I hope everyone is safe and well.
I thought I’d share the latest video of Xela now that she is 6 months old. She has settled in very well and this is a normal day with Alfie in Tenerife. This looks like play, and it is, although there is a serious side to it in terms of discipline.
James and Alfie.
Good afternoon everyone. I thought I’d give everyone a wee update on Xela.
We will be supplementing her diet with raw food as it’s very important for her to have as varied and balanced diet as possible. This video is her first taste of turkey breast and it difficult to tell if she even tasted it.
The training here is keeping the pup as calm as possible before she gets her food.
James and Alfie.
Good afternoon everyone.
I thought I’d post another short video of Xela with Charlie the cat who is only 5 months himself. As you can see they’re firm friends and this is demonstrated by their play fighting.
This is an important part in the development of both the puppy and the kitten as Xela has a very high prey drive already.
It’s crucial that she learns that Charlie is very much part of the pack although as you can see Alfie is always on hand to oversee pack behaviour.
James and Alfie.
Good evening everyone.
We have had Xela for a week now and it has been a very interesting week. Charlie the kitten has now become firm friends with Xela, and today, we turned a corner in terms of the pup’s acceptance into the pack.
As you will see from the video, Alfie has begun playing with Xela. Please never underestimate the learning opportunity this is for any puppy.
Alfie is very gentle as always, and although this is play, it has very serious implications for the development of the puppy with regard to pack acceptance.
It’s important to note that Xela is quiet throughout this encounter which is unusual for a puppy in my experience, especially as young as Xela is.
James and Alfie.
Good afternoon everyone.
Just to say that Xela is settling in very well, and is behaving like any puppy would, however I have noticed differences in how she perceives the world around her.
Her need for pack acceptance is very clear although as you can see her manners need a little work. Alfie, as always, is on hand to oversee pack behaviour.
James and Alfie.
I hope everyone is staying safe back home.
We have a new addition to our pack here in Tenerife.
This is Xela and she’s a Czechoslovakian Wolf Dog.
As Alfie will be 7 in October, we need another dog for the Finca, as we have a lot of space here.
I will keep everyone updated on her journey and training with Alfie and I.
James and Alfie.
Good Afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all staying safe and getting regular exercise (humans too).
Apologies for not posting for a while as we have been up and down with tier lockdowns here in Tenerife.
This is Alfie’s idea of helping with watering the garden this morning. I have to say it does keep him cool as it was 22 degrees at 10 o’clock this morning.
James and Alfie.
Happy New Year to everyone and we hope 2021 is a better year for everyone. Please remember your dogs in these unprecedented times too.
My nephew Oliver made this video and most of you will know him from the Sunday sessions.
Please follow our new bar on Instagram bar29coralmartenerife.
I hope everyone is safe and well.
I have been thinking about some of the things I could cover in my videos on Facebook and I happened to get a question on messenger about collars.
Everyone I have worked with, or has been at a Sunday session, will know that I recommend specific collars and leads when working with dogs, standard leads if used with a choke or a slip if not.
I also recommend that you seek advice and get the collar fitted for your dog in your local pet shop.
Country Feeds next to Tesco in Barrhead have excellent staff who will be more than happy to give advice and fit an appropriately sized collar for your dog.
The video on this post was shot today to send back on messenger and apologies about the framing as it was done very quickly, however I thought I’d share it.
I will be posting a video soon which covers the four basic commands I start every dog with regardless of age or issue.
James and Alfie.
I thought I’d post an update about the Sunday sessions as I was asked if I had started back by a few owners who regularly attend.
This comes from people seeing a group of people with dogs in the park yesterday afternoon (Sunday) and the video was sent to me by a dog owner.
By the time Alfie and I got to the park the group was just finishing with the owners leaving the park.
I asked who they were and it was a whippet club of some sort training/exercising their dogs using lures. I saw no evidence of any box muzzles of any kind therefore this, in my opinion, is reckless and dangerous and poses an extreme risk to other dogs in a public area like the Cowan Park. This is not to mention the current restrictions regarding COVID-19 as I am still unable to re-start the Sunday sessions.
I have a lot of experience with schooling greyhounds behind lures and this should always be carried out in a controlled and secure environment with all dogs muzzled at all times whether chasing a lure or on a lead.
Just to be clear, I have no issues with this type of activity, however it should never be in a public park as it poses too much of a risk to other users of the park and would never be covered by any sort of insurance.
James and Alfie.
I thought I’d just put on a wee video of Alfie heading to the park as he misses the Sunday sessions. Hopefully we’ll be back soon.
James and Alfie.
