Rocky the Otterhound, an endangered breed: Rocky the Otterhound: New Places, New friends

This week began with grey skies and more rain, this did however give way to sunshine towards the end of the week. Rocky decided that after so many grey days it was acceptable to do a little sun bathing and so took every opportunity to lounge around on the patio.

Having done so, he practiced the Otterhound art of using his coat as a yard broom and bringing in as much of the outside as possible!

Not to seem daunted we decided that this provided the perfect opportunity to get him more used to being groomed ........ Up until now he usually saw this human activity as an opportunity for a game! Undertaking it late at night seemed to be most agreeable, he even (almost) dozed off at one point .................. What a calm Otterhound!!

There "dad", how do I look?

As previously mentioned, the sun had come out; so we decided to take Rocky for a car ride to our nearest canal. It is only about 25 minutes away and a lovely safe place for an Otterhound to walk.

"This smells different - goody somewhere new to explore!!

Rocky trotted ahead with his head and tail high, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the tow path.

There are strange things on this water ............... Should I be scared of them?!!

"No really, should I be scared???!!

After a bit of reassurance and walking past the moored boats, Rocky settled down and decided it was in fact a lovely place for a walk!

He was intrigued by the different smell of the water and by the occasional water bird that swam out from the edges whenever we or he walked by.

See lots to interest a young Otterhound!

As he enjoyed himself he walked ahead of us further and further .................

Spotted some more of those funny things (moored boats to you and me)! ......................

And would then enjoy running back to tell us all about them ..................

What a happy and excited Otterhound!

We occasionally saw small craft moving on the canal and this gave Rocky quite a bit to think about ...........

He would stand (or sit) and watch and you could almost hear his brain working as he tried to work out how, what and why. Think he got it in the end!

After about an hour we decided it was time to turn around and go back.

Happy Rocky obviously thought so too as he turned around quite happily and trotted the other way.

He had by now become quite used to the moored boats and was brave enough to start investigating these strange craft.

He also took time to investigate the splashing noises as various water birds left the bank and swam out into the canal ...........

Then there was a large SPLASH!!

Someone (who shall remain nameless) had fallen head first into the canal in his eagerness to see what was going on ..........

It is a testiment to his dislike of deep water that only his front end got wet!!

A quick shake to remove excess water -

And a strong glare in our direction as we were both on the floor laughing!!

Then it was back to our walk!

Rocky did however, take time to check how far the duck that had caused all this hilarity had gone ...................

Possibly a good thing it had swam a good way away, as I think with his pride dented, he may not have been in the mood to kiss and cuddle it!!?

However, during a second (or was it a third or fourth) shaking to remove the dreaded water, he had his mind taken off this event by the arrival of two potential new friends!

"Hello"?!

"I'm sure you weren't here a minute ago"?!

"Will you be my friend"???

"Come on guys - lets play"!!

And play they did ............ lots and lots, to Rocky's delight!

What a happy Otterhound!!

After we had a lovely chat with the dog walker and Rocky had had a smashing game with his new friends, it was time to move on ..............

Rocky was still a bouncy Otterhound and tore up and down the tow path like a mad thing!!

This frantic activity was called to a halt by a narrowboat passing along the canal!

"Eh, what is that?!

"Look dad, did you see that"?!

"Where's it gone .............. dad ................ dad, did you see that"???

Rocky was fascinated by all the activity but also managed to find time to investigate the interesting smells along the tow path!

More interesting smells among the wild flowers on the canal bank ............

And even more along the tow path!

Whatever it was, it must have been good as he stopped noticing the traffic on the canal!

He did, however, get side tracked again by the interesting sight and smell of one of the working barges moored up by the tow path.

Hmmmm, don't think he worked that one out though!

After walking on a little further Rocky was lucky enough to meet another new friend.

They only played for a short time but play they did - what an eventful walk for a young Otterhound!

Eventually as we neared the end of our walk Rocky started to stay closer to us as he tired.

However, he still had a happy smile on his face!!!

Just before we got to the cafe by the canal, Rocky stopped to investigate another potential friend.

However it was not to be, as the swan just hissed at him (he is used to that with Biskitt). So Rocky gave a doggy shrug and came into the cafe garden with us.