PANDEMIC Corona virus
We are moving into an awful time of a highly infectious virus which is spreading across the globe.
There is talk of being made to stay at home for 12 weeks to avoid catching and spreading the disease and therefore overwhelming the NHS who may not be able to cope. Vulnerable people should stay home now.
Well of course none of this affects Oscar, today is like any other to him, a hearty breakfast and a good walk, beach or country or both. Some fun in the house and another short walk later on.
Oscar is growing so much, people say he is not a cocker spaniel he is a sprocker who will be quite big, and Sprockers are able to keep going all day.
With his strength and his energy, I am finding Oscars lead training very difficult, and there are times he is so strong he almost pulls me off my feet. I am beginning to think I am not helping him any. I have watched videos, read books and followed the guidance of some very experienced dog trainers.
I tend to pop Oscar in the car and then drive to a park or beach and let him run free, this of course is not helping him learn to walk on the lead. He is a good dog off the lead, very sociable with other dogs and comes back on command or the whistle. But this is not helping him with lead training.
Therefore I have made the decision that I do not have the skills or the energy to be able to fulfill all his needs. He needs to be active, have lots of attention and have lots of things to do. I don't think we can give him enough of all this.
We considered how to rehome him, it would only be to a perfect family or to do a job in drugs or search and rescue. We planned on taking time to find the right place, and in the meantime continue with his training with Lian from Blyth who is very good.
First we responed to and advert from the Police Dog Section, they where looking for new dog recruits. A very nice police officer came along and took Oscar off to do some tests. We were sure he would be perfect for them. Sadly he didn't pass the test and he came back to us. But we were happy to have him back. I had mixed feelings, I was happy to get him back but it wasn't helping the problems.
The virus has now caused the country to lock down. All non essential businesses have closed, only the NHS emergency services and food shops are continuing to operate. The dog trainers are not working. We have continued doing what we can, but now we are being told the pandemic the corona virus is spreading quickly and we are being told to stay home, only have one walk an day.
Oscar doesn't understand this, he needs his exercise.
We received a call from another Police dog handler, who met Oscar on his training day, she knows a family who are looking for a dog to join them. The family is made up of two adults and two teenage children, the Police of course check them to make sure they are suitable to take on a bouncy pup like Oscar.
The Police officer took Oscar off to meet the family, they only live a couple of miles away. We paced the floor worrying about what we were doing.
When he came back, we were told the family have fallen in love with him, they even love his name. We made the final decision then and there, no turning back, Oscar is going to be much better off. The family are fit, they go running, camping, they will take him on holidays with them. They have a big garden and just a short walk to the beach and the woods. The two children are old enough to manage him and join in his training, he will become a perfect family pet. He will have four people to love him, and grow with him.
The decision was made after a lot of soul searching, dealing with the stress of giving him up to someone else and the horrible feeling of failing him and being responsible for his future.
He went off with the Police Officer with all his belongings the next day in a police dog van, the closest he will get to being in the Police. My goodness he had some gear as well, bedding, toys, books food treats. I dont think he had ever read any of the books.
The house was suddenly empty, my little brown slinky pup has gone to his new home. Our routine is completely different and its hard not to think I must get Oscar or have you fed Oscar. It had all become a routine.
We have had news of him since he left and he is settling in nicely with the family. They are finding out his funny ways, and probably now remembering to put shoes socks etc away, as he steals them, to get you to chase him. We also have had some photos, of him playing with the family. They have a cat as well, I haven't heard how he is getting on with the cat.
Hopefully one day we will bump into him on the beach or in the woods, but I know we have done the right thing. We miss him every day, its taking a while to get used to an empty house again.
Good luck Oscar, your picture is on the wall, we won't ever forget you, and we like that you are living close by, and we will hear how you get on.
