Ups and Downs

This week has had some real ups and downs. I started off very down, and mum noticed that I had a yellow sticky discharge coming from my eyes. She didn't try treating it herself, because she didn't know what the cause was, but waited to see if my immune system could deal with it. She also noted that I was quite lethargic, and then off my food. Alarm bells started ringing, because mum knows how much I love my food.

I wasn't as playful as I usually am either. In fact I didn't want to do much at all, except lay in the sunshine and snooze.

The following day I felt much better, I had more energy, started eating again, and mum breathed a sigh of relief that I would not have to go to the vet after all. Auntie Glynis came and took me on a training walk. We went to Newport Pagnell, and mixed with lots of people of all different shapes and sizes who were out shopping.

My socialisation programme is still continuing, and my training in busy areas has commenced. I have to learn to be good, not jump over everyone, not to try to say hello to everyone I meet. There are so many people who want to say hello to me, but it becomes quite confusing when some do not want to speak to me at all. What do I do in these situations? Mum and Aunt Glynis are spending time teaching me to walk on a loose lead and to ignore passers by where ever possible. Further down, I am pictured walking back towards the car park, having had such a wonderful time.

I have overheard mum speaking to people on the phone, who enquire about puppy training. Some have purchased two dogs from the same litter, or already have more than one dog. Some of these people don't like being advised that they really need to get their puppies to do things separately from one another, otherwise confidence problems can arise. I really do understand why mum says this, because when Lotte, Nalle and Tallulah are with me, I think I am so grown up and know everything there is to know, but when it is just me and mum, I take a different view of the world. My supporters are not there to back me up, so I stay as close to mum as I can.

It is also nice to have mum all to myself at times, because we play and do things together which we don't usually do when the others are around, therefore it is lovely for me to get to know her, and for her to really get to know me. We are developing a lovely bond because of all the things we do separately from the others. That is not to say that I don't go out on their walks, because I do. It seems very important to me that mum is allowing me to develop my own confidence, so that I don't become too dependant upon the others. I am already starting to feel more secure in myself, so it seems well worth the extra effort mum is putting in for me. Evidently some dogs who are not encouraged to develop their own personality and confidence, can end up aggressive towards people and other dogs. Mum is working very hard to ensure that I do grow into a well behaved and confident dog. Mum does seem to follow her own advice, I must say.

See how Aunt Glynis keeps my leash loose as I walk along? Many dogs end up pulling because their owners set out with a very tight leash. Glynis is also carrying something very yummy in her pocket, and clicks the clicker when I am walking nicely, she then produces that yummy treat from her pocket. The click tells me that I am getting things right, and not there to grab my attention. She also puts a gap between my hearing the click, and the reward arriving, in order to give me chance to register why I have been clicked.

Alright, so you have clicked...... where is that treat then?

The following day, I felt very unwell. I woke mum up early. Cough! cough! cough! "Oooooh NOOOO" I heard mum say. A bit later on, I was coughing lots, and my chest felt a bit sore. My eyes were also very sticky again. Lotte's eyes were also sore. Mum realised that I could have picked up a coughing virus which is in the area. We visited the vets, not because of the cough, but because of my sticky eyes. The vet examined my chest all the same, and she was quite happy that it was nothing serious. Just a cold. She gave me some ointment for my eyes. I am very good and allow mum to put it in. Lotte isn't so good. She closes her eyes as tight as she possibly can, making it very difficult for mum put get ointment in.

We are all better again now. Our eyes are fine, and no coughing.


This weekend we are all back to normal. Marley the Rottie came to visit. I really like Marley, and he likes me too. We had a really good game together. Marley's mum and dad are so pleased, because they have recently rescued him, and he had a very poor start in life. He is really coming out of his shell now.


We played rough and tumbles. So many people would be upset seeing a Rottie playing with a 14 week old puppy, but Marley is so gentle with people and with other dogs. Nobody should judge a book by it's cover. Rotties are individuals like everyone else and deserve to be given a chance. In fact, Nalle was the one who became upset with Marley and bit him because he didn't want him in our house. Nalle was fine with Marley once we were out of the house.

Then Marley had to go home. It was then time for bed. Tally makes a lovely bed.