Play time :)

Who says dogs don't enjoy boarding kennels 

These guys play like this for ages and when back in their own unit they sleep like babies.

The building going up behind them is our extension of the kennels. Once complete we will setup 4/5 large exercise areas into my grass paddock. 

When complete we will have 8 exercise areas and continue to offer high levels of care and attention and plenty of fun for your dogs whilst you are away 

Heads and Tails

Salmon for breakfast and gourmet cat food for dinner so why does Danni, our pest control office (our cat) eat the middle of the mice she catches? 

All prepared for the concrete to arrive :)

We are expending our dog boarding facility. All the new units, like the original will have underfloor heating and self filling water dispensers. We will have 7 exercise areas with high, secure fencing and if they are good together a mate or two to run with :)

I will ensure we continue with our high standards of care and attention and to help me do that Racheal (assistant manager) starts next week

Today is the day

My middle son is bags packed and ready for the off

He has taken a place at De Montfort Univercity to study business management with HR

What a great choice for him I feel as he is certainly loving and caring. He has often helped me with the caring for our own and visiting animals. He has also watched, first hand as we have built our own business up from an empty grass paddock.

I do feel particularly proud of him as academic work hasn't come easily but he has worked tirelessly at it and Derby Grammar School has certainly been exactly the right school for him.

Of course I will miss him but I so pleased he is following his own life plan and venturing out into the big wide world. I shall of course continue to support him in every way I can and I'm sure, as he runs out of food or needs washing done the fact I'm just up the motorway will help :)

Learning new skills :)

I have just had the most fabulous holiday. 

I was invited to go and learn to sail on a 46foot yacht in the Ionian so off I went.

Sail Blue Planet 

Hopping from island to island, beautiful cove to cove in Greece

I learnt the basics of sailing and gained my competent crew certificate. 

Next I may take the day skipper ( I hope there will be a next)

I do have an ambition to sail in the clipper boat race and who knows, one day :)

I saw many, pitiful dogs and cats out on the islands. All the male dogs entire and most of the females looking pregnant. Non looked in great health and all were scrounging tit bits off the tourists. I was very careful not to touch them as i'm sure they weren't in the best of health and may have fleas too.

I chatted with one lady who takes the strays in and we both puzzled why no one castrates/ neuters these poor animals. I guess the cats form their pest control as they were constantly around the kitchens

I will put some photos on when I have a minute 

What's new?

A very busy summer of course as everyone goes away and we care for their pets. 

It is so very rewarding when a quiet, timid and some times very nervous dog arrives and with a little patience we bring it round to be happy and confident whist here. The family arrive, very tentative to collect and out bounds a lively dog who has clearly had a nice time. The family are so delighted they book to secure their place next year :)

This can only happen because we truly care. My team of helpers are as vidulant as I am about each and every pet we  have entrusted to us.

I have decided to go ahead with our planned expansion of the dog boarding kennels. It will be built of block and steal which is both easy to keep clean and disease free. We have oodles of carpet and lovely soft bedding too.

I have been pacing out a paddock as one of the keys to happy dogs is lots of exercise so I am planning to have a further three/four exercise areas giving us seven in total.

If the weather is nice and we can then the dogs in our care are some times out playing all day. At night they are quiet as often shattered from running, wrestling and just having good fun

My lovely boys are all doing well. Eldest going into his final year of his electrical apprenticeship so lets see what lay ahead for him now but he is with a very good company

My middle son did very well with his A levels and is off to study for a degree in business management and HR

Youngest starts his second year GCSE in September

I am so very proud of them all as they are making their way in life. 

Life down on the farm

We have some family and friends camping in the garden at the moment. Glamping actually. They baked this (was) lovely cake for us to share. Pippa ( 13 year old terrier) found a way to climb onto a high table, get beyond the boring stuff and she tucked in. "Compliments to the chef" as she ate almost her own body weight :)

Can you spot Strudles?

She has had a lovely holiday at Dogs Paws boarding kennels

Training continues for Ruby and Dapphne. 17 weeks old and off to the city Mel and I went. Yes they are playing with their water pot outside the cafe but they are fed up of being fussed. Everyone stops to pet them, young and old. "Are they Rottweilers" they ask in dismay as they are soooo friendly and we intend to keep them that way and continue our mission to restore peoples faith in this truly stunning breed.
Mel and I are continuing our training on Thursday evenings if anyone has a dog and would be interested in joining us?

 I couldn't keep them out of the water. An older chap watched on as we encouraged the girls to go behind as it is all good confidence building. It made him smile lots too

Bella gets a cuddle with Rachel at Cats Whiskers. She is very young so in a front unit with the door open so we can keep an eye on her at all times. She is getting ooooodles of attention too so good for her confidence

Oh what fun

Last evening we had a "bit of a do"

It was to thank all for helping with the fun day in May as without the family and friends Mel and I just couldn't have done it

We played rounders and had a BBQ

As always the weather was perfect

I bought 100 rolls and this morning there are just 8 left

There were many cakes baked and only crumbs here this morning so I can only assume every one was well fed

It was a whole family affair so there were lots of youngsters and they were fantastic. They played rounders too so everyone had to be patient but it was funny when they didn't really get the game and once hit the ball just ran in circles

Mel's day guest my funniest moment award as he was fielding, the ball slogged by a strong, teenager, his eyes followed it through the tree and he watched the far fielder to see if he catches it BUT it had hit a branch and fell on this head. Everyone howled

Thank you to all for making it such a fun evening x