Rocky the Otterhound: Shorter nights and longer days!

First of all, Rocky would like you to know that there is a new YouTube video. He and Rosie have learnt to sing (in tune?) and have a super video that they are thinking about putting up for "Britain's Got Talent"! Personally, I think they may need a bit more practice before they think about going in for it..... See what you think?! The video is called "Otterhounds got talent", just to the right under "more Otterhound links".

So, on with this weeks blog. At last, it is becoming obvious that the days are starting to get longer while the nights are getting shorter. Spring is sprunging!! Jolly nice for us, but how does this affect our Otterhounds?

To Rocky and Rosie it means more time to go out and about.

Rocky is really into digging at the moment ..... So to start this particular walk he thought he would do a spot of landscaping .......

..... Just checking to see if he's got the dimensions right?

Then it's back to work ......

..... Rosie, just doing what dogs like to do when they go for a walk, pops over to see what her big brother is doing.

"Hmmm, looks interesting ..... Anything down there"?

"Err, I can't see anything Rosie, but it smells nice"!

At which point Rosie got bored and went off to sniff out her own exciting smells.

Rocky, on the other hand ..... Well, he obviously hadn't finished his hole to his satisfaction!

"Well, that's nice and deep ...... What can I smell now"?

"Hmmpf! Oh well, best go and see if Rosie has found anything I suppose"!!

So eventually we managed to actually get the walk started!

Our two hounds loved snuffling everywhere and picking up as many interesting scents as possible.

Lots were found down along the path sides .....

But some of the most exciting smells involved a good deal of mountain climbing ...... It's hard work being an Otterhound sometimes!

After all that work, and coming back to "dad" when called, it was time to "put on the puppy face" and beg for a well earned treat!

Something they have both got very good at!

So a treat they got! Lucky Otterhounds!

Almost back to the car and Rocky decides on a new tactic to avoid going home just yet!!

"If I start digging again will dad find it funny enough to let us stay here a bit longer"?

Well, we've got to admit, it is funnier than having him run off into the middle of one of the massive fields that surround our walk ..... And refusing to come back! Go on then, just a few more minutes!

So our big fella just dug .....

.....And dug, until he was completely happy that he had got as much mud on himself as he could for the day!

Then we went home.

Still lot's of daytime left so there was plenty of time to play with friends before tea ......

..... And, of course, have the obligatory afternoon nap!

After tea and another good walk there is time for more games ......

Before retiring to bed!

But now, morning seems to come too soon for our Otterhounds .......

..... Open the curtains and Rocky remains fast asleep!

Rosie opens a sleepy eye!

"Not now please ..... I'm still sooooo snoozy"!!

And when Rocky finally comes round ...... Well .....

He tends to look a little like he's been out on the town all night!!

Poor Otterhounds ..... The nights are going to get a lot shorter yet!

So you'd better get as much sleep as you can at nights .....

So, night night Rosie and night night Rocky, sleep well and dream of fun filled days and long sleepy nights!

Oh by the way, see that trophy shield on the sideboard? That was given to Rocky and his "dad" by the dog training club ..... For being "Best Pair"! Not quite sure what that means ..... But I think it's because it's so hard to tell them apart ..... Especially first thing in the morning!!?

Rocky the Otterhound: How do we relax in the evenings?

To start this week Rocky wants me to give some information to all the Otterhound families out there in cyber land. The Otterhound Club would like to include some more of the activities that interest and entertain Otterhounds and their families, which is great! ..... So if anyone out there has any ideas get in touch with the club!

We know that Rocky really enjoyed the tracking event he went to last year and I'm sure Rosie would love that too; it also gave the hound's families a good chance to meet up and make new friends. Agility events also seem to get Rocky smiling ..... Especially if there are tunnels, so the fun day is a really good day to attend!!! Dog walking events are always good to take part in, as the hounds and families get to make new friends and everyone likes a nice walk! We love going to local fete's and many people have never seen an Otterhound before ..... You get to enjoy the day as well as introduce new people to Otterhounds ..... Rocky and Rosie love the attention!

Rocky and Rosie would like to attend more of the regional and national events that happen throughout the year ..... Unfortunately we are still waiting for Rosie to get over her travel sickness (yes we've tried lots of different things and although some looked promising .. nothing has really worked for long)! Still we remain hopeful! As you all know Rocky and Rosie love camping (we can mollify a sicky Rosie trip with a rest in between journeys); so a weekend event would be really good!

Personally we get a kick out of almost any Otterhound event as it is so wonderful to see so many hounds together at one time ..... Especially considering how many are left in the world!!

So anyway, on with the blog .....

This week has been the usual round of fun and games for our hounds; in the evenings we like to relax after the rigors of the day!!

After their evening walk Rocky and Rosie have a relax too!

Rosie is a particularly snuggly and cuddly Otterhound ..... So a lot of the time you will find her just where Rocky is ......

..... Rocky has a bit of down time ...... So Rosie will take the opportunity to snuggle up.

And if she can get away with a cuddle too, she's more than happy .....

..... So us owners can then take the opportunity to relax and chill out for the evening!?

Well you'd think so wouldn't you?

However, waking up, our Rocky decides he'd like a bit of a chew ..... Just a hobby you understand!

So without further ado he climbs on the sofa (and anyone who happens to be occupying it) and presents his "dad" with his chewy thing!

