She decides

Jess (our working cocker spaniel) is in season. I put her together with Teddy (golden, toy poodle) but she wasn't ready. Yes she would stand for him but at that final, crucial second she squealed and shot away leaving him bewildered and confused. This continued for several days but then her hormones were obviously at the correct level, as she decided yesterday  (day 11 of her season) was the day and wether he was interested or not he was going to "marry' her.

They mated a few times over the next 24 hours so fingers crossed we should have beautiful, cockerpoos in 9 weeks time.

Toffee who spends a lot of time with Jess is in season too. I am not taking a litter from her this season as she bred summer last year so this is her rest time. She has other plans though as she parades in front of Oscar, my Labrador stud. I have locked her in a dog boarding unit for her own good.

A few days off

I have just been to London for a few days. it was lovely and very relaxing. We went to see Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter theatre which was very funny and I could relate it to some of my friends lives.

The atmosphere in London was very warm and friendly. Lots of people were happy to chat and almost everyone was smily.

One lady visitor was fascinating outside a shop. We stopped to chat with her. The shop is Abercrombie and Fitch. She encouraged is to take a look. How could we resist.
The entrance had a line up of young men with very well toned torso, waxed and oiled. There were a number of girls with gingham, short dresses on. They were all very, very welcoming.

As we walked beyond this entrance I noticed just how dark it was and no windows. More bodies populated the shop and they were all very well versed in their welcoming greetings. We wondered but to be honest I couldn't wait to find the exit, which I might add wasn't easy. How things have changed as there was no opportunity to focus on the product for it's colour or quality as it was so very dark and the intention seemed to be to distract you but I can only assume this approach is successful as they seem to grow from strength to strength. The young were certainly enjoying the experience and they are their customers of course.

What fun!

This is Cocoa, he is with us on holiday. What a lovely gentle nature he has. he is a very calm boy and doing well with his basic training. I think he is enjoying his holiday and i am so pleased we have under floor heating in the dog boarding.

Oscar, Jilly and Toffee came to play with the puppies this morning. They are all snug and resting now.

Play time!

We have cocoa back for his holidays. Is Toffee eating him?.

They have such fun as I have 2 puppies still available and Toffee and Jess love to play. When ever I can, I have them all playing in the run of the dog boarding. It was lovely and sunny yesterday so quite warm as the building faces south. The under floor heating in their sleeping area is on a thermostat so I don't have to worry about them getting cold as they know where the heat is when they want a warm up.

I have the builders in today as we are doing the final polish of the granite floor, in the sleeping area, ahead of putting the specialist sealant on.  I am looking forward to the weather improving so I can concrete the run as it is not easy gathering droppings from the gravel.

The horses are doing well through this winter. If anything, they are a little fat. We are managing to keep them working between myself and my sons. Our big boy needs the regular work as he is so big and rather aged. These in themselves are not a problem but he did have 4 years of doing nothing and it has proved very difficult to bring him back into work and get him fit. 3 years so far.

We toy with replacing him as my eldest son wants to do more but as I have no funds available and he is such an honest horse, he gives his all to whatever you ask him to do and we both trust him. These facts will make him very difficult to replace.

Looking good

The puppies have almost all gone to their new homes now. This is one of the girls still available. She is getting very good at recall and not wetting in her bed. She is very confident and just follows me around our yard. I do like to run the puppies, when old enough, with my adult dogs. They teach them so much and help to grow their confidence.

I really would like to get my horse out a little more but boy! was it windy this weekend. Horses don't do too well in the wind as their instinct is fight and they do rely on being able to hear well.

Beautiful day

What a lovely, sunny day.
I have boarding dogs in and let them play and have a good run around in the big pen with a couple of my dogs, well supervised of course. This way they do get lots of exercise whilst in my care and should go home after their holiday, shattered.

I took a couple of my dogs down to the canal today. It was so very peaceful and beautiful with the frost. The canal is frozen over. My dogs seldom go on a lead but do cope very well with the restriction. They are great off the lead thank goodness as we meet so many that aren't. I do believe that often they just pick up on their owners/handlers anxiety. If only we humans could chill.

Nice weather

Yes it is fffff flipping cold but how nice to have some proper winter weather. The birds in my son's aviary have managed to hatch quite a number of chicks through December which, they have never done before. They have all they need to hand, to survive but the wild birds will not have that luxury and they too will have been thrown by the unseasonal heat.

Horses are funny as the first frost always sends them a little whappy and today was no exception as they flew across their field, bucking and squealing as I went to feed and put them hay out.

The boarding dogs are doing great as the heat hit me as I opened the entrance door. All of the heater units lights were on. The whole building is so warm. I hate to think what it will do to my bills but my guests are happy and comfortable and that is all that really matters.

We still have quite a number of cats in and they too have their own, individual heat source through a pad. They were all sat on them this morning and who can blame them?

The puppies are the biggest challenge at the moment (only a couple left)
They need plenty of room to run and play now so outside would be ideal but it is just too cold so I run them on my yard with my big dogs, this all helps with their education too as the big dogs take no none sense from them and don't hold back if they need to chastise them for and "bad" behaviour.