Chrissie's training continues

Chrissie is continuing with her training even during lockdown, with the help of her fab Volunteer Puppy Trainer Sandra.

Let's take a look at what she's been learning!

First up, waiting.

Can you see that steely determination in her eyes?

Waiting is really important. Chrissie will need to 'wait' often when she's partnered with a deaf person - getting into the car, getting out of the car, in queues, on public transport platforms. Wherever and whenever she needs just to sit still while her deaf partner is doing something, she'll need to be trusted upon just to sit nicely.

As you can see, she's very good at it!

Here she is ten minutes later...

Waiting is related to what we call 'impulse control'. This is whereby Chrissie is learning that she doesn't need to react to everything as soon as she sees/smells it, because all good things come to those who wait. In the case below, a tasty treat!

Guess what happens? That's right - Chrissie just waits, and waits, and waits... until she's given the cue to eat the treat, at which point it disappears almost instantly. It's a clever trick, and an especially difficult one for a Labrador because we all know how very much they love their food. But Chrissie is an impulse control ninja.

As with 'wait', impulse control is just all part and parcel of being a well-behaved dog. It's so important to build a really strong foundation, of a dog that isn't bothered by new sights or sounds, that focuses on the person it's around, that won't disappear and never come back...

Talking of which, Chrissie is also great at recall! This is when a dog comes back immediately, as soon as its name is called or a whistle blown. Watch out, here she comes...!

She's so great. Her eventual deaf partner will just know that they can let her off the lead and she can run around to her heart's content in the park, in the woods, across the fields, but she will always come back when she's called. Clever Chrissie!

And finally, what is this life if, full of care, we find not time to - er - sit and stare...?

We count two Chrissies in that photo! We think the one nearest is the real one.

Did we say finally? Not quite. No Pupdate is complete without a shot of a happy, snoozy dog, in this case snuggled up to Ele, her favourite toy.

Now that is a brilliant toy for a dog Chrissie's size! 

She's doing so well and having such a great life. This is thanks to you for supporting her, so, as always, from all of us, thank you so very much for sponsoring Chrissie!