I'm impressed that your mate's pup is already building snow bunnies.
You can have snow bunnies or not jumping up. They only learn one thing.
I'd have the snow bunnies every time! Our guy is just hopeless when it comes to ice sculpture and similar 🙁
With Bert leaving us last August I have a dog shaped hole in my heart…….but it’s not ready to be filled by another dog just yet.
i have however found a way to get my doggo fix - I’ve volunteered at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary as a dog walker. I explained my situation and that Sunday morning used to be me and Bert adventure time and did they have any high energy dogs that needed a few hours on the surrounding moors.
So today I took out Marley - 3 year old Collie whose owner had died.
Only took him out for an hour as he had an appointment with a family (they have taken him on!).
Lovely dog - im sure he will settle in nicely.
Then took Max the Lurcher out for a few hours. 8 year old, picked up as a stray, very aggressive towards other dogs out on our walk (I had been warned/given his information beforehand). Nothing I couldn’t handle. Max was very food orientated and loved the little bit of cheese I gave him. I think he would soon settle down.
Was nice being in the hills again with a dog although it was interesting that neither dog had ever encountered kissing gates or stiles before - they were both absolutely confused by them!
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Roxie and Lola are embracing winter sloth mode 🙂 No idea why Roxie picks the smaller dog bed, other than she only has one braincell. It's her birthday in a month. Hoping for a second one to match her age, but we're not hopeful 🙂
Lots of long muddy walks, and about as long cleaning up afterwards. The "Carpet of Chaos" is off to the new groomer in a couple of weeks. She's going to love that 😉
Had lunch in a cafe in Matlock Bath with MrsMC and a young couple next to us had a golden retriever pup out for one of her first public outings - she hadn't walked very far and was fast asleep under their table of a blanket. Even MrsMC went "ahh!"
Took 3 of Bleakholts dogs out this morning.
‘Ziggy’ - a young chocolate Jack Russel, nice affectionate dog that wanted tickles. Didn’t get too far with him - he had a couple of poo’s then wanted to go back home to Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, think he was missing his lazy Sunday morning lie in!
Second dog I took out (and my favourite!) was ‘Chance’. Rubbish name - awesome dog!
Springer/Saluki cross, affectionate but has that zest for exploring and adventuring that Bert had. High energy - jumped in The Plunge stream and had a paddle straightaway, super chilled with other dogs we met. Knew a few commands and was switched on. loved the tiny bit of cheese I gave him!
Did two hours with him and covered some serious ground.
Lastly - ‘Lady’……….more like Princess!. Had lived in an upstairs flat all her life and only gone out for pee&poo’s.
Didn’t want to leave the safety of Bleakholt. Took lots of coaxing but then she discovered the world outside and we were off! She did however bark at every single dog we encountered so she definitely needs some socialising. Nice dog but Chance was the dog for me………..but not just yet
Friends have a Saluki cross, she's like a dog-shaped cheetah, much to Sprocket's annoyance. He'll catch her one day. Wires don't stop.
Oscar being embarrassing again, he knows who has treats and sits with them if he sees them. 
Full of chickens.... rest time.
Harold had a blow dry
Oscar being embarrassing again, he knows who has treats and sits with them if he sees them.
Ours does that too! There's 5 or 6 regulars in our local that occasionally give him a treat. If any of them are in he just sits and stares at them, ignoring everyone and everything else.
There's a dog biscuit tin too. The closest person sat next to it also gets the Paddington Bear stare weather they realise or not. You're quite right, it is embarrassing.
Walked Bill for the final time as a kennel hound on Sunday - he came along for the group walks so we could assess his public manners. I am pleased to report he did not attempt to eat geese or dachshunds so that's positive..! This was at a local country park with a courtyard cafe - he was pretty overwhelmed by the time I took these photos but he did really well.
It's been a mad busy few weeks getting the house & garden ready but we can finally bring him home tomorrow. Five and a half years living in kennels in some way or another, it's going to blow his mind!
He's getting renamed to Bruce 🙂
Can't wait to see the NDD pictures! Congratulations!
Epic roaching from the hound this week.
Took ‘Chance’ out again this morning as he’d been such good fun last week. Good news - he’s found his forever home and was being collected this afternoon. Somebody has got them themselves a lovely dog there!
Then took ‘Buddy’ out, 2 year 34kg brindle Lurcher that’s been with them for 6months. Walked absolutely beautifully, didnt pull - but that’s all he could do, had no commands at all! Called in at my parents on the way past and he wolfed some tiny cheese morsels down so he should be easily food trainable. Will take him out again next week - very affectionate, snuggled in to me when he first came out of his kennel. Nice dog.
All these dogs I'm posting are at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary if anyone is interested.
