Sometimes the General public surprise you.

Just a quick blog really.

Fern & I decided this afternoon we would take Cove down to the town. We needed a few things to add to our wardrobes for tomorrow night, and Sidmouth is a small seaside town so not too much of a shock for a new young dog. He was really good! The sea was rough, and as we first walked along the prom, the waves were making a heck of a noise as they dragged the pebbles back out to sea, and although Cove stopped and looked, he instantly took it in and carried on walking along beside Fern, very confident. He spotted a few other dogs walking along and was interested but not overly. We then went into the High Street and he sat beautifully with me while Fern went into a shoe shop. 2 dogs walked by and he wagged his tail, looked interested, (especially in a Shitzu, the likes of which he hadn't seen yet!) and the an old lady came along with her husband, looking straight at him and starting to coo. I was expecting her to rush in all gushy but she actually asked if it was ok to say hello! I said yes, and as she did, Cove was very sweet but then went to jump up. I corrected him and she said "Oh it doesn't matter" and just I thought she was just like most "non dog" people she added "Oh I'm sorry, of course it matters to you. It is not whether I mind its whether you expect him to sit. I apologise"......!!!!!!!!

Restored my faith in human nature.

After that, Fern was sat with him when a young child came over, stopped a few feet short and asked Fern very politely if he could say hello!!! What a breath of fresh air. A child who has been brought up in the right way to approach dogs. Hallelujah!!!!

Cove was a star, but I expect nothing less.

Christmas day walk.

Happy Christmas to all my followers. Its been a fun and relaxing time, with too much food, but the training starts in earnest in the New Year.

Rog bought me a Wii fit as one of my presents, so we have all started getting fit in a fun way already!! Cove even has his own profile so we can weigh him etc and he appears in some of the games. So clever technology.

We walked off some of our grub on Christmas Day with the dogs, and it was a beautiful day. Cove is really one of the gang now and such fun. He is getting quite cheeky with Lily but still has a lot of respect for her. Olli is his best mate because he is such a gentle dog who has taken Cove under his wing, but Lily is the intriguing one he just wants to get to know more, and she is starting to be very good with him.

Boxing Day I took off for a few hours with Olli and left Rog & Fern preparing dinner for us and 5 other friends. I felt guilty for a while, but I was soon enjoying working my dog and after just an hour he had picked up 5 pheasants and 2 woodcock!! He was amazing, and we had a lovely morning.

Oh well, back to the food & drink. It is Christmas still!! Dogs enjoyed their turkey dinner, had a lovely walk this morning and are now all sleeping in the lounge while we do next to nothing. In 2 days time we will be flat out working again and have no time for relaxing so I am going to make the most of time with Rog & Fern and all the dogs.

Keep safe, be happy and enjoy being with ones you love. Its so important to appreciate what you have around you. x

Shooting in the sunshine.

A gorgeous bright sunny day, although thermals, hats & scarves were a must.
Olli had one of his best days ever. 5 birds in the first drive, all very well hunted and retrieved.


He was so happy all day, standing for hours on end, just watching the skies and the valleys, waiting for the next retrieve. Apart from that independent tongue of his, sticking out the side of his mouth at every opportunity, he looked very smart as he stood in front of me all day, waiting for my commands. He is such a special boy.

I happened to catch a moment while I was looking at the countryside, of his mum Polly. Stood proud and alert in front of her dad, just waiting and watching. So similar. Olli is definitely his mums son, and this was even more obvious later in the day. A guest guns labrador, came running along the track, and as he passed Olli and me, Olli took a quick side swipe. He may be the nicest natured dog but not when another dog gets within 2 feet of his mum and those pheasants in her hand! Poor Labrador looked quite upset as he carried on his way.

Half an hour later, I was looking across the field and happened to spot the same lab, trotting across to his owner, within a few feet of Polly and John. She snapped and told him he was too close to her dad and birds, in an almost identical way!

Some things are obviously hereditary.

Thanks Polly for giving me such a lovely boy.

THIS IS POLLY!!

1 week to go!!!

Not had much time to Blog, so apologies for those that read it.

Just been such a busy time!!

Well last Saturday the shooting was poor. Things are changing and I am sad to see it , but Olli still had a fabulous day working, oblivious to the politics and BS going on in the human world. One particularly good retrieve, having to drop down a bank into a lane, through a fence and then find his way back up and through to me. He has really started to mature and grow in confidence.

Been busy battling brushes, wallpaper paste and Homebase, but finally finished decorating my lounge yesterday, with a lot of help from Fern to finish it. It looks so smart, and my 2 lovely dogs, Lily & Olli have a wall of fame now, centre stage on the main wall. They deserve it after the year we had.

Last night we had our own mini Olympia at a different and rather posh venue!! Lots of Christmas statues etc to put the dogs off course, (and handlers!), tinsel everywhere and music through the tannoy. It was such fun. 8 dogs of varying standards doing 5 courses over the evening, with some tricky angles, traps and entries. I was thrilled with Lily who had 3 clears out of 5. We matched Matt & Bailey with 3 clears, and Lauren had 2 with Reef, but he was a good boy and didn't take a single pole all eve! Father Christmas by the seesaw was too much of a distraction though! Cove watched for over an hour with great excitement. However he focused quickly on Fern, played games, sits, downs, lefts, rights whilst his manic Father was screaming around the course. He is such a lovely boy. Met other new dogs and people too without a turn of a hair.

Tree going up tonight, last bits of shopping to do tomorrow and then start to wind down. I love Christmas, and it will bring a well earned rest, even if I am cooking dinner for 8 people, and 6 dogs! That's my type of relaxation!

A strange orange ball in the sky?

After what seems like endless gales & torrential rain, we awoke yesterday to a strange brightness. Odd white crispy grass, and a blue tinge to the sky. Finally I could take the camera out with the dogs, and what fun we had!!

Cove is showing his herding skills!

He is about to cut these 2 off!!

Now they have run away too fast. Cove can only watch.

Wait for me Lily!!!!

Oh they are too quick for me.

I can run pretty fast now though.

Coves ears are doing something new every day too!

Lilys ears are always the same. Half missing ear up, other one tipped.

Tiring week.

Haven't had much time to blog. Family health issues have taken up some time over the last week, work is busy, still managed to do a few days dog training, and half finished decorating my lounge.

Its the preparation that takes so long but its starting to take shape. Want to be finished for Christmas!! It does look pretty bare at the moment with all my rosettes packed away, all the photos of the dogs taken off the wall, and no curtains, but it will be worth it in the end. Cove doesn't help much! He kept running away with bits of paper, and showed a great interest in painting, but managed to stay black & white which is a miracle!

Last weekend we did a small agility test, and both Lily & Olli had double clears in the grade 3-5 jumping, with Lily picking up 3rd and Olli unplaced. Their agility rounds showed up a couple of winter training points to work on, but they were very good. Both dogs are so fit, and have become mad keen agility machines over the past weeks. I am having trouble keeping up with them now, not just physically but mentally! They know more than I do, or at least they think they do.

Still on the patches, and hope to start running next week so 2010 could be our year.