Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject: Silver test today - rather emotional
One day short of 3 months ago, Bran took his bronze test. He passed it but instead of him being his usual bouncy, enthusiastic self, I had to drag him round as he was feeling poorly. The day after, we went to see the vet and started on a rollercoaster which began with the words "if we've caught him early enough, we can save him"
Anyway, almost exactly three months (and an IBD diagnosis) later, Bran has had lots of ups and downs and is (touch wood!) on a bit of an "up" at the moment, although he is still several kilos underweight, but he is bright and happy and most definitely enthusiastic
Thanks to his illness, he's missed 2 months of the last 3 months of training and only went back to class on Thursday, then had his silver test today
The Gods were apparently not looking after us as a kitten appeared on the grass verge in the car park whilst we were doing our road walk Bran (who lives with 2 cats!) lunged and barked, but quickly got back to focussing and completed the exercise, where we were complimented on our "phenomenal" heelwork The next exercise was to get into the car calmly and under control, run the car engine for 10 seconds and answer the Responsibility and Care questions. No problem getting Bran into the car and settled. Put the key in the ignition, turned it - nothing Loose connection on my battery has kicked in again The examiner laughed and told me that it wasn't part of the test for the car to be roadworthy
Thankfully, everything else went well and he even maintained his "stay" when the dog beside him started barking and WE PASSED!!!!!
I am so so proud of my boy and have had a few tears thinking back on all we've been through in the last few months. I'll be taking chocolates to his vet tomorrow
Our trainer had run out of official certificates so we have a copy one for now and the original is being posted and she has also had medals in the appropriate colours made up, so here is my very special boy with his certificate and medal
____________ Sarah and Bran
Always watched over with love by our angel, Flora, from Rainbow Bridge
Bran Training
WTG Bran and well done Sarah, he deserves a really special treat but I know that won`t be possible given his tummy problems, still no doubt he`s had loads of hugs and kisses and enjoyed those just as much
WTG Bran and well done Sarah, he deserves a really special treat but I know that won`t be possible given his tummy problems, still no doubt he`s had loads of hugs and kisses and enjoyed those just as much
I had freshly cooked turkey with me for between exercise treating, so he got to finish the lot up once it was all over
Dreacat wrote:
Are you going to go for gold now?
We are The training class that we go to is for Silver and Gold trainees so Bran's been doing the gold exercises for a little while now and he's better at most of those than he's been with the silver! The one exercise he can't grasp at all, and that will be our main focus now, is "stop" because he likes to get back to me as quickly as possible if I've walked away and doesn't like having to stop on the way
____________ Sarah and Bran
Always watched over with love by our angel, Flora, from Rainbow Bridge
Bran Training
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Bran (who lives with 2 cats!) lunged and barked, but quickly got back to focussing and completed the exercise, where we were complimented on our "phenomenal" heelwork 
The next exercise was to get into the car calmly and under control, run the car engine for 10 seconds and answer the Responsibility and Care questions. No problem getting Bran into the car and settled. Put the key in the ignition, turned it - nothing 
