Training and tickle-tums for Feather

Welcome to your new Feather Pupdate!

Feather's been up to plenty since the last one. We'd sum it up as training and tickle-tums.

First, the training. Feather's been taught to be a good girl in supermarkets. There are so many interesting sights, sounds and smells for puppies, but Feather knows that, if she just behaves herself, she'll get a fuss and a treat. And maybe - just maybe - a tickle on the tum.

By being so well-behaved, her eventual deaf partner will have confidence that they can go anywhere with their cuddly companion. Also, notice how she's wearing her 'I'm learning to be a hearing dog' burgundy coat. That's also important: it's a signal to people that the person she's with is deaf, and it can totally change situations around, making people very accommodating and understanding.

More training below, in which Feather shows how well she can 'wait' for her food.

Again, this is an important part of training. As well as being a good girl outdoors, she needs to learn not to obey her immediate impulses in some situations indoors too. So, she knows that waiting until food is ready, rather than pestering, is the way to get... maybe some tickle-tums? Perhaps?

Oh go on then...

OK, Feather's had tickle-tums. More training below - a lovely settle.

This is more of Feather learning to be a well-behaved little dog. Her eventual deaf partner is likely to want to visit all sorts of places - cafes, libraries, restaurants and so on - where the last thing they want is an excitable, noisy dog. So, again, Feather knows that if she just settles, relaxes, watches the world go by, she's doing the right thing. As a result, there may be tickle-tums.

Not quite yet though. Is this training...?

Actually, it is. This is how volunteer Sylvia is helping introduce Feather to the wider world, learning to greet other animals as well as people. Horses can be big and scary, even for us humans, but a nice, gentle greeting means Feather now likes horses. Likewise, a nice, gentle nose-nudge with another dog means that Feather builds in confidence. As she grows, Feather will learn that new experiences like these are all part of the fun life of a hearing dog.

And look at what she gets in return!

Hmmmm, a boring old Puppy Two Star award. Harrumph. No tickle-tums?

What about... helping Syvlia at pilates? That's sort of tickle-tums, isn't it?

OK, what about... helping Sylvia with the ironing?

No, that's not tickle-tums at all, is it?

OK then Feather. You can have your tickle-tums. You've deserved it...