A new Member of the Family

[Nanto2girls]

Glad Eva had a good first day back.

[Daisy]

Today's training class was something of a red letter day for Eva (and me!). The trainer had said last week I should trust her (Eva) more and do more of the work off lead. It makes sense to take this next step while it's such a small class, so today was The Day!

So, wearing my big girl's pants, the lead was put to one side! Bless her, she did everything I asked of her. There was just one point where she wandered too far away and very close to a Leonberger. A fairly sharp "Eva" in my best bossy voice brought her back immediately! We started doing weaving between the owners' legs and she did it immediately, first go. She was very pleased with herself.

All that concentration tired her out and she's now fast asleep!

[Gemini]

Aww very well done Eva and mum!!
She needed that sleep 😊

[Daisy]

The thing I'm most pleased about Gem, is that she's enjoying the classes. We play a lot of games, which she loves, and has gone from almost never making eye contact to checking with me before we start each activity.

[Lizzie48]

Daisy, I have just read this, well done both of you! You would be pleased with what Eva was doing.

[Daisy]

I never thought I'd see this day with Eva! Our new neighbours offered to come for a walk in the Forest with us this morning and let Eva off the lead for the first time (apart from the paddock). The husband would bring his mountain bike so if she did disappear he could go after her. So we met up in a car park bright and early - it was quite nippy and we'd had torrential rain overnight, but the sun was starting to shine.

Our neighbours have a lovely Sprocker , Missy and she and Eva get on very well together. Missy has perfect recall even when she's chasing a squirrel!

I have to admit, I was very worried. We got there early and I took Eva out into an open grassy area and just dropped her lead to see if she would follow me/come back, and she did. Then our friends arrived and there were no other dogs around, or livestock, so we let her off the lead. The two dogs started to play, running round, chasing each other. Missy came straight back when called and Eva came with her! I'd given all the humans a bag of liver treats, and Missy would sell her tail for them, so she was very happy. Eva wasn't going to miss out so they both sat nicely to get what they wanted.

The river had burst its banks for the rain and she had a bit of a paddle, walking over the bridge quite happily. Then we went into fairly dense forest and they both played together and kept coming back to us. We put Eva back on the lead a couple of times, just briefly when other dogs on lead were around, but she went up to 'loose' dogs, said a quick hello and came back when called. There were times when my heart was in my mouth but she was fine.

Then suddenly Missy stopped, sitting down suddenly half in and half out of a puddle. She had 'put out' her knee joint in her left back leg. This has happened to her before, but this time it seems more serious. She hobbled very gently back to the car park, even though OH offered to carry her. She's at the vets right now, and we're all hoping she hasn't done major damage to her leg.

She's only young, and fit and very active so it will be awful if she needs an operation and long, gentle recuperation.

Eva only let herself down once when she chased after a dog with a stick, and our neighbour had to cycle after her as the other dog's owner kept walking! I should have put her back on her lead a few minutes before that, as I could see she was getting over-excited, so lesson learnt for me.

But, from Eva's point of view, it was all wonderful and you could see how happy she was. There's still a lot of learning to be done, but hopefully it was a good first free run for her.

[Gemini]

Well done Eva! She really is coming on Daisy .

I do hope poor Missy is OK.

[Daisy]

Thanks, Gem. I hope Missy is ok too. They're in training for a 10 mile Cannicross race but she'll have to drop out if she's really hurt.

[Oma]

Poor Missy I hope she is ok .
Well done Eva , I think she deserves a gold star , hopefully its the start of her settling down and the training is kicking in at last ,
She is bound to have little lapses in occasionally but on the whole you must be thrilled with her

[Daisy]

Oma - yes, I am thrilled to see her enjoying herself. Recall still needs practise but it's a start.

The vet says Missy just needs a few days of rest and then gradually building up the exercise levels slowly. We're all relieved.

[Nanto2girls]

Well done Eva. Glad Missy is ok.

[Plantaholic]

Well done Eva, sounds like a really enjoyable walk for you all, especially the dogs. I hope Missy will be okay soon with rest.

[Daisy]

Thank you everyone. It doesn't sound much, being able to let her off lead with another dog, but we have had to work on so many things to get to this stage. More practice is needed, but maybe we may even be able to let her off on her own eventually.

She slept right through yesterday, last night and most of this morning. I'll just take her round the block later as I think she's a bit stiff from all the running.

[Daisy]

Yesterday afternoon we had another 'off lead' walk in the Forest with our amazing neighbours. OH wasn't able to come because of his eye, but we thought the three of us could cope! Eva did really well, staying with Missy and coming back with her. We asked a little way along a tarmac path leading to a campsite (which is now closed for the winter). Our neighbour cycled on ahead to see what Eva would do. She ran with him, quite happily for about 500 yards then started barking and trying to round him up to come back to the "pack"! She stopped barking as soon as he turned round and headed back to the rest of us. A bit later she went off to play with a young Viszla but came back to the whistle. Then she started limping and I later found she had got a small cut on the pads of each paw. Anyway, that slowed her down a little and she's been licking her paws on and off today.

I wasn't sure about taking her to training, but decided I'd try and if she was limping I'd bring her home. She was a little bit careful, but ok, so we persevered. There was a different dog in today, his first day in the advanced class. Eva took very little notice of him, so I was really pleased - for both their sakes. Then the Leonberger and a Spaniel cross started squabbling over a toy they both wanted. The new dog started barking at them. Eva looked at me, and I said 'come one, let's get out of the way' and she quietly walked away and sat down perfectly relaxed. I was so pleased with her. Fights are very rare in class, so it was quite a shock. It was soon sorted though and peace restored.

She's coming with us to DS1’s tomorrow, but their dog, Bailey, is fairly relaxed and they don't run round madly like she does with Cooper, so hopefully her paws will be ok.

[Plantaholic]

That all sounds very good Daisy, you have done wonders with Eva. Hope she enjoys quiet play with Bailey.