Recall continues to be a problem 😉
I think it's time for a visit to the groomers, I'm no longer sure which end I'm supposed to feed 😆
Bruce came home a week ago and I think someone at the kennels has been showing him YouTube videos about sofas.
Five minutes after he came though the door he had found one of his new toys and got up on the sofa. He likes carpet, he likes beds but he thinks sofas are incredible. Only thing better for him is people. He was overwhelmed, stressed, excited and into everything. But later in the evening on day one he got up on the sofa and curled up next to me. I basically melted.
He's settling in well though, far better than expected considering his kennel demeanour and how long he was in. He's turning into a proper fun, cheeky adventure hound. I'll take some outdoor photos soon when the weather isn't mingin'
I mentioned up there the embarrassment of having a treat focused dog in the pub. Well the picture below was sent to me by a bloke called Steve who is one of Henry's suppliers. This is the view that Steve gets while he sits in the pub. This would go on for hours if we let it.
For reference, that's me and my dad on the background, and the big white one isn't our dog. 🙄
Brilliant!
Oscar was trying his luck again as the bar staff changed while were in. 
So, Sprocket is one year old tomorrow and has been with us for ten months now, which seems unlikely. He's totally unrecognisable from the blob of dark-ish fur we first met when he was three weeks old and equally quite unlike the frenetic, lunatic small puppy he grew into. He's still a complete goofball, but increasingly capable of finding his own off-switch and settling himself, which is good going for the breed. I am completely besotted.
People will tell you not to get a GWP because of the energy and the machine-like focus when they have a job, but if you're prepared to put in the hard work on obedience and mental and physical engagement - scent work, gundog training, games-based stuff etc, etc etc -oh, and physical exercise too, they are just fantastic. We talked about getting a dog for around five years before getting this guy and my only regret is that we didn't do it sooner.
And weirdly, in what seems like the last week, he's somehow gone from looking like a big 'puppy' to looking like a proper dog. Maybe he just grew into his big paws 🙂
The teenage year is about to start @BadlyWiredDog , don't let your guard down.
The teenage year is about to start @BadlyWiredDog , don't let your guard down.
They're adolescent from about six months on. Nudging boundaries, selective hearing, hormone spikes, tantrums etc. He is a full-on teenage dirtbag and we take no crap from him in a calm, consistent way. But yes, he's very not the finished article, he trains every day, every outing, whistle sits, recall, scent stuff. But yes, we have no illusions. His near future includes a week with a GWP ninja specialist to hone both him and, more importantly, us.
One thing, the whole dog training world is a mad place. A good chunk of it seems based on fictions and prejudices and thrives on putting people in a threat rather than a challenge state. If you don't do xxxx, your dog will be a disaster. People want perfect loose lead in five minutes, even if it means using aversive tools on small puppies, it's insane. Lots of angry men glorying in being 'dominant'. sigh.
Our 10 month old puppy is displaying extremely selective hearing so we're doing a stint of lead walks only. in fairness to her I think she's going to have her first season soon so (hopefully) we'll get out non deaf pup back eventually.
Bara vs squirrel.
Oscar is 4 today so he had a pamper day yesterday.
Cheers guys.
I forgot to add a puppy photo so here we go.
Happy birthday Oscar
Yeah, and from Sprocket too, looks like Sprock and Oscar share a birthday 🙂
This was our guy at three weeks when we first saw him...
And eight weeks when he moved in 🙂
Bruce is still working out how to live in an environment where he's not surrounded by his kin. Even though he didn't share a kennel, there were always noises and things going on. So we have a solid case of not knowing how to be alone, something I've started working on gradually. We are in cadence of a positive day followed by an agitated day currently - but we're also starting to learn his triggers and manage his exposure to them until he can relax.
Today is a good day (so far). He saw two German Shepherds and two horses on his walk and casually observed both. One of his big triggers are Bichon Frise and while he was a lot more interested when he saw one today he broke focus nicely. Still be a while before he can meet one though - they are the same size and fluffiness as the things used to train racers...
He has an exceedingly bendy beak and he's done his first awkward sit.
How about an old dog?
She's twelve this year.
She spent 10 minutes watching the cheese lady cut up the cheese through the door.
She has sampled all of the cheeses.
Another nice Sunday morning out with Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary dogs!
Took Buddy out again for a good walk, he is such a nice dog and becoming my favourite! Very affectionate and absolutely loves a tiny little bit of cheese! Would be a very trainable dog.
Then I took Tucker out. I haven’t met him before but we had a good stomp through the Plunge and Clough. He was a little excitable at times but absolutely loved his tickles and belly rubs!
#rescuesarethebestdogs!
Huey, Dexter & Dustie wait (not very patiently) for a little snack.
Later in the evening, Dustie decided to have a go at Dexter, drew blood from his left ear. She's a little unpredictable, and was not in anyone's good books for the rest of the night. Git.
If anyone in the Winchester / Southampton area is looking for someone to look after their dog I can higly recommend https://www.pawsomeretreat.co.uk/home
Margo and Jerry
If there aren't a pair of scruffy mingrels next door called Tim and Barbara, there is no justice.
Bruce is 'getting there'
Today he decided he needed to shout at horses. Yesterday he was wired because multiple people came to the house (deliveries, not actual visitors).
He great though, such a fun silly fella even while he's got those big feelings
Met a friend for a walk, slept HARD, looked out the window and finally he's a bit derpy
I've been a bit slack with posting of late, here's some more long dog spam.
Snow is life. Even for this old pup
Nilo's also been out in the snow, doing a bit of xc ski training
Then his best impression of a fur seal
Are those skis up there ^^ really Rossignol 'arse-kins'? 😂
Cold, frosty, sunny....it's so nice to take the crazy girls up the field tracks and not come back filthy. North York Moors on the far horizon, snow only on the very tops.
Today is also Francesca's 9th birthday. So we'll have to have a puppy photo!
1st in the queue this morning for her favourite pup cup. Such a pleasant change to be walking in the dry.
Took Buddy out a few times this weekend one of which was an absolute disaster!
He is very food driven and has clearly never been in a cafe before! He was absolute carnage in the Drop Off Cafe Edenfield so I bailed out and got a takeaway!
He had an ‘interview’ when I returned him with a family who had a lurcher previously. They were loving him and had booked for a walk with him this Sunday afternoon.
I took him for a quick walk Sunday morning and wished him good luck!
Fingers crossed - he is a nice dog that just needs some training/boundries.
Yesterday we had water play, today the arthritic paw knuckle needs some warmth and loxicon to ease the stiffness.
Checking out the table with fries 
Doug phasing between universes while I eat pie in Keswick.
Awww! They grow so fast.
My mate Buddy from the last few weeks has gone from Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary to his trial forever home!!!!! I’m sure he’ll settle in well - he is a nice dog.
This week I took Tucker out again - he has some daft energy at times but he just wants tickles in his life. I ended up sat cuddled up with him on the tailgate of my van as he didn’t really want a walk!
Then took Lola the Staffy/ showgirl out as her previous owner is now incarcerated! I don’t think she’s done much walking in her life as she was soon puffing and panting!
Lastly took Derek out. 2 year old Collie/Staffy cross - lovely playful energy, super eager to learn and please. Will be a lovely dog for someone.
(pictures are the wrong order - Tucker is the grey dog, Del Boy is the black coloured phone licker)
As it was a lovely/non rain-y morning, took the dogs to the "local lido". Fair to say they were very happy to be back there 🙂
Lol, the eyes in the second photo 😂
Two 'big' walks for Sprocket this weekend - 'big' here is 5km, so not that big, but hey, when you're a year old pup, that's quite big enough lots of sniffing and training en route. He's doing great, hasn't eaten any off-lead spaniels for days now, walks nicely on a flat collar and lead, is mostly indifferent to sheep, cows and people including runners and cyclists. He's still a teenage dirt-bag and has the occasional 'day', wind and cold, high scent days can be interesting, but mostly he's great. And despite his working line DNA, he is the sweetest-natured pup.
We're super keen to get him totally reliable off-lead, calm around Peak District sheep and get his whistle stop and recall 100% solid as well, so we're all booked in for a week working with a ninja GWP specialist down in the west country in the spring. I'm properly excited by the prospect of being able to mountain bike with him once he's full grown, plus he apparently also has canicross and agility in his future too. Dogs are ace 🙂
But right now...
Lol, the eyes in the second photo 😂
Normally reserved for when Roxie the Retriever does something to annoy Lola the Lab. Which is pretty much everything 🙂
Then took Lola the Staffy/ showgirl out as her previous owner is now incarcerated! I don’t think she’s done much walking in her life as she was soon puffing and panting!
Must make sure Mrs tnw doesn't see this otherwise we'll soon have two dogs.
Good stuff you're doing there <applauds>
Good stuff you're doing there <applauds>
I'm just filling the dog shaped hole in my heart that Bert left behind. It’s the people at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary that do the good stuff. I’ve not taken a single dog out that has dragged its heals when I’ve taken them back - the dogs love everyone there!
However it’s dogs like Tucker that break my heart - he has occasional daft energy zoomies (literally jumping up to my head height and snapping at his lead - and he’s a big dog) that mean he isn’t going to be anyone’s first choice. He had to have his tail amputated as his ‘happy tail’ wagging split it numerous times.
Took him out again today and he didn’t really want to walk - he just wanted cuddles and tickles, so I sat with him in the back of my Berlingo for ages. I was really saddened to take him back.
Pup-cup whilst I enjoy a nice breakfast bagel and coffee.
It's been 6 months without Charlie and I really miss having a dog . Had nothing on Saturday morning and it was a nice day and all i wanted to do was take Charlie out for a walk .I know we'll have another one at some point but im worried that if we do it too quick we will end up comparing the new dog to Charlie and that wouldn't be fair.
Interested if any other people who've been there have felt a guilt about possibly getting another dog ?
Huey is usually a bit of a plodding, ambly little chap. But when you wave a bag of carrot slices in his line of sight, he livens up a bit sharpish 😀
Fun on the beach for Oscar with his half brother Angus. 
Is that Beadnell? Looks like the right shape for the kilns.
Bruce has been here four weeks now
He's doing OK - his confidence is growing well and last week he decided to start voicing his opinions about situations. Mainly situations where we were leaving the room... he's got quite the voice. We've started working on that...
Two sides of the same hound...
It's been 6 months without Charlie and I really miss having a dog . Had nothing on Saturday morning and it was a nice day and all i wanted to do was take Charlie out for a walk .I know we'll have another one at some point but im worried that if we do it too quick we will end up comparing the new dog to Charlie and that wouldn't be fair.
Interested if any other people who've been there have felt a guilt about possibly getting another dog ?
You aren't replacing Charlie, you're filling a dog-shaped hole in your life and giving another dog a fantastic life with you. You never really compare a new dog with an old one, because dogs are as individual as anything else, and although some have similar traits, they're always just different enough in terms of personality and habits. In fact, if anything, you end up remembering the old one even more fondly. (I'm on my 6th dog now and can't imagine a life without one)
If it's the right time for you, you'll know.
The sad and unavaoidable fact, is they don't last forever.
Mine will be 10 this year, I've had him from 9 weeks old, my first 'own' dog, and my best friend...
It's been 6 months without Charlie and I really miss having a dog . Had nothing on Saturday morning and it was a nice day and all i wanted to do was take Charlie out for a walk .I know we'll have another one at some point but im worried that if we do it too quick we will end up comparing the new dog to Charlie and that wouldn't be fair.
Interested if any other people who've been there have felt a guilt about possibly getting another dog ?
I'm going through some of the exact same feelings. A few months after Stanley passed away we were both really missing hound life. It turns out we would actually get quite a lot of our social time from time spent walking him.
We started volunteering at the local(ish) greyhound sanctuary. Come December, which was almost exactly six months after we lost Stanley, we started thinking about filling that house giraffe sized hole in our hearts No plans to do it right away, but just thinking about it. Loads still needed doing around the house and garden, the weather was shite and I couldn't realistically see how we would be ready before spring.
Honestly, I think that was just us talking ourselves out of it because we were worried about how 'replacing' him would feel.
The Bruce barged himself into our hearts when his reservation fell through (after a comedic home check). The guilt emotions were strong for Mrs Rikk and me to an extent. Tears were shed a number of times over this very subject. Logically we knew that Bruce was not a replacement but it didn't make it easier.
You've got to let yourself feel those things, it's natural. But don't miss out on the joy of being servant to another dog because you are worried about how the guilt might feel 🙂
You never replace the hound that passed, but you can heal the heart a little with the help of who comes along next.
You never really compare a new dog with an old one, because dogs are as individual as anything else
The current spotty fool is as set in his ways a Sheldon Cooper Phd, none of the others have been so fixed on the right way to do things. I suspect that I may have influenced this somewhat and he is my dog much to Mrs Sandwich's disgust as she does much of the mid-week walking
Thanks all . We'll get there in the end , my wife feels these things probably stronger than me whereas the kids would grab any dog off the street they could get their hands on and bring it home so we're all at different places but we'll get there at some point definitely. In the meantime I'll enjoy seeing all of your pictures of adventures with your furry pals .
Not sure there is a right time, Oscar was meant to be a friend for Jake our last BT. Sadly we lost Jake a week after we knew were getting Oscar. He healed our hearts but he’s never been a replacement. Jake was the family do when the kids were young so he has a very place in our hearts. Oscar is something of an exceptional dog, been great for what he bought for to help me with my mental health, a walking buddy and pet. He is also very well behaved, friendly, loving and very handsome who gets a lot of attention from people, especially those who know borders. 
Been round to meet my mates 12 week old pup for the first time. Was warned he'd been a "bitey little bastard" today, but he was really good with me, if a little lively to get any decent pics.