Otterhounds have front paws which are a little like a bears ..... they can happily hold things with them (admittedly Rosie is a little better at this than Rocky) .....

..... However, we bought them a hoof each ..... Good idea, as they last much longer than rawhide chews and don't go all soggy and yuk. Unfortunately Rocky finds it hard to hold onto them!!

Well done us then!

Rocky is not shy about letting you know what he wants, so it was ...... "Here dad, hang on to this for me"!

So "dad" hung on!!

Maybe we'll relax again soon when he's had enough?

It obviously tastes nice!

So Rocky chewed ......

..... And he chewed .....

..... And he chewed .....

..... By now Rosie was getting interested!

Eventually, Rocky had had enough, thanked his "dad" and took his chew into the kitchen; dropping it, he proceeded to drink for England!

..... Phew. we thought, now we can relax!

..... Almost immediately .....

Rosie appeared with her hoof and thrust it in the general direction of anyone who would hold it for her!!

..... So we started again .....

..... So she chewed .....

..... And licked .....

..... And chewed some more .....

Rocky, having finished his drink, came to see what she was up to ..... Seemed to approve and wondered off again.

So Rosie made herself comfortable!

Rocky likes to sit on the sofa's with his front legs on the floor .....

..... Just to be different, Rosie prefers her back legs on the floor and her front end on the sofa's ..... Will stay like that for hours she will!!?

Well, she really got stuck in and .....

..... Gnawed and chewed ....

.....And gnawed and chewed .....

.....And gnawed some more ..... Family arm swapping was required as arm muscles got very tired!

When she had finally had enough and wondered off for a lie down ..... We were somewhat tired as well!!!!!!

So, with a sigh of relief we settled down again in an attempt to relax .......

..... Mij took that opportunity to start opening drawers to see what's inside and what was worth playing with and sending across the floor!!!

Sigh, some nights you've just got to give up any idea of relaxing!!

Ah well, at least were not bored!!!!!

So, like two velcro'd book ends .....

It's night night Rosie and night, night Rocky - dream of slurpy chews and very, very obliging family!

Rocky the Otterhound: What have we done this week apart from the usual?

A short blog again this week but there are 2 more YouTube films to watch. Look for them on the "More Otterhound links" to the right ..... They are: "Gentle Rosie plays with balloons" and "How to clean your Otterhound". We hope you enjoy them.

So, what's new? Well, this week Rosie continues to delight in her balloons ..... Loves them, hence the You Tube clip!

Unfortunately Rocky, who used to adore them, is now of the opinion that they present some sort of threat .....

Hence the "Gotta sit on safe daddy" stance he has taken!!

Brave Otterhound!

Rosie loved them so much she insisted on taking one to bed with her .....

All her idea; how she managed to get such a firm grip on the string I don't know ..... But there was no way anybody was going to take it away from her ..... Even if she was fast asleep!!

The familiar round of games and walks continued for our two hounds, followed by much Otterhound relaxing!

However, our two hero's had their winter bath this week .....

..... Do watch the YouTube "How to clean your Otterhound" clip, it's lots of fun despite the chore it can seem ......

..... They did, of course, go bananas after their wash! What fun they had!

Anyway, this is the end result of all that hard work .....

Aren't they beautiful?

Rocky ended up all silky and soft, very touchable .....

"Daddy" got lots of love for making him feel all funny and nice .....

Lots of kisses from a gentle giant of a dog ....

So "daddy" told him how good he had been and how pleased he was with him!

Rocky was so happy he gave "daddy" a big sloppy kiss on the chops ......

"I love you too Rocky"!!!

Mij, a spectator of bathing goings on and wet fur madness, found herself worn out by the proceedings ..... So she assumed her honorary Otterhound position!

..... While Rocky and Rosie .......

..... Well .......

.....Night night Rosie and night, night Rocky; dream of wet fur, manic fun and loving feelings!!

Rocky the Otterhound: This weeks expressions are .......

This weeks blog is only short but there is another YouTube video to see if you want to ..... It's called Otterhound wrestling (Rocky and Rosie's favourite game)! It is short but shows the tactics that Rosie employs to ensure she usually wins at this game!!

So anyway, this weeks blog is a few photographs to illustrate some of the expressions our hounds can show on their beautiful faces; these have all happened this week when I have been able to get camera and expression synchronised (no mean feat). Some people say that dogs do not feel emotions or show expressions ...... In my opinion these are people who have never had or loved dogs ..... Let's see what I mean!

This is Rocky's "He's having a late night snack and isn't sharing it with me" look!!!

Here we have the "Aww, don't mess with the hair, it looks great 'till you decide to do that, now I don't look cool" expression!!

Here we have Rocky with the "Sigh, there's just not enough room on here for both of us" look!

While Rosie is showing the "Oi, stop shoving you, there's enough room on here for both of us you know" expession!

I have often stated that although Rocky and Rosie have two entirely different characters, they often show identical Otterhound ways ....

Well, here's Rosie with her "Sigh, there's not enough room on here for both of us" expression!!

This is Rosie's "Go away, these are my balloons and I'm not sharing them" look.

Of course, bend down to take them off her and it will turn into the "I was only playing honest, I love you lots you know" expression!!

One of my favourites ..... The "I'm tired and warm and comfy" look.

That's another look that Rocky has an identical Otterhound look for too!

So night night Rocky, sleep well and dream of bunny smells and games with Rosie and Mij!!