The Trials and Tribulations of Owning and Training a Puppy/Teenager! 1/2025

Christmas is a great opportunity to take a break, have a rest, and recharge ready for the new year, and we made the most of it!!

I promised myself I would get some long walks in the forest with the dogs on any day where we had good weather, and amazingly we had some brilliant weather and so we walked lots. We also took the opportunity to meet friends and their dogs, so we visited some of our old walking areas around Soham and it was a great opportunity for some socialisation for Brin with other dogs and new people. I have realised over the past couple of months that Brin is very cautious with strangers, not unfriendly just more inclined to keep away. This is not a bad thing really, but I want to be very sure he isn’t scared of people so it's great practice.

Not a huge amount of obedience training happened except for working on our sit so it is more forwards and he is learning to come up close to me in a formal present position. Brin has always been careful about coming through or around my legs but, in obedience I need him close both in heelwork and in the present position in front for recall and retrieve. To give him confidence I’ve worked on him coming through my legs in both directions. This will also be a precursor to learning tricks such as centre and leg weaves. 

It’s not all been wonderful unicorns and glitter though, Brin has eaten yet another dog coat, this time not because he got too hot but because it slipped. It’s really worrying as I need to keep him warm in the car and at competitions so I am hoping as he grows up (or as the weather gets colder) he will enjoy wearing the coat more. It's been tough with the temperatures varying so much recently, as he doesn't like being too warm and some days we have started at -1 degree and had temperatures of +10 degrees by lunchtime. It's been much easier now it’s cold and frosty all day, so fingers crossed!