Training Update!



Whenever any of us go outside into the garden (for example, to feed the hens or ride our bike) Skye always follows us. She often has a toy or ball and is constantly dropping it at our feet so we will throw it for her! Sometimes she gets really impatient and starts to bark. We always ignore her and walk away when she does that so she realises that demanding will not work. Every now and then, if she sits and waits then we throw it for her. At the moment I'm teaching her (or at least trying to!) to wait until I say to go after the ball/toy I throw. I'm starting off with very high quality treats that I know she loves, and a toy she's not too bothered about (though she does like them all!!) The problem is that she's normally more interested in the toy than the treat, even if it's sausage or mince!!!

Skye isn't allowed to learn to bark when visitors come to the door, however Amber is a very good guard dog and always barks very loudly whenever she hears the doorbell (or somebody walks past) Sometimes Skye will try and join in with her and bark, however I just tell her to "be quiet" and reward her when she does, so she rarely bothers, she still goes over to the door though. She doesn't seem to ever really jump up so thats never really been an issue. She's very friendly though and will always go over to people to meet them with a tail wagging very fast that its a blur!! (Flat Coats are known to be the dogs with never stopping wagging tails, and Skye is defiently true to her breed with that one!)

As it begins to get nearer to Christmas, it also gets nearer to Skye's first birthday, on Stephens day (26th Dec) I can't believe she'll be one year old soon. She's certanily getting much more mature now and less puppy-ish (having said that she still has her crazy moments out with Amber running laps of the garden!!)

 

Hope you like the photos, and I'll write again soon!!