Big challenge for Faro today. We walked him into the town centre which is quite a long walk and although it is Sunday so it was not very busy, there was still plenty to take in.
Jay, myself and Lucian (age 4) went along and one thing we noticed is that Faro certainly seemed to feel protective over the other 'pup' in the family. When Lucian walked ahead of us, Faro no longer walked on a slack lead and wanted to catch up to Lucian, unless either Jay or me had Lu by the hand and Faro could see he was safe.
He walked beautifully as always and stayed alert to everything the whole way there and back without tiring at all.
He sat for a long time outside a shop with Jay while I did some shopping and got pretty bored so he started to chew on Jay's jeans.
Whether he was feeling playful or just teething, I decided to get out one of the toys I bought him which is a round teething ring. Faro walked with it in his mouth and delighted passers by with his cuteness.
If a pigeon distracted him or something else took his attention, he would drop it. So for a while I put the ring on his lead so he just had to turn to his side to play with it or hold it in his mouth.
Once back out of the town I removed the toy so he could concentrate on the walk home.
Couple of things of note, we noticed that Faro got excited by a man sweeping because he seems to have a bit of a thing about brooms! He also gets excited by plastic carrier bags.
He walked through the subway with no sign of fear. Lucian was ahead and Faro seemed to draw confidence from the fact the other 'pup' was excited about the big echoey tunnel thing.
He did look up at me 2 or 3 times but I ignored him and walked on normally so he figured it was nothing to be particularly interested in.
Back toward home, walking through Springfield Park, I went into the brook in my wellies but Faro didn't want to follow me in. I didn't push the issue but when the water is low, I will try to encourage him in.
We did more walking along busy roads and Faro has a tendency to want to walk with me inbetween him and the cars. I don't know whether this shows a bit of avoidance but I have had him walk on the side of the cars aswell so probably no big deal.
Here are a few things I can remember that Faro experienced today:
Our tame pigeons in the garden
Wild pigeons flying off near him
Carrier bag blowing along a road
Automatic shop doors
Man sweeping with a broom
Walking both up and down steps in town centre (getting better at steps!)
Subway and its echo sounds
Shops
ATM machine
Dog on a lead - Faro barked at this particular dog
Pelican crossings
Moped speeding past
Plenty of cars
More strangers fussing
Carrying toy whilst walking
Dipped front paws in the brook and watched me go in further
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