Lead On Dog Walking

Its been a lovely week

elly — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:08:32 +0000

Tuesday took the ascot crowd over to Valley Gardens and met a man with a French Bulldog who has nervous aggression and he walked along side us and the dog walking dogs were brilliant and when he was agressive they just left him alone. It is ideal really for the dog as the dogs with me are so used to being with other dogs and what they are saying that it is no trouble.
I have had Harvey for the last 2 days to make up for Monday and he has been brilliant with his recalls when we see another dog. It is amazing how a dog changes and at the moment he is the best in the pack at leaving other dogs we come across on walks alone. So a little work really does work. He is still manic but is very happy and both him and me are much more relaxed.
Was able to walk in waterproof trainers yesterday which was great. it makes such a difference to walking with boots on. The sun made all the difference aswell.
Today off to Valley Gardens again and Buttersteep so all good so far…..

All moved in

elly — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:27:49 +0000

and ready for a nice week of walks hopefully without too much rain.
Where we are in Weymouth is lovely and we have really landed on our feet with the walking. The only problem I have now is persuading my 3 dogs to walk to heel, so this weekend I went out with them individually as well as altogether to get some training in. Lexi and I walked all around Lodmoor Nature Reserve aswell as a quick paddle in the sea which was really nice. it took about 45 minutes to get around and was lovely with all the ducks and swans. Lexi wasnt convinced why she could not chase them but was ok about it.
It was Daves birthday and i bought him the most amazing binoculars and we can see right out to sea. Some pictures taken from out balcony and some of the walk on this blog. Back down there this weekend to do the garden which is all border plants, looks lovely but a new area for me so I will be getting the gardening books out!?!?

I’ve had some computer problems

elly — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:17:51 +0000

hence me not updating this blog.
A couple of things
Thanks to everyone for their understanding about my time off for moving into our holiday home in Weymouth. Finally it is happening and I am off Thursday, Friday and the following Monday. Itvis really appreciated that you have been able to help cover your dog walks for those days.
Secondly Rat Poison – I have been keeping in touch with this but would like to confirm that although there are rumours of other dogs being poisoned at The Look Out, Englemere etc the only confirmed cases are at Heath Lake in Crowthorne. We just need to be vigilant.
Conditions out there are muddy – Englemere is the worst with deep puddles and slippery mud but everywhere else is easier.
A couple of pictures to follow that i took last week. On Thursday I had Beamish and Hector, Megan, Belle, Alfie and I stood for ages watching a young deer. None of the dogs even noticed!!!
Went to Valley Gardens with Ben, Willie, Alfie, Oz and Wizard on Friday and they had a lovely time.
I hope you are all having a nice weekend

Well thats one wet week over?!?!

elly — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:12:48 +0000

Had some lovely walks today. Went to Valley Gardens first thing which was nice and then Englemere which is very wet now. Apart from that all I can say is please no more rain!!!

It never rains but it pours!!!!

elly — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:15:38 +0000

No rain today which was appreciated. I saw another dog walker over at Valley Gardens and commented that in all the years I have been walking now I think the last 2 weeks are the wettest!!! For information Englemere Pond is still not full today – will keep you updated if interested.
Had a lovely walk at Valley Gardens, very uneventful which is nice. I then picked up Tia, Thomas, Jagz, Bentley and Audrey and Sylvestor and went to Englemere – once again uneventful. They werent even that dirty when we got back which was nice.
I then took the Bracknell dogs to Swinley Buttersteep. I picked up Lucy and Morris again the 2 rescue dogs I have mentioned before. They have been in their new home probably about a month now and seemed alot more relaxed this time. They still have to stay on the lead. This walk was not uneventful. It should of been but wasnt.
First Ben went hunting which is the first time for ages. I knew he was hunting as he was howling and barking as he does being a beagle. I continued to walk as he usually catches me up. He couldnt of been gone more than 5-10 minutes when his owner called to say she had had a call from someone who had found him and put him on the lead. I know this is nice but he would of found his way back and was not actually far away…. I caught up with him and in all the manicness of him being happy to see me and the other peoples dogs Lucy got a little nervous and slipped her collar….. At this point you have to take a deep breath… So I took the dogs to the van to put them in and Alfie decided not to be caught. He does this alot but was getting better as I have only been walking him a couple of weeks, he is so obsessed with leaves and chasing he cant get his brain in gear. Caught him, took Morris and went and got Lucy who was so happy to see us. I sat on the ground and gave her lots of cuddles and love and she was so happy… Put them in the car and walk over…… thankfully
Then I did 2 walks with mine and Bailey and Benson as I was almost finished when I met my sister so I walked again. I think Benson was a little tired…. So the end of a day and the sun is shining, rain tomorrow but thats ok.

