Luca explores the world

It's a big world out there, and it can be scary for a little pup. So, how do our puppies gain confidence? By being encouraged to explore with their senses, and learn that they don't need to be afraid of the unknown. This is all part of their training, and how we help them pass their Puppy One Star award.

This is perfectly demonstrated here, by our intrepid Luca! He adores toys and, when he's not snoozing, he's a bundle of energy. So, exploring his senses is a lot of fun, as you can see below!

You can hear his Puppy Training Instructor Nicola behind the camera, explaining how she's hidden treats in the toys so he can snuffle around and find them. And he does seem to like a good old snuffle! She realises at the time that this could be key to training him. Some of our puppies love food, others praise, still others are driven by their sense of smell. Seems like Luca might be a 'snuffler'.

Notice also how Nicola and the other people in the room are so encouraging all the time. Lots of 'Good boy', praise and treats all help Luca gain confidence. To him, it's just a game, but really he's learning to trust his senses and understand that new things can be interesting, not frightening. So, he's energetic and alert, as you can see in the next video below.

Nicola provided the perfect quote here: "I have not had a pup diving in the ball bowl before. Some will not even put their heads in to find the treats but he was fully in there!"

And then some...

By now, Luca has been so encouraged, and gained so much in confidence, that the toys are scattered everywhere! This is a great sign. He's totally absorbed in finding out more.

And yes, you're right - that was the start of maybe a little accident towards the end. We try to make sure our puppies have 'been' before activities like this, but, well, it's all very exciting!

As you can see, Luca is a full-on, strong little Spaniel. He's got so much charm, and you can tell by the way people talk about him, they're already impressed. One day, this will all go towards helping a deaf person to reconnect with the world around them, because Luca will be confidently by their side.

This will all be because of your support. But we're still at the beginning of such an amazing journey, so until next time, thank you for sponsoring Luca!