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!!!