Oh forgot to say got home fed my dogs and Homer tried to take Pippas food and they had a little scuffle and now Homer has a cut under his eye….!!!! Great…

Rain rain rain??!!!

elly — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:38:25 +0000

So there does not seem an end to all this rain. Some dogs love it and some dont. Some love it one day and not the other. Last week Ruby hated it, today she did not seem to care. I wrap up in my waterproofs which seem to work really and I am not uncomfortable at all however please note that I probably am not out as long as I usually am. It is not pleasant. Today I did both Ascot and Bracknell walks at Englemere pond. It is more sheltered than other places and it has everything for the dogs amusement – puddles, squirrels, trains (Tia loves to chase) and the pond (paradise the the labs). I do have to put Willie on the lead at the pond as if he catches the sight of a duck he does not come back and it is not as if i can go and get him in the pond!!!
I left a newsletter out for you all when I collected your dog today, any queries then let me know.
The pictures I took today are not only to show you how dismal the weather is, and not to show you how much the dogs love to play in the pond but to show you that the pond is still not full, so the hosepipe ban is still going to continue!!!

Are we enjoying the wet weather?

elly — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:11:53 +0000

sort off is the answer. The dogs love the puddles however when we have the downpours we all just want to get back to the car! I seem to stay dry with my wet weather clothes which is nice. It hasnt stopped other people walking either. Today at Valley gardens the car park was busier than normal but we all still had a good walk. I am practising recalls at the moment with lots of treats. Not sure if its working but Deuce and Willie seem very happy to get something when they do finally come back. Tia get something every time she comes back as I am hoping she will come back to me when she gets overexciting when she is playing as she does enjoy a treat. Still more rain to look forward to but we really cant complain. I am measuring the amount of rainfall by whether Englemere pond fills up. It has not been full for over a year I will keep you updated.

Im back

elly — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:48:57 +0000

I have been away from my blog for a while. This is down to having a horrendous virus which took weeks to clear – but that seems a distant memory! Along with selling and moving home aswell as building a massive pond in my back garden. Still pond it now dug and filled with fish and the house sale is taking forever so our holiday home is still a distant dream…..
Anyway what a lovely day we all had today. We enjoyed the weather and had some lovely walks. I walked with Ascot dogs at Buttersteep first thing this morning and this is never to be repeated – it is mad over there now with loads of dog walkers both prefessional and private. The only nice thing was that my sister met me there so we walked with her. It is nice having company sometimes. I have been walking at Valley Gardens as this is where Oz lives now so have not experienced early walks at Butrtersteep for a while.
All the dogs are back from their hols and I also took the Bracknell Walk to Swinley and did an alternative walk. Hector seems really happy at the moment. Jacko kept up and did not dawdle like he can and Ben was happy as ever which is good especially as he was bitten by a rotweiller at the weekend!?!? nightmare but unfortunately this is the trials of owning a dog.
Alfie and Ruby joined my dogs at Beaumont Forest Woods yard. Alfie is absolutely mad at the moment and was rushing around so much he bit his tongue and with no puddles around he looked a state at times.
But I have to say although busy it was really really lovely today. Makes me remember why I walk dogs for a living.

A lovely relaxing day

elly — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:28:14 +0000

Went to Englemere with the Bracknell dogs this morning and met up with my sister to see if her foster puppy would like any of the dogs instead of following her dog around, but he didnt want anyone else.
Then set off with Ben and the Ascot dogs to Valley gardens and had a lovely leisurely stroll around there. Met other people with dogs and it was just really nice. Wizard found a bit of a ball which amused him and Leisl endlessly.

Dirty Dogs…..

elly — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:59:37 +0000

Look at this photo of the dogs looking very dirty – probably smelly aswell…. The thing with this water shortage is that at the moment on most walks wherever I go whether it is Swinley, Virginia Water or Englemere the dogs seem to find the muddy ditches… So sorry but they are all having a lovely time!!!!