Sunday 28 March 2010

Rocky the Otterhound: An early Spring adventure!

We have been lucky enough to have a few good early Spring days, with sunshine and a little warmth in sheltered places. So we thought our two lovely Otterhounds would enjoy a trip to the butterfly path again.



It was far too early for the butterfly's of course, but there were definitely signs of Spring .....

..... The first of the spring violets nestling in a sheltered spot .......

Don't you just love this time of year?!











Anyway, first on to the butterfly path was our Rocky, he loves to sniff all the fresh smells!











Duly excited he heads off for a further explore!











Rosie found herself in a bit of a dilemma ...... "Do I trot after Rocky or stay and tickle my scenting bones here"??? ....... So much to do and so little time!






She soon made her decision and belted off down the path after Rocky.

As you can see, they are beautifully camouflaged when among the vegetation either side of the track.

Keeps us on our toes!








Pretty soon Rocky is off again .... He's spotted where the track gets thinner ...... All sorts of delicious smells down there!














It takes us a little longer to reach this bit, but they haven't gone far ...... Too busy tickling their scenting bones!












As they both come to greet us we head off down the pathway too ..... A lovely day for a walk.
















Tearing himself away from a particularly nice smell Rocky runs to catch up ..... "Hey, wait for me"!!














By the time we head back up the path towards the car our hounds have slowed a little as the excitement gives way to simple enjoyment.
















Yes ...... Sometimes Rocky wishes he could bring his beloved sofa with him! ..... Lazy hound!















Back where the path widens out, Rosie decides she wants to practice some rock climbing ..... "I'm heading up hill for an explore"!















"What you doing up there Rosie"?
















"Hmmph! Don't know if I want to play that game today"?!
















"Aw come on Rocky, it'll be fun ..... We could have an adventure"!















"Hmmm, am I too tired for an adventure"?














"I'm not a pup any more, should I behave like a grown up"?











"Actually, it could be quite fun I suppose"!















"Watch this mum and dad" ......













"Here's the worlds greatest rock climber .....

..... A whole new world to discover"!!!













Although he has more weight than Rosie he still climbs with a fair amount of ease ...... He even stops from time to time as enticing scents waft his way.














Meanwhile, as he is going up ..... Rosie is coming down .....













The brakes go on pretty quickly as she spies a big thicket of brambles just where she is due to get back to the path.











"Lummy, what do I do now"?












Clever Otterhound, she simply turns round and heads back up the hill!!












"Now where's Rocky ..... We really ought to be exploring together"!!











Meanwhile I have scrambled (somewhat inelegantly) up the hill on the other side of the path.



The first to arrive back with "dad" is Rocky.....









..... But it's not long before Rosie joins them.













Time for a post adventure stroll ......












...... Followed by a post adventure drink!













'Look Rocky, mum's all the way up there .....













"What you doing up there mum"?














"Hello mum, I've come to join you"!










"Err what are you doing up there as well Rosie"?


"Is it time for another adventure"?













"Not really Rocky ..... Just wanted to see what mum was doing".












Having also climbed inelegantly down the hill, Rosie was left up there on her own ........

"Hey, where you going now"??















Rosie scrambles down to join us, having had enough adventure for the day.
















"Dad" and Rocky head back to the car .....














"That was great "mum", did you see me climbing ..... Did you"?!














Rosie catches up .......













"Did you see me climbing too mum, did you"?!!



....... "Yes I think you're both very clever"!


...... And I do!!








So how did our adventurous hounds feel after their tea and evening walk? .....




..... Sigh, how unusual!

Night, night Rosie, all curled up and warm .....

And night, night Rocky, sleep well and dream of many good weather adventures to come!






Sunday 21 March 2010

Rocky the Oterhound: My! How a long day can make youngsters crash!!

Sorry about last weeks blog but us grown ups have been very busy getting the garden ready to be dog-proofed! Yes, we are hoping to do away with the Jurassic Mud Pit that our little angels have made for us. To that end, there have been many long days in the garden and Rocky, Rosie and Mij have been helping (?) too; in between their walks and other endeavors that is.

These rather full days have taken their toll on the younger members of the family and by day three, they weren't so keen to give a hand!






So, after their morning walk they were given their "Kong's with treats" as usual ...... "Ooh, yummy"!



















These in themselves appear to give our young hounds work to do ...... Somehow they don't seem to mind that though!















A post munch snooze appears to be in order ..... So, as always, Rosie cuddles up to her hero!










"I'm bored now Rocky, should we go out in the garden again"?












"No, not yet ...... Look ...... It's 'Super Dog' getting ready to right all wrongs"!!!













"Oh, Errr, Hang on ..... My 'super hero' outfit is malfunctioning"!!!!












"Doh ..... Never mind, let's play something else"!















"I know, let's play 'Spot what's on the ceiling'"!













That game didn't last long either so our hounds lay on the rug trying to think up some trouble to get in to .......



Talking of trouble ...... "Where's Mij? I can play with her"!!









Also having worn herself out helping in the garden, Mij had retired to her warm and cosy refuge for a prolonged snooze ...... That'll be my airing cupboard then!









Looking for something else to do that involves no effort at all, Rosie asks Anika if she can help her eat her sweets .....











Anika, having sneakily finished off the last sweet let Rosie help. Not to be outdone on any front ..... Rosie proceeds to destroy and eat the empty paper bag - thereby both showing that there was enough sweety in the bag for her and helping with our recycling efforts! Well done Rosie!!





All three of our youngsters helped out in the garden in the afternoon, for a long time and in the sunshine! ...... Sorry no photo's as we were working too!







Anyway, that evening Rocky is rather keen on the smell of our supper ...... Some lovely freshly cooked prawns!

But, knowing he is not supposed to beg he nonchalantly gets his twitching nose as close as he dares!!













Having received precisely zero prawns, he decides to have a chew on his donkey (yes, it's still intact!).













So he loved and hugged, slurped and chewed at his donkey ......












After all that effort donkey lost an eye! "Well done Rocky ..... I suppose you're pleased with that are you"?

"Yes very"!!!










Next, Rocky tried to interest Mij in a game .....

"Be gone large hound ..... I iz shatteredz"!!!!!










"Oh!!! What about you Rosie"!! .....

"Not now Rocky ..... Must snooze"!!













Pretty soon Rosie had made a dash for her bed and her snooze had turned into the unconscious sleep of a very tired youngster!









And Rocky?

Having finally given in to sleep, he had decided to go for it big time (he was very tired too you know) .....

..... After all he hadn't had anywhere near the 16 hours he usually has!

Night, night Rocky, sleep well and think of warm sunny days ahead and trying to fit in your sleeping time!