Puppy classes & enrichment

So today we attended our first puppy class! I went with my friend, who I had invited over for the evening. She loves dogs but currently can’t see hers, so I thought I’d share my experiences with her. The puppy class was good – for us! Toby was, quite frankly, terrified. But when a tiny terrier puppy is suddenly carried into a pet shop and plonked down in a caged-in area with a puppy husky, dog-de-bordeaux and a labrador cross spaniel, the cards quickly turned. And so he spent most of the hour crawling around trying to get out people’s laps and edging further into the walls than he could, completely terrified. Oh, what a difference it was from the crazy pup running around the lounge carpet, gnawing on hands and socks and clothes, to one who cowered from the other dogs at class. Pretty astounding really, the difference. I had his harness on because he’s got to learn to get used to it, as hopefully he’ll be wearing vests and harnesses in his sooner years. It was almost amusing to watch, but then I got anxious and it got embarrassing and yeah I got wound up and worried and stuff and no way would I have been able to deal with it alone. That’s why I had invited my friend over to accompany me. So that was puppy class. Eventually, near the end of the session, he did manage to walk out a little and pretended to play a bit with the husky – who was called Storm – and tried to catch her tail. Archie, the lab/spaniel, was absolutely adorable and he also very friendly – only the other dog, Gunner, excelled his licking and cuddles! They were all adorable and I couldn’t help wishing for a bigger dog, especially when Toby was so scared. But still, I love him, and I think he still loves me, even after his pack leader sent him into so many threats without much protection. I want to be a good pack leader, but I don’t want a wimpy or soon aggressive dog. As a service dog he will have to pass the Canine Good Citizen test and a Public Access Test in order to achieve SD behaviour. So I’m hoping that a few classes in he will become more confident, stop growling, and maybe get some playing done. Hopefully. Hm. However, as a naturally unhopeful person, I don’t know if this will happen. As a terrier, maybe it’s just not in him to play nice. I don’t know, and no one can really know. As an old saying goes; “only time will tell”. So that’s what we’re going to have to do.

After puppy class, we actually took a short walk through the pet shop, and looked at some toys that I really want to get him. A Kong, first of all. It’s, like, the best toy a dog could have, apparently. Then we briefly showed Toby the rabbits and such, just to see if they put a spring in his step. They didn’t, which IS good, but not so much normal terrier behaviour. However I have already introduced him to Delilah, my hamster, so maybe he was already familiar with the smell. It would be good if he is. After that he almost fell asleep on me in the car, and when we got back he soon had a nap. When he woke up, he did go toilet on the paper! Yay for Toby! He’s doing okay. We showed a bit of obedience to my friend before she got picked up and she gave me some helpful hints and tips. The enrichment bit actually comes before the puppy class bit – before dinner, I put some of his dry food in a washed and dry coke bottle. I have seen this done before and it seems cool, so I did it. And Toby loved it! Which was good, but I am also afraid that this isn’t a proper toy, so maybe I shouldn’t have done it. Anyway, hopefully more toys will be heading his way soon. Training is also good, for an 8 week old puppy – we’ve got sit, down and stay for a short amount of time. He is adorable, and I do love him. That’s the important bit.

Puppy class at the pet shop. Our instructor was really nice & so were all the other people and dogs. Soon though I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. It wasn’t the best situation for me to be in, but I DID do it, which is good I suppose.

This is mr cowering in a corner, just by my legs. He sought refuge wherever he can and mostly he got it, which isn’t good. But he was adorably cute.

Short pet shop walk after class before mum picked us up. I really should of got some toys but he can deal without them for a little longer.

Cuddles, strokes & naps at home. Exhausted puppy wants to sleep after his exhausting and scary ordeal. Fine by me – we both need bed time now.

