Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Yesterday I mentioned that Jazz the Standard Poodle had to cope with 2 kittens, well I think we have to admit that he has coped well in his first week. I think kittens are very very brave, and Jazz is just a wonderful example of a well mannered gentleman.  

Barbet Hallie the recycling monster.

Some dogs get pleasure from a bone, some have a favourite toy, Hallie has the recycling bag!

Taking a dog abroad

The channel tunnel has made life so much easier for those of us with dogs that have pet passports. Unlike a crossing with a ferry, the Channel Tunnel is a car train which means you don't leave your car or your dogs. If you look at the car closely, you will see Martha as Bepop still is fast asleep (she is an old hand at travelling), Martha still goes into a bit of a panic if one of us leaves the vehicle!.
As a rule it costs more than a ferry, but it is very flexible, you book a time online and when you check in, a machine confirms that you wish to travel on that train or it gives you the next departure that you can travel on for no further charge ( we often miss our booked train!) if you have time you can let your dogs have a stretch, if not  needed you can drive straight onto the train. It is not noisy for the dogs, it is just easy. To be honest I used to be nervous as I am not really a willing traveller due to a rather serious coach accident in France when I was sixteen, since then any mode of transport sets me on edge  but as we have now travelled so many times on the train my fear of death has reduced to the point I almost look forward to it.

Happiness is......

Three boys who like running, water and a completely empty beach.Life doesn't get much better for a Barbet.

Dogs and bones

Life doesn't get much better than this, and it kept the dogs quiet all afternoon. The youngest dog Hallie picked the biggest bone.

Barbet puppies at 5 weeks

The rain stopped and the 5 week old pups at Annettes were released into the bigger world of outside. When you see this photo you can't help but think they are longing for the next stage which is 'the field'.
Tomorrow I am going to see them again, so although I will say 'goodbye' to my temporary puppy residents, I will also get a few puppy cuddles with older pups. Having so much puppy time is almost as good as having my own, but it has made me realise its time for more puppies at the Preston house, its been far too long.

Hope and Halfpint Barbet puppies

They do wake up sometimes, but this sleep was deep as both had their first bath in my washing up bowl. They both paddled round the bowl and either they enjoyed the experience or they were both in shock but they took the bathing in their stride.

Hope is now showing that she wants to play, her little tail wags on sight of Bepop or one of us. She uses her bottle like a punchbag, showing her frustration that the milk doesn't flow fast enough for her hungar, so weaning for her is easy. This morning she came out for a walkabout and met Bobby face to face, he was very gentle but was looking over his shoulder for Bepop or Betsy, so I got the feeling he felt he was too close to such a young pup. As for Halfpint, he is a few days behind Hope, he loves his bottle and loves a cuddle while feeding,with a full tummy he wants nothing more than the crook of your arm and sleep so he is not as eager to explore yet . I am not getting attached, BUT both these pups stare at your face when you feed them, they fix you with a look that can't help but make your heart skip a beat. Monday will be  the next stage for these beautiful pups, they are going home and they will be over the coming days/weeks be reunited with their large family.   

Dogs,horses,cows and deer

Cold but dry a walk in the forest with Bepop and Bobby, we were with a lab and terrier but they were out of shot. I walk in the New Forest, and the dogs on just this walk have to share the open forest with livestock as seen in the photos below. All my dogs are careful with cattle, horses and pigs, mutual respect is how it works best.

Hard to see the deer above, and as you can see they are not disburbed by us!!.
When we meet the pigs, I hope I have my camera......today just the horses,deer and the rather ugly white cows. 

Haircuts and Bobby my rescue dog







Bobby


NO, its not one of  my barbets but Bobby my rescue crossbreed last summer
sporting a revised terrier trim. As we are not quite sure what is in Bobby, its an open book for trimming. The outcome was it was too severe and didn't suit his charactor so since then he has been puppy trimmed. When I have shaved barbets, the heads are always the hardest if the owner wants them left longer as the dogs look out of proportion. I have tried the 'terrier look' but with curls and the rounder heads of barbets it looks half finished.
I will find photos of one of my pups shaved to show the difference.



Bobby