Training and Fun Agility

 I had always felt that Simon didn't get enough fun exercise so I decided that it would be a good idea to try and find a puppy group or an agiity group for Sasha. Of course, he was still too young to do jumps or such things, but I began to search anyway. I was fortunate enough to discover Lynne Watson. We had a chat over coffee, and she agreed that Sasha could come along to her obedience class where they also used some agility equipment.

Tessa used to come along to the classes too but she did not tke part in them. instead she stood or lay on the sidelines and watched as the others did their thing. The group was varied with a range of different breeds and temperaments, and Sasha made two great friends there, Veronica and Jakey, that we later shared weekly walks with for almost the rest of his life.

When we turned off the motorway to reach the training venue, Sasha immediately sat up and began to bark with excitement. 

After some time access to the venue was no longer possible and Lynne had to find another option. As we had a garden, I offered to host the classes there, and afterwards the participants all had tea on the terrace.

I also offered Lynne the possibility to hold her other classes in our garden, but that was a major mistake as far as Sasha's wellbeing was concerned. My perception is that he felt that his safe space was being invaded, particularly as he was not participating in these other classes.

Finally, due to family circumstances, Lynne had to return to the UK, but before she left we had a Farewell B each Walk which all the dogs enjoyed.

Sasha's love of fun agility never wavered. We bought some equipment - a seesaw, tunnel, andweave poles - and for the rest of his life he loved agility activities. he also never forgot the rules he had learned as a puppy about pausing slightly before coming off the seesaw.

Integrating into his new home

 Sasha never had any problem integrating with other animals. he fitted in seamlessly with Tessa and the cats we had at that time. If anything, Tessa was the one who had to make the bigger adjustment to having a boisterous young dog around the place disturbing her peace and quiet, as we can see in the photo where she is being ambushed by this naughty new arrival.

 

 

 

As a puppy Sasha loved to get up to all kinds of mischief. He might have made a great therapy dog, unloading washing machines and doing other tasks!!!

He loved to interact with his people in the garden and he spent a lot of time carrying flower pots and other objects around. This use of his mouth would be characteristic of him throughout his life. Had I been more savvy then I might have been able to interpret his behaviour better in terms of his emotional state.

This position was one he adopted throughout his life, relaxed but alert and observing all that was going on around him.