Wednesday 24 December 2008

More birthday pics

And here is a videoclip.

Birthday pics





Here is me with my kong.

It's my first birthday today

I feel really grown up today. It is my first birthday and I had a kong and a new flashing collar. They are both very cool! I didn't know I missed my lost kong so much. I spent all this morning chasing it and chewing it. I am waiting for Daddy to hide some food inside it. That would make it even better. On my walk, I hung on to it while Daddy swung me round. It made him dizzy - serves him right!

Daddy bought them online at www.traininglines.co.uk.

Monday 22 December 2008

My first birthday

I will be 1 year old on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to that and Christmas Day. I think I have seen Daddy smuggling in some parcels and wrapping pressies. Whoopee! What I would really like, if Santa is looking at this, is another kong, as I have lost mine in a deep puddle and it doesn't float!

PS For the record, I now weigh 23 kilos.

Photoshoot

I had my first photoshoot yesterday! I hope to bring you some results soon. I had to sit or lie very still which I found very difficult, even after a good walk as I was very excited to see Amy & Tigger again and my minders.

Wednesday 3 December 2008

A new friend

I met my 'cousin' over the weekend in Scotland - Ricky. Here we are at his house. I think he got fed up with me pestering him and Daddy hopes I have got the message!

A little word in your ear.
Here I am looking to see what Daddy is doing.
And here is Ricky's neighbour looking to see what we are doing!

Lake District November Day 7

This was the last day before everyone went their separate ways. We decided to do some shopping and do a flat walk at Conishead Priory. I had to stay outside while the humans looked inside the Buddhist Temple, but I was rewarded with a swim in the estuary.Conishead Priory at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 6

On day 6, we were down to 3 humans and the clouds were down, so we did a local walk to Brockbarrow and Top O'Selside on the east side of Coniston Water. This is known as a geriatric Wainwright (like Beacon Fell), but there was plenty of scope to explore.
Top O'Selside, east of Coniston Water at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 5

This day there were fewer of us, but it was the best day weather-wise. Daddy wanted to find the Priest's Hole (his GPS read NY 37583 10978) on Dove Crag and we found it! We came back over Little Hart Crag and High Hartsop Dodd, and I had a paddle in Brotherswater at the end.
Dove Crag from Brotherswater at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 4

We had a long drive again on the fourth day to Wastwater. We climbed Haycock, Scoat Fell and Red Pike.
And of course I had to paddle in Wastwater at the end.Haycock and Red Pike from Wastwater at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 3

This was a day after some snow had fallen. I hadn't seen snow before, or ice. It is great to eat and roll in. We climbed Wetherlam. I think I was the only one that wasn't blown over by the wind. It was so gusty, Daddy thought it was too dangerous to go any further so we went back down into Coniston by a different route. This took us past Wetherlam Tarn and Hole Rake Tarn, but they were frozen over.
Wetherlam at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 2

On our second day, we did a Buttermere horseshoe. This was great fun, but it was dark by the time we got back to the car. I climbed 4 Wainwight fells - Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head and Haystacks. The original plan was to walk down from Honister Pass to Buttermere via the first three fells, but then Clive said he hadn't done Haystacks, so a new plan was hatched... There were a few tarns on the way round, but they were more or less frozen over. Dexter paid his respects to Innominate Tarn.



A Buttermere Horseshoe at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Lake District November Day 1

This is the first of a series of logs of my walkies with Daddy's friends in the Lake District last month. On 21 November, we went up Beacon Fell. I am getting very familiar with this as it is the local hill.
Beacon Fell at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Tuesday 2 December 2008

I've just come back from the Lake District

and I'm worn out! But I had a fantastic time and climbed umpteen hills. These will be logged over the next few days so you can see my exploits.

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Not feeling very well

I don't know whether I am coming or going. I have been to Newbury quite a bit and had a great time taking Daddy to the river Lambourn and river Kennet. I can put up with the car journeys if I know there is somewhere nice at the end of them.I had a great walk this afternoon around Oldbury Power Station and along the river Severn. Now I am not feeling too well and I turned my nose up at my tea. I must try to get better in time for my trip to the Lakes on Thursday.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

More time with springer spaniels

Daddy had to leave me with those springer spaniels again for a fortnight soon after his return from Avignon. Oh well! A difficult assignment, but someone's got to do it! I am now back home. Every time I see a springer, I think it is Amy or Tigger. The poor unsuspecting hound gets quite a shock when I bound up to him/her until I realise it is not who I think it is. This has meant I have had to miss more training. I hope I can catch up.

I have led Daddy to the butcher's twice now since he got back. Amy and Tigger have shown me where to go for bones.

