This is technically both an Ace update and a Diogo update.

But primarily it’s to share a couple of recent videos of Ace.

The I spoil you with one of the most brutal videos you will ever see. Forget the Dare Devil corridor fight scene, John Wick, or the bus fight from Nobody. They look like kids fighting with foam weapons compared to what you are about to watch.

For your viewing pleasure I managed to capture two duelling Jedi, it’s brutal to watch. You have been warned.

Monday saw Diogo and myself have our first session with the dog trainer.

It was an hour long session at home where we worked on Diogos barking in excitement at going on a walk.

This session saw us getting through a pack of dog treats. It wasn’t only Diogo getting the treat as part of his training. Every time Diogo got something Dolly was also there expecting, nay demanding she had one to. Once he cottoned on to what was happening Loki also wanted in on the action.

Diogo did really well. Although it did tire him.

Our next session is in just over a couple of weeks and will be in a local paddock where we will work on Diogo’s reaction to other dogs while on the lead.

Obviously in the meantime Diogo has homework of about 15 minutes a day going over what we practiced in the session. Plus I’m using the stuff getting ready for our walks.

Things are improving.

The foster family bought Ace a new bed. So they shared some new photos of Ace in his new bed (see below).

I’m in two minds about sharing the latest raw photos of Ace’s paw without the bandage. They are not pretty to look at.

But it’s really nice that his foster family, and the rescue home are keeping those of us in the UK up to date with his progress.

Yesterday Diogo and I had our initial consultation with the dog trainer/behaviourist.

Part of the consultation saw Diogo going out for a walk, much to Dolly’s disgust. The intent of the walk was to allow the dog trainer to see how Diogo reacted towards other dogs.

Obviously getting ready for the walk allowed the dog trainer to see how Diogo reacts, and his excitement that is vocalised as barking.

We headed off to Tillery Park. A five minute walk.

Back as a teenager when we lived in Princess Road, Tillery Park was literally opposite the house. It was where each day I used to walk our dogs Timmy (a jack russell) and Rex (mostly lab). Back then there used to be a fallen tree in the middle of the park. A tree as an even younger kid, like many others, used to be climbed all over.

When we got to the park there were people present on the benches. But alas no dogs.

We didn’t see a dog until near the end of our circuit of the park. Diogo reacted with his usual response of barking.

Having not seen another dog until that point, we saw another three or more on the way home.

The trainer confirmed my assessment of Diogo getting excited at the start of the walk, and that he was pretty good on the lead.

The barking at other dogs she thought was more to do with frustration that Diogo couldn’t just run up at them. Which is what he would do back in Peru living on the streets.

It was a positive that not only would Diogo respond/get distracted by food, especially in his excited state.

Back at the house the trainer went over the structure of the sessions. Two of the five will be in a paddock with another dog to teach us both how to handle the situation.

The rest will be indoor training. Which will see us working on the vocal excitement.

The trainer did recommend that Diogo and I take part in one or two of her socialising dog walks that she holds. And I will do that. But Dolly will be on those too. I saw on Facebook that they take place in places like Hunstanton beach or Shouldham Warren. The latter Dolly and I are familiar with.

Our first session should be at the end of the month once the trainer is back from her holiday.

Wow a dual post!

I’ll start off with another Ace update. Yes I know I only posted about Ace yesterday. However within twenty four hours of that post going up I was sent two very brief videos of Ace at the vets. Which I now share with you below.

The kinda sad news is that once he has recovered and healed Ace will have a permanent limp.

Onto Diogo.

I’ve finally had a response from a local dog trainer/behaviourist. Which is exciting news.

Next Wednesday they are coming to see us for an initial consultation. Which if that goes well will see Diogo start a five session course to help him with his over excitement when getting ready and on a walk.

The only drawback at the moment is that the dog trainer/behaviourist is booked solid for the next two weeks, and is then going on holiday for two weeks after that. So the earliest that we will be starting to help Diogo is April.

But I’m hoping that once I’ve been through this with Diogo it will allow me to help Ace once he is with us.

It’s also likely that I’ll look at getting Diogo lessons that will allow him to be off lead as well.

And yes this does sound expensive. But making sure Diogo is happy and safe is the priority.