“After the hectic last few weeks of celebrations and events, life returned to relative normality this week, which enabled me to continue to work with Ruby on training skills, including more heel-work, exposure to busy streets and some grooming work.

For the monthly one-to-one with Claire Lush, our Dogs for the Disabled Puppy Co-ordinator, we headed into Banbury town centre to work amongst the hustle and bustle of daily shoppers.

I practised walking up and down the streets with Ruby, using simple, positive corrections as needed. The timing of the command is key, so learning to anticipate a potential distraction, such as litter or a bird, and always being able to keep Ruby’s focus and attention is a skill in itself!

We also practised visiting different shops, ensuring that Ruby gets used to the experience of the stop-start nature of shopping.

Later in the week, I took Ruby with me to Warwick, practising the same exercises. I also took the opportunity to sit in a coffee bar where a singer was playing live. Ruby settled down on the floor almost immediately. Either she was enthralled by the music or it wasn’t to her taste, but her calm reaction to a new experience or everyday occurrence is exactly what will be needed in the future when she’s been partnered with a client.

Here at home, I have spent a short time each day on heel-work with Ruby, just walking along the lane where we live. Ruby had a tendency to ‘wander’ in-front as we walked, but she is definitely improving and is getting used to the idea that she receives positive reinforcement for walking steadily to heel.

One other exercise I am also spending time on is the ‘stand’ command, which is very useful in many situations and absolutely invaluable for a client who may be in a wheelchair – requiring their dog to remain still while being groomed or having a health check, for example.

Ruby is a fast learner, and keen to please. She appears to enjoy learning new tasks, and is developing her skills each week. She is also very playful, always ready for a retrieve game and definitely able to hold her own in chase-games with our two other dogs!”

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