What a long day

The day started extra early as I have a few boarding dogs in and I do like to give them all time and attention. I also have quite a number of cats to care for and as always my own crew.
My boys, of course need sorting then off to school.

I sat having my cuppa and browsed the internet in search of a wife for Oscar (my gorgeous chocolate lab)
Today I found her. A 7 months old chocolate labrador. Good pedigree and KC registered.
Something felt right about her but it was a nasty day with heavy rain forecast. I did have an appointment at the vets for standard jabs but my mind kept drifting back to this puppy so I moved the appointment and headed off to Leeds!!

We have called her Lola and she is lovely. A deep chocolate colour and whilst still a little nervous having been dragged from her home, she is settling well. I have been doing some training with her and she is very quick to learn. But why wouldn't she? she is a labrador.

The family who had her had just taken too much on with 4 very young children and 3 young labradors. Very brave but it was proving too much for them. I do think people underestimate how much time, attention and exercise any dog needs.

Oh! My! Goodness!

And I thought she must have just bruised herself when she ran into the log but as she was non weight bearing the next day I took her to  Bob Payne (Vet in Willington) He referred her to specialists in Lichfield and she had her fractured femur pinned and plated that very day.
I have no idea why but she wasn't pregnant which is a blessing as she has a few weeks of recovery and behaving herself.

Sorry to all those waiting so patiently for her off spring but she will make a full recovery and I shall mate her her next season in about 6 months time.

On a lighter note.
I have Red boarding with me at the moment. She is one of Toffee's last years litter and what a ball of fluff she is. I shall try and get a photograph of her if she will stay still long enough. She has a beautiful character too.

Great ears!

Bobbin and Bonnie (boarding dogs) are having a great time playing chase.
I have just put them back in their own unit for a snooze as they would play all day. I love to see them though, having some freedom and space to play.
I have had all the boarding dogs out together this morning and what a good time they all had. As I find my feet with this new business venture, always erring on the side of caution, I try new ways and as with my own dogs, I feel the best way to fully exercise a dog is off the lead, chasing and wrestling with others. This is all subject to temperament, age, gender and willingness. Of course

The pully systems are now all in situ for the trapdoors. (It took me all week) I am so pleased with them as they are substantial, aesthetically pleasing and very robust.

Jess (my cocker spaniel) is so very energetic and enthusiastic. She shot out of my gate as we were heading off across the fields and she slammed into a log. Needless to say she is feeling very sorry for herself now.

What beautiful weather again and thank goodness as my eldest son is on his silver D of E practice walk.
He was so looking forward to it so I am pleased the weather has been kind to them as it is miserable on the move for 3 days, camping and getting wet and cold.
He is about to seriously start fund raising as he is going to Tanzania next year to build toilets and teach english in an orphanage.
My youngest is running 3K at the Derby fun run. Good luck

I did it!! (with a little help)

The concrete base is now in!!

Thank goodness as 10 cubic metres is a lot to level and tamp down. I am shattered. 

What a difference it has made though, it looks great and will be so easy to keep clean and disease free.

The cement wagon couldn't get close enough so I had to hire a pumping machine. If I put the extra cost out of my mind, what a difference it made to the job. They pumped it from the yard, over the kennels and into the run. To an extent it could be spread as it was poured. 

 III
i

The

Why!

I have decided to take up running!
Mad, maybe.
My youngest has started running with Derby Athletics and he needs to train more often. He is keen and I would like to support him (and get a lot fitter in the process). We are planning to drop onto the canal and run together which would be exhausting but fun. At 12 years of age he is too young to go alone and I doubt he would wish to either. I have no desire to attempt to keep up with him but how nice to be able to share the journey.

My boys and I are planning on doing a run/ride
My eldest two on their horses and myself and my youngest on foot. We shall go on a circuit from our home which is about 5 miles. We giggle at the thought of doing it and I shall let you know when we do.

This week my major job is concreting the dog run. This will ensure that any boarders can get our for a good run around no matter what the weather or ground conditions. It will also help with the peering of their nails. We have been working out the angles and falls to ensure we have no pooling of water in the run. It needs to be easy to clean down too and I have no intentions of having smelly dog kennels.

The painting is all done now!!!

Down on the farm

I have been painting for what feels like days!!

I am using specialist paint in the kennels on the walls and the floors. The floors have taken 3 coats but it is looking great now.

The concrete is no longer absorbent  and dusty but has a lovely, none slip, easy to clean finish.
I have painted to walls a rich cream colour and this too is easily cleaned and lifts the light in the units too.

My next job is to level the scalpings (rubble) in the run, wacker it down and then the concrete can be delivered. The ground has dried out lovely now so the wagon should have no difficulty gaining access.

Once these last jobs are complete I can get posters made as the photographs can be taken then I can really get going with the marketing.
Having said that I am so very pleased with the bookings I have had to date through word of mouth. August particularly is quite busy with a steady trickle leading up to then. A steady start to any new venture has to be a good thing to high light any, small teething difficulties ( I hope I won't have any of course)

Back to the painting :(

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.