1 YEAR PUPPY UPDATE

[@shiracyelwashington8945]

I am sitting here going through your Oakley play list because of your transparency and honesty. Thank you!

[@sarahlwalden]

Ah, I love that, thank you so much! I hope you’re enjoying them!! 💕

[@starlightcraftsGB]

Dear Sarah, please don't stop with your videos :) Keep them just as you have been because you have been so honest and what I've noticed is how hard you both try to do the best for Oakley; with his training, feeding, exercise, everything. I don't think you could have done any better. We have a six month old female cocker, red like Oakley and very similar in attitude, behaviour etc. Our cocker is the first cocker for us and she has been the most difficult mainly because of her energy levels and her wil;fulness. We are working through all the same issues as you have had with varying success. Each week I tick off on my calendar - how many weeks she is, whether to give her her flea treatment or whether the worming is due and how much she weighs. Our Jenny is more chunky to look at but she is still on three meals a day. I'm not sure she's going to like it when we reduce to two! We have never had any trouble with her going to bed, sleeping, eating etc. but we have had trouble with her biting everything in sight, including us and pulling on the lead. Those two things are really difficult at the moment. Our cocker is much more work than my previous dogs - collie crosses, but like yours, she is lovable. Please ignore the negative comments if you get any. You are both really doing a great job, in my opinion and I have learned quite a bit from your super videos.

[@rebst8207]

Please don’t stop with Oakley content! We have a working cocker puppy coming home in two weeks and your videos are so helpful to hear about the day to day as Oakley grows up, we know it will be a lot of hard work and I love that your videos show that reality. We will also crate train, recommended by the breeder and most training material we have read. Thank you for sharing Oakley’s journey :)

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so so much for commenting. It really means lot you saying they’re helpful and just being so kind. All the best of luck to your being home your puppy, I hope everything goes amazing! x

[@jenjenjoo]

I would love to see a behavioural update with Oakley - as my WCS is 8.5 months and we have had a lot of the same challenges as you I’d love to see how you’re getting on! Always great to see Oakley updates x

[@sarahlwalden]

Amazing, thank you so much for letting me know! And aw, they’re so close to each other! Hope everything is going good for you at the moments with them. Thank you for being so kind x

[@martak6660]

You are an inspiration! Do not let sad horrible people to stop you! I learnt so much from you and love your videos. We crated our puppy from the first day and she loves it’s! Keep on the great work❤️❤️❤️

[@sarahlwalden]

🥺 thank you so so much, honestly that’s so kind and it means the world. I am so happy that you like them and you feel they helped, I really am. Thank you so much for commenting 💕

[@jensalter6150]

I honestly find your videos so so refreshing! It’s so nice to see someone discussing both sides of having a new puppy 🐶 I’ve got a 13 week old male Working cocker and honestly after watching your videos I finally feel normal! So many videos I’ve watched about puppy training and how amazing these new puppies are doing and they honestly made me feel like I was doing such a sh*t job! Everyone has struggles and all dogs respond differently to training methods! Your amazing 🧡 Please don’t stop what your doing!

[@sarahlwalden]

Honestly, that means the world that they’ve helped you, that’s exactly how I feel/felt. Everyone saying they’re having the time of their lives and then I was sitting at home crying because of how difficult I was finding it. So honestly, thank you so much for commenting and letting me know they helped because it really does make me feel better. I hope things are going okay for you and your pup at the moment! It really is a rollercoaster! 💕 x

[@jensalter6150]

@@sarahlwalden honestly I thought it was just me! I couldn’t understand why I had this new gorgeous amazing little puppy and found myself crying… A LOT! I never knew puppy blues was a thing haha! Gosh it really is a rollercoaster! Glad I found your videos 🧡 x

[@norespincemaille5139]

You’re doing great with Oakley, don’t let the hate get to you ❤️

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so much, that honestly means the world xxx

[@anitabarter1704]

Our cocker spaniel is 9 months old. I have found your videos to be honest and they have helped me enormously. It is hard. If you care, as you do, it’s stressful and tiring. All any of us want is to be the best dog mums. Keep posting. X

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so so much. To know that they’re helping someone means everything, I just don’t want people to feel alone if they are finding it hard. Thank you again for commenting and it will keep it in mind 💕 x

[@indigomoon7848]

I love your Oakley content. I have a 14-month-old working Cocker (adopted him at 8 months old). It's been really hard work, and everything is still a work in progress! Stand strong in yourself and don't let the negative comments from keyboard warriors get you down. If you approach it from an angle of "here's what I'm struggling with, with Oakley", then we're all learning together. Nobody with brain cells expects you to be perfect! EDIT - Got to add, as well. My Cocker is also lean, and I actually prefer him that way, rather than risking him being overweight. It's way easier to up their calories with treats/kongs/etc than it is to get a dog to drop weight. I think working dogs should look lean. You should be able to see their muscles and a very soft hint of ribs when they're running around. That's just my opinion!

[@indigomoon7848]

Also - just realised our dogs are almost exactly the same age! Mine turned 1 in mid-July! :D

[@mandipmaan6892]

I think you’re doing an amazing job. I have a working cocker spaniel that looks just like Oakley and exactly the same age. He has very similar behaviours to Oakley and have issues we are working through, despite dedicating an incredible amount of time to training, reading books, consulting behaviourists and trainers. My cocker also has a high metabolism and easily becomes skinny - even though he eats a LOT. Keep it up and hang in there.

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so much for commenting, honestly, it means a lot knowing people can sympathise who are going through similar stuff!

[@catcalledjessie7539]

Cant believe people are giving you hate. You are doing a great job raising him. People need to realise that its not ok to comment like this!!! Cant 😘

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so much, it really helps when people comment and say they think I’m doing okay. It’s something to tell myself in the hard moments 😅 thank you again 💕

[@ingrid-sofiemathisen3312]

love this, i want a trayning video, you are amazing and so pasient❤️

[@livymae1941]

WOW I can’t believe I have been following u guys for a year !!!!! (And now I have a cocker spaniel 💕😭) ❤️✨💕

[@sarahlwalden]

I remember you commenting! I hope everything is going okay for you and your pup!

[@livymae1941]

@@sarahlwalden she’s very naughty but she’s doing well !! 😂❤️

[@Homewithlottie]

Have you started letting him off the lead? Please don't stop Oakley content! don't listen to the nasty people. I have a 4 month old cocker & have found your content really helpful :)

[@sarahlwalden]

We haven’t started letting him off lead and I don’t think I will for quite a while yet. He is out on his long line (30 metres long) which works brilliantly, we started dropping it on the floor last week but even then I felt a bit anxious because I think how recall needs a bit more work first. I just get too anxious about losing him 😅 And thank you so much for commenting, it really means a lot that you’ve found it helpful 💕

[@livymae1941]

Omg I am so sorry that you’ve been getting hate Remember there are more people that love you !!! 💞✌🏻

[@sarahlwalden]

Thank you so so much, people like you commenting help me in thinking that! 💕

[@livymae1941]

@@sarahlwalden honestly watching ur videos has helped me a lot with my puppy and reality 😅!! 😍

[@livymae1941]

Changed my profile pic so you can see my pup. If u can see the picture lol 💕

[@sarahlwalden]

Aw, what a cutie!