It is now March and Barney is 5 months old. He has changed from looking like a puppy to a little dog and continues to grow at an amazing rate. He is still on 3 meals a day - together with a healthy helping of mud, twigs and any rubbish he finds in the garden!! Glad to report that he is completely house-trained (no longer needing his newspaper 'to read' at night!!!)
For the past few weeks it has been constantly raining so his walks (which have to be fairly short so as not to overstretch his legs during this period of rapid growth), have been primarily around the lanes of the village. As a consequence, Barney is now well known in the locality with everyone stopping to stroke him - problem is, he now thinks that this is normal and expects everyone (including postmen, builders and strangers) to say hello. We have continued with his socialisation and introduced him to horses (likes, especially the shetland ponies - more his size), sheep (surprised by the number of them in the field, but then ignored) and bicycles (pedal ok, but motor not sure of the noise). He is still rather scared of cars, but bearing in mind there are no pavements in our village (so we have to walk on the road), making it more difficult for him.
We have at last had some spring sunshine and the ground has started to dry out making it possible to take Barney into the fields. After a couple of walks on the lead, it was the somewhat nerve-wracking time to try him off-lead. As the clasp released him, my mind was taken back to the first time we let Dougal off-lead - he shot off into the distance chasing a rabbit (and he never, bless him, really changed!!). Glad to say Barney just trotted along close by rarely straying more than a few feet away. We have now had numerous, equally successful walks with him - we only hope that it continues (it is such a joy not to be running up and down fields chasing a dog!!). We continue to take him to obedience class - though having done the course (and somewhat failed before) I am keen to get it right, especially as Barney is an obviously intelligent dog who wants to please - long may it last (especially during adolescence!!)
It is now March and Barney is 5 months old. He has changed from looking like a puppy to a little dog and continues to grow at an amazing rate. He is still on 3 meals a day - together with a healthy helping of mud, twigs and any rubbish he finds in the garden!! Glad to report that he is completely house-trained (no longer needing his newspaper 'to read' at night!!!) 
We have at last had some spring sunshine and the ground has started to dry out making it possible to take Barney into the fields. After a couple of walks on the lead, it was the somewhat nerve-wracking time to try him off-lead. As the clasp released him, my mind was taken back to the first time we let Dougal off-lead - he shot off into the distance chasing a rabbit (and he never, bless him, really changed!!). Glad to say Barney just trotted along close by rarely straying more than a few feet away. We have now had numerous, equally successful walks with him - we only hope that it continues (it is such a joy not to be running up and down fields chasing a dog!!). We continue to take him to obedience class - though having done the course (and somewhat failed before) I am keen to get it right, especially as Barney is an obviously intelligent dog who wants to please - long may it last (especially during adolescence!!)