Week 4 (9 weeks old)

Wow has it been a month already!
This week more than ever Louis has become an adult miniature border collie. We began proper free shaping, and for the first time in my life I free shaped my own pup to give a paw. I was so happy.
He is not diving into the food, and now waits for his bowl, he is not eating like a crazed starved street crawler either, and we started training more with a toy as well as food. He does a hand signal to ‘down’ now, and he has started to realise that sometimes when I call outside he doesn’t have to come! But I have been working hard to keep him interested, as I mentioned before, Louis had started to crouch and leap at Jaz, (in particular as Jaz runs back to me for me to throw his ball again) lucky for me everytime Louis did this unwanted behaviour, he was close to me and I was able to catch him in the act, a few times sticking my hand to catch him in the act of jumping at Jaz and making horrid collie noises (haha) my timing was perfect (luckily) and he seems to have got the idea that doing horrid collie behaviours is not on. Well for now anyway.

Strangely enough, he was a little cocky last week, and this week seems to have calmed down - when meeting new dogs he is ‘normal’ not too alert, and not worried, just fine. Nothing much has happened that I can think of to change his behaviour, but obviously pups go through lots of stages, this week being one of the calmer, I ain’t complaining!

I have decided from now on to write a summary of the weeks happenings under headings, so you don’t get bored, and also because I think it will be easier to read (see - always looking to get better...)


General Temperament

In the house:

Not a fan of doing nothing, started to chew on his basket a little, but interrupting with a game and then ending with giving him something more suitable to chew on (pizzles are his favourite this week!) Started to play a little more with the adults (or rather they have started to play with him) now that he is a little bigger and more interesting!

Sociability:

Much better when meeting dogs out, not as barky as last week. Although still full of confidence. Goes up to dogs and other humans with ‘waggy bum syndrome’ – showing submission, seeking social acceptance – all good signs.

Trainability:

This is coming on. Waited with the click for offered behaviours and he got the idea. Free shaped a ‘paw’ and over a few days he is lying down, putting his head down (not sure if this started with a ‘ok tired now mum’ look but as soon as the click came the head came up!) A problem I am encountering more is the dog (not just pup) unable to distinguish whether I want an offered behaviour or listen-and-do-what-I-ask, but working through this to help them. Especially putting a word to ‘free time’ (I have been using ‘what-you-gonna-do?)

Recall:

Got a little worse outside as he has realised he doesn’t have to come back. But making sure I go to him and show him how fun I can be (hard work when you don’t feel like it), but it only takes a few ignores for the pup to get the idea that ‘come’ means ‘nah don’t bother, there is no consequence’ There always has to be. In my public training life I am starting to tell people that there are only a limited number of times that we can use the dog’s name, so we have to make every one count.

New Tricks:

Paw, roll over and ‘down’ with raised hand signal (previously been to bring hand to floor)

House Training:

Going ok, could be better but I am so lazy. If mistakes happen it is always my fault, plus at this time of year the doors are closed and it is cold out there. No number 2’s for a few days in the house, but there is pee in the crate when I return from work, so perhaps not got the bladder control quite yet. It will come.

Food Manners:

Really coming on. He has taught himself ‘self control’ – that is that food comes to him when he pauses, and then increase the time delay. He was diving into everyone’s food bowl at tea time, a nightmare as I don’t want to feed pup first, but he was going to get his face bitten off! Ate in the crate at first and given him lots to eat at meal times to the point where he will leave some. Not recommended long term, but I hate it when dogs eat so fast! So short term it takes away the scarcity if there is lots of food (obviously). He had been dashing through the door to the kitchen after a walk, which was cute but this has diminished too now that the meal thing isn’t such a big deal. Will start to give normal portions now that he ‘waits’ for his bowl (as opposed to jumping about and making noises like a lunatic) and also feed with the other dogs.

I was training together with my sisters pup last night, who just about had my fingers off. So I realised that Louis is doing really well, takes tidbits softly and doesn’t try to rob you just because you have food. A few minutes spent with the other pup also had her pausing to get the food. It’s just what works isn’t it – that’s all they know.

Lead Manners:

Louis wore a collar for the first time this week, and it took one walk for him to accept it (he wasn’t impressed). However in the last few days he has started to race to where ever it is he thinks we are going, so I can officially start to teach him good walking manners from now. Pulling against the collar is not good for posture, so until we have it sussed, he will be back to walking with the harness which is better for balance (at this age).