Hot Dogs!

Walking on Selsley Common
 at sunset

Hugo and Pip have been finding the last few weeks of hot weather very tiring and they seem to be sleeping most of the day. However, they do have sudden bursts of activity using a ridiculous amount of energy which might only last a few minutes but it leaves them huffing and puffing and collapsed on the floor. 

Hugo often tries to provoke Pip into having a bit or rough and tumble with him by finding out one of his favourite toys and then placing it on the floor in front of her while she is sleeping. He will then attract her attention by poking and pawing her with his foot. Once she has spotted the toy (or old pop bottle, flowerpot, feather - whatever is his prize at that time) and makes any move towards it, that's it, he has the excuse to attack her (all good natured, a lot of rolling around on the floor nibbling each others ears and making funny half growling/half wining noise). When Pip wants to start the nonsense she will stand in front of Hugo with one of his toys in her mouth until he spots her and the whole process begins again.

This morning I sorted out the dogs toy box which was full of dismembered stuffed toys, old drinks bottles and other toys in various stages of degradation. Watched closely by Hugo and Pip I got rid of a whole carrier bag full of debris - even what is left looks pretty disgusting but these are their prized possessions so I didn't have the heart to throw the lot out. Think a trip round the charity shops for more stuffed toys is on the cards in the near future.

Hugo making sure his favourites weren't thrown away

Chilling after a long walk and swim

We have been leaving the main walk of the day until after 9pm in the evening as it is usually much cooler then and there are far less people around but today we have more cloud and it feels a bit fresher so Martin and I decided to take Hugo and Pip out around 11am. We walked from home and went along the canal and stopped off at a little café for an ice cream - Hugo was not interested in this but Pip finished both off (vanilla and mango were equally delicious in her eyes) and the man behind the counter gave them a bowl of ice cold water which Hugo immediately demolished with much slurping and slopping . We then carried on and made our way to the meadows where the River Frome flows through. To begin with Hugo and Pip were only interested in snatching gulps of the water where they could get down to it but then we came to one place where they could walk in easily and we spent about fifteen minutes letting them walk through the water. Pip just stood there, up to her belly, with a huge smile on her face while Hugo crashed through the reeds and kept to the bank. We didn't get back until after 1pm so, needless to say, I have two crashed out dogs, cooling off and drying out with the aid of the fan. Don't think they will want to go out later, they've had plenty of exercise for today.

Walking on Water

We managed to dodge the showers today and go for a walk when the sun was shining beautifully. Martin had to go and do something on a reed cutter on the canal (don't ask, it's a man thing) so I decided to tag along and take Hugo and Pip on a walk along part of the canal we have never been before.

Pip jumped off the wall
onto the 'grass'

Along the tow path

This is where Hugo fell in

We parked the car and got the dogs out and I stood with them on a slipway whilst Martin got his tools and life-jacket out. Unfortunately, the water is covered with pond weed and Miss Pip jumped down on to what she must have thought was grass only to find herself knee deep in stinking canal water! So, one wet dog.

Through the fields

We started along the tow path, Martin still with us for a few hundred yards until he went off to do whatever it was he had to do. Hugo was excited and pulling ahead, keeping a very keen eye on the ducks. Now, neither of us actually saw what happened but suspect it was something to do with the said ducks but there was suddenly an almighty splash and Hugo completely disappeared under the water. It was fortunate that Martin was still with us as he managed to haul Hugo out and up the couple of feet of bank - poor Hugo looked like a drowned rat. Then, of course, he did what all wet dogs do and shook himself vigorously. So now, two wet dogs and two wet people!

What you doing over there Dad?

I carried on along the tow path with Hugo and Pip and they had a wonderful time sniffing out all the new smells, duck hunting and swan spotting (swans don't like Hugo and Pip and hiss loudly which makes them much more interesting). Hugo's little accident didn't put him off and on several occasions I had to drag him back from the edge - once when there was a twenty foot drop down into a lock, no sense that one! The canal ran out and became a huge field with lush, tall grass so Pip was in her element bounding through it making birds fly up and there was not a soul in sight