The new normal......

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Well we went for a non-Scotland walk today..... Colin couldn’t understand why he wasn’t allowed free range to explore all the interesting smells he found! He didn’t really get ‘the lead’ at all ?

Interesting to see that Colin is almost as long as George but has a long way to go with bulking out and muscling up - as you’d expect when he is only 4 months old ??

 

[EventingMum]

Poor Colin, you'll need to explain the concept of holidays to him!

 

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Tomorrow we begin recall training and very basic scent work training in the garden to wear his over-active little brain out ???

There is a cancellation at the holiday destination in November for 11 days and I would give ANYTHING to go, but it’s no use telling Colin that ?

 

[Bellasophia]

That still looks a lovely walking place. Nice to see the gang in their groupwalk...as you say the greys keeping their elegant file,the terriers sniffing randomly in their hustle to explore.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Your "own" forest looks as scenic as the Scottish one, in that first picture. Although Colin certainly looks as if he's just waiting for you to unleash him so he could run around, and explore everything!
Loving the patiently waiting large dogs, and the smalls already being occupied with their things, picture.

As for the last one, eek! Where did time go?

 

[{97702}]

I must say I’m trying to be really careful - I’m sure I’m walking him too much for his age according the experts, he is so mature in his outlook on life that’s is difficult to remember that he really is only 4 months old! So he should only be having 20 minute walks maximum.... ?

 

[Chiffy]

Levrier, you need a rucksack to pop him in so he doesn’t do too much! ??
Your own wood looks scenic but it’s not as useful with no fencing is it!
l like your I love Scotland’ It’s good for me so that I appreciate what I have here. I do get homesick for Hertfordshire sometimes.
Perhaps you should just rent that lodge all year!

 

[Moobli]

I must say I’m trying to be really careful - I’m sure I’m walking him too much for his age according the experts, he is so mature in his outlook on life that’s is difficult to remember that he really is only 4 months old! So he should only be having 20 minute walks maximum.... ?

It’s so hard to limit exercise with boisterous, energetic young pups and remember the 5 min per month of life rule is for forced exercise (ie walking on a lead) on hard ground, but he can have as much running around on soft ground as he likes , as long as he isn’t allowed to run to exhaustion. Do you have a garden he can bomb around in? Or are there any secure fields for exercising dogs you could utilise in your area? Scentwork should definitely help tire his busy wee brain too.

 

[Moobli]

Are you going to book the lodge in November? You should! Life’s too short not to do the things you want to (within reason and finances of course).

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Lovely photos, I love dog walking in the woods.

 

[{97702}]

It’s so hard to limit exercise with boisterous, energetic young pups and remember the 5 min per month of life rule is for forced exercise (ie walking on a lead) on hard ground, but he can have as much running around on soft ground as he likes , as long as he isn’t allowed to run to exhaustion. Do you have a garden he can bomb around in? Or are there any secure fields for exercising dogs you could utilise in your area? Scentwork should definitely help tire his busy wee brain too.

Oh well that’s good news - to be honest he hardly ever walks on hard ground, it is either in the woods or (in Scotland) on the beach. I don’t tend to do roadwork with my lot as I put them in the back of the car and take them to the woods to avoid others ?

He goes out in the garden a lot, we also hire a secure field regularly (it’s 10 acres.... Colin & George think they are greyhounds too ?) but I’d like him to be trained a bit - having had rescues for so long I’ve got into bad habits and I don’t want to end up with an undisciplined yob of a dog because I didn’t put the work in! ??

 

[{97702}]

Are you going to book the lodge in November? You should! Life’s too short not to do the things you want to (within reason and finances of course).

I honestly would do but sadly I can’t get the time off work, and I am also haemorrhaging money on Ace’s vets bills at the moment! I’m sure there will be other chances ???

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Ditto what @Chiffy suggested, you could always bring a rucksack to put him in, so that he gets a bit of rest now and then during longer walks. Or you could just pick him up, and carry him. Either way, not letting him walk all the walk himself, also doubles as a good way for training his patience. So you'll be killing two birds with one stone.

Also ditto @Moobli , as long as it isn't done excessively, a bit of running around like a loon with Millie, or the other dogs, in your garden or similar places, can be comparable to what puppies are naturally supposed to do when they're growing up. Spending some of their time hooning around, exploring the world around them, with their litter mates.

That isn't the same thing as going for dog walks, where we decide to go from A to B, and back home to A. Usually being done in a steady pace, with only brief sniffing/peeing/pooping stops.

 

[{97702}]

I really want to try the rucksack idea because it will be so funny - he is such a squirmy adorable little soul, it will be interesting trying to keep him contained ?

 

[Moobli]

I honestly would do but sadly I can’t get the time off work, and I am also haemorrhaging money on Ace’s vets bills at the moment! I’m sure there will be other chances ???

There will!