Re: Dogs & Cats

[Guest guest]

>

> ...I know there is one in Leatherhead - would that be

> >too far to go round the M25?

>

Will try to find out, but am just off for the weekend after visiting

doctor and dentist tomorrow so will be some time next week

> >

> We need to keep up with this, We have tried ignoring bad behavour

but

> she is very persistent. We will keep trying.

Please do, because our dog trainer keeps on saying to me about getting

Molly to do down and various things 'she's still very young for this'

and she's 8 months now. In some ways you're in a great position with

her being younger as all the teaching will take hold very well esp

what you have already done up to 4 months.. which you'll then build on

now...I think it realistically does take months and months of

persistence and kindness.

I felt very muddled about it all when I was just reading the RSPCA

book of training, it really has helped to go to the classes and hear

over and over what the trainer says, and see it done with the other

dogs, and how some do better one week and others worst is kind of

encouraging, and actually doing it yourself with the trainer there and

she can put you wrong when you get details or the whole thing wrong!

Its also great to see all the other dogs!

I love the name Kes (did you read the sad but beautiful & interesting

story by errr Barry Hines I think called Kes? about a kestrel)

>

I had to insist that DH listen to me, he wasn't reading the books and

hasn't had dogs or been around people talking about them; I still

remind him if he's left with them, to be kind and make a fuss of them

and not leave them on their own for hours...

Ours will always go for socks or shoes that are left lying around -

lots of our wellies are now lacey round the top! - has been quite an

incentive to try to become a bit tidier!

>

> I appreciate any help you can suggest, right or wrong, it makes me

> feel that I am not the only one with chewy, bouncy, messy, puppies!

oh

> and children.

No, you're not the only one! Molly went into a pond with a lot of

duckweed today, and jumped up on me ;-)) then I had duckweed on my

trousers and top....and she stank...I often have to change my trousers

because they are still learning. I'm determined to keep on and on.

My mother's dogs were a right pain because she never carried the

training through at all, and they were awful to take for walks because

they pulled on the lead so much...

I've taken to using a 'gentle leader' like a 'halti' collar for Alfie

and it has made a big difference to the pulling. I don't think it

started much before 4 months as he was still in the desperate to

please stage! I'm about to get Molly used to it. I had a really hard

time with them both today on the lead going past a long brambly bit

with lots of rabbits visible and rabbit smells, their combined weights

and strength is really more than mine!

DS has refused to wear shoes much of the time since being a barefooted

anglo saxon, I'm quite pleased because he's not being weedy about

walking on gravel any more. We had got out of the door quite late for

nursery today, when I realised he had coco pops juice all the way down

his T shirt ;-}}} he was bouncing on my parents' sofa this

afternoon ... (I'm sure we weren't allowed to!) ...I found banana

skins on the floor of the car and even a bit of cast off banana on the

seat ...and if he wants to clear any thing he is about to climb on, it

all gets shoved on the floor ... also has discovered the 'I don't want

to' line recently.....groans...

How are you enjoying the antenatal training? (would be interesting to

hear about it on the list)

loving doggy licks!!

Caro