Snowy days!

We had lots of snow in Lincolnshire. I loved it!!! I even got snow on my nose. It was nice to go home after a lovely snowy run and snuggle by the fire.
Mum's been reading a book called 'In defence of the dog' by John Bradshaw. She says it really makes you think about the out dated ideas of dog training and puts a new perspective on the way humans think about their dog.
If only humans could understand how we dogs think about them!!!

Is this how Santa comes down the chimney?

This is me and Charlie (Heeler/Jack) practising getting into small spaces. I wonder if Santa practises squeezing down chimineys?

Too much exercise!

Here I am with my new friend Charlie, the border collie.

His Mum called my Mum because Charlie had been aggressive towards other dogs, particularly small dogs (that was a worry!) It turned out that when Charlie went out his Dad liked to play ball with him ALL the time. Charlie was fixated on the ball so when another dog came close, he would try to 'see it off'. Mum said to try cutting out the ball play and see how thing went. Charlie's Mum said he became so much calmer, really quickly.

If dogs get too much exercise or stimulation they can find it really hard to calm down and relax. Mum says if, after a nice walk/run, a dog doesn't go home and have a good sleep, if the dog isn't relax and chilled, then the exercise has been too much.

A Heeler/Jack

Last weekend Mum visited some people who have a very handsome dog. His name is Charlie and he is a Heeler/Jack Russell like me! Of course, they weren't having problems with Charlie, he's a good boy like me! The people have two other dogs and one of them is very 'stressy'. She's a little Yorkie and has been very worried about going out and seeing other dogs.

Mum says, it will only make Ellie more stressed if she has to keep facing the things that are worrying her. Charlie's Mum and Dad really want to help the little girl and are going to put Mum's 'Action Plan' in place to help to reduce the stress and build her confidence.

Of course, Charlie will be leading the training as us Heeler/Jacks know exactly how to behave!

Loose lead walking

Mum visits many clients who's dogs pull hard on the lead. Why wouldn't they if they've never been taught not to?! We don't know what you want unless we're taught and tugging, yanking and pulling us around is no way to teach us how to walk nicely on the lead. Teach us where you want us to be, give us space (we might not like having to walk 'stuck' to your leg, personal space, personal space!) Don't use equipment that can damage our necks or backs but put in the time and be patient and we can learn to walk calmly and nicely.

Holiday!

I've been on holiday to Wales. We stayed in a fantastic 'dog friendly' holiday cottage. Mum and Dad said it was the best dog friendly holiday cottage we'd ever stayed in. I agree! The cottage had paddocks, a wood and a stream that I was allowed to go in. We also went on loads of lovely walks in the Brechfa forest, up hills and down valleys and also to a seven mile long sandy beach at Pendine...loved it.

If you want to give you much loved dog a special holiday, check out the webisite -

www.holidayinthebarn.co.uk

Camping!

I went camping for the first time ever!! I was sooooo good, Mum and Dad were very proud.

We pitched the tent in the corner of the camp site field. Dad attached me to one of his horse long-lines and I just lay and watched everything that was going on. There was another dog, with it's family, about 25 meters away but I didn't bark at it, I just watched. We went walking in some woods, had an ice-cream outside a cafe (well the humans had an ice-cream) and walked by a river...what a lovely life!

The only bit of camping that I didn't like was the night time. It got really cold in the middle of the night so Mum and Dad invited me to lay between them because I was shivering. Then I stopped shivering and it was all cosy.

I wonder when we'll go camping again?

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