Saturday 18 October 2008

Training

Returned to training on Wednesday night having missed a week. Jeanette said I was pulling on the lead too much and Daddy's got to work on that. My sit/stay wasn't good either, but I was very excited after my holiday.

Withdrawal symptoms

Daddy's been to Avignon for a week while I had a holiday with 2 springer spaniels. I am not sure who had the better time. I have now got withdrawal symptoms and it's very quiet back home. I loved chasing Amy, chewing her ears and pulling on her collar. She was very tolerant. Tigger wouldn't let me do that to her. Daddy's ears aren't quite the same.

Thursday 25 September 2008

Training

Last week, we went through the bronze award syllabus. I think Daddy needs to brush up on the theory.

Yesterday (I am now 9 months old), we did some agility and we were timed. Now I think that was cool and I look forward to doing more of that.

Daddy asked if I was underweight and the trainers thought not. Maybe I should eat a bit more especially on long walks, but otherwise I am OK. Chappie might be a good idea to supplement my food. Daddy asked this because some people have suggested I should eat more. I agree with them!

Daddy was also advised that cold tea is good for cleaning the eyes. Daddy's going to try that.

My social diary

Daddy and I have spent a few days in Newbury again. While I was there, Daddy arranged for me to meet up with Brunel, a Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy in training. He is a bit younger than me, but he was good fun. I also met Poppy, my mother, and Evie, my sister. We had a great time. Here are some pictures taken in Lambourn. Notice my long tail!


Pawstretchers

Had another great day last Friday at Pawstretchers. Daddy at last was able to complete the Cotswold Way and he thought 20 miles was a bit too far for me. Maybe I will be able to do that when I have grown up.

Getting lost

Last week, I had a first - I got separated from Daddy. No, I was not lost, but after chasing a rabbit, I could not find Daddy again. He had run off somewhere else. So I did the obvious thing and found my way home again. Who needs a GPS? When Daddy decided to turn up, I was about to be taken to the vet as the vet's telephone number was on my tag. (So was my number, but never mind.)

Monday 15 September 2008

A long morning walk

On Friday, Daddy organised a long morning walk (9½ miles) - half of the Jubilee Way. We started walking at Tytherington and finished at Aust. You can see the route (and some photos) here, but I went at least twice that far! Here I am having elevensies.

Frampton Country Fair


I entered the Companion Dog Show yesterday. Daddy wanted me to enter 1 'best puppy', 10 'best condition', 14 'waggiest tail' and 18 'dog the judge would most like to take home'. After 3 hours, we had reached number 10 and I didn't get anywhere. Daddy thought we had done enough hanging around and went home. I didn't mind - Daddy thinks I am number 1 anyway! Here are the winners of best puppy and best condition:

Thursday 11 September 2008

Lost keys

Daddy is very grateful for me today. I should be able to trade on this for a long time.

He lost some keys on this afternoon's walk. How he did that, I do not know. I am sure I had nothing to do with it but he was throwing me some sticks. So this evening, we retraced our steps. This was harder than it sounds as we went for a long walk around two fields and in some woods. Anyway, Daddy had just about resigned himself to having to get the keys copied and I found them, sitting in the middle of the first field! Aren't I the clever one?

Secondary school

I went to my first class at 'secondary school' last night. It was great. I met some old friends and some new ones. As there were only 5 of us (Daddy said there was a certain football match on telly and the weather was foul again), we had a lot of tuition. We were given the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze Award syllabus. (Is that edible?) We practised most of it and I think the trainers were pleased with my progress. Daddy needs to work on my 'sit'. It's not my fault I don't know what he means. We also learned 'away/down' which means go to bed. I don't like the sound of that. To me, lying down is a last resort when there is nothing else happening.

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Teckels Fun Dog Show

On Sunday I took Daddy to Teckels Fun Dog Show at Whitminster Inn to see what goes on. We were invited by Celine, one of my trainers. Daddy entered me into best pup, handsomest dog and best any breed. I didn't get anywhere but it was interesting to see so many other dogs. The best bit was taking part in the fastest recall competition. That was more my cup of tea! I did quite well, but there were a few greyhounds and lurchers to compete with!

This hot dog won the best fancy dress - I could have eaten it!

Here is the line-up for the best in show.



Geriatric Wainwrights






We spent the last fortnight in the Lake District, when we did a lot of swimming rather than walking as it rained most of the time. My previous posts showed some of my exploits in the water. The longest walk was this one which took us over Wool Knott, Tottlebank Height and Blawith Knott. These are in Wainwright's The Outlying Fells of Lakeland (also known as the Geriatric Wainwrights). We also did some tarn bagging as well (Beacon Tarn again, a tarn at White Borran which is not on Nuttalls' list, and Lang Tarn).