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This morning I popped with Poppy into the farmyard where Bill was still downing his usual morning cup of coffee while sitting on top of an old tractor tyre propped against the wall of the farm office. He's always there as I walk past the yard - as long as it isn't raining. Tony, his right hand...

I think you are correct. When we undertook to take Poppy on she came with a guarantee that she had been properly socialised with people and other dogs. Certainly she is really good with people in all situations. With dogs, I think she has been socialised but it gets really badly masked by her...

Training in the stubbles this morning I completely failed to spot my farmer friends daughter on her pony coming down the footpath until she was right on us. The Pop Dog goes deaf and starts to bounce around the pony and I paddle up as quick as possible. This dog will be the death of me. I'm...

Yes, with you on that. I just always find it hard to deal with situations that don't go the way I'd like. It helps to write it all down, I find.

This morning we had "training" in the shade of an oak tree where the shadow had been made very long by the low morning sun. After "we'd" got over the running off to bury the dummy issues, it was all going reasonably well when a couple with a young pointer on a lead appeared. Poppy noticed them...

:rofl: Sounds like me shout "here" to no avail on gundog training. Again back to this morning, we came across a cat sunbathing. Cats are definitely there to be dealt with severely by the Pop Dog. However ..... One lunge by Poppy then a very firm "LEAVE IT" from me and bowl me over with a...

I actually normally walk on the farm where I shoot. Most of it is very quiet and if we do meet another dog you can see it coming from a long way off. However, one field is "open access" and it's there where, I should think, 90% of the difficult dogs are. This weather it's also where Poppy can...

This morning the Pop Dog gets the blame again. I'm starting to really think it's me but there is an issue I need to address. Walking with Poppy we met 2 Pointers, a Yorky, a bitsa something or other, and Alsatian and a Jack Russell. All no problem. Then we rounded a corner with Poppy a...

I've got to say I was struggling with not panicking! We haven't met him recently but one of her dog friends is Teddy - also a GSD. He's about the same age as Poppy and they run together shoulder to shoulder. Teddy has a ball on a rope and Poppy does steal that, much to Teddy's annoyance. Boy...

Dog interaction is amazing, isn't it. The Pop Dog can be a nightmare with other Labs and larger young dogs charging around, play boxing and even "play" growling. I put the last play in inverted commas because I'm never very confident on that one. If the other dog has a ball things get really...

She's back! So all is right with the world again.

Once a month we are away for a couple of nights so first, Lady, and then, Poppy are in a nearby lovely kennels from Saturday to Tuesday afternoon. They loved Lady at the kennels and they all burst into tears when she went. They had looked after her for 11 years and she liked going there as...

:hungover: I will NOT give in! Never give in! The Pop dog can do it - she just chooses not too. I mean I'm convinced of that. In a new environment everything just goes out of the window. We got her pulled back and retrieving complete with a finish round behind but goodness it was hard...

Wish me luck! We have a session with our trainer tomorrow at 12:00 (hope it's not too hot). It's one-to-one so no other owners there to cast judgement. :rofl:

Update ..... I've been concentrating on small stuff and really lowering my expectations. I think we are slowly getting there. The issues that need correcting make a list as long as my arm, however ....... Poppy will now bring the dummy back on the first attempt of the day rather than run...

I took the Popdog out for a short walk yesterday early evening. It was very hot but I hosed Poppy down before setting off. It worked well and no panting at all until we were nearly back. Didn't go far, though.

I've just this morning tried the "there's something really interesting in the grass at my feet" ploy. 😂 Out very early around 06:30 to beat the heat I decided to do a spot of simple training in the shade of a large oak tree. Pops ran off with the dummy as usual. So I got intensely interested in...

Brace! Brace! We used to live in Oman where it was 40 every day in summer and humid. We got used to it but the house and everywhere else was air-conditioned of course. Not looking forward to Monday and Tuesday. We're just south of London. I'm actually quite worried about Poppy. Wet towels and...

Lovely. Thank you for letting me in to a corner of your world.

She certainly has. At breakfast she lies in the hall with an eye on the kitchen and me eating my cereal. As soon as I put my spoon down she's up and poke, poke, poke until I give up and take her out for a walk. When I'm in the office she lies on the floor just outside. As soon as she hears...