Rocky the Otterhound: Wow this is fun!

We are hoping you have had as good a holiday as Rocky and Rosie?!

Rocky would like to share the events of the last week with you.

We had a little of the white stuff down here in the south of England, not as much as Rocky would have liked but enough to make everything look pretty!

Rocky re-acquainted himself with snow and remembered what fun he had had last year!

Rosie, having been so young last year,

wasn't so sure! But in true Otterhound style she took it all in her usual playful way.

It made the bunny trails smell funny but that only seemed to heighten their enjoyment of their walks!

The cold and sunshine made for a few wonderful walks this week ..... nothing to beat it really!!

But with Christmas looming, what does a young hound do to pass the time?

Well, as it was rather cold - you can always snuggle up to a friend!

Or you can wait around for playmates to show up .........

..... "Ah! Hello Mij ........ Fancy a game"?

"Not particularly"!

"Aw, come on ....... Bet I can make you want to play"!

"Getz off my tailz you hound you"!!!!!

"Well, you gonna play now"?

"Ah, zadly no"! "Today I will moztly zleep"!

Ah well Rosie, if you can't beat them .......!!!

..... Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house .......

..... The Otterhounds were sleeping ......

But not as quietly as a mouse .....

..... Our two tend to sing in their sleep, often!!

On the morning of Christmas day our two hero's awoke to a day full of fun and laughter .....!

..... Well, most of us were amused!!

A Christmas kiss finally made everyone smile.

Then it was time for presents ..... For everyone!

Like small children, half the pleasure was the unwrapping ........

..... And with delicious smelling chews in the paper, unwrapping was not to be done half heartedly!

Mij, on the other hand, was only interested

in the wrappings, she had such fun playing with it!!

"Ziz iz fun"!!!

It must have been catching, as Rocky abandoned his new chew for some bubble wrap he found (he loves it)!

"Oh what fun ....... pop pop pop pop"!! ........

..... There were more presents to come ......

"ooh, this is big and soft"!

Rocky got a Christmas teddy .........

..... And so did Rosie.

But Rocky was well into getting presents by now, so when Rosie wasn't looking ...... Rocky (who adores soft teddies with squeakers in them), helped himself to hers!

Yes, the term "thieving hound" has a basis of fact!

It's alright, she did get it back again later!!!

Getting carried away by the present receiving ...... Rocky was rather interested in the set of mice "dad" had unwrapped for Mij!

"Mine"!!!

Eventually the present giving stopped.

Then it was time for fun and games ....... Again like children .......

...... Our hounds had more fun with the wrappings!!

Eventually they grew tired .....

..... But what a wonderful, fun filled time they had had!

So our excited pups relaxed and waited for their Christmas walk!!

They had a lovely long run and play in the (now traditional) Christmas sunshine!!

They ran and sniffed and ran some more .......

And when it was time for going home again, Rocky sang for his walk-time treats.

On Boxing day we went for a lovely walk along the canal ...... Note the decorated Christmas tree on the right ...... How sweet is that?

We met up with their friends Daisy and Ludo, it was cold but sunny ...... So no-one minded the mud along the path.

The canal was frozen with a thick layer of ice ...... And there was some ice along the path ..... Rocky slipped once and stopped to look at the ice in an effort to work out why???

I don't think he could work it out as he carried on just the same as before .... Didn't slip again though!

The four friends had a great time.

There were plenty of fresh smells to tickle scenting bones .........

..... And Rosie would make sure she stayed close to Rocky, she has learned a lot that way!

They would stop and sniff, then run to catch up with the rest of us. That way they got twice the fun ...... Tickling scenting bones and running!!

At the end of the walk, back at the pub, there is a small ramp into the canal.

All four of the friends were extremely muddy ..... So it was time for a quick paddle and clean up .....

Rosie got the hang of it quickly and worked out that a quick walk round made her clean and she could get out and be bouncy!!

Sadly, Rocky was a bit taken aback by the cold water ..... Panicked and tried to run away ......

..... The wrong way; over the edge of the ramp and into the deeper canal!!!

Head first!! Silly Otterhound!!!

He was helped out quickly ...... A lot wetter and cleaner than intended!!

But this sure made for a bouncy Otterhound ..... And it was nice and warm in the car on the way home!!

The day finished with a wonderful groom ...... Which Rosie loves ...... Makes her all gooey and soft!!!!

Rocky still doesn't like it as much as Rosie, but he turns out very handsome when it's done!!

So after a full and event-full holiday our two hounds are happy and snuggly .....

So, night night Rosie, and night night Rocky .....

..... Sleep well and dream of presents and wrapping paper, good food and lovely walks ...... Oh, and staying clean!!!!