First lesson in doggie training!

[lolajays]

Hi everyone! Ive not been around for a few days but just grabbed a minute to let you know how or first dog training lesson went! She was just fantastic she mastered down sit and stay and walked well to heel and we have practiced twice a day since and she continues to do well! She is doing the puppy assessment class now and will move up to the bronze citizenship if she i mean when she passes! I'm so proud of her she was so good!
Just one thing do you think a cocker knows its a cocker and recognizes other cocker's? There was two rooms of puppies and in our room besides Maudie was another cocker aged 4 months called Norris he is a beautiful black and white barrel making Maudie look very lanky! Anyway, out of all the others Maudie and Norris fell in love and they played at every chance they got! I found it strange that they should choose each other!!!!!!!
The other question I had was about weight! I had Maudie weighed and she is 11kg at 8 months. I read in Gwen Bailey that and adult cocker weighs around 12 kg and as she has 4 months of growing left I am worried she is overweight. When we first had her the vet said he thought she was sleek but should not lose anymore weight! We feed her on dry food "Husse" and mix in "Kronch salmon oil" which she adores and her coat is beautiful. We give her 2 meals of 50g which she grazes at during the day as she has never been one to gobble her food down. Sometimes she doesn't eat all of it sometimes she does.

[Mollie.Ladie]

I'm so glad that the training went well!    I hope it continues to go this way
I've heard that dogs can tell what breed the other is..so maybe this is why they played so much..ps. its great that you're socializing her so well

Most puppies are pretty chubby so I wouldn't worry too much about that.  She'll lose the baby fat soon enough.  She might look overweight when shes 1 but don't let it bother you..she'll lose it.

[tonio]

 Freddie at nine months(tomorrow) was weighed this week and tipped the scales at 12.10 kilograms.He eats well, doesn't always polish off everything in his bowl and gets two walks a day.I think he'll lose a few grammes next week when he goes for his first professional hair do.He is a very fluffy beast.I might post some fore and after pix if I can get him to stay still long enough.

It certainly sounds as though your training is proceeding well,Freddie seems to be entering his "teenage" period when selective deafness is the rule rather than the exception.

Tonio

[lolajays]

We have now had two lessons! She is quite good you know not sure about the walking to heel thats a bit hit and miss but everything else has been ticked in her book! Im going to attempt some liver cake or tuna bread this week as that may help with heel  . Im so proud of her she is doing so well!

[Annette]

It's lovely when they "get it" isn't it. Sounds like you are doing really well.

Just wait until she hits adolescence!!!

I don't know if they reccognise their breed, but the more I think about it the more I think they just recognise similar characteristics. I suppose that if most cockers are merry, mad and play in a similar style then they will feel happy to meet another dog who is interested in the same things.

[lolajays]

Maudie just acts like a tart lays on her back and Norris jumps on top of her  He is only half her size tho 

[phillyknickers]

Very jealous Lolajays - Harry has had 3 lessons and can 'do' sit/down/stay/stand and fetches and retrieves (clever boy ) but walk to heel  Whats that? .
Harry much prefers the 'lets zigzag in front with nose to the ground like a spaniel' at the moment.  I have high hopes that when we 'do' walk to heel at class that he'll get it...for the moment we'll continue to have fun!!

Harry too met his girlfriend at the park yesterday  .  Molly (another Sprocker, but black and white) is very much the older girl at 22 weeks  .  They were both off lead playing together for about 25 mins - round and round they went until Harry was totally shattered and filthy!  He's a good boy (at the moment) and comes back when I ask, especially if I have sausage in my pocket 

Enjoy the classes - they're good fun aren't they