Rocky the Otterhound: Mountaineering and part of the furniture!

The winter monsoons seem to have stopped for a while, which is great, this has left Rocky and Rosie wondering what they are going to do with their days!

Well this week we have had some spells of lovely sunshine in between the showers, so we decided to make the most of it.

So we took a good long walk up to the butterfly path.

Unlike previous visits, our two hounds decided to put on their crampons and take to a spot of mountain climbing!

There were obviously loads of smashing smells up there because their scenting bones were being decidedly tickled!!

Rocky did a spot of excavating but the interesting smell must have run out below the surface, so he stopped without getting his beard too muddy! Bonus!!!

They came back down to the path when I called ....... But only 'cause I offered a treat! Bribery and corruption!

Having devoured said treat, the two little darlings shot off up the bank again!

Ah well, I suppose I should be grateful they came to me at all!

But they were having a great time and you could hear them snuffling away at scents of mole and vole!

They seemed to be having a lovely time and ranged backwards and forwards, following the tickly scents.

Rosie was like a little mountain goat, she hardly seemed to pay any attention to where she was going but was as sure footed as any self respecting goat!

Rocky seemed a little more deliberate with his footing, but then he is a good deal heavier than Rosie at the moment!

All along the butterfly trail they went, with me on the path and my Otterhounds in the air (so to speak).

Quite an adventure they were having, but a spot of surveying the kingdom was involved along the way!

The bank became more grassy towards the end of the path and it's here that Rocky made contact with bunny scent.

But he was having such a good time with the tiny animal scenting that he left it, without too much trouble, and went for some more "mini bone tickling"!

When it was time to head back, Rocky came quite quickly but Rosie had gone over the hill (literally) ........ Oh dear thinks I ......... Am I heading for some more famous Otterhound stubbornness!

But no! I called her twice and she came shooting back over the top of the hill to walk home with us!

Well done Rosie, you are a good girl!

So we removed the crampons and headed for home!

During the long evenings there is always something for a young Otterhound to do .......

...... There is the "challenge the box-full of cat to a game of peek-a-boo" game!

This is a game Mij is always up for ..... Rosie will issue the challenge (all done on eye contact) .....

..... Mij will tense and brace herself ..... Then as Rosie slowly approaches the box Mij will duck down ....

Then, just as Rosie's nose reaches the box Mij will jump up and give her a bop on the nose.

This game can go on for a fair old while and they both seem to love it! How cute is that!!

During the evening there is usually a time when Rosie fancies a game of rough and tumble.

She will commence each game by taking a small leap and landing squarely on top of Rocky!

"Wake up and play with me you lazy hound"!!

"Oh what"! "No Rosie leave me alone I'm snoozy"!

But Rosie can be determined and after wriggling her way underneath him, a couple of playful nips in the right place will always persuade Rocky that he really does want a game!

If you happen to be sat on the same sofa at the time, I'm afraid you have to be prepared to be treated as part of the furniture .......

....... Nothing comes between an Otterhound and a bit of fun!

So, now it's "Game On", a point at which the telly or anything else is ignored .... It's just too much fun to watch ..... I think we get almost as much enjoyment out of it as they do!

Rocky tries to fend Rosie off as she aims for her favourite nip points on him?!

Rocky realises that she is a little more maneuverable than he is so he takes the logical way out and lays down.

"Aw, come on Rocky .....Get up and play"!

Once he's up again Rosie laughs with glee ..... He he! He's mine now!

First she goes for a back leg .......

Then an ear ........

...... And as Rocky seeks the safety of the floor she just manages to get another hit on a back leg!

Now it's Rocky's turn and Rosie is almost giggling with the fun of it!

Rocky is almost as skillful at this game as she is and they each maneuver and wrestle to score hits on each others legs and ears ....... All the while there is the gentle growling of two dogs having a lot of fun! It really is funny to watch!

Eventually though, they tire and decide to go back to snoozing .........

And after a long day of mountaineering and play ...... As we are heading off to bed and leaving our two hounds to the living room......

.....We get the impression they will sleep well tonight!

So night night Rosie, and night night Rocky, dream of climbing mountains and sunny days!