THE BLOG

ST BLOG: Adventures in Puppy Training (Being a Magician)

February 20, 2013 | By Sara | 2 Replies

It occurred to me this week while holding a lead in one hand, some chicken in the other, while trying to remember the command I was looking for  and getting George to simply walk in a straight line, that training a puppy is essentially like being a magician.

By ‘magician’, I don’t mean magical – like abracadabra and hey presto George can ride a small tricycle through a flaming hoop, I mean it’s all about distraction and diversion with a bit of smoke and mirrors.

I’m not going to lie – I thought puppy training couldn’t be that hard. I mean look at him for goodness sake – surely, this little teddy-bear looking bundle of fuzz couldn’t give me that much jip? Well, don’t be fooled. This little terrier-terrorist has got a mind all of his own, but we’re getting there bit by bit.

Here’s what I’ve learnt in week-two:

• Carrots are a god-send. George loves nothing more than to kick around a chunk of carrot, gnawing on it and generally giving it a hard time until it’s all gone. This can distract him for at least 30 minutes. That gives me 30 minutes to do some WORK!
• My favourite time with George is when he’s just woken up from a sleep. He’s all sort of groggy, slightly unsteady on his legs and his fur is all clumped together in that bed-head sort of way – not unlike me on a Sunday morning.
• I thought toilet training would be the hardest bit. It’s not. George is very happy to trot outside and do his business. The hardest part so far has been the biting. The GOD FORSAKEN BITING. Hands, feet, socks, jeans, shoes, sofas – you name it – he wants to get his gnashers into it.
• So far we have achieved – sit, stay, come and heel (sort of).
• So far we have not achieved – off, stop and NO BITING ME!
• By day six I was convinced that George has the devil in him and that we may have to bring in an exorcist to rid him of his biting demons. Turns out that a bit of perseverance with training has done the trick and the exorcist is not needed after all.

Have you experienced the joys of puppy training?

What was the hardest part?

Any advice on biting? (apart from wearing steel gloves)

Stay tuned for more adventures next week – and someone send valium (for me).

ST + George x

George wears Yellow Wilmot Sweater from LoveMyDog (and looks bloody marvellous if I do say so myself)

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