Menosukhi; Sponsor Puppy No. 7

Pupdate 1 - Buttons begins his journey

Hello, it’s Ellen here, Buttons’ Puppy Raiser.

I’m new to puppy raising, and Buttons is my first puppy. I started volunteering after receiving a leaflet from Guide Dogs through the post. We’ve known about the charity for years and thought it would be a good opportunity for me to do something to help this fantastic cause. Since Buttons arrived, I’ve discovered that my extended family have also raised puppies! It’s an amazing thing to do, and I’m really enjoying it.

Buttons’ arrival

It was the best day when I arrived at the National Centre to pick up Buttons. He was so small and fluffy, like a little cloud running around. I couldn’t wait to bring him home and begin our journey. 

He was a little unsettled for the first few nights, and I spent them sleeping on the sofa beside his crate. I wanted him to feel comfortable in his crate and know that it’s his safe space, so that when he needs a break from whatever is going on in the house, he can go in there and relax. Now he loves it!

A cheeky chap

Buttons is such a lovable boy. He loves to follow me around and watch what I’m doing. He doesn’t necessarily want attention, but he likes to know where I am. He can sometimes be a little vocal if he can’t find me. I’ll work on this with him, as he needs to work up to feeling comfortable when left alone for a couple of hours without worrying about where I am.

I’ve got lots of toys for Buttons, and his favourites are enrichment toys, like his puzzle feeder. I usually put his meals in it, as it helps him to eat his dinner at a more leisurely pace and also encourages him to use his brain to work out how to get the food out. These toys are great at helping pups learn how to problem solve, which is an essential skill for a future guide dog so that they can navigate their owner safely around obstacles.

As adorable as Buttons is, he’s got a cheeky side and loves to steal my socks and involve me in a game of hide and seek. I’m always finding socks in weird places! As he grows up, I’ll teach him it’s more fun to play with toys than socks.

Puppy classes

While Buttons is with me, I’ll teach him all the basic cues, like ‘sit’ and ‘wait’. We’ve recently started going to puppy classes to learn more cues, and he enjoys it so much. He’s still young and wants to play with all the other pups, but I’m working on teaching him that he can’t play every time he sees a furry friend.

Buttons is a smart boy and picks up cues very quickly. He’s not always keen to stay in the ‘down’ cue and usually jumps right back up, as he’s too excited for what’s next. I’ll continue to work on this with him over the coming months. He’s got a good recall, which is fantastic for a pup his age. I’m also working on food manners, teaching him not to be distracted by food on the floor. This will be very useful for his future career.