Winter Walks

Canal walk

Well January was a bit of a mixed bag of weather, mostly wet, windy and cold but with a couple of real gems of days thrown in when we have managed to take Hugo and Pip on lovely walks in brilliant sunshine, even stopping off at a local canal-side café and sitting out in the sun. Unfortunately, it has, more often than not, been wet and we have resorted to quick trips round Minchinhampton Common with Hugo and Pip doing the necessary before jumping back in the car and going home. As with the rest of us who do not exercise enough the weight soon starts to pile on and Hugo, more than Pip, is looking decidedly chunky – I have likened it to a seal putting on a layer of blubber for the winter – and he has a definite waddle when he walks! Now Martin is more mobile since his knee replacement he has started walking them during the daytime and, because he favours the canal where he can walk from home which is much more sheltered than on top of the hill, walks can be longer. Hopefully, once the rain eventually stops and the garden dries out Hugo and Pip can expend some excess energy chasing each other around again and shed those pounds.

Room for a little one!

Yesterday was particularly nasty and we eventually braved the wind and rain late in the afternoon on our way to pick up Daniel from work. As we got to Minchinhampton Common the wind picked up and the rain turned to sleet driving it horizontally into our faces which was very painful. Martin gave up and went back to the car while Hugo, Pip and I carried on – Hugo with half closed eyes and ears flat back against the wind whilst Miss Pip didn’t seem to notice at all and pranced along as usual. Needless to say we were saturated and were glad to get back in the car. Once home the fire was soon on and that was where Hugo and Pip stayed for the rest of the evening, toasting themselves and getting dry.

Exhausted!

Unfortunately, we did not stay dry for long! Today was the day for the Akita Rescue and Welfare pack walk at West Park in Wolverhampton and we needed to take Hugo and Pip for a quick walk before we set off, otherwise they start moaning and we have to stop – they associate going in the car with going for a walk and are used to being able to get out within 5-10 minutes of setting off. Daniel needed a lift to work so Hugo and Pip were most surprised to be wakened from their slumbers at 7.30am this morning and bundled in the car as well. It was still raining and the roads were awash but the sky was looking brighter on the horizon and by the time we dropped Daniel off it was only spotting and had stopped by the time we reached the Common. Within 2 minutes of setting off the heavens opened again with the same painful sleet as yesterday and, once more, we were soaked. Back home I got changed, (again!), and Hugo and Pip lay in front of the fire for half an hour before we had to leave with Martin taking the opportunity of brushing some of the loose fur out of Hugo, although he still looks very tufty as his coat is blowing.

Young Moose

Toby was at work today so couldn't come with us but we went and picked up Steph – as soon as Hugo and Pip saw where we were they started barking (Hugo) and howling (Pip)  until she got in the car where she was smothered in doggy kisses! Despite the early walk Pip started pacing and panting in the car and we knew we would have to stop so ended up calling in at Strensham – just

Little Dotty

half an hour down the road! We eventually arrived, first as usual, and we met up with all our furry friends. The rain held off for most of the walk and we had a lovely turn out, made even more special by a few young puppies (under 7 months old) who joined us. Even Hugo likes a puppy and he made friends with little Luna and walked quite happily with her for a while. I think we all fell in love with young Moose and baby Dotty, two long coat Akitas who were just balls of fluff and they bought back fond memories of Sid.

Hugo eyeing up the pork pie!

On the way home we called in at Granny and Granddads where Hugo and Pip were greeted with their favourite chews and quickly settled down. There were also some goodies for the humans which went down very well and Hugo thought they looked pretty tasty too and sat staring at the pork pie and sausage rolls until Granddad gave in and gave him (and Pip) some.

After a very full day Hugo and Pip are, once again, snoozing in front of the fire and don’t look like doing anything too energetic any time soon.

Needles, Fresh Air and Kissing it Better!

Hugo & Pip think this is THEIR bed!

Hugo relaxing!

Horizontal rain!

Last week saw that annual event dreaded by all our canine friends - a trip to the V.E.T. for the yearly vaccinations. Hugo has never had an issue with the vets and actually seems to like going, putting his feet up on the counter to announce his arrival to the receptionists and looking to see if the resident cat dares to stand it's ground. Miss Pip, on the other hand, is terrified. Martin had to go with Hugo and Pip on his own this time so he was stretched (literally) to the limit with Hugo pulling in through the door and Pip dragging behind. Once inside Pip set up her wining/howl that makes everyone very much aware she is NOT happy! The door to the surgery opened and the lady vet and nurse called them in - Hugo went in at the mention of his name but Pip dug her heels in and would not budge. The crafty nurse 

Hugo waiting for the rain to pass

rattled the treat tin and she shot in - food wins the day!


