Week 8 - Maya's first Birthday

Maya celebrated her first birthday this week, on the 1st of March. We bought her a nice doggy birthday cake, made from chewable hide, with other food treats inside. Also she got an interactive puzzle toy, it is shaped like a paw, with smaller paws around the edge, these paws lift out, for treats to be placed inside, they also have a small hole in the top, to enable the dog to sniff out which paw the treat is under. Maya really enjoyed this game, and very soon worked it out. Now as soon as she sees this toy coming out, she always sits and waits, patiently while I hide the treats.

At puppy class this week, for those pups that had earned the Kennel Club Bronze award, they could try for the Silver Award, so Maya and I gave it a try. For the silver, the requirements are:- walking along the road, to include crossing the road in a controlled manner, - jump into the car, and out again, and then start the car engine, as if to drive away, and the dog has to remain calm, obviously a small dog would have to be lifted in and out of the car, in the correct way,- the dog has to remain in the same position for a total of two full minutes, (either sit or down) I find the down to suit me best, - we were required to walk the dog past somebody eating their lunch, without the dog becoming too interested, as you would if you were out walking your dog in the park, and came across somebody sitting on a bench, eating their lunch, - we were also asked, to walk up to a group of people, who had their dogs on a lead, then detach our dogs lead, and walk away, then call the dog to you, and attach the lead, - also the examiner has to examine the dog, body, eyes, mouth, and feet, just as the vet would need to do,- we were then required, to play with the dog, and then stop when asked to do so. Maya passed this test, so received her Silver Certificate, I have also ordered the appropriate rosette from the Kennel Club.