twirled a bit, but after a few minutes several times a day, she will walk quite nicely to heel for a few minutes at a time.  I will continue to do that for just a few minutes several times a day, both inside and outside.

Enough for now, but I intend to blog weekly from now on about how the training is all going.  Hopefully we will hear from Brambles litter siblings.  I know at least that Freddie is doing well and sitting on command - a good boy!!!

Will the real Dora now come here!!!

Bear

Dora

So Dora does come when called eventually.  Actually, she is normally the one that comes when called and just wants a cuddle. However, she does like to roll around with the others too!

Rapscallions

Bramble

...and here is Bramble looking as though she is a good girl, coming when she is called. It all goes to show that the camera does, indeed, lie :)

Bear

Here is Bear exploring the garden.  Normally he looks very smooth - but once in the garden and set upon by Dora and Bramble, he ends up with the mud all over his back!!!

...back to the Somme

So here we are, the thaw has returned the garden to Somme like proportions, but at least it is warmer.  We removed the puppy garden and redistributed the bark so that area is improved. We have put the fence around the now thawing pond for safety but am still trying to explain that to Dora the explorer who seems to be able to find her way around but not back. The worse bit is that when I am calling her and starting to panic, she just sits on the other side of the fence looking - not a word to say 'here I am' and it's not as though she is silent when she wants something!!!!

Otherwise all the pack are still growing.  Dora is only 4kg and Paws and Bramble 5kg, Columbus and Bear taxing my upper body strength with their 6kg!!! I know this because we wormed them all again today.  They will need worming at 10 weeks and then monthly until they are 6 months old when they need worming every 3 months as normal.

Paws still comes and sits at your feet until he is picked up for a cuddle. Once he has had a substantial cuddle, he will go off for a good wander.  Columbus does his wander first and Bear likes to be carried in from the garden which is when he gets his cuddle :)  I was, as usual, without the flip camera the other day as I watched Bear's rear end slowly struggle through the cat flap to get in when he had had enough outside - it was obviously too cold for a Bear!!!! His little legs flailed around until he got purchase and made it in.  Then I opened the door for the rest :)

I also ignored my own advice the other day.  Bramble was enjoying a little play so I let her stay out while I just did a quick job.  Bless her heart, she went right to the (closed) outside door to leave a little pile :( Note to self: 'Don't leave them unattended and pop them out after a short play inside' :)

They all continue to be clean and dry overnight.  They tend to wake at about 6am but I am hoping that will extend soon - I dream of sleeping until 7am ;)  They will whinge when they need out and I put them out every 2 hours anyway so they are very good little pups.

Paws goes home tomorrow, he is going to enjoy having his own family to love him.  Some of my family have been threatening to hide him, but they are away tomorrow so he is safe.  Columbus is also looking forward to meeting his soul mate on Sunday and going off to have lots of fun.

Brrrrrrrr

Bear Fuller - 'I'm ready to go in now...please?'

Dora enjoying a cuddle :)

Pups chancing the frozen Koi Lake... using the mesh put over the area that was thawing, as a bridge :)  Don't worry, they aren't left out alone :)

The Oakham 4 at food and play

Columbus - much more sedate at lunchtime :)

...or maybe not!!!!

Paws in his favourite spot!!!

Softie...me???

Yup!!

Bear Fuller tests the strength of Heather's arms. Well, she is certainly fit,   having completed OCT at Cranwell as well as other taxing courses over the previous year; but under this pressure they are definitely beginning to give way.  I think the Bear's new family will need to do some intensive weight training over the next 10 days!!!!!  I shall keep feeding them all despite the fact that they will only grow!!!! Not sure how I will weigh them all for worming on Friday!!!

...and just look - there is Paws again, being cuddled again!!!

...see if you can spot the difference - here is Columbus...enjoying a cuddle but then ready for some more exploring :)

Now here the batteries ran out - I will be taking photos of Dora at the next playtime - and maybe even my own Bramble :)

The Oakham 4 v the Oakham 2

So the pups came in last night.  It was all rather Hansel and Gretelesque as four sets of eyes followed me from their crate.  I think Aunty Molly has been telling them stories about where the other pups have gone.  Don't worry, I have set them right :) Having fed tham at 5 and had them out several times, lastly at 9 pm; I still woke a couple of times through the night and lay awake from 5 am wondering what sort of mess I was going to find when I came down. At 6am I gave up and came down to clean and dry pups in both cages.  Cajoling them to go out was difficult but eventually we got there and had pups performing nicely in the dark while I was barked at by Molly, sleeping in the bed outside on top of the kennel box.  Teasle was inside but came out quickly.  I was later to find that their water inside the box was frozen!!!! That make our Moll one tough cookie in my book!! Certainly their hot water bottle and heat pads had cooled down - more so than when the pups were in there.  The pups certainly attacked their breakfast as you can see:

Columbus working with both paws!!

Bramble tries to get her head in. Well, she could have had her own bowl in her own cage but wasn't interested so that is her problem!!!! Hard rules for the Cameron pup!!

They all had very round bellies after the food and the last of the milk. The photos are rather blurred because they didn't remain still at any time :) Two more meals later and you will have seen in the video clips that the pups are settled now to going out to play and coming back in for more play and some rest.  Paws continues to be a laprador - preferring someone else's arms to his own 4 feet; with the eyes to go with it!!!  Dora is very similar.  She prefers to stay in the warm if you don't mind...a litter tray would suit her but we are working on that - when she does go out she likes to find a secluded spot - perhaps that is being in with all her brothers ;-)

...the feeding continues...

Here Columbus is at the left hand bowl. As you can see - he does like his food :) Maybe that is why he is quite a big lad.  Like Bear F he certainly struggles to pull his middle over the doorstep to get back in :)

Feeding Time for the Oakham 5

Here the pups come out for their lunch time feed. As you can see, they are not too bothered - it was a different story at 0630!!!  Trying to get a photo then was impossible - moving too fast between bowls, with Columbus having both paws and head in the bowl to make sure of his share - whether or not it is a fair share.....hmmm!!!!

The Oakham Five

First we have Paws - who always likes to be carried around :) Today was found happily chewing on my slippers in the utility room !!!!

...and here is Columbus, who is rather larger but just as soft...

...and here looking less than angelic - but he's lovely really :)

Dora is still aDorable, but quite feisty when she needs to be :)

Freddie is spending his last night but still making sure he gets his cuddles in between playing with the others :)

and last, but definitely not least.... Bear Fuller.  Cuddly as ever but always up for a game :)