The vet was pleased with them and thought they were both very healthy, Pip with a particularly strong heartbeat (probably thumping because she was scared!), and they both received their inoculations without a murmur (albeit with Pip hiding her head between Martin's legs while it was stuck in her). After lots of fuss and attention from the nurse Pip relaxed and seemed to quite enjoy the attention. Martin also picked up some worming tablets which we had the joy of getting Hugo and Pip to take later that day. Miss Pip was no problem and swallowed hers but, no matter how far we shoved them down Hugo's throat, he managed to spit them up again a few minutes later. Eventually we managed to get the much-disintegrated soggy tablets to stay down and Hugo and Pip spent the rest of the evening fast asleep. Job done.

Pip waiting for the rain to pass

Came home from work the other day to find the kitchen towel up the garden and dirty paw prints on the glass door of the microwave - hmmmm!

Hugo is thrilled because we have started to leave the bedroom window open a crack at night. The only problem is that is isn't quite wide enough for his liking (we have sliding windows) and he puts his nose in and thrusts it open wider so he can hang out and watch the world go by. The only problem with this is that I wake up in the middle of the night, freezing cold and blinded by the street light outside because there he is, curtain rucked up, watching the local cats or hedgehogs in the street.

Ready to go home

Today I have almost lost my voice - no reason, I am not ill but I sound very croaky. As I went upstairs to change after work Hugo came with me and I was talking to him as usual. He leapt on the bed, stared me straight in the eye, cocking his head from side to side and then tried to lick my mouth - think he was trying to kiss it better!

We went up to Minchinhampton Common tonight and arrived just as the heavens opened and the rain poured down - horizontally because the wind was so strong. We could see it was only a shower so we waited in the car until it was over - Hugo and Pip were not amused because they wanted to get out there whatever the weather! We did not give in this time though and, apart from the freezing cold wind, enjoyed a walk in brilliant sunshine without getting wet.

Eau de Wet Dog!

Yesterday I took Hugo and Pip up on to Selsley Common, it was very dull and overcast but not actually raining. Until, of course, we were 10 minutes in to the walk and you could see the black clouds rapidly approaching and, even worse, hear the rumble of thunder. For those of you who do not know it, Selsley is at the top of a hill with fantastic views over the Severn valley but it is very bleak when the weather turns bad with winds whistling up the side of the hill. 

Pip drying off under her blanket

I quickly decided to cut the walk short and we started to loop back when the heavens opened. I dared not shelter under one of the very few trees on the Common just in case there was any lightening accompanying the thunder and thought the best thing to do was brave it out and keep walking. The rain became torrential - huge, hard drops, almost like hail, that stung and blinded us as well as totally soaking us to the skin. Hugo, Pip and I were absolutely dripping. Pip did not seem to mind at all and just carried on her normal spinning round in circles, sniffing and rummaging in the undergrowth. Hugo, on the other hand, was not amused! His ears were flat back and his eyes almost closed and I virtually had to drag him to make him walk. At last we got back to the car (I had borrowed Martin, my OHs as Toby had mine) and we all leapt in. The whole inside of the car was saturated as Hugo and Pip shook and I dripped everywhere. When we got home Pip was easily dried with a towel but Hugo wasn't so keen and they were both still a bit damp at bedtime.

Hugo's puppy pink feet

This afternoon I had to fit in walking Hugo and Pip with picking Toby up from work and collecting some paperwork so I took them up on Minchinhampton Common which is very flat with just an odd tree on it (oh, yes, cows as well). Would you believe it, just after we had set off it started to rain again and gradually got worse and worse so we did take shelter under a tree - when I say tree it was one of those hard bitten things that takes all the brunt of the winds and was more like a bush on a stem. It did protect us to a certain degree and Hugo and I stood close to the trunk out of the worst of the rain. Miss Pip though, refused point blank to take shelter and stood at the full stretch of the extender lead out in the open with her head pointing in the the wind and rain which was, by now, falling almost parallel to the ground. She looked like a spiky hedgehog by the time we got back in the car (mine today) and threw ourselves inside. Another steamed up, soaking wet car interior for the second day running.

Everywhere I go at the moment I get the waft of wet dog!! Not very pleasant and rather hoping we don't get visitors for a few days - I've already had to apologise profusely to people I have given a lift too and had to leave the windows open as we drove along as the smell was so bad. The plus side is that Hugo and Pip are lovely and clean at the moment and the pads on Hugo's feet have gone puppy pink again now that all the dirt and mud has been washed away.