Pictures & a short proper progress paragraph (PPP)

Lots going on at the moment, but not much to tell about Toby individually. We continue to work on training, toilet training, biting, growling and new situations. Seems like it’s going well – at least, I damn well hope so. I take him out after naps & sometimes after eating, and he goes toilet outside. If we’re inside, he usually goes on the paper. He’s picking it up quickly, but there is still the odd mistake, of course. Training – he gets come, sit, down and stay, most of the time. I’m using his daily allowance of dry food as ‘treats’ and I think he’s beginning to realise that he gets that same stuff for meals which he doesn’t have to do more than sit for. Outrageous! Luckily he’s still responding, mostly, to commands. He’ll not come if he’s found something more interesting, however, which is most of the time when not in the kitchen/dining room – a different environment. Hopefully we’ll get it. It’ll be lovely to see the day where I let him off in the fields where I run Milly and call him and he comes back. However I am doing no letting off at all until his recall is practically PERFECT – this is what this awesome and amusing puppy training book has told me. It’s quite funny to read and very educational in training. It’s called SIRUIS Dog Training. American but still very good (as many American things – Supernatural, for one, and all those other damn awesome films from that damn annoying yet awesome America that we hear so much about…). Anyway, so training hopefully is going well. Puppy training classes start tomorrow!! This is great because I really want to get Toby out and about and introduced to situations and other dogs ASAP in order to desensitise him to the world as much as possible while he’s still young and eagerly learning. We are, admittedly, still having biting problems, and growling, but he does seem to (fingers crossed) be getting better, and I’ll ask about it tomorrow in class. In more seriousness, there’s still pretty major problems in the family, mostly due to the dog, but it’s not his fault. ANYWAY, he is still lovely and I’m already making (rather rash) plans for Service Dog tasks and clothing. Not believing that it’s going to happen, but looking forward to it anyway. For now, he’s a puppy and an adorable one at that. And so here’s some photos of our getting up-to.

Comparing paw/foot. I’m,uh, much bigger than him. And,well, always will be…

My Toby boy

This awesome book that I have found – SIRIUS dog training

Asleep on my lap yesterday after college – first day we have been away from each other

Apparently this is a comfortable sleeping position??

Playing

Toby may well take over his blog soon…

References:

Website to said book – https://www.siriuspup.com/

My relation to Supernatural – http://strugglingbutstillfighting.tumblr.com/supernaturaltagpage

Milly in said fields – https://www.facebook.com/millychocolatelab/posts/528547077275772

Picture Post of Toby-day (today)

Stuff happened today, so I don’t really want to write, at risk of not keeping an ‘upbeat’ blog. So here’s just a picture log of today’s adventures.

morning cuddles

lunch & watching a puppy nap

Our first walk! Literally 5 minutes around the close we live in. He was good & a little scared.

Puppy sitting & watching Wall-e (again) while trying to do piano work

Puppy naps on my lap

Doing piano work with a sleeping puppy on me

Puppy face

Toy gnawing. Better than my hand.

I also had naps with him today.

Full story of today; why I’m so ‘tired’ (warning: it’s much darker than the things on here): http://strugglingbutstillfighting.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/youre-aching-youre-breaking-and-i-can-see-the-pain-in-your-eyes/

Twitter posts: https://twitter.com/k_lizzabeth/status/521400576870191108 + https://twitter.com/k_lizzabeth/status/521398690716872705

Some writing and pictures of Today

Ugh, I’m tired tonight, so this’ll be a short and picture post.

(not this short though; here’s some more words coming)

