Help preparing pups for (possible) UK life

[Tolalola]

Any advice greatly appreciated...

We have 2 gorgeous spaniel cross puppies about 4 months old. I've lived in the UK before but never had a dog there, so am having trouble picturing it from a dog-owner perspective iyswim...

We live in the Caribbean now and have a big fenced garden where they spend most of their time (they sleep in the house). I usually take them in the car to the beach a couple of times a week for swimming/ running about, but dogs don't really get 'taken for walks' here or anything.

We're thinking of moving to the UK, but I don't want the pups to get there and be dreadful hooligan-style dogs. I'm starting to train them now, and I'd like to know what they need to know to be respectable UK-style dogs, should the need arise. We'd be living in the country in a little village.

TIA

The only way I could possible help you is to come and see the dogs in situation. If you could just arrange for me to pop over to the Caribbean I am sure the advice would be fantastic

Brilliant. We need housesitters for 3 weeks in August. Expect them to be fully trained on our return .

Fantastic I'll book the flight!

I guess when you come to the UK it will depend a bit where you live.

It would be good if when they meet dogs in the UK they are socialised to greet them correctly.

They will probably meet dogs loose on walks and the better socialised they are they easier you life will be.

I would recommend that most dogs are walked usually twice daily so if they neeed to walk well on a lead and have a good recall when off lead.

I guess they will spend more time indoors in the UK than where they are now so get them used to being left inside alone.

What can they do at the moment?

I think all dogs need a good sit, down, stay, wait,leave it command wherever they live.

Thanks a lot...

The socialisation thing is the one I am really struggling with, as they only ever see dogs they know, really.

At the moment they are pretty reliable at sit, and are learning down, stay, bed and to walk on the lead to heel and to sit whenever I stop.

I have never had any luck at reliable long range recall. Any tips? And what exactly do you mean by 'leave it' and how would I teach that?

I taught 'leave it' by offering the pup a treat, dropping it on the floor in front of him, then slapping my hand on it before he could grab it. Then I waited for him to stop trying to get his nose under my hand, and as soon as the nose came away, clicked with the clicker and gave him a nicer treat. After about 3 times he'd got the hang of it and I started using the word. Now he'll leave things if I say 'leave it', but you have to train in lots of different places to make it work reliably. My pup is still most reliable in our kitchen, must do something about that,