19 November 2019 Oscar is 6 months old.

I can't pretend that our lives haven't changed since Oscar came to live with us.
We didn't do our homework before hand and we ended up using our hearts and not our heads to choose a dog.

It was only later that we bought a handbook on the Cocker Spaniel that we found out Oscar is actually a Working Cocker.  Bred to work as a gun dog or farm dog. He is always on the go, and is so quiet you don't know he is about until he pinches something, running away and hoping you will play games with him.

Its easy enough to manage when its just once or twice, but when your ironing and suddenly the shirt that took ages to iron has disappeared and you need to start again.

Having said that, despite his energetic personality, he is a real star. He is learning the boundary's of what he can and cant do. He knows how to fetch a ball and drop it at your feet. He knows he does not get fed from our table and he knows when its bed time.

He is ready for bed around 10pm and will sleep quite happily until about 7am in his crate. The crate is comfy with cushion mattress,  and covered with a blanket to make him feel safe and cosy.  The crate is big enough for him to stretch out, stand up and move about.

One thing I regret is not putting his crate in the kitchen, instead he sleeps in our bedroom. I think it would have been easier to manage his separation anxiety which is a real problem.  I can't go into the shower without him howling at the door.

This is an oven mit, he puts his nose into it and then  pushes it round the kitchen, strange. 

 We bought a shaped bowl to keep his ears dry.





He has managed to get the hang of fetching the ball. As long as nothing distracts him he is very good.

Tonight is his first attendance at Dogs Trust training.