TED KEWLEY

Hi

Just to give you another update on the girls.

Tikka has suddenly gained hugely in confidence around other dogs, people and small children. She used to show a lot of aggression towards all three, but I took her to the Shrewsbury Carnival last Saturday and she was a star. She went up to children wanting strokes and cuddles and was accepting treats off both adults and children. The only time she had a slight mishap was when I took her to the Guide Dogs for the Blind stand. Have you seen the plastic models they have of retrievers with the collection slots in them? Tikka attacked the plastic model of the puppy! She now goes up to people with dogs looking for treats and greets dogs with a wavy tail. It's taken a lot of time and effort - socialisation classes three times a week as well as outside classes - but it's finally paid off. We've also been giving her the herbal tablets which you recommended and they seem to have made a difference as well. I've wept buckets over her as I've struggled to hang on to her and seen people of all ages run away from her as she has been so frightening with leaping and twisting in the air to get to folk with snarls and barks. I still keep a close eye on her, but I never thought I'd have such a happy relaxed dog.

Sheba passed her Kennel Club Puppy tests last Tuesday - she has to be friendly with dogs and people, both those she knows and those she doesn't; stay in one position without moving for ten seconds; play with a toy and give it up on request and walk quietly on lead without pulling. Her recall is getting better and better. She has also learnt 'sit', 'down' and 'stand' and goes from one to the other quite happily. Next week she's taking her Kennel Club Bronze test. Sheba's still enjoying her puppy agility classes - although she's now one year old, she's not allowed to jump until she's 18 months old, but she loves the see saw, tunnels and the dog walk, as you can see from the photos. We lower the dog walk for the puppies so if they jump off, they won't do themselves as much harm as if they jumped off the full height.

I've attached assorted photos of Sheba doing her agility with both me and James, our eldest.

How's Zander getting on? Is his fur beginning to grow back now - baby oil works well with horses to make their coats grow when it's been shaved off. I don't know if it works the same with dogs, but it wouldn't do any harm.

Best wishes,

Alison, James, Sheba and Tikka