So, it’s been a exciting day! Pretty much, anyway. We broke more rules by going in my mum’s work – a pharmacy – and showing her colleagues the pup, and they were smitten… as is everyone who sees him. Can’t blame them. They don’t have lots of bite marks on their hands. But can’t complain too much – we are making progress (distant cheering for Toby is heard from Carys at Uni). He’s gone toilet on the paper and outside a couple of times when I took him today. And we’re working on gentler biting, using something that Katie And Cookie, a couple of therapy dogs from Twitter, linked me to – something called Bite Inhibition. It looks really good, so we’re learning that. Also, we went to the pet shop after mum’s work, and Toby had his first vaccination, as well as a check over and we were given flea treatment for him. The vet, Alex by name, was very nice and I loved watching her work – because this is my dream; a Veterinary Nurse. So yes, he was good on the exam table apart from BITING. So, while mum signed forms and did adult stuff, I went and found some toys for him. Nylabones! Recommended from Growing Up Guide Pup itself. So there we are, driving home with dry food to start on, Nylabone toys and a vaccination certificate. What fun. Back home, mum and the boys went out to Crealy to use up our free 7 day pass, seeing as they may as well. While they were away, I cleaned up while Toby slept, then when he woke from his nap he and I chilled in the living room with films on. First it was Wall-e, then Monster’s University, and then I put the Lego Movie on. We didn’t just sit and watch these, of course; they were just on in the background to listen to. Did watch most of Wall-e though, because that is the best. Toby chewed on his nylabones, chewed on me, got some scolding, did some good toilets and some not on the newspaper, and had some naps either with me or on his own. Puppies can be a handful. I made dinner for the others for when they came back and then sat on the floor and chilled with Toby. Tonight I showed mum the things I have been doing with him, and we showed off the obedience we’ve already got – which is coming when called (most of the time), and ‘sit’! He’s learnt quickly. We’re working on ‘down’ now, but that’s proving harder. Right, it’s bedtime now, both for the pup sleeping under my feet again, and for my yawning self. Shower and a bed, me thinks… hopefully I’ll get up early and see to my babe. He’s still gorgeous.

Car journeys

At the Vets!

Watching Wall-e and playing and naps on my lap

So tiring being a puppy…

References:

The conversation I and the Therapy Dogs had on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieAndCookie/status/520899546969550848

The site they showed me: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/teaching-bite-inhibition-to-your-labrador-puppy/

Toby showing off ‘come’ and ‘sit’: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=902853403059348

New Home

And so, day 2 arises. The rest of yesterday was fairly uneventful. Mum and I have discovered he gets really mouthy and bitey at night or in the morning; meaning, when he is hungry, which is fair enough. Still, we’re working on this. With, admittedly, not that much success…. but anyway – we have been getting on with toilet training, and other training! Toby now pretty much goes toilets on the paper, or outside this morning when I took him, which is great. Toilet training is probably the most messy, so it’ll be good when that’s over. And as for normal training, well, he is quite food motivated, so he does come most of the time to his name and “come!” which is helpful. He’s beginning to learn “sit” too, which is great! He’s a good pup really. He was exploring the living room this morning and getting used to the children while they got used to him, not as well as he’s getting used to them though. He’s sleeping now. He’s adorable when he sleeps.

(working on biting!)

Toby practices ‘sit’! – https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=902478699763485

Today’s journey in pictures!

Being introduced to the children for the first time this morning, sitting beside mum

Cuddles from my grandad when he came to pick my brother up

Being a good boy at the council place while I answered questions

Riding back home in my arms

Being a good boy and playing with his own toys while I made was on the computer

Getting used to the harness

Looking for clues after I made cakes (it wasn’t exactly a murder, but maybe he wants to be a sniffer dog?)

Being introduced to the hamster (neither animals were at all bothered)

Snuggles on the sofa and watching Father Ted (Irish comedy that is hilarious)

Falling asleep in my arms (again.. aw)

Trying to figure out the sliding door at my grandma’s house (this was adorably cute to watch but kind of teasing so we moved)

Exploring my grandma’s where I let him, also understanding the reason and use of the lead (which he wasn’t keen on, obviously)

Settling down at my grandma’s

Being adorable in close-up photos

And, finally, falling asleep at my grandma’s

Also ‘helping’ me cook dinner – falling asleep at my feet while I cooked, that is (very helpful)

So… today’s been eventful, a day of new experiences – both for me and him! We met lots of new people, and he wasn’t bothered about car rides or, well, anything really. The children scare him a bit, but who isn’t scared of little children. He was kind of doing okay in toilet training, but then he doesn’t do okay, and the same with biting. He seems to get mouthy at night time; my hand is in the process of attempting to be chewn off again, for the second night in a row. Hopefully we’ll address this soon and get it corrected. We’re already setting down ground rules. He needs a LOT more toys, though. Maybe that’s the problem. I’ll get him some more ASAP, but not too many. Hopefully that’ll help. Eating is good, at least – kind of for both of us (thanks, Toby). He’s still gorgeous, even though his teeth are VERY sharp. We’re both learning.

This is going Toby a grand life

Well, it was a good day (until the family ruined it, but as we all know, that’s what family are for) yesterday, and I went off with my box in the car with my mother driving, with fairy a lot of excitement. And justified. He was just as beautiful as I remembered; maybe more so because he was more active! Jumping up a down, in excitement with his brother, the only pup left in the bed now for one more night (sorry, Bertie…). His mum was, to be honest, glad to see the end of her pups. She put her forelegs on my knees are solemnly licked my face in agreement that I would look after her baby. And I promised her that I would, too. So there we go. Out the door. With a dog in a box. A puppy, by rights, and an adorable one at that. Also fearless. On the way over to our house, on the main road, he was simply trying to get out of the box that I had my arm around, and then started biting me. I was surprised; throughout my dog career (just over a year now, starting with walking the dogs at the Shelter last August), I had never really been bitten. Puppy teeth kind of hurt, too. So when we got home, I plonked the-puppy-in-a-box down on the floor in the dining room and lifted him out. Then I sat with my back against the door and just watched him explore. He was gorgeous.

So there he was. A puppy. In my house. (That picture isn’t completely correct, as in my story I haven’t got the toys down yet.) So, after I watched him for a minute and my father stopped being an idiot and took the children to bed, I had mum supervise him while I went and got his stuff from my room. His stuff being a puppy grooming brush, a small puppy feeding bowl, a lead and collar, a harness and a white milk bone chew toy. I supplied him with these items spread around the dining room. He immediately sniffed them over then dismissed them as no particular interest, due to the fact that I was putting half a can of his food into his bowl for him. I put it down by the back door and he immediately gulped half of it down. Then, inbetween playing and running around and sniffing for the next couple of hours, he ate the rest of it. Pretty good really. Yes, so the playing. Was a bit of a problem. He was very mouthy and his sharp lil puppy teeth are not easy on skin. My hands already look like they’ve been clawed at and bitten by a werewolf. But, with a bit of luck and chew toys and scolding, I managed to redirect his attention to gnawing on something that wouldn’t hurt it: my secret weapon, Milly’s mint chew rope toy that she didn’t like and so abandoned. Rude. I bought that for her. Anyways, Toby loved it so that’s cool. He chewed and sniffed and munched some more, and I tried taking him outside a couple of times, but it was too dark to really see what he was doing, so he went toilet in the house instead. Leaving mum and I to immediately change my mind to paper training. So there was newspaper spread just inside by the back door. After a few hours of my hands being bitten quite a lot, my shoes and socks being the centre of attention when I got up or walked, and collar fussing when I discretely put it on, Toby crawled onto my lap – as he loves to do now, already – and fell asleep. It was so adorable and beautiful.

Mum carefully put him in his lil box with my jumper that smelt of me, his proper dog mum, and his old bed and brothers, and Toby slept tiredly. Until I went to stroke him and woke him up. Oops. So in the end, despite attempts to put him back to sleep on my lap, we left an awake and alert puppy in the dark, in a room. Poor baby. So in the morning, I got up at 5.30am and hurriedly got dressed to go downstairs and see my puppy. He was awake already and very glad to see someone. So glad that he… started biting. Again. So this time, I tried a different tactic. I ignored him, then said NO very loudly, then left the room without looking back and timed one minute. Then I went back in and didn’t say hello immediately. Anyway, that went on for a while, and I tried taking him outside again, but he wasn’t interesting in going toilet out there unfortunately, so we headed back in. Then I ate a bagel (bagels are great okay) not deliberately in front of him, but easily within his sights. I finished it up while mum picked him up and introduced him to James and Henry, the little ones. They were joyful and excited, though also rather afraid, in a silly way. Mum showed them that Toby was fine, and I reassured Toby that they were fine. Then I finished my bagel and fed Toby the other half of the can. He ate some of this then left it, so I put it on the side for later. Once everyone had left for work, and Dan wasn’t up yet (lazy bones), I started on training. Not properly. But enough so he got the idea. I used his food that he hadn’t eaten and called him to me. I’ve used his name a lot, because he needs to get used to hearing it, and called “come!” – and he did! I used the food as rewards, and we practiced ‘come’ and ‘sit’, which he wasn’t that great in but, hey, it’s his first day on the job.

Talking of first days on the job – it really was for him! Breaking rules on our first day, oh dear. I did the same with Milly – went somewhere where dogs weren’t allowed, because someone said I could. Terrible. Anyway, yes, so my council worker Sue came over to take me to her office a drive away to sign some forms for this thing I don’t really want to do. But I answered her questions and she wrote the letter, or whatever it was. And Toby was there. I had him in my arms the whole time, obviously, in a building where dogs aren’t allowed, because we’re cool like that. Everyone loved the ‘illegal’ puppy in the building, and we had a lot of attention on us. Both myself and Toby handled it really well, which was great! The rides to and from the place were okay for him too; he wanted to look out the window a bit, but mostly settled himself well on my lap and half-heartedly chewed the towel/rug that I had brought with us in case he did anything. He was very good for his first ever outing – not really something we should have done, but excellent training for a service puppy anyway! I feel precisely like that first episode of Growing Up Guide Pup, when they took Ricki to the grocery store like when she was 8 weeks old. I looked at that and thought to myself that they shouldn’t really do that because she’s so young, even though she’s a guide dog puppy, but there’s me doing that too. Hm. Well, I am intending to raise a service dog myself, so whatever, guess that was cool. It was kinda fun, definitely, and he was very surprisingly good for such a small puppy.

So, there we have it I guess. ‘I’ being Liz, by the way. I’ll run this blog for now, until maybe Toby wants to take it over, like Milly did with her facebook page. Milly being this awesome (and pretty big) chocolate labrador who I have dog walked for her owners since February. She’s amazing and is my Emotional Support Animal when we go out. Technically she’s also a Service Dog in Training, because I’m teaching her tasks. She even has a home made vest! But she’s a family pet at heart, and a 6 year old bitch anyway (that’s as in female dog, by the way), so she’s not going to be doing any serious public access work like hopefully Toby will grow up to do. Although she is more the type – big labrador with a proper training lead, patches and headcollar… anyway, again, this is going to be about Toby. Milly’s got her own blog, as previously stated. Yes so when we got home from that little trip. Toby fell right asleep, putting himself to bed. Which was helpful, because then I made cakes. When he woke up properly, I took him outside and I think he did something, but I didn’t actually see it. Anyway, it looks as though toilet training isn’t going too badly. Although I immediately failed with my first plan – taking out every hour or so, like they do in GUGP – we now have a different, easier, plan with newspaper training. So that’s be good. Also his biting is getting better already. We play with the toys and I’m already trying to teach him the “that’s enough” command, which will be super helpful. He doesn’t quite get it yet. He also doesn’t get his collar, as he fusses with it a bit. I’ve been taking it off every time it clearly bothers or scares him, but maybe I shouldn’t be. Who knows. We don’t have a proper routine yet. So that’s that (that’s that alright… what’s that?) and there we go and to be or not to be, that is the question. Well, not that last one. Shakespeare has little place in this puppy training. But that is indeed that, and there’s our first blog post, complete with pictures (yay Toby!). Pictures are great. So, farewell from me and this little pup sleeping under my chair. Adios!

 

Useful references:

Milly’s blog – https://www.facebook.com/millychocolatelab

Growing Up Guide Pup – http://www.growingupguidepup.org/

My facebook (for pictures and general other stuff about me as well as Toby) – https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.kilbee.7

The title pun was thought up by the excellent of my friend Carys, who is awesome. Thanks for reading!