Luca: trim and training

In your last Pupdate we kicked off with a look at how handsome this young boy is.

This time... well, we're sure he's under there somewhere!

Yes, it comes to all puppies eventually. Luca needed a trim. In a way, the look above quite suited him. Whether he was closer to John, Paul, George or Ringo is up for debate, but Luca's mop top was a wonder to behold. Still, it had to come off, and come off it did.

Ah, that's better! Back to handsome Luca again! He looks quite distinguished now, don't you think?

It's just as well he can see through his mop again, because he's been busy training. This covers many aspects of Luca's development, from how well we walks alongside someone (called 'heelwork') to how well he can resist his impulse (called, appropriately enough, impulse control).

Here's Luca's impulse control:

He's doing so well! He really, really would very much like a taste of what's on the table, but Luca knows that's not the 'right' thing to do. What is the 'right' thing? Just to be a good boy, and not grab or steal. If he does that, nothing will happen, no chastising or punishment. But if he's good, and just sits and waits, then he'll get a fuss and a treat. It's what we call 'reward-based training' and it's the best way to bring up a happy, well-behaved puppy.

More training below - a wonderful bit of focus from Luca.

This was taken in a garden centre, where there can be all sorts of distractions going on - people carrying pots, wheeling trolleys, having chats, lots of beeping at the checkout and so on. But Luca's attention is firmly on the person he's with. When he helps a deaf person, this will be so important: he needs to listening out for that person, as well as listening. What a clever Luca!

Now, a video that shows reward-based training at its best.

Here, Luca visits a shop - just one of the places he'll need to be familiar with, and happy around, when he's matched with a deaf person. See how he's happy just to walk calmly on his lead, tail wagging, no problem. At one point, he does a fantastic 'wait' and gets a reward. Then a bit later, he gets on his hind legs, which we don't want him to do. The reaction? Nothing. He didn't do the 'right' thing, but he doesn't get a treat. So, what does he do? He remembers that the 'right' thing - that is, the thing that results in a treat - is just to settle. Which he does, and a treat comes his way.

So that's three aspects of his training covered. Just time for more photos of this handsome chappy!

Here he is looking dramatic against the sunset. Perhaps he's contemplating his future, helping a deaf person to leave loneliness behind?

And finally, like a lot of our Pupdates, let's end with a photo or two of a snoozy pooch!

Here he is with his favourite toy, a pink duck.

Well, after training so hard, he deserves a bit of a rest, don't you think?

He's doing so well as you can see. This is because you, his sponsor, have helped him get this far. From all of us, thank you so very much for sponsoring Luca!