Been a while....haven't I grown

Hi all

Been a while since I added to the blog, to much to do, not enough time. Anyway, Sharon took this great photo of the beasts on their walk the other day and I thought it should be added.

Ash has grown into a good looking dog, she stands just short of Bizley after 6 months, she does have extremely long legs though.

Both dogs are inseperable, they play fight for hours, have a rest then go at it again......poor Biz, no peace.

Still looking...........!

Ash is still looking for whom-so-ever is under the trampoline......

Oh Balls!!!

Biz had a bit of a play on the trampoline with the basketballs.....he couldn't understand that where-ever he went, the balls followed. In the end it was better to lie down and look good.

First Time in the woods

Yes, I know it's been a while since I put something on the blog but I have been very busy doing my thing which is smallbore rifle shooting. So now the shooting season for me has come to an end I can now spend time and update the blog.

Ash has changed so much and I think you will be all surprised on how she has changed. I noticed it in the weeks I spent down at Bisley. So here's some photos of Bizley and Ash on her first walk to the woods this morning.

Sonic, Bizley & Ash

We met up again last week to go to dog training, I think Sonic enjoyed it, Ash did. When we were finished up in the park, we came back for a cuppa and let Ash and Sonic play in the back garden (Bizley was still training). It was funny watching Ash go behind the kennel and then suddenly dash out and run around the garden like a bullet with Sonic closely behind and then through the fence behind the kennel with Sonic screaming at her once again. We will meet up again for more fun.

Ash & Alix Playing

This is Ash playing with Alix. Alix is under the trampoline but Ash doesn't know who it is!

Ash is growing up fast and is fast, faster than Bizley ever was at her age. She loves her walks and loves taking on the biggest of dogs.

Ash's New Hobby

Well, Ash has found a new hobby, water chasing......

I was watering the plants when she decided to attack the jet....what fun.

New Friends - Sprocket and Sonic

Bizley and Ash made two new friends on Wednesday, Sprocket (Cocker/Springer Spaniel) age 7 and Sonic (Toller) age 8 months. We met in a field in Bury with Rachael and David and their daughter. The evening went well Bizley stamping down on the Sonic when he got a bit frisky with Bizley within the first 5 minutes but then Sonic turned his attention to Ash and stayed by her for the rest of the evening. Sprocket wasn't interested in any of the ginger dogs and did his own thing of hunting rabbits. They played for about two hours before we took them home. As soon as we got through the door Ash and Bizley went straight to their beds!

The next morning at 5.30am we took them for their morning walk but Ash was less than interested. When we got to the field she just sat and would not budge, I called her and after doing what she needed to do she sat down again. So I gave up and drove her home. Bizley stayed out for his long walk, Ash just curled up in Bizley's bed waiting for him to return.

Sleep Time!

Ash is really growing at a great rate, you can see by the photo.

Once again, following a mad hour they cuddle up on their new matresses for a well deserved 40 winks....awww!!!

FAB Time!

Ash seems to be following Bizley in everything....and like the big fella, she has also acquired a taste for a FAB. During the heat of the summer afternoon, this particular lolly didn't last too long.

Playtime!

Bizley and Ash playing! An evening ritual which lasts for about an hour before they wear themselves out and go to sleep for the night.

Ash worn out after attacking Bizley for an hour!

Shooting?

This morning when I left Ash, she was waiting for Bizley to come back from his long walk with Rob and climbed onto my shooting bag and went to sleep, apparently she was still there when they got back.

First Week of Walks

Well, first week of walking on the lead has gone well. Ash has a chew of the lead as I put it on and then Bizley leads the way to the park. He has taught her to come back to us and sit when we raise our arm in the air and as you can see they are waiting eagerly for a treat. She now also knows what the word 'walkies' is!

She has now done no mess of any kind in the house for the past 4 days and nights. She settles down in her crate at night without any fuss.

She and the rest of the house were woken a couple of nights ago as Bizley woke the neighborhood up barking at a hedgehog at 2am in the morning....bliss.

Peeekabooooo!!!!!!!

Bet you can't see me now..........

Ash found a wonderful little nook to sleep in... between the sofa and the bean bags in the lounge.....

Very cozy

Socialising with the Team

Ash went on her 2nd morning walk and met the in-crowd....Bizley's mates. She was introduced to Daisy (a nutty Cocker who never stops running) and Bobby (a very old 14 year old Cocker who passed off Ash's attentions with disdain), Milly and Bailey (Mum and Daughter Chocolate Labs) who loved to play, Jack ("where's the stick?"..Irish Terrier) and Rosie ("I am just beautiful, everyone look at me now"..Black Lab).
Ash was a little bit over-whelmed at daisy who bounded over with all her energy and barked "chase me, chase me". Ash was so surprised she ran, nearly off the park, but she came back to the recall and "treat!"
I don't think it will be long before Ash gains her confidence and is charging around with the mad girl.

Tree, what's that doing there?

Ash went for her first walk in the park, and it went really well. There were no other dogs around and she quickly went about her business of investigating everything...and she was soon sniffing around a tree. We have them in the garden, but this one must have escaped.

Bizley was a star, he showed her how to recall to a treat and she followed his lead, "treat, treat, quick, quick.....!!!" the dog lessons are going well I thought.

