LolaLayla Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 The training lead arrived yesterday. I think I may have got one that is too long I can imagine us getting a bit tangled but will have to try it out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Here are some of Lara (11 weeks old) taken this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 So gorgeous . I love her little ears being a different colour . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 She has a little of the apricot colouring on the back of her back legs and down the middle of her back too. I am not sure what her colour will eventually be as she was white when she was born but is a cream colour now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Aww, love her 'fetching' the branch. Looks like she'll end up apricot coloured, doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Not really sure as she is almost white underneath. We will just need to wait and see. Tried the puppy harness today and adjusted it to the smallest size to find it is too big. She seems to be able to slip her leg out of it so I will need to go to the pet shop again. She is still full of beans and today learned how to dig She also seems to fancy carpet scratching- no idea why Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Oh she is adorable! Good luck with the training but remember there's no rush and like children dogs learn at different paces. Enjoy that bundle of fluff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Good luck with the training but remember there's no rush and like children dogs learn at different paces. I reckon all in all we do about 10-15 mins each day and try to vary things. I hope we are not doing too much I suppose I worry that as she gets older she will not pick things up so quickly. OH and I were hiding in the garden and calling her which she seemed to enjoy and that was part of her "come" training. She certainly seems to like new things however her new trick of digging isn't so great Especially when it was at her final toilet visit last night. I think I will put the lead on her tonight for that as she just runs away and we can't catch her She still does not like the lead. As the harness does not fit I am back to putting the collar on her and the little lead in the house for short bursts. The dragging lead does annoy her...she picks it up and carries it, not stupid then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Not sure why she's carpet scratching, but try say 'NO' firmly and distracting her with a toy she really likes. Sounds like she's being a cheeky monkey though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Phew, sometimes it's exhausting, physically and mentally Bit of a battle of wills going on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 She is extremely cute! Don't let it be a battle - make it fun! You need to be REALLY exciting and then she'll belt out of the garden and into the kitchen faster than you can call her. Our littlest one is a rescue - we got her when she was about 4 months old, so still a puppy, but totally unsocialised - she barked, (LOUDLY), at everyone and everything and had no idea about how to walk on a lead - she just sat down all the time. I don't think she had ever been taken out of the house. She is fantastic - I love her to bits and I am really proud of her - she got her Bronze Good Citizen Award at the weekend She is funny though - she can be very stubborn. If she thinks I am not talking nicely to her and being adoring, she will not even look at me, never mind sit or do anything else I ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Awwwwww she is just adorable - completely gorgeous! Don't worry about Lara not picking up things when she is older - Tango was about a year old when we got her, totally untrained - and around 2ish years old now. She's as bright as a button and still learns new things very quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 I think I am trying too hard sometimes Just because this is all new to me and I want to get it right. Some things have gone to plan. She is good at commands inside, she is dry at night, asks to go out during the day and doesn't worry if I leave her to go out, she is fine travelling in the car and doesn't seem worried about noises. She is good natured and happy to meet different people. She is pleased to go into her crate at night and is quiet until I get up in the morning. On the other hand she still is not good about coming when outside (running around like a hare when I try to get her ), hates the lead and tries to bite it as we go along.This ends with her twirling to try to grab it I have managed to get another harness for her which fits a lot better but she still grabs the lead. She also likes digging in the garden and doesn't like going out in the rain. When overexcited she grabs trouser legs and play bites hands and feet. She is also apt to wee with excitement when folks arrive (I am trying to get them to ignore her at first to reduce this). She is such a sweet, bright, fluffy little thing but with an iron will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Sounds like she's doing great so far She's only a baby, she'll get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Those are all typical puppy things that she will grow out of, including the stress-wees; I wouldn't worry too much. If she tags the lead when you're walking then try saying a firm 'no', stop, turn your head away from her and wait until she's stopped. Then ask her to sit to bring her attention back to you and carry in walking when she's settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 Thanks I have been trying her on the lead in the garden but the bit I have not been doing is the stopping and looking away (bit like the 'tree' I suppose to stop the jumping). I will try that when the rain is off. It should stop the escalation into the twirling thing I had been looking forward to going out walking on Friday but realise that it won't be as straightforward as I thought but best to put the work in so I don't end up being dragged along etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 yes, the tree thing sums it up; just make it as boring and uninteresting as possible, then get her to check in with you before giving the command to walk on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 Ok. Will give that a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Teaching them to heel walk with a treat in your hand is a good one, although a bit harder with a smaller dog; hold the treat to your left so that they can smell it, move it more towards the centre of your body so it still has their attention, give the 'heel' command and walk on with lots of praise before you give them the treat. You can also use this to bring the treat up to your eye level and ask the dog to 'watch' so that they make eye contact with you. Ruby loves this one and Cyrus is much better at eye contact now but is so much of a numpty that any training is hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 As you say with a small dog it is hard. I tried to hold a treat in front of Lara to take her mind away from chewing the lead. It is quite bad breaking if I am at her level but if I stand up she jumps. What do you suggest The only thing I can think of is attaching it to a stick or similar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Not sure on that one as I'm used to tall dogs, let me think on it. I know what you mean though as I looked after a friend's JRT the other week and wasn't used to a dog under my line of sight; I kept tripping over it or having to bend down all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 Got this sorted now. I now take a small riding crop with me on the walks as the loop bit at the end is ideal for holding a treat. I can waft this in front of her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 necessity is the Mother of invention! I'd forgotten but it reminds me of my grandfather teaching anew dog to heel... he carried a walking stick (which he didn't need) and if the dog moved out of line he'd stop and gently put the stick across in front of the dog to remind it to stay in line. Seemed to work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
