Pupdate 4

Jan 2010 -Elliott's Training

Elliott and his puppy walker Mary.  Elliott is busy learning lots of new things; he is being taught to walk properly on his lead and learning basic commands.  He is also visiting many different environments with Mary, so that he can feel confident in all situations.

Elliott is progressing at a good steady rate with his training and is always eager to please.  However, as Elliott is a very sociable dog, he tends to lose concentration on his training if someone ignores him.  This is being overcome now.

Moving on with Elliott.  Elliott has moved into training and kennels.  Already he has been introduced to the harness and has taken to it well.  Elliott is aware of wearing the harness when it is first put on him but as soon as he is given guiding tasks, it takes his mind off it.

Elliott starts advanced training.  Elliott's level of training has now started to increase and he is being encouraged to start making decisions himself.  Furthermore, he needs to learn that even if the instruction asks him to go forward when it is not safe to do so, he should disobey the command if the situation is dangerous. 

As Elliott is a very confident dog who needs to be kept motivated and stimulated, his trainer thinks that he will be best suited to someone who has an active lifestyle.

Final stages...  Tony, Elliott's trainer has been giving Elliott lots of responsibility to think for himself while out on training walks. This gives Tony the opportunity to find out what Elliot is good at and what needs to be worked on.  The main focus they have at the moment is 'right shoulder work' and obstacle avoidance.  Right shoulder work is when Elliot has to be mindful and consider his handler as an extension of himself, to ensure that he allows enough space on his handler's right hand side to prevent them from colliding into obstacles.

Tony will soon do blindfold walks with Elliott, where they go out and Tony wears a blindfold.  This gives Elliott a chance to really show off his training as he has to think entirely for himself.  Another member of the team will follow behind so that they do not get into any danger.