6 monthly update by Vicki........

Having picked Branston up on the day he was 8 weeks, we weren't anticipating the quiet and contented journey home that he had...the first of numerous lovely experiences that we have had since September 3rd 2009...
 
Over the past 4 months, Branston has been a constant source of fun, love and enjoyment.. Mike and I were new to dog ownership, and the support from Rachel/Phil and the forum has been excellent and curtailed worries over things that were playing on our minds..even today we have been reassured by others via the forum on crate time.
Branston has developed well, and now boasts an excellent recall, sniff/retrievals, and is good at judging whether other dogs want to play with him, or want to get on with their walk..He has 'sit', 'stay', 'down', close', 'leave' and retrieves a couple of his toys to name when asked..
We've now started to train 'paw' and 'calm' its all work in progress...
 
Branston completed a 6 week puppy training course with 'Pets in Practise', run by Kris Glover, and he passed the final assessment with flying colours. He's going to be attending Agility classes in February for 6 weeks also....Additionally he attends West Berkshire Gundog Club Puppy Training and has been doing well and enjoying it there with a number of other Spaniel and Labrador puppies..
He's on 2 meals a day, and we've stuck with Natures Menu/CP Xtra - he also gets the odd pork bone or raw chicken thigh which is always well received..he gets treats 'sometimes' during his walks but these are given much less often than they were...
 
Currently he has 2 walks a day, one 25 minute and one 40-45 minute walk, the latter being either at the local nature reserve, along the towpath by the river, or down to my parents and their local park..and then at weekends we'll visit the local woods, or if visiting others - their local parks/nature places...wherever it is, there are always plenty of other dogs and the play is always at its most nutty when Branston meets other Spaniels!
 
Evening's find Branston in the lounge with us, and usually! quite calm, happy to lie on his fleecy blanket with a chew or one of his squeaky toys...and currently lays near or next to the radiator..B is often keen to be going to bed! He'll sleep for 7-8 hours, and at the weekend will sometimes go out, do his stuff, and then have another hour back in bed...which can be nice for the humans- especially when the temp is -4!..
 
We were walking on the Thames towpath yesterday and a family came and asked how time consuming he was, as they were considering getting a Cocker or a Lab...we went through the above, and B was fab with their little 3 year old...I think he's swung them! - he definitely wins admirers everywhere he goes, and we have more visitors for Branston than we do for us now..
 
We completely adore him, and cannot imagine life without him - today I've just booked a week in Dorset for our 5th Wedding Anniversary, and B will be coming too..so beach walks a plenty...