Training at 4 months going great-guns!

Hi all,

Just a post to keep you updated on Bella's training progress. I am extremely proud of how our little girl is turning out and I think it due to her lovely loyal personality, training and socialisation.

We have found ourselves a wonderful reward based dog obedience club run by the community and they allow off lead socialisation prior to training - this has been invaluable for Bella because even though she can be a rude puppy and jump up on all the other dogs, she is now learning that this is not always polite. There are some older dogs who have taken to correcting her and 'telling' her off when she does the wrong thing and this is 100 times more effective then if I were to correct her. I'm thankful for the environment. I have learnt a lot and she is learning doggy etiquette. I've seen big changes in her in the last three weeks - I have read somewhere that about 16 weeks something changes in puppy's and older dogs don't allow them to get away with as much.

Not only have I noticed a change at doggy school but also at home - it's like a light switch has turned on. It's like all the things that we've been repeating like a broken record have finally been heard and understood. When she comes inside she sits at the door and waits to be asked in and then goes straight to her bed (after inspecting the area under the dinner table checking for crumbs  ). At dinner time when we're eating she stays on her bed and no longer harasses us and when I give her dinner she sits and waits until I let her eat. She does not pull on the lead when we walk, although she is easily distracted. I have been using watch with her a lot and acting like a loony when out in public so she'll take more interest in me than the guy across the road. We've started practicing 'watch' as we continue to walk. This is going OK. I have put her on the harness instead of the training collar (makes it easier to switch to long line when we get to the park) and noticed that she likes to walk ahead more but if she starts to pull then back on with the training collar.

This just sounds like a brag post doesn't it! - well I am so happy with our little Bella and a bit proud of myself too because I have been putting in the effort to make sure she turns out well and fits into the family. I have fallen madly in love with her, we have a lovely bond - I think that's why the training is going so well too.

If you got to the end of this...well done!

L

Thats a great update Lisa

Its a brilliant brag post, well deserved  Well done both you out  

Well done to you both:D 

Aww sounds like things are going really great

A lovely update Brag away .. well deserved by both of you!