What a big girl!

I know I am bias but Phoebe is beautiful and generally well behaved. The number of people who are surprised that she is a Rotty and their image is not of gentle or submission which is how she is.

The Labrador puppies are leaving us now and she has played a great role in their education with socialising. If I'm not careful she will be asking for a salary.

Other news
We have sold Storm, our coloured horse as he had no jockey. The money has helped towards my eldest's car insurance which is crippling and towards my middle son's pot for his Tanzania 2014 as he too is going to work in the school for orphaned children.

"smelly cat" has settled in very well. Coming and going as he pleases and not using his litter tray, thank goodness.

Bookings for the kennels are looking good for the summer and I now have lots of help to ensure we maintain our high standards
Cattery bookings look a little slow but that could all change.

The preparations for 6th May are all under way and Mel and I are starting to look forward to it. We are just praying for some sunshine :)

Play time!

No Phoebe, you cannot eat the puppy :)

Actually she is fantastic with them. Of course we never leave them un attended but it is good for their socialisation to have exposure so young.

Phoebe is doing very well with her training other than 2 days ago when she followed Pippa (our Terrier) to the farm next door to steel cat food!!
I called her and yes, I did expect her to turn and come back but no, where Pippa was taking her was so much more fun. I have focussed on this and she was so much better today.

My next stage is to encourage her to wait where ever I leave her until I release her.  She is getting the hang of it.

Guess where I have been :)

Yes! on a much needed holiday and took 2 of my boys to France skiing for a week. (My middle son was away with school) We went to an area called Montgenevre. I am not usually a great fan of Europe for skiing as the runs tend to be narrow and the lifts, too few in number, congested and busy but this holiday has had a good impact as the conditions were perfect with wide open pistes, well groomed and the lifts were plentiful and never was there a que..

We all came back having skied our little legs off and with a good tan as it was very sunny.

Marion and Laura did a great job looking after the farm and all for me as without that back up I would never get away and as much as I love it, it truly is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and at times exhausting.

We are beavering away and preparing for our fun day 6th May. I do hope the weather improves and the crowds come flocking and we all have a great day.

What weather!!

Ok, so the weather hasn't been great but I love it.
I put on extra layers and off I go to tend the dogs.

They love to run, wrestle and play with each other and in the snow. Find a piece of ice and the fun begins as they play chase with it. When they are all huffing and puffing back into their units they go where they have food and water and their under floor heating is on. For the ones who feel the cold I shut down their hatch as it is very windy at the moment too. They all seem to be happy and now one is off their food which is always a good sign.

We have just had two of our favourites in Missie and Dillon (Bull Mastiffs) Huge dogs but lovely. My boys have been fascinated by them and have given them extra attention. Missie in particular has responded very well to it and has settled well indead. They are coming back in May so must be happy.

Bae (F1 Labradoodle) has eventually come into season after 10 months so by the time we have puppies available from her she will have been approximately 2 years since her last litter. She does produce lovely puppies though and I am covering her with a miniature poodle this time so should make slightly smaller Labradoodles

All go

This is our poster for our Family Fun and Doggy Day

What a lots of work is going into the preparation so lets hope we have good day.
We have ordered the sunshine in good time and the gazebos will be up to stop us getting sun stroke :)
but doggy people are hardy so I hope you will all turn out in any event.

There will be lots to entertain, feed and water the whole family and it is all to support children's charities so please put the date in your diary and it will be lovely to see you with or with out a dog.

Special guest

Last week we had a German exchange student.
What a pleasure he was to have around.
Very polite and such command of the english language. Any word he was unsure of he was confident enough to ask and between us all we worked it out.  They went to Chatsworth House, Black Country Museum, Staffordshire Potteries and shopping to Westfield of course.

It was interesting hearing about life in Germany as they do appear to have a very structured life with a number of rules to live by.

Play time!!

Tiffin and Phoebe have My eldest pinned down. What fun and such lovely dogs, so trusting and never

any aggression. My boys are all very confident with dogs as they have always had them in their lives.

Tiffin is teaching Phoebe tug of war :)