Well I just was just making myself a piece of toast and a cup of coffee while throwing the ring down the garden for Sal :) as you do about 6.30 in the morning. And when she came in again with the ring I was actually making my coffee. And what did she do lie down in the doorway and chew the ring while she waited, without me saying anything.
     She's almost 19 months old now and all that training and hard work are paying off and I'm reaping the benefits.
     Once she would have "bothered" me with the ring but I think she's grown up, she pretty much ignores visitors now greeting them then getting back on the sofa, when told "enough" sometimes before that if the visitors are particularly boring ;) .
     She potters about happily while I'm cutting the grass not even chasing the lawnmower ;)
     And takes little to no notice of dogs now when out on a walk, returning as soon as I call her.
    
My baby has grown up and it makes us love her more than we ever though possible :D

Karen
 

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Oh Karen - it was so wonderful reading your post!! I just posted a message on the Behaviour board asking if it's true that they do eventually calm down as I'm find it very difficult handling my 7mo old Great Dane puppy's boisterous behaviour when she meets other dogs. She is an angel at home and with everything else (even pretty good with visitors) but turns into a monster when she meets other dogs: desperate to play and playing so roughly that most of them feel threatened and end up attacking her! I can't wait for the day that she might be able to ignore other dogs more and to come back when called, with other dogs around - people have been telling me that it does happen eventually but I wasn't sure...now your post has given me hope!! I too am putting a LOT of training and hard work and time investment into my puppy and I desperately need to believe that it WILL pay off one day! :)

Thanks again -
Hsin-Yi
ps. what kind of dog is Sal?

Karen - it's lovely isn't it :) A year ago Tara had only just about finished chewing the kitchen. We had a new kitchen put in in October and some people thought that we were mad :) She hasn't touched anything and I am so proud of her :)

Anyone with a chewy puppy - it does get better :D

Daisy

Sorry I forget not everyone knows :) Sal is a Staford and believe me she has had her moment in meeting other dogs - she has never ben nasty but is definatley OTT being a Staff of couse ;)

Karen

Ah the happy sound of a careful owner reaping her rewards :) Manic Morse is more settled these days too, we actually passed a cat sitting on the fence the other day without howling and staining to chase it, and his supreme achievement this week is a 5 minute down stay while a friendly springer ran over and sniffed him, he did not move at all :) Lots of liver cake for my boy there. Also cracked ( almost) the hunting forays and find the secret is prevention. Long line comes on all walks in case, practise control before loosing dog and if all else fails deflect him from the bushes with a sergeant major voice followed by sicky sweet mummy voice - I feel like the girl with multiple personality disorder in the film!

We are seeing staffies everywhere now with little Stinkfoot gazing yearningly at em and pleading to call the rescue. The old man up the road has a staffieXlab pup the now and hes super, if a littel bouncy for the old man even sober.

I assume you mean when the man is sober not the pup ;)

It is nice when things start to go well. It's almost like a time warp because you become the person in the park that this time last year you envied; if that makes sense.

Sal has always been a JOY to be around and I never thought I'd say this but she is now even better and gets better every day. :)

And we are starting "learning"  to track in July. With a man who used to train police dogs and a few dog walkers in the park have "bullied" him into training our dogs-should be fun.

Karen

:D :D Pups owner boasts they eat the same tinned food so I imagine they share Chappie and Boddingtons :D Know what you mean about time warp but wont be smug or Ill get me comeuppance :D