Barbet puppy training

I seem to be stuck in the world of puppy training, but before you feel sorry for me it is of course by choice. Every puppy is different, so I always try to get to know the puppy and settle the puppy before I do any training of any sorts. The very first thing I noticed about Pi was that with any toys that trailed she would fold them if possible to carry, this impressed me as I like dogs that think.
Pi is just coming up to 4 months old and is a bit of a tearaway, if she finds anything that she can pick up then she is off like a rocket, and by the look in her eyes it is most definitely planned. She will be a quick learner, a good hunter and I am hope a good retriever. The hunting skills are already showing, most nights without fail she finds our resident toad,and  by her tail wagging it is easy to spot what bushes contain birds, and then we have the goldfish situation ( a blessing really as it does occupy her time) and being rather positive we have a very fit toad in the garden and very fit goldfish.

Anyway, as you may have seen she has taken to swimming like a duck to water, and learnt the sit and down with hand signals and words and I have just started working at her retrieving the dummy to hand.
Pi is still a young puppy, I only do 5 minutes a day training with her, but that 5 minutes I expect her to listen and to work out what I expect of her, that way training is fun as she always looks a little disappointed when it is over.  
 

Barbet puppy chaos

Meet our new addition, NetisJitterbug now 3 months old. When you get a puppy it takes time to get to know them, she spent the first couple of weeks next to us at night but now has settled well with some of the older dogs downstairs, she is not crated as there has not been the need. I do have a puppy pen in the kitchen which she visits when she gets too hyper and starts to bite and generally is just over tired. The puppy pen also means a safe place for her numerous toys, as with older dogs who like nothing better than a soft toy to destroy it is nice to be able to provide her with some entertainment.
She is swimming well with no signs of panic

  Her biggest fault at the moment is the speed she runs when she takes something she shouldn't, you never chase a puppy but it is almost impossible to remain calm and wave a treat at her when she has a possible fatal object in her mouth! once I really understand what is going on in her head, then training will be easier so at the moment I am just learning what she responds to.
More importantly for a puppy is to go out and meet other dogs and people, so we are trawling the streets and finding the odd cafe or pub that takes dogs, she is very confident so this at the moment is easy as nothing has phased her, actually tell a lie.....she expelled her anal gland when Julian started the petrol mower, and she does hang out on the back door step when the neighbours mow the lawn, so we will have to deal with that.

Championnat de France 2014

I am pleased to say that Charamese Hermione, daughter of Novaforesta Dora and Novaforesta Eton got the CACIB on Sunday at the French championship show in Angers. She had no real competition, as she was competing against young females and Martha but she was looking the best she could (coconut coat conditioner and then 3 hours swimming in a lake and temperatures exceeding 29, perfect for natural drying). This was Hallies 3rd visit to France to compete, and in the past she has had some serious competition and I hope we have understood the rules, but winning on Sunday means she has become a French Champion (so watch this space). Hallie was amazing in the ring with Nikki handling her, and when I handled her for the first class we were thrilled as the judge was examining the dogs in the middle of the ring which meant away from the trestle table that Hallie associates with a wormer being forced down her throat (something British dogs have to go through at shows to satisfy the pet passport scheme). Hallie in all her past critiques from judges has it written that she is a little timid, as she goes into reverse when the judge checks her mouth, sadly my French is not good enough to say that she thinks you are going to worm her :). This time however to avoid this we did the worming before we left the UK, and then not being examined next to the trestle table meant the judge saw the real Hallie who is certainly not a timid dog.So another first as the critique did not say those words, just exc this and exc that. We had an amazing time in France, we stayed in a chalet next to a lake and it really was like a mini holiday although it did take 12 hours to get there, but definately worth the effort. If Hallie has become a French Champion then she has retired from the ring, it is not cheap to have these French adventures, and we will need to concentrate on her next achievement which will be Motherhood. She is due in season around August, and a dear boy in Germany called Cooper is eagerly awaiting her visit.  

Barbet puppies available

There are 2 puppies available with Annette, they are 8 weeks old so ready to join a new family. The male is brown and the girl is black with little white tips on her toes. They are lovely confident puppies, I can vouch for that as my little girl is rather fearless, but also knows how to tread carefully with the other dogs (although she did push the boundaries with Bobby!). If you are interested in either the boy or girl please send Annette an email on  netisspinone@sky.com

New Barbet puppy

Look who has joined the Novaforesta gang, at the moment she is called Pi but that may still change as we do not make decisions very quickly. She is the daughter of Ebene and Ooli, so the Grandaughter of Bepop. She is 8 weeks today and has settled in very well, and all my dogs love her except Bobby who is having a little bit of a crisis. Enjoy the white bits as they will not last long once she has been in the forest.
House training is going very nicely as she is really clean indoors and with the warmer weather the back door can remain open, I am however waking with the dawn chorus for the first wee of the day, she is going to have to learn that I like tea before I get up in the mornings.  

Martha my dear

She is just so sweet.

Amiens Dog Shows in France

Showing in France can mean alot of hanging around, Martha and Claude coped well and enjoyed being together which was lovely for Karen and I, actually what I should say is that their behaviour over the weekend was faultless and it is a tough weekend for dogs not used to being shown, they even coped with the 5 hour delay at the tunnel and bizarre events like eating their dinner off a park bench!  .