A new Member of the Family

[Daisy]

Plant - they are huge, but they pad round like gentle bears whereas Eva is like a jet propelled rocket wanting to do everything at 100 miles an hour! We play one game where they roll a large cable drum down the room. All the other dogs push it gently with their heads or paws, Eva launches herself at it sending it down the room so fast I can hardly stop it!

[Plantaholic]

Must have some greyhound in her make-up

[Nana]

Our dog doesn't take well to black dogs, which is strange because he's a black cocker with a white flash. 😂 Eva's doing terrific Daisy & so are you. Took me an age to get the click & treat thing right. I always did it the wrong way round ...treat then click when I remembered. They're treasures tho'.

[Daisy]

Plant - we often say that. She runs like a greyhound - starts of fast then shifts up a couple of gears!

Nana - it's funny how dogs perceive other dogs, isn't it. Their body language is so subtle! It took me ages to get used to using a double ended lead - one end attached to the harness and the other end either attached to the head collar or the D-ring on the chest part of the harness. I didn't know whether I was coming or going with it and neither did poor Eva!! Oh, and I still sometime don't get the click and treat sequence right, especially when Eva's trying to rush me. LOL

[Daisy]

Last night at training class Eva took another step forwards!

In the Advanced class (where she is now) the dogs work towards going off the lead. Last night there were only 4 dogs instead of the usual 6, so the trainer took the opportunity to give Eva and me extra time. The other three dogs were lying on their mats around the room. I know two of them are dog aggressive, but the elderly Border Collie was muzzled (not all the time, just for this exercise) and the other one is very good at listening to what his owner tells him. We did a couple of laps round the outside of the room, passing by the other dogs, and then the trainer suggested we try with Eva off lead! EEEEEKKKKKKK! Anyway I made sure she was nice and clam before we started and she actually walked with me all round the room - twice! I was so pleased with her.

Then later on they were playing a game where they roll a big drum down the hall - and she did that better than she's ever done it - and for the first time was on just a trailing lead!

Needless to say, we were both exhausted afterwards - and Eva has slept nearly all day today!

[Plantaholic]

That is a huge step forward Eva, well done

[Daisy]

Thank you Plant. Eva is a really lovely and affectionate dog and we're over the moon that she's making progress with the things that are a huge problem for her. The trainer says she's not an easy dog - she always wants to do thing her way and doesn't listen to us!

[Gemini]

Eva sounds like my GS1

[Clover]

You have to be congratulated on your perseverance and determination Daisy and Mr Daisy. Each small step is an achievement.Eva is a very lucky girl to have found you.

[Daisy]

Gem - that made me laugh!

Clover - thank you, but to be honest, she is such a rewarding dog to have, we think we're very lucky to have found her. Even when, like today she takes liberties. We had been playing with a tennis ball in the paddock with her and it was time to go home, but Eva thought otherwise. She didn't want to give the ball up so wouldn't come back to us. So we went out of the paddock and sat in the car, and she just sat and watched us. Little minx!

[Daisy]

A bit of an update! Since my last post when Eva seemed to be going backwards, she's settled down again. OH came to watch her in training last week and was quite impressed with what she's learned since we switched classes.

Last night was the Christmas party with lots of games. I had no idea how Eva would react, but she was great. She was rubbish at some of the games - trying hard to do what I asked, but not always getting there. We played a version of musical chairs where the dogs had to sit on a mat when the music stopped. there was a mat for each dog, so it wasn't a case of who gets there first. She was very funny, because as we walked round she paused at teach mat, sniffing it, just like a child who slows down round a chair in musical chairs, or hangs on to the parcel in pass the parcel.

She was on the winning side for an egg and spoon race where we had to weave in and out of poles with mum holding the spoon in the same hand as the lead. That was more due to her than her ham-fisted handler!! But her star turn was 'catch the treat'. No surprises there!!!

What was lovely that she was relaxed and enjoyed the evening. She's very tired today!

[Plantaholic]

Sounds like great fun Daisy, I am surprised you had the energy

[Clover]

Sounds like you and Eva both had a great time I’m not surprised she’s tired as I expect you are,the difference being she could snooze today and you couldn’t

[Gemini]

Awww, Eva went to a party

[Daisy]

Eva not only went to a party she had a great big sausage! One of the games was getting our dogs to retrieve the sausage and give it to us, or at least let us take it. She did quite well - she retrieved beautifully and then started to eat. I told her to stop and called her to me, and she let me take the sausage off her. Of course, she got a treat and the rest of the sausage!