Dog Walker's Notebook

Pippa's Pack · Dog Walker's Notebook

There was a hard frost this morning and everywhere was white. I thought of our fellow Brittany owners in Australia and New Zealand – what a contrast. We were preparing for our morning walk and the sky was magnificent – blood red from the rising sun. As we set off and it was getting lighter this quickly changed to gold, streaked with the palest blue. As we drove down the fen road towards the woods we saw a barn owl hunting low over the frozen fields.

At the woods the dogs were impatient to be off. A heron rose from the surrounding dyke and took to the sky. Around the edges of the wood the ground was hard but where protected by the trees there were still boggy puddles to negotiate. Bella’s idea of negotiation is to run straight through the middle! How do you describe an orange/white Brittany with four black feet – a new kind of tricolour??
Rolling Eyes

To keep the dogs on their toes we followed a different route to normal and for the most part they kept us in their sights. After about 35 minutes we popped Chloe (13.5) back on the lead and whistled to the others. What was that we heard? An answering whistle. Out of no-where I saw a Brittany - not one of mine this one has a tail Exclamation

It’s Remi closely followed by Tegen and sure enough I see Eddie striding towards us. Pippa greeted him in her special fashion. Rolling Eyes

We all carried on – Remi went off in pursuit of Soufee – is she leading him astray and teaching him bad habits?

We carried on through the heart of the wood. We met a lady with her black Labrador and Remi returned to play with him for a few minutes. We were getting nearer to the road and managed to collect Soufee and Tegen – just Remi and Bella to go (no worries about Pippa- she was with us all the way). Just before we got to the gate we met another couple with their dog. They tell Eddie they have found his mobile phone and left it by his car. They knew it was his because they called the number listed under ‘home’ and spoke to Linda. They thought they may have woken her up – Eddie may well be in the doghouse when he gets back! Sad

Finally we get Bella and Remi and with all dogs present and correct we return to our cars.
As we head for home the level crossing gates are closed and whilst waiting for the train to go through we have one final bonus – a red kite is soaring effortlessly overhead. A great start to the day.

Ghilliegumdrop

Waxing poetical you are Twisted Evil

eddieh · Re: Dog Walker's Notebook

Ghilliegumdrop

I notice there is no mention of what Linda said about the dropped phone Rolling Eyes

johnhod

Sounds like a great way to start a day

Waldo

[There was a hard frost this morning and everywhere was white. I thought of our fellow Brittany owners in Australia and New Zealand – what a contrast. ]

Yep, it's currently 43.9C outside.
Training is currently on hold till the weather backs off a bit. Got up at 5.00AM this morning and snuck in a short hunt with my son, would have loved to take Annie out for run but it was just too hot (kind of starting to wonder what i was doing out there now!)
Cheers,
Waldo

eddieh

We saw pictures of fires on the news. Hope they're not too close to you. (to be honest, I'd rather they weren't too close to anybody).

Lynda didn't mind being woken up by the way.

doganjo

It was frosty here too - just enough for me to get the chicken shed cleaned out without bringing half of it back in on my wellies!

Pippa's Pack

Ghilliegumdrop

when the weather is wamer I'm coming over so we can all go for a walk Exclamation

eddieh

Pippa's Pack

eddieh

We went this afternoon. It was ok getting there but when we returned to the car we were unable to get the car back into the tracks worn by other vehicles. It was hard to control the car and, being only a few feet away from the bank of a drain, we were a little concerned.

Pippa's Pack

Since I last made an entry in this notebook, we have been walking in some new places before returning home to our 'local habitat'.

In March, during Crufts week we walked around the lakes at Kingsbury Water Park. Then it was off to Ireland when the walk was a park on the outskirts of Dublin. Unfortunately, it was dogs on leads at all times so even Pippa could not run freely. It is a lovely park, however, and we were treated to a great display of daffodils
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Back home, Spring was coming to the river bank and our summer visitors were beginning to arrive. The terns arrive in April and are a wonderful sight swooping low over the river. The cuckoo was a little late this year but did turn up before the end of the month. In the reeds on the river bank, the reed warblers are making quite a commotion as they build their nest.

Then to May, my favorite month. In the woods the rhododendrons are out and the woodpeckers are tapping away busily.
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On the river, ducklings, goslings and cygnets arrive.

Now June is here the woods are magical. The foxgloves are in full bloom with colours ranging from pure white to deepest purple. They stand so tall, some at least 7 feet.

This morning the only sounds were birds singing (and dogs panting) and the air was filled with the scent of the wild honeysuckle which is just coming into bloom.

Every day there is something new to see. We are so lucky to have this super place where we can walk our dogs.

As an after-thought "what colour do you call a dog which is clear orange/white on top with a black undertummy and black legs?" I think this must be a completely new type of tri-colour. Rolling Eyes

johnhod

Pippa's Pack

Would you believe - she actually cleaned herself. Clever dogs these Brittanys Exclamation

Pippa's Pack

Liz

Eau de dead fish - delightful Very Happy

- specially when it gets under the collar and behind the ears Shocked

staandejachthond

dead fish is a "nice" smell pale

have you ever smelled your dog when its returning from a nice roll in wildboar droppings.........that's also a strong parfume.... Shocked

eddieh

I suppose it depends on how long the fish has been dead. As for the wild boar droppings, we now have the opportunity to find out, but you won't find me rushing to the Forest of Dean in order to experience that particular delight.

Maybe John or Barbara could give it a go and give us their opinion. Smile

Pippa's Pack

eddieh

As a Tadpole, I have visited the Forest of Dean on many occasions. Specifically the Wilderness Centre, which is a field study centre on the edge of Mitcheldean. Fantastic place, where the road kill can feed you for a month AND provide enough wool to clothe a family of four Wink

. It (the Forest of Dean) is one of the places in the UK where escaped, captive bred, wild boar ( does that make sense?) can be found.

View of the Severn from the Wilderness Centre.

I went back to Holme this afternoon but was unable to find any evidence of a fire left by the idiots this morning. My stay was very brief as I had to go to Hertford to visit my son. I walked as far as the first drain but could see nothing. It is possible that they used the "Heather path" as I had no time to investigate that, and the oil trail seemed to end roughly at that junction.
If they're caught, maybe we should get Stephen Fry to give them a talking to. Smile

Pippa's Pack

We went at lunch-time today. I think they did take 'the heather trail'. No sign of the burnt out car or anything so the authorities must have removed it. They have repaired the big gate but not the little one so need to be careful when returning to the car as the dogs could run straight across the road. Hopefully the gate will be replaced.

Dog Walker's Notebook

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