Oh yet more fun with puppies!

Having decided I really ought to do something with Ria on Saturday but not having the energy, I ended up taking her up to the top of the drive in the dark :-P I wanted her to see some cars with their lights on, and also thought it would be good for her to do some of the stuff we've been doing (sit, nose to hand touch) in a different environment, plus some more work at walking on the lead! It wasn't too bad, until she totally freaked at a jogger and was then rather jumpy. So I stayed out just long enough for her to settle as much as she was going to and get her working with me again, then called it a night. She needs sooo much work at walking on a lead, she's a nightmare. Once again it's the chair making things much more awkward.

I've had her sleeping in a puppy pen since I brought her home (she was used to being loose in her breeder's kitchen), I crated her at night for the first time the night (9th/10th) before she was so poorly - so that was the first and last time, as I didn't want to have her crated whilst she had diarrhoea.

On Saturday night I decided she was definitely ok, and crated her again. She went right from 10pm to 5am! Given I had to be up at 5am to go to the show, that was all night :-D

Sunday night she only went from 12am to 5:30am, then 7:30am, and that's now more typical - going 3-5 hours and then waking. But I'm more relaxed at night, so sleeping better - when she's loose I'm awake at every sound because if I hear her get out of the crate I want to get her outside, but crated I know (hope!) she'll cry or make a more obvious noise if she does need to go out. She's really good whilst she's in it....when I crated her on the night of the 9th she cried initially, this time she hasn't made a sound, even the first night. Early days yet, but hopefully we'll both be sleeping through the night before too long!

On Monday she came to obedience. Thanks to the fact we were running late I hardly got to have her out at all, but she met a couple more people and one or two dogs. The dogs are very difficult - she isn't good (nervous), so it's so important that I get her socialised with other dogs....but equally that means I've got to be especially careful about the dogs she mixes with. The last thing I need is a dog to snarl or snap at her.

I'd intended to take her to ringcraft for the first time on Tuesday, but I was feeling so terrible that I wasn't able to get there. So frustrating, thanks to one thing or another she still hasn't been except for that match night when she wasn't allowed off my lap. We were meant to be attending a puppy party next Tuesday, but I think I may give it a miss to get her to ringcraft instead - I can't go the week after, so if I don't go that would mean she won't get there til the 10th, which I'm not very happy about.

Yesterday Ria had her first trip to the "toy shop"; aka the large pet superstore. She thought it was great! Bits of food to try and pick up off the floor :-P (if I was quicker than her I made her wait before she was allowed to get it) and lots of people to say hello to. She was really good, even with children. When she encountered her first screaming baby she looked a bit perplexed, but didn't seem bothered. She spotted the rabbits which she thought were very interesting - never seen a rabbit before! We did a little bit of training; her focus was really good for a 12 week old baby. Then we walked back along the toy isle....oh now that was fun! Most of the plushies were in basket things at the bottom of the shelves....just about reachable for a Ria :-P She went along helping herself! Just remove one from her mouth, and she'd help herself to the next one! It was very funny, but she came home without any as they were all just so expensive.

Today is yet another gorgeous day :-) So Ria went for her second walk this morning. I carried her to where it was safe to let her off lead, and had a lovely short walk in the sunshine with her :-D Sooo nice to have a dog that's good off lead (touch wood! For now..)

A friend and her two children (13 & 11) came to meet Ria this afternoon. I was interested to see what her reaction would be, because I've done a lot of socialising and she's great with people outside, but I've only ever had visitors to the house once since I've had her (which was only a few days after I brought her home) and she was rather nervy. I needn't have been concerned, cos she was absolutely fine :-) Very much enjoyed herself!

We've started discrimination between the front and back of my hand to try and get her into a better position for walking. She's getting the idea :-) Other than that much the same! I've now moved from the nail clippers on to the grinder for the front paws, because she prefers it and it's safe enough now (back paws are dodgier cos she tries to put her nose on it!)

Oh and we had weigh day....Elton 2.7kg (just under 6lb), Solei 3.4kg (7.5lb), Ria 3.5kg (7.7lb) :-P Oh well, that didn't take long! (For Ria to outgrow the boys)