Friends

A Walk in Pengelli Forest

I can't help thinking how lucky we are to live in this area, as I've mentioned before Finn comes to work with me and on our way home we stop somewhere interesting for a walk, well I think he deserves a reward for looking after the car and I enjoy going to different places.I feel really sorry for those dogs who only get to do the same walk 3 times a day, day in day out. On Monday after work we went to Pengelli Forest, an ancient oakwood about 12 miles from us and quite near one of my farms.

We do a bit of 'nosework' along the way. I throw a stick into the undergrowth and hold him back for about 30 seconds then send him in to find it. He usually comes back with the right one, which I find quite impresive as I've only held it for a second or so. The only time he fails is if it lands where a fox has left it's scent.

After all this work he likes to cool off in the stream, because a walk isn't a walk unless it invlves water and mud!

And then a rest before going home for dinner.

Tunnel Dog

Had to move the horses to a new field yesterday, and retrieved the rigid tunnel from under the brambles and stinging nettles where it has been since I stopped using it for Jax, (my previous G.S.D.) about 4 years ago. Miraculously it hasn't rotted away! We now have another item in our 'keeping the neighbours amused' kit.

Finn is better at going through the tunnel, than I am of taking a picture of him doing it!

A walk with a friend

We met Ann with her g.s.d Peter for a walk along the river Teifi at Cilgeran today. Peter is not wearing the bandana.

Golden Valley Show

We were back at Top Barn Farm at worcester for the Golden Valley show this weekend. We had runs on both Saturday and Sunday this time and I was a bit worried it might be too much for Finn,but he coped really well. We left home at 3.30 on Friday afternoon and after stopping for a walk in the forestry at Halfway again we arrived about eight o'clock. After putting the tent up we had a run round the exercise field with Tansy, (the Australian Shepherd in the picture below). Then we had dinner and settled down for the night.
At 6.30 the next morning we were on the exercise field again making lots of new friends before breakfast of egg, bacon and sausage. Then it was course walking time. We had 3 classes on both days. The first 2 were a bit mad, but something clicked into place on the last run of the day and we ran as a team and only got the big E because the tunnel was just too much of a temptation after the weaving poles! The weather was brilliant if a bit hot for the dogs, but Finn kept cool by soaking his new bandanna in water. After dinner of rabbit stew, ( I've found the best way to ensure good weather is to take stew, it always rains when I take salad!), we went for a walk along the Severn Way and got back in time for the frog racing and bingo. I was a bit disappointed with the frogs, they were made of wood and attached to string!
The next day started with 2 billiant runs (for us) although we were still E'd. There is a really special feeling when you and your dog work as a team which makes all the hard wok worth it. The judge in the second class said 'What a lovely dog' when we finished! The last run didn't go quite as well although we did finish on a good note. WE should have had a video of one of the runs but the photographer couldn't work my camera!

Finn really earned his icecream! Our next show isn't for another month so we've got lots of time to practice those weaves.

Lazin' in the garden

We've spent quite a few lazy afternoons in the garden just lateley. Here's a glimpse of how Finn relaxes while he's waiting for me to stop wasting time and take him for a walk. We've been going to the beach in the evening when it's got cooler.

Here are some photos to go with the last entry.