Puppy classes

Hi Julie,

Thanks for all that. I got him on Monday night so we are starting day 5.
I've made the list. He's been held by over 20 and patted and talked to by
quite a few more, had the café experience in Melbourne and met 6 dogs and
seen lots more walking past on the street. He slept on the footpath under my
feet after about an hour. This arvo he's been invited to a first birthday
party in Fairfield. He's had two weeks of live in grand children, a three
and a six year old. It'll be good to see how he goes with kids and noise.

This pup has been raised with 13 dogs on a farm with shearers etc. coming in
and out of the house all day. He is a very cool customer so far. He's very
lively but doesn't phase easily. By his play, he has very strong prey drive,
and is pretty independent.

I haven't managed the crate training. It is still a dilemma to me. I don't
know how to get him to feel like it is home. Do you trap your pups and wait
for them to settle or do you slowly condition them to the experience and
only close the door when they are settled. I locked him in the crate on the
first night he came home because it was very late. He demonstrated a
remarkable vocal range for 5 minutes and then slept all night. I would never
do that to a horse; forcing it into a float for instance and closing the
tail gate. The next time the horse wouldn't want to go in, that is how Fido
is with the crate now. I've been training around it. Getting him to chase
things in there. I put it where he likes to sleep. And I put interesting
things in it like the Kong. Getting Fido's focus and his 'switch off' button
are my strongest training intentions at the moment. So I would dearly love
to find a good way to have the crate mean 'settle'. I'll need to invest in a
smaller crate so I can take it about easily.

The Ross River has been three months. I haven't worked since the end of
August. It is perfect for the puppy starting because I'm pretty much in
puppy rhythm; good for a play and then need a sleep! It seems to be getting
better.

I'll see if they have room for us at Kensington. Thanks for the details. Should
I try to get him in somewhere else in the mean time?

Cheers,

Richard