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little chickadee

Guide Dog pup Quita .... has gone for training.

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She hasn't got blue eyes, just the flash reflecting

 

Here is Quita now - I can't believe how fast she's growing (we can see visible changes when she's been sleeping!) She didn't really like food much at first, but now you can tell she's part labrador!! :lol:

 

So far we've taken her to the library and the post office, as well as sitting on a bench by the side of a busy road to get her used to traffice noise. She's got used to travelling in the car, although we had to rethink how she was transported, as she managed to get throught the bars in our dog guard :shock:

 

She's taking most things in her stride, although she's not too keen (terrified at first) on live music . We've been playing lots of recorded music to get her used to it though and then OH has been playing violin/ guitar at the same time as the recorded music and letting her have a good sniff and a look at where the music is coming from. I think she's ok now.

 

The kids' school is letting her into the playground so that she can get used to lots of different noises/ lots of people. She is completely unfazed by a crowd of people . :D

 

Holly is still being incredibly patient, only barking back if she really really deserves it! Quita has been nicking her chews from under her nose and just being a real pain in the **** ! :lol:

 

We've just found out that our Supervisor is off sick and it sounds like it might be for a while, so we have someone else (the bloke who delivered Quita) coming out to see us on Tuesday.

 

Here she is with a very very patient greyhound (the only time I've seen them do this (Quita sleeps in an indoor kennel))

 

 

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Awww, she is gorgeous. Not fair, I want one! (Weighs up: baby...guide dog puppy....baby......guide dog puppy.....) :lol:

 

Go with the baby - you get to keep it for longer! :lol:

 

Good point but the prob with a baby/children I have heard that you have the opposite problem that you cannot get rid of them :lol::lol::wink:

 

Gorgeous pics and lovely to hear how she is getting on :D

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We've had a busy week with Quita. She started getting quite aggressive, but the supervisor saw her being like this on Tuesday and taught us how to deal with her. Basically we need to let her know that we are in charge. I think she's got the message now and is being much nicer :lol:

 

Live music is fine now. She didn't even turn a hair today when OH got the violin out.

 

She's been in her first lift (at the library) and has been to Waitrose, Lloyds and a sewing shop. I think we're going to attempt public transport next week! :shock:

 

We managed to get in touch with the puppy walker who has the German Shepard Quita travelled down to Suffolk with. She's in the next town to us and They played together for about an hour the other day. The vets won't let her go to a "puppy party" until she's 14 weeks old because of vaccinations so we thought a bit of extra socialisation with another guide dog pup would be a good idea. The Sheppard was in charge for the forst few minutes (she's 1 week older and quite a lot bigger than Quita) but Quita soon found her feet. She slept for hours in the afternoon and evening :lol:

 

She's getting really heavy to pick up now. I really really can't believe how fast she's growing - it must be so exhausting!

 

So far she has learnt "busy" (what we say outside when we want them to go to the toilet. We've only had one accident in the last 2 days!)

"come" (when she can be bothered) "sit", "down" and we're just learning "stand" I've never had an intelligent dog capeable of learning commands before (Holly is not the sharpest tool in the box) and I'm finding it completely fascinating.

 

Quita followed OH into the chicken run today (omlet netting) and was told in no uncertain terms by Buck Buck Barrk that she was in charge and ran off with her tail between her legs. She did recover herself enough to bark a little, but squarkings from the girls shut her up pretty quickly! :lol:

Here's a picture of her last week with Buck Buck Baark on either side of the netting. I'll post some recent pictures later.

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Quita has had a busy time since I last wrote. She has

 

1- Christened the Aisle of our local Waitrose (much to the genuine hilarity of the staff - they are soooo nice there :D )

 

2 - Been to play with a 6 month old lab/ golden retriever cross Guide dog puppy and had brilliant fun

 

3 - Had a 16 week old (fully vaccinate) border collie pup round to play at our house

 

We had to hold Holly (our 6 year old greyhound) back, as she was trying to defend Quita and we thought she was actually going to hurt the Collie. Quita and Holly really like each other and greet each other with wagging tails when we've been anywhere.

She calmed down a bit though and watched them and now she's started playing with Quita herself. She didn't know how to play, as greyhound pups (certainly where she was born) don't get much of a chance to be puppies. It's so funny to watch and she's so gentle. If Quita so much as whimpers, she jumps away incase she's hurt her.

 

I can't find my camera at the moment, but will continue to search for it. I may upload a picture from my OH's phone. She is still growing at a heck of a rate. Watch this space for photos.

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Well , Quita behaved herself very well at the omlet course, although I think she did chew Janty a bit! She went to sleep in her puppy crate before anyone got their cameras out, so I don't think there are any photos.

 

She's calmed down a lot recently as we've been quite strict with her (as instructed) and she's now mastered sit, down , come and stand. People are always impressed when they see her. I'm really enjoying the command training and need to look up what to teach next.

 

So far I'm doing the toiletting, grooming, home training, and feeding and OH is doing the walking.

 

She's still not really phased by much. OH is really looking forward to a weeks time when he can take her on grass (her injections will have taken effect by then) She will be having lots of fun at the local National Trust property going exploring :D

 

Here are some recent pictures

 

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awwwww :D how lovely - i wonder how long it will be before you cannot actually pick her up??? :D

 

cathy

x

 

I've been wondering that myself Cathy!

 

She's doing really really well at the moment and OH is working on her not pulling on their walks. The supervisor saw Quita for the first time on Tuesday (she's been off sick) and has given loads of advice. She is now pulling much much less even since Tuesday. Loads of other stuff to remember too, but she's so much fun!

 

She went to a restaurant last weekend. It was a carvery, which must be doggy torture! She calmly lay under the table like she was supposed to, and didn't even bark :D

 

Lots more trips to shops and the library, includng a bus journey with OH and our son.

 

She's also had her first "free run" with the supervisor on Tuesday in a park, and apparently she came back really well to the whistle. I've been whistle training her at home, so that didn't surprise me, but you don't know how they will react when they see a big open space!!

 

We went with OH to the local Guide Dog fundraising commitee AGM. A lady grabbed us excitedly in the middle of town and got our details (she's the treasurer's wife) Apparently fundraising attemps always go much better when there is a puppy or trained Guide Dog in attendance as people stop to see them and donate. We're happy to help if it's at a convenient time.

The AGM was actually really good fun and we'll be back. We met our first trained Guide Dog. A HUGE black lab (completely gorgeous) His owner is really lovely and is the local schools liason person, so hopefully he will come into our kids' school. it would be really nice for the children to learn more about Guide Dogs, as they see Quita all the time.

It went on far longer than we thought it would and it was ages after Quita's feed time when we got home - but she was a superstar and got on really well with the other dogs.

 

Still enjoying it. 2 weeks in OH said "we're never doing this again" I don't think either of us was prepared for just how much work a young puppy was having never had one before. He's come round now though and I think we may be doing it long term. He's started talking about our next pup!! :dance:

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I seem to remember saying it is addictive and there is a great sense of satisfaction in a job well done at the end when they go for training.

 

Glad you, your son and OH are enjoying the experience.

 

I certainly didn't envisage doing it again.....................and again................and again..................................... 5 times over and the time has just flown by.

 

Each pup presents different challenges so you keep learning too.

 

Keep up the good work :lol:

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