Clumberdoodle Archie And His 4th Week

Another week has gone by, and now it has been 7 days since Archie’s final injections, so he can finally go out and explore the World.  This  is going to be quite an exciting week for him as he will be meeting some donkeys at the Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary where I am a volunteer.  Friday will also be a very interesting day as Archie will be re-united with one of his litter brothers.

Pupdate 1st July 2017

Today was a really big day, as we went back to Burrator Reservoir and Archie went for his first real walk on the lead.  There was plenty for him to sniff as we walked along the pathways and other dogs to meet as they passed by.  Naturally Archie wanted to play with every dog that he met, and every person that we saw, so it turned out to be a much longer walk than we had anticipated.  We had a few little stops on route, as we didn’t want to tire him out on his first trip.

Now as previously said, Archie does not like water, although he did paddle at the beach,  but we walked along a little leat and came to a spot where the water was easily accessible  and shallow and he was coaxed in using a little stick.  He only got his 4 paws wet, but we will get there.

Last week I bought a little activity toy from Ebay for Archie  that I had seen advertised.  Please click here to see how he got on Interactive Dog Toys

Pupdate 2nd July 2017

We decided to take Archie for his walk down to Longtimber Woods in Ivybridge which runs along the River Erme, so thought another water lesson would be a good idea.  Again being only his 2nd proper walk, there were loads of interesting smells and lots to see.  We found a good place for Archie to try out, and Steve walked out from the bank, quite a long way along some rocks and Archie promptly followed him actually clambering over the rocks himself and actually getting his feet and legs wet.   I was holding the extending lead on the back and suddenly Archie realised what he had done, started to panic and clambered back over the rocks to where I was standing.  Steve stayed out in the river and we tried again and after some persistence Archie got braver and actually went in up to his tummy. Perhaps next time we will get him swimming!!

Pupdate 4th July 2017

I walk our neighbour’s dog Henry twice a week and today was the day that Archie came too.  We have a local area where people walk their dogs and as Henry – a brilliant patriarch decided to let Archie off the lead for the first time, and thanks to dear old Henry Archie behaved impeccably.  We did meet a couple of dogs (that Henry ignores) and Archie did want to say “hello” but did come when I called him (well Henry was walking beside us, so it did help).  But lesson number 1 with Henry in tow worked really well.  I am not sure if would have worked quite so well if Henry wasn’t with us, but we will be looking forward to Thursday when we can try it again.

Archie Meets the Donkeys

Then around lunchtime I decided it was time for Archie to meet the donkeys so it was in the car and a short distance down the road.  Well Archie was interested in the donkeys and they in him and there were several nose kisses all round.  Archie had not come across any large animals before but was not bothered at all and seemed keen to get up close and personal.

Pupdate 5th July 2017 – Archie Goes to Puppy Class

Was it a good idea, I am not so sure!!  We arrived at our first class with the Plymouth Dog Training at Eggbuckland in Plymouth and did all the necessary form filling, well trying to, whilst holding onto Archie’s lead whilst he was very excited saying “hello” to another puppy.  My writing is awful at the best of times, but trying to write and hold on to an excitable puppy it was almost illegible and I had to proof read it to the lady.

Then it was time to go into the hall to start the class.  Although Archie had already socialised with other dogs – one a time, to have all these little puppies surrounding him just wound him up like a clock.  He twirled on his lead, barked almost incessantly and just wanted to play with everything on 4 legs.   In school there was usually one disruptive pupil, well Archie was the disruptive puppy, although he did his sits and down but completed them very quickly just so he could go and upset everyone else!!   I thought he might have been expelled after this first class, but no, he is allowed back next week  (well I have paid, so we will have to keep going!!!).

I did have my camera with me, but there was no way that I could take any photos!!!

Pupdate 7th July 2017 – Archie meets his litter Brother Biscuit

The last day of a very busy week and a very interesting one.  Archie was re-united with one of  his litter brothers, Biscuit when we met up at Saltram House in Plympton  Archie and I arrived first and waited for Biscuit and his owner, Jane to arrive. Well, as soon as Biscuit came in to sight Archie got very excited and when their noses touched I am sure that they recognised each other. However it was a bit of “before and after” as  Biscuit looked very tidy as he had been clipped and then there was Archie a real scruff bag, as his fluffy puppy coat was still intact!!

We held them both on their lead as they were both very excited and kept get tangled up, and then we just had to let them go and they were literally at each other the whole of the time. A bit too playful with each other at times, as they were both being bowled over by the other and then jumped on. Archie is very playful but he was very boisterous with Biscuit.

We passed another dog as we were walking along the path and Archie and Biscuit did go and say hello, then got disinterested with him and just concentrated on each other.

We carried on walking, but Jane and I just as well had not been there as Archie and Biscuit were only interested in each other.

We walked down to Saltram House and decided to stop and have a cup of coffee in the outside café and after the initial bit of barking from Archie in protest at being held on a short lead and tied to the table, he quietened down and we had a peaceful half an hour. Biscuit fell asleep almost immediately!!

We then walked back to our cars, which although not a great distance, it took quite a while as Archie and Biscuit had had a rest and now all they wanted to do was play and bite each other all the way back. We said our goodbyes and so did the pups and are looking forward to the next meet up.

You can read all of Archies adventures by clicking here Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie