Rocky the Otterhound; Sunny Bunnies and Rainy Rivers (What a difference a day makes)!

Well, we're in merry old Autumn; a very changeable season. Rocky and Rosie seem to enjoy it as although still warm, it's not too hot for them.

The first day of the weekend was lovely and sunny - time for a wander in the big field!

"Hmm, I'm sure I can smell Bunnies"!

"Oh yes, definitely Bunnies here ...... I'll just do a little digging ...... Just to modify their front door so I can get close enough ..... Come and say 'hello' Bunnies"!!

"Hmm, They're not coming".

"Perhaps I can go to them"?

"Hello ....... Hello Bunnies ....... It's me ...... Hello"!!!

"I wonder if they're all asleep"?

"Wakey wakey ...... Come and say 'hello' to Rocky"!

A little peeved by the lack of welcome (with no offer of a cup of tea), our hero decided to persist in the hope of waking at least one resident bunny.

"Just a little more digging here, perhaps a touch more there"!

He had managed to get his front end down in the ground quite well ....... but a huge effort would be needed if he was going to open the door enough to go in!

"Aw come on guys ...... Come and play"!

As an aside, we wanted to give you an idea of where all the mud goes when he's enjoying a good dig ......

Please excuse the quality of this photo but if you look closely at our wonderful Otterhound you can spot the mud ......

Yep, that'll be all over his face and tongue then!!!!

Anyway, although tiring of this game, Rocky persisted for a little while longer .....

"Good grief, it's very hard to get a bunny's attention"!

He eventually gave up ...... After getting nowhere at all really!!

"Fine .... I didn't want to play with you anyway"!!

The bunnies remained safe and well and Rocky turned to annoying Rosie until she agreed to a game of mouth wrestling!

So everyone was happy in the end!

The next day was warm but wet, so we decided to go to the river and water meadows.

There are places here where it is safe to let our hounds off the lead. They are generally pretty good at coming back when it's time to go back on the lead though ........ With the help of some treats that is!

They now have their favourite places to get into the river ..... for paddling only, you understand!

They start with a good snuffle round to see who else has had fun in the river lately.

Then a little further on (where it is advisable to have a lead attached) they take tentative steps into the water; while they decide if that is really what they want to do ....... But hey, they are already wet anyway ..... So no problem!

"Come on Rocky ..... It's not too cold ..... Honest"!

"I think I want a pair of wellies like mum and dad"!

It still amazes me how much they seem to find of interest to smell in a river ....... But I suppose that is what they are good at"!

A little further on and they can come off the lead again for a while ....... They trail up along the edge of the river having a great time sniffing out previous visitors.

Here they can get to places that are a little inaccessible to us ....... They like that!

As they move along the rivers edge we can keep up with them along the track ..... still talking to them so they know we are around.

When the track gets close to the rivers edge again they rejoin us and explore the pleasures of the river bank.

Two happy Otterhounds having a great walk!

We cross to come back via the water meadows which presents them with a different branch of the river to explore ....... Goody!

This part though is definitely lead-wading area, as there is quite a bit of discarded and broken barbed wire around!

By keeping an eye on proceedings you can safely guide them away from any danger.

I really think it's about time that stuff was outlawed, don't you? It's completely unnecessary nowadays!

Anyway, the riverside vegetation was proving particularly interesting to our hounds .........

So Rocky came back to encourage Rosie to have a sniff round.

Being a good Otterhound, Rosie didn't need much encouragement!

Ducks, moorhens, swans and water voles ...... So many scents around to tickle their scenting bones!

Rosie was having a smashing time, darting here and there, trying to find the freshest scent.

"Come over here Rosie .... This smells good"!

Rosie joined Rocky in exploring a particularly good smelling spot ........

..... They became quite excited at times, running backwards and forwards ..... Taking in as much scent as possible.

Eventually though, it was time to head for home.

The offer of a treat worked it's magic when it came time to call them back.

Although Rosie ran back to their last spot for a final sniff and tickle of the bones .......

........ Rocky was ready for the walk home ..... And his sofa!

Rosie too could hear the call of "the comfy sofa" and it wasn't long before she came back too!

At home, having been dried and cuddled and made lovely and warm again .......

It was time to give in to that snoozy feeling ....

So night night Rocky, sleep well and dream of bunnies and water creatures ....... And tickly scenting bones!

Rocky the Otterhound: Some sunny days ....... And anecdotes.

This summer had one or two good hot days and it was on one of these that Rocky joined his friends from the training club in raising money for charity.

Rocky likes these shows because he gets to meet up with all his friends and work on his favourite things; jumping, running and tunnels!

To begin with, he has to know the order of events (so he knows when to get excited you understand)!

Then there is always a break where he gets to meet new friends, like this Spinone.

A little bit of hanging about is OK, he gets to watch what Rosie is up to ....... He likes to keep one eye on her when he can.

Then Rocky gets to show off the skills he has learned.

Doggy display! ........ Although he doesn't like this as much as the activities he (like all his friends) has become very good at it.

They have all got the timing right to cross through without bumping into each other, they need to concentrate on what they are doing or it's chaos!

YES! Rocky can concentrate .... Although he would have you believe otherwise.

As always, being such a large (and handsome) boy, an awful lot of people come up to you afterwards and ask about him. Just what we want (Clever Rocky!) ...... Promotes the breed as the wonderful family pets they are!!!

Something that took a bit of time with Rocky though ..... Was the "sit and wait to be called" trick ......

...... He has, however, got very good at this and now does it with a self satisfied grin on his face!

Oh! Incase you were wondering ...... Rosie tends to find a nice shady spot to retire to while I watch the proceedings.

Rocky has been honing his jumping skills this year and this summer managed to jump 4 people successfully ..... Quite an achievement for a lazy hound Don't you think?!

He has also got faster on the hurdles ....... In fact this year was his best performance yet, well done Rocky.

So he and his friends have managed to raise money to help the local wildlife hospital this year. What kind and clever dogs (OK, and owners)!

Of course, after all that effort our hero had to have a bit of a lie down ....... Can't have him getting tired now, can we??!!!

Sunny days have also seen Rocky and Rosie improve their paddling skills down by the water meadows!

It was while on one of these walks that an elderly gentleman came up to us and said ......

"Aha, Otterhounds! I used to go hunting with them, lovely dogs ....... Never caught a damn thing of course ...... But smashing dogs"!! ..........

...... We did laugh at his comments, but we do know what he means ......

........ Because often; while in the largest of the local fenced fields, we have seen both our hounds catch the scent of a rabbit or hare and snuffle about in the long grass at the field edges .......

...... Every time (honest), there has been at least one animal slink out from between the two of them; run off behind them (as they continue to have their noses buried in the grass) and get away scot free!!

It is funny! Great scent hounds but not great hunters; our two at least!!

Rocky and Rosie have shown us where the expression "thieving hounds" comes from though.

If you look closely you will see one of Mij's toys in Rocky's mouth.

He, and Rosie, have a penchant for stealing whatever it is that the other pet has got! A habit that only Mij seems to lack, so of course her toys are favourite!!!

They will also sneak sweetie wrappers if left on a table; their favourites though tend to be choccy bar wrappers ...... lots of lovely smell but no calories!!!

They say that dogs get to look like their owners ....... Well a local summer event had a fun dog show .........

......... Rocky was to enter the "dog that looks most like it's master" event .......

A sure fire winner, if you ask me!

Sunny days also mean time in the garden .....

...... On your own .......

........ Or with a friend!!

Otterhounds like to sit and contemplate, surveying their domain is a favoured pastime too!

Mij (we think) thinks she is a dog ....... She sleeps in Rosie's bed at least once a day.

........ And being the two youngest of the family, Rosie and Mij adore a good game .......

So a shared bed is a jolly good excuse for one........

A game which often results in Rosie looking confused as she ends up with a cat firmly attached to her face ....... Tail wagging, she just freezes and waits until Mij stops gnawing on her chin .....

Then they wrestle some more .....

Of course, all this wild living takes it's toll on a young hound!

So, night night Rosie, sweet dreams!

And, night night Rocky, dream of being a great hunter and actually catching something!!!!