That's so cool!!! Beth was an absolute star, we couldn't have asked for a better breeder.
Yes - several of my clothes have holes - although from Lotti jumping up rather than chewing. I have some old rags which I soak in water and then freeze, and I let her chew on those to help her gums - which seems to help. Plus she has Ben's tail to chew on!!! I sit on the floor as well, but think I get off lightly as Ben (my 6yr lab) gets most of the bad behaviour - bless him, he's so good.
Ben and I have a constant battle for leadership - I let my guard down for a moment and next thing he's trying to be top dog. The sticky notes on the puppy section are v good on this. The hardest I find is ignoring them at times when they come to you for attention - and when you first come home - so hard but it does help them to learn that they're not top dog and helps keep them calmer. I lavish them in praise when we're training/playing and at other random times to make up for it. I try to remember to praise as much as possible the good calm behaviour - so after I've said 'no' if she walks off and sits down quietly then that gets praise.
I love the idea of gundog training - I think it would be fantastic for her. I'm ex veggie - and still not good on such things - so I need to find some such thing without the actual shooting. I've continued Beth's whistle training - I still blow the whistle at every meal, and use it for some recall. I work on various commands such as sit, stay, lay , flat (lay on side), roll, off, take, heel, etc. and do this in different locations, e.g. park, garden, street, to help install them. She loves it as not only does she get flakes of bonio biscuits but I respond to her correct behaviours as if she's just done the most wonderful thing in the world. It makes you look silly - but they absolutely love it. It's a real bonding thing as well as learning. I'm thinking of getting John's book on gundog training - it advertised on here somewhere, even just to do some of the exercises. We're v rural which makes things easier - but most I just do in the back garden.
Yes -we must keep in touch - I'll post some more photos soon.
Ruby