Playful Grace

Grace has passed her Puppy One Star!

We'll tell you all about this in your next training update. In the meantime, you can read all about it here. Suffice to say, it's a big step for a little puppy. We're very proud of her, she's proud of herself, and you should be proud too, because it's through your help that she's come this far.

Part of achieving this has been through visiting places and learning to be a very well-behaved puppy. Garden centres are ideal because they're generally quite sedate, relaxed places, but have lots of interesting smells that could distract a puppy.

So, off she went!

Notice how it says 'assistance dogs only' behind her. This is why hearing dogs need to be familiar with these places, because their deaf partners might want to visit them.

Look how well she's walking on her lead. It's not too loose, not too tight. We call this 'heelwork' and it seems Grace is already doing it really well.

She loved the flowers! And we love this photo too, because it shows how small she is still. She's like a little flower herself.

Grace is brilliant at being a cool, calm, collected puppy when she's at 'work'.  But this is because really, when our puppies 'work', they still think it's all a game. Grace gets lots of treats and cuddles along the way, and meets lots of friends. 

Here she is again 'working' - by which we mean, settling down nicely to make friends with another puppy.

This is so important. One day, her eventual future deaf partner will want to be able to take her anywhere with them, and know that their furry friend will be no bother at all. In fact, our deaf partners often tell us that other people comment on how very well behaved their hearing dogs are, and that can start friendly conversations at the restaurant, on the bus, at the train station and so on.

Or even - in the car!

Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!

Cue Grace doing what Grace does best - encouraging Alfie the Newfie to play. 

Having persuaded Alfie to play, it's time for a nice refreshing country walk. They're so different in size, but they adore each other.

She can even leave Alfie behind when she finds leaves (pun slightly intended). So much energy! So many leaves! So much fun!

Grace is choc-full of energy. She never stops. Here, she seems to have found something interesting. Is it a mole perhaps?

There's also plenty of time to play with even more toys, this time a box full of coloured balls that Grace finds absolutely fascinating.

Let's end this Pupdate with a lovely shot of a lovely dog - Grace, all ready and waiting to have a fantastic day!

We hope you enjoyed this Pupdate. We enjoyed putting it together! It's all good where Grace is concerned. 

Until next time... thank you again for sponsoring Grace!