One Week

We have had Shula a whole week now and she has come on in leaps and bounds. Around the house and garden she has lots of confidence, it is only when she is out on the lead that she seems nervous, but that is getting better. I am really pleased because she walks quite nicely and doesn't pull.

We had visitors yesterday and she was very friendly, but not too pushy. I really don't want her to get into the habit of jumping on people when they come in, but it is hard to stop her when they encourage her. I think I am going to have to ask people not to make a fuss of her when they first arrive.

The house training is also going well, we have only had one accident so far and as we didn't actually see her in the act there was nothing we could do. I take her out in the garden first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and regularly throughout the day. I take her to the same spot and encourage her and make a huge fuss when she does what I ask. I then take her straight back in and give her a treat. Quite often we come back out and play but I want to get her into a routine of knowing why she is out.

This morning we left her to go shopping and were out for over an hour. I gave her the Kong toy but we could hear her crying when we left. It was all quiet when we got back and we stayed outside listening for a few minutes. She was so excited when we opened the door, we made lots of fuss of her. There are not many places we go that we can't take her but she has to learn to stay alone for the odd occasion when she has to be left.