Just as we were about to leave, old slobber arrived...Kate, a lovely Golden Retriever, and Bizley's best friend, arrived in the paddock to play. Ash, who had only seen Bizley since leaving her mum went charging over, then stopped when she saw the size of Katie, "aaaggghhh!!!! big dog, big dog" she was over-whelmed as Kate is about 5 times bigger than her, and has a stupid amount of bouncy energy....but it didn't take long and Ash soon went back for more!

After a while, she finally got home from her first adventure, ate all her food and went to sleep for the next two hours..........bliss!!!!!

Beans, beans, good for the heart, make you rumble, make you ......................

Well, that's the old rhyme anyway.

Whilst eating my wonderful sausage and beans for my lunch, I looked down to see 2 sets of pleading eyes looking up at me...........

Against my better judgement, I put a small spoonful on a couple of plates.......now the pattern has gone.

I am waiting for the after effects, so far, so good though.

Paddling Pool - R.I.P(ieces)

Came home from work yesterday afternoon, wondered why Bizley was looking so sheepish..."so young man, what have you been up to this afternoon?".....the lying on his back with his legs in the air gave something away, he quickly shot into the garden, followed a split second later by his shadow.......I went out into the garden fearing the worst and........."what have you done to the paddling pool?! They were smiling, I knew they were smiling....little bug**rs.....they are going to be trouble. Bizley is the ring leader at the moment, but his heir apparent is waiting in the wings.....Ash is going to put him in the shade.

Must have been fun though................!

Ash at 9 weeks old. She has certainly found her feet at home, we just wish she would stop showing it with small pools of wee! She knows she has done wrong as we tell her off and then she legs it outside.

It was also her first meeting with Tay a 13 year old golden retriever belonging to my Dad. He wasn't that impressed, but he is old! So Rob drove all the way to Leominster to collect her and take her back to Sawtry. At least she can abuse Bizley, last night she bit his lip. So a week away from the kids and me, we just hope she remembers us next Wednesday evening.

Eventful Couple of days

Well, what a few days…Following her 2nd injections on Tuesday, Ash went straight off to visit Leominster to spend a few days with the Out-Laws with Sharon and the kids…..poor old Bizzy and I were left at home.

Whilst there young Ash was introduced to Tay, their 13 year old Golden Retriever; who had absolutely no interest in speaking to this 10 week old whipper snapper who was only intent on hanging off his ears. However, Ash did try to make her mark, but Tay didn’t really want to play…..it was obvious that she was missing her boy……

Bizley, who had been left with me in Sawtry, was absolutely miserable; he was missing his Ash, and was looked terribly forlorn. When he came home from his walks he would look for her, and although a Toller’s natural expression is quite sad, he looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp…or worse.

So I was delighted when I had THE morning phone call from Sharon…..”Come and pick her up…..!”

Wednesday evening after work, Bizzer and I got into the car for the 2½ hour journey to Herefordshire….good trip, but Bizley insists on sitting in the front, leaning against me…..panting and dripping all over me….aaagghh! He was also busting for a wee for the last 20 mins…thank god he can hold on.

We arrived at the In-Laws, opened the door..and it was like a scene from the film Love Story…….the joy of the re-acquaintance was obvious, and they were instantly rolling and sparring around the garden…..Tay was also pleased to see Bizley with a “Thank God” look on his face.

We stayed the night and prepared for an early start for me to get to work by 8.30, however, the trip was only 2 minutes old when……..”what’s that smell?”….. “Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!” Guess what? Mr Whippy, all over the news paper in the crate………Stop, roll up paper, bin paper, sniff hand… “Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!” “Poooooooooooooh!!!!!!!”…...... ”You little *&%^$$^*!!!!” (ed – words censored to protect the innocent)

Journey continued……..until Bromyard….11 miles……”Umm, another sniff…..adjust mirror to look……”Joy to the world!!!!!!” The revenge of Mr Whippy, bigger and better than the first…..”Happy days” it was on the carpet tile…..”quick, abandon carpet tile……Run!!!”

Then she had a good old sleep, all the way…2 hours, home……Bizzy, still drooling, panting, soaking my leg.

Anyway, got home at last, lets get ready for work…….and a rest………!!!!!!!!!

Week One

Ash has settled in nicely. Bizley has loved every minute............but he is very tired now. She has certainly made her mark.

Who's going to be in charge?

Bizley has got used to Ash and as you can see from the video clip. Ash is all over Bizley and both were very tired after their 20 minutes of play. Bizley is so tired now when I get home from work that he refuses to go out for a walk with me. Ash is certainly a live wire but her batteries at the moment are short lived, but I guess that will change. She has her injection next Tuesday, so look out world a week from then!

Fun and Games

Trampoline Fun

Pedigree History

David's Photos Day 2

David (age 11) took these photos, I guess my skill has been past on!

Playing Rough

Ash and Bizley are getting on very well. She misses Bizley when Rob takes him out on a walk, but she is very excited when he returns, jumping all over him and playing. Bizley has told her off a couple of times but I think he enjoys her company too.

Tired Out!

An exhausting night! Ash woke me at around 12.30 and then again at 4.30. She is hopefully going to settle in better today. Both dogs are lying on the hearth fast asleep.

Ash's first evening at home

Ash had a very good trip from Fallowfen. She slept half the way home and didn't make a noise, unlike Bizley's trip home!

Bizley has already told her off, but we are hoping they will bond quickly.

This is Ash

This is Bizley