Water water everywhere!

Great fun last evening! Took the three girls over to Knaptoft for water training. 

When we saw the cows in the field I was uneasy and Bramble was not impressed - barked for a while, but eventually settled down.

All three were rather excited since we had not don ethis for some time but eventually settled a little.

Molly, of course was quite happy to swim or retrieve on land.  Teasle shocked me by running in and then retrieveing happliy off water since she had not been in for over a year, and that was just after she had learned, rather unwillingly, to swim.

Bramble, although she swam a few weeks ago, was excited and then reluctant. She needed a little push, then, when everyone else had finished and moved off, did three fantastic retrieves.  I think my dogs just like evryone to think I am useless and a liar! :) work nicely in the fileds for me and then misbehave when anyone from dog training is watching!! :)

Back to Training with a Vengeance!

Here we are, Toby is still with us as we haven't yet found a home good enough for him.  I am taking a lot of teasing about that!!! Toby is a super lad. Today he learned to climb the stairs and was too busy to come when called. However, a few minutes outside doing sit, stay and come and he quickly realised what was asked - to the extent that I got some nice photos too!! 

We have been falling in love with this boy. It's a shame that we can't really keep a boy with our 3 girls because I do love him so much, and he is being a dream to train.

Bramble, meanwhile, has been in need of attention. She has been growing rapidly and so looks so much older than Toby.  She loves playing with Toby and they have a great time.  However, we have been able to spend more time training and she is coming along really well.  She is very tall and slender and walks so elegantly now. I took her to the pond with Molly, thinking that Molly would get any dummies Bramble wouldn't - Teasle being a little reluctant, and Molly so keen. I need not have worried. Bramble took to it like a gundog to water! Not only did she swim on the second attempt - she was naturally a tad unsure on the first sojourn - but she brought the dummy straight to my hand and didn't bother to shake until much later on!!

Toby and Bramble

Bramble looks a bit like a cartoon dog here.  Bad angle for her - I will have to do some more photography to show how beautiful she really is!!



She is going to have a second opportunity this evening, so I hope that goes well too.

Molly is back on form.  On her first trip out to do some training, she was so happy! She has been out a few times now and is remembering what it is all about, including not having a little play whilst on a retrieve!!! Yesterday, she retrieved very well, stopping on the whistle even when she had seen a chocolate boy on his walk a few minutes earlier. She is going to love the water training this evening!!!

The boy and his mum. You can certainly see the likeness!! Toby looks much like his dad too. He certainly has his dark coat :)

Teasle has been having a little bit of the puppy food and the extra protein seems to have done her some good. She is much faster and quite cheeky recently!!!  I am hoping that will mean she will be happy to swim as previously she hasn't been too keen.  However, she is slowly getting a little quicker on the sit whistle and the recall as well as taking the hand signals more readily. 

Bramble and Teasle taking a well earned rest!!!

She is generally more willing to sit than lie down these days, but here continues to conserve her energy when in the garden!



From the left...Toby, Molly, Teasle with the usual crossed paws and Bramble.

The pack pose well...

...until Toby gets bored!!!

Having the time to spend with them all has made a great difference and I am hoping I will be able to fit in more working tests next year.  Meanwhile, the pack continues to be a great deal of fun.

From the rear and the left...Bramble, Molly, Teasle

All three were bullying the man of the house, but Molly and Bramble had the grace to stand when they heard me coming...Teasle, however, was far too focussed on Alistair's cake and stayed sitting pretty in the faint hope that he would share!!!