Fido holidays in Queensland

Hello Kaye,

Xmas is over and we are fast approaching the New Year. Today is Monday 28th
Jan. I am in shock because I've just gone back and counted from Fido's
birthdate, 3rd Sept '09 and find he is 17 weeks on Thursday.

The 12-16 week training opportunity is over and we are entering his 'Ralph'
time.

There are fairly dramatic changes in his outgoingness and general
confidence. If you met him on the beach at Sunshine, or at a coffee shop in
Noosaville, you may think he is an adult 'toy' poodle rather than a 4 month
old mini. I guess his puppy licence is officially expired and he is growing
up frighteningly fast.

I am not at all sure his training to date will contribute to the performing
poodle I'd like for my horse shows, specially the last few weeks, but I am
sure few dogs or trainers have had more fun! Time will tell if our
'indulgence' into informal activities will cause us problems in the longer
run.

Last time I wrote I had a strong feeling to back off on 'drill, sit stand
lie down style training and to focus on developing qualities of 'Desire' and
'Attention'. I am still of the view that in this pup 'Desire' loosely
defined as 'his enthusiasm towards any activity' coupled with his
'attention', 'the focus he gives me' are key features.

So I have been encouraging him to explore the world and at the same time
ensuring he checks in regularly with me.

Last Tuesday we flew to Qld. and then drove to Sunshine Beach via Toowoomba
where we picked up my parents who are in their mid 80's.

If teenage hood requires extra 'life' challenges then this week was set up
to provide them. Here is my report on the trip.

'Fido went straight into his crate at the airport and sat quietly to be
weighed. Adult dogs and pups were making quite a fuss around him but he
didn't loose his composure under pressure. A real nice bloke showed us to
the tap, I filled his water, gave him a bone for the trip and a bowl of dry
food and wished him Bon Voyage. This was 8am. We picked him up in Brisbane
at about 1pm. He was still composed, sitting quietly in his crate but I
noticed he hadn't eaten his bone. The trip to Noosa went very well with a
few stops at vegi stalls and toilets. Fido is an excellent traveller. He had
turns on everyones knee and made no fuss.


We arrived just on sundown. It was raining and blowy but I took him for a
walk on lead on the deserted beach anyway. He loved that. A funny thing
happened when I got back to the house. He flatly refused to come in. Perhaps
the strain of a very big day got to him. I stopped with him, tried luring-
no luck, coaxing with a plastic bag (for tugging)- no luck! Eventually I
just made my self into a post and let him strain back on the lead like I
would with a horse and like the most stubborne of horses he eventually threw
himself on the ground. I was very bewildered. I picked him up, brought him
in and sat down to do a bit of serious thinking. I guess he'd just run out
of ' good humour'.

We've been at Sunshine nearly a week. Fido has settled in very nicely. There
have been a few toilet misshaps as expected, but apart from that he has been
quiet composed and beautiful with my parents. I have needed to save them
from his toe chewing enthusiasm from time to time but he responds very well
to 'off' and is so entertaining and cheery so he's easy to forgive.

Yesterday I had to tie him up about 10 metres from where we were having
lunch at Noosaville. He didn't complain at all, just watched the parade of
tourists, got himself a few pats from passers by and went to sleep. Very
'wash and wear' behaviour.

The dog beach at Sunshine has been quite a different story. I've alternated
taking him on and off lead. He really loves the beach and is happy in the
water. He had no fear of the waves from the beginning but doesn't go in more
than to his belly. There are incredible numbers of people and dogs on the
beach at any time of day. He's had some pretty rough and tumble games with
all manner of four legged folk. I just wait til he interrupts the game for a
second to 'check up on me' and then call him back and it has all gone pretty
well.

He has got himself tangled up with a few toddlers who didn't need a much
attention as he'd like to give them. 'Off' mostly works. But it wouldn't if
I had him off lead to often. He gets a bit to excited. Today we took him to
Castaway a beach down the road towards Perigian which was all but deserted.
He is happy to head off about 60 metres. It is a wonderfully comical sight
to see him flying back when I call him.

In the house I've done a variety of training. He is targeting one of my
fathers walking sticks. I can get him doing all sorts of maneuvers using it.
Around the big coffee table and back. I've had him sitting on a foot high
pile of telephone books and staying there while I walk around him and a few
metres away. Getting him to go from the phone books to a chair etc.

There are no fences. Luckily, my parents holiday house is one of the last
houses on the dead end street so traffic is not a problem. I've kept a very
close eye on him and haven't seen him venture further than half way to the
road so we've been able to leave the doors open.

I'm looking forward to getting home and to continuing our training sessions.
I hope you are well enough for a trip to 'Hidden Farm' soon.

Cheers,

Richard