- Location
- Cornwall , UK
These are wonderful photos , bless them all x
Otter's Puppy Log
- Thread starter Beanwood
- Start date
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
It looks such a happy time.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Isn't it great?! Kate had it custom made with Carbon's (eh em, meaning "my") favourite colors. It says "Beanwood Gang Honorary Member" on one side and on the other is a caravan/VW camper van print...perfect for a nomadic pooch. I was really touched. I love it and it's going to get a LOT of wear.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Just lovely
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
That last photo is fabulous!
Beanwood
Administrator
Today we worked on being happy in the car, I just get the feeling she is a wee bit anxious, not overly but these things can snowball if we are not careful. What I did today was take her smallish crate, the one she sleeps in and popped it in the car. Inside I added a nice comfy bed with sides all around. To kick off Otter had her breakfast in there, then a few fun games. Literally only for a few minutes at a time. Later on, Benson jumped in and dozed, while I started the engine, just for a few seconds, then lots of treats scattered in the crate for Otter. We left it at that, and will work some more on this tomorrow, will try and remember to take some video clips.
Otter this morning came out with me and the rest of the gang, We did some doing nothing, as well as a bit of activity, some puppy recall, and a great memory retrieve with stop whistle from Benson! I think it's really useful for Otter to learn that it's perfectly normal to just "hang out" walks don't need to be full of frenetic energy, but it is actually good for her to think just pottering, or calmly watching others is normal.
Other dogs doing stuff...
Much ado about nothing...
Otter this morning came out with me and the rest of the gang, We did some doing nothing, as well as a bit of activity, some puppy recall, and a great memory retrieve with stop whistle from Benson! I think it's really useful for Otter to learn that it's perfectly normal to just "hang out" walks don't need to be full of frenetic energy, but it is actually good for her to think just pottering, or calmly watching others is normal.
Other dogs doing stuff...
Much ado about nothing...
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Otter's eyes are incredible; so piercing and alert.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
I love the old gentleman in the middle 
xx
xx
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
- Location
- East Sussex
Lovely to watch. Benson is such a good boy, quietly ignoring being jumped at when he's in a stay.
I prefer the ones where one of them has done something naughty and all you hear is the swearingThe thing I love most about so many of your videos, @Beanwood, is your warm chuckle. It gives me the fuzzies, because it's so obvious how much you dote on your gang
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
A bonus video of Benson and Otter zoomies from her first trip to the paddock.
Beanwood
Administrator
Oh God! @Emily_Babbelhund!! You can hear my "not quite a warm chuckle" more like a WTF???!!!! in the background
Beanwood
Administrator
Puppy Otter is now 11 weeks old and has been with us for 3 weeks. Seriously though, it feels like forever, probably because our days are starting at the ungodly (well for us....) hour of 5 am (ish). To be fair the last couple of mornings have been a little later, thank God for small mercies! We are also lucky we persevered with crate training and have managed to leave her downstairs whilst we slept upstairs. Our previous pups were much easier to crate train and were practically used to them by the time they arrived here. Otter has needed a bit more time and patience in convincing her of the attractiveness of the crate. It did worry me a bit because leaving a pup alone, for us leads on nicely from being comfortable crated. Training a pup to be calm and accept the crate as a safe place to be is one behaviour that really shouldn't be rushed.
Crate training Tips...
This is her first crate for when she arrived.
Now at 11 weeks, she is in her bigger crate. There is a school of thought that a smaller set up aids toilet training, as dogs are loathed to toilet in the area they sleep. While I am sure this is right, I don't like the idea of my pup feeling uncomfortable with a full bladder. We just prefer a smaller cosier bed initially, and giving Otter the opportunity to toilet outside frequently, as often as every 20mins if there is a lot going on!
Going back to leaving Otter alone for a bit, today was the day I went out and left her in the house, alone for an hour. I admit a bit of trepidation, however, we had spent time preparing for this, tbh I was going a little stir crazy and relieved to get out! She has been fine when I have been in the garden, or @Mr.Beanwood working in his office upstairs.
To prepare we made sure she had some training early on in the morning, spending 15 mins doing a bit of easy clicker work. Then a plus a gentle walk in the field with the gang. Just sniffing out scents and exploring is very tiring for a little pup! Before I left I made sure she was content and comfy in her crate, and she had a frozen kong to chew on, and of course, had a wee. I popped the radio on upstairs, and the TV on low in the same room as her. I then quietly without making a noise, left the house, but via the back door. The rationale here was we tend to say goodbye as a reflex when either of us was leaving by the front door and wasn't sure if Otter had paired this with one or both her hoomans leaving the house. Maybe a bit OTT at this point, but being able to leave a dog alone at home is pretty important to us.
Whilst I was out I checked through our home monitor on my mobile that all was OK at home.
On return, I quietly enter through the back again, without making a fuss, put the kettle on, walk to her crate, without making eye contact and because she is calm, and a bit dopey from waking up, I drop a couple of bits of kibble, this is to reinforce positively her calm emotional state.
I took a video of the moment I walk in, to letting her out
Crate training Tips...
- Sizing - big enough to turn around and spread right out comfortably, but not big enough to run riot!
In the very early weeks, 8 -13 weeks when toilet training is a bit more advanced, and pup is used to the crate, you can increase the size, or add a crate within a pen system which works really well for some puppies. We have upgraded to a large crate, with one section for her meals/kongs and a super comfy area to curl up and sleep.
This is her first crate for when she arrived.
Now at 11 weeks, she is in her bigger crate. There is a school of thought that a smaller set up aids toilet training, as dogs are loathed to toilet in the area they sleep. While I am sure this is right, I don't like the idea of my pup feeling uncomfortable with a full bladder. We just prefer a smaller cosier bed initially, and giving Otter the opportunity to toilet outside frequently, as often as every 20mins if there is a lot going on!
Going back to leaving Otter alone for a bit, today was the day I went out and left her in the house, alone for an hour. I admit a bit of trepidation, however, we had spent time preparing for this, tbh I was going a little stir crazy and relieved to get out! She has been fine when I have been in the garden, or @Mr.Beanwood working in his office upstairs.
To prepare we made sure she had some training early on in the morning, spending 15 mins doing a bit of easy clicker work. Then a plus a gentle walk in the field with the gang. Just sniffing out scents and exploring is very tiring for a little pup! Before I left I made sure she was content and comfy in her crate, and she had a frozen kong to chew on, and of course, had a wee. I popped the radio on upstairs, and the TV on low in the same room as her. I then quietly without making a noise, left the house, but via the back door. The rationale here was we tend to say goodbye as a reflex when either of us was leaving by the front door and wasn't sure if Otter had paired this with one or both her hoomans leaving the house. Maybe a bit OTT at this point, but being able to leave a dog alone at home is pretty important to us.
Whilst I was out I checked through our home monitor on my mobile that all was OK at home.
On return, I quietly enter through the back again, without making a fuss, put the kettle on, walk to her crate, without making eye contact and because she is calm, and a bit dopey from waking up, I drop a couple of bits of kibble, this is to reinforce positively her calm emotional state.
I took a video of the moment I walk in, to letting her out