Animal Manners

Hi Gill,

Milo is fantastic! The recall now is really
good, and when he does get lost (usually only for
a few minutes) it's because he can't find his way
back rather than because he's being naughty (eg
he gets stuck behind a fence and can't find a way
through! sometimes he's not the brightest star in
the sky, bless him).

The grooming is more or less sorted. He
understands that I want to clean his feet or
brush him - and that he'll get praise if he lets
me - so there's basically no problem any more.
We've turned it into a game so he gives me a paw,
and rolls over for his back paws to be up in the
air.

Keeping him off the footballs is a bit more
difficult but he's been pretty good. It's quite
hard work keeping him interested in playing with
me rather than going after the ball, but it's
been working. I've totally failed to get him to
bring things back to me though - if he can't
chase it and chew it up then he loses interest.
I guess retrieving isn't in his blood? So I have
to keep running after his ball, to keep the game
interesting. but we'll keep persevering at that
and perhaps in summer when there's more football
games for us to practice with in the park, it'll

feel like that one is sorted too.

So really I'm v. happy with how we've both
progressed. And thanks for your advice!

 

Clare

 

 

  Milo