Menosukhi Monday

I was floundering a bit coming up with a post for today. Then it presented itself to me in the form of Fletcher's first pupdate. I think you will agree he is rather adorable! (It is cut&paste from Guide Dog's site, hence weird layout.)

This is a good post to have today as I send birthday wishes to another adorable... BERTIE BOFFIN!!!

Hello, I am Jill, Fletcher’s Puppy Walker. I am excited to update you on what Fletcher has been up to.

Fletcher moved in with us late last year. He will stay with us for around 12 months before he begins Guide Dogs Training School. During this time, it’s my job to teach him basic obedience, build his confidence and introduce him to lots of new sights and smells.

Fletcher is the 10th puppy I’ve raised for Guide Dogs but he is my first German shepherd cross, so I am having fun getting to know his different traits. He has such an inquisitive nature and loves to investigate everything around him. I love his colouring, he reminds me of an African Wild Dog!

Settling in

It took a couple of weeks for Fletcher to find his feet and start sleeping through the night. He has a very loving nature and wants to be near to me all the time, so over the last few months I’ve encouraged him to relax when he is by himself. Luckily, he loves chew toys and so he will settle quickly if I give him his bone to chew. I love the photo below of him curled up asleep.

When Fletcher arrived, he was mesmerised by the hoover and broom! He thought they were the best toys ever but soon lost interest in them. As Fletcher is a very bright and clever pup, he needs lots of stimulation to keep him entertained. I bought him some puzzle toys in which he needs to figure out how to get to the treat inside. These toys are brilliant for improving his patience but also keep him busy for a little while!

Learning fast

I have been taking Fletcher to puppy classes to teach him basic obedience. He did so well at his first class and I’m so impressed by how quickly he learns new commands. He can now ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ when asked. I am hoping he will be as obedient whilst we are out and about, as there will be lots more distractions testing his focus! Fletcher is also brilliant at recall, always coming back when called.

I’ve taught Fletcher to nudge my hand with his nose when I give him the ‘touch’ command. This will be a valuable skill to his future owner as it will help them to locate him easily.

The big wide world

It’s my job to introduce Fletcher to many new environments, we call this ‘socialisation’. These experiences will prepare him for his future as a guide dog, as he will be calm and focused when visiting new environments for the first time. Fletcher is a regular visitor to the dentist, the hospital and the gym. The hospital reception team adore him, and he always gets lots of cuddles when I take him for a visit!

Many dogs can develop a negative association with the vets as they usually only go there when poorly or to have scary experiences such as vaccinations. I take Fletcher to the vets regularly and sit calmly in the waiting room, even when we don’t have an appointment. This will prevent any negative association and help to reduce his stress levels when he goes there in the future.