Here’s a few moments from our Saturday here at the farm together. Faith goes into the vet to get her stitches out and the very much enjoys drive through afterwards.
It’s raining everyday at the moment but there’s spots of sunshine and the dogs don’t mind at all. They still love their bush runs and time inside with the kids and Kitty.
Rosco and Nevaeh are practicing their drops in the kitchen. Nevaeh especially is working on her calm state inside. She’s doing very well. She’s also meeting and learning about Kitty Rose. Aunty Sam was a little nervous. I know I shouldn’t be, it’s what all the training for months is about. Training to be a highly responsive dog so that no matter what the situation the dog can receive information to understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. But I’ve got nerves of … marshmallows 🙈
Then there’s Chance, he gets so excited being off lead in amongst the pack. This next stage for him is everything he’s been waiting and working for.
Like everyone before him, he can only be integrated off lead under supervision. This is a stage in itself. Constant guidance the whole time. You might remember a video when Shadow was at this point and how we spoke about how it can be a bit stressful for us because you simply cannot relax. It’s why the dogs like Chance at this point, are not yet included in time when we spend with the kids or when Luke is preoccupied with any other job.
I’ve included a moment where Chance pursues Matilda and disengages instantly on command. This is what months of our style of training creates. Now it’s hours upon hours of this kind of guidance. Repeatedly allowing them to make decisions and correcting them until they finally no longer make the wrong choice. Every single dog rehabbed has gone through this stage of training. Shadow, Rosco, Nevaeh etc. It’s why their reliability on responsiveness before being let off lead has to be 1000%.
Hoping this makes sense. I just wanted to explain it in case we hadn’t talked about it. This kind of performance from Chance is to be commended.
Wolfie has been going on some short trips into town with Dad on the bus to get milk etc sometimes. Wolf is a little obsessed with the bus right now.
Billie the Frenchie has made friends with Kitty Rose. Billie is having the time of her life on holidays atm. She’s on a very long holiday, almost a couple of months. She’s settled right in. She’s loving inside play time almost as much as outside play time with all these mates she’s making.