Alfie update up in the Alps

Here is a lovely update from Joan for Alfie, who is Harry's (who came back to us yesterday) brother. I did ask Joan and Colin if they might be interested in him, which why the email starts with Joan being "glad I understand."  I thought it would be a bit early for them to be considering a friend for Alfie. The next bit of the email is about my reply to them about neutering. I said with it being a cross around the 12 month mark they should of completed their growth.
Joan also talks about his recall and I have suggested when back in England looking up a good Gundog trainer to help them with recall. In Gundog training the recall is central to any Gundog and they have the know how to teach dogs to recall in the most destracting of circumstances. Gundog trainers happily help with any dog, not just Gundogs, most do classes, idividual training or your dog can board with them to be trained. The Gundog Club ​is a good place to search trainers in your area if in the UK.
​Thanks Joan for the lovely update and I hope you are having a lovely time in France with your family.

Alfie learning to ring the bell

"Hi Jane thanks for the reply, I'm glad you understand.

Many thanks Jane too, this is our feeling about neutering . We read that for the Brittany it was best to wait until 14 months at least until bony plates are fully fused so that is our aim but we do waiver for a bit earlier at around 12 months on occaisions! He hasn't shown any unwanted sexual behaviour to anything other than a soft toy and he isn't cocking his leg yet, but he has started a bit of scent marking outdoors.

Alfie is a lovely, intelligent dog, and we love him to bits. He just loves to be taught tricks, he will sit, wait, lay down  with minimum command in fact sometimes I just have to look at him and wait  and is keen to learn new commands such as tapping with a paw and ringing a bell.  I have even been able to teach him things without any words at all and just reward the required behaviour. He loves treasure hunts and hide and seek, but it is out in the open ground where it all goes out the window, all focus goes and smelling and running takes over and he ignores us. We are lucky to have a tennis court here at the chalet and he loves going in there and digging and jumping in the snow and will spend ages just running around being happy, fetching ball.

I think he has done a good job of training us! as he loves to steal an item of clothing, shoes slippers hats gloves.....and run around with them. We do a trade so I think he has got us sussed, so the next stage is to slowly withdraw the trade and get him to give to order.

Our grandchildren love him to bits. Our two granddaughters have him worked out and the youngest age 6 handles him very well and he loves them.

He is a bit of a jumper tho' he escaped the puppy pen when very young by jumping over.... the child gate was the same challenge that he managed, so now we have a double height gate for when he is left alone at the chalet as we leave him in a bedroom. He also jumps up when greeting people which we are working on!

He certainly keeps us on our toes! But he is a very a affectionate companion. I have been able to trace another lady in America who has a cavalier /brittany cross but that is the only one I have been able to find.

Well we have had two full days of pouring rain now so a lot of the snow has gone at our level, but just behind us it is possible to see the snow falling at a slighter higher level that becomes rain at chalet level of 1000m.

Best Wishes, It's great reading your blog Jane!
Love Joan and Colin"​

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Alfie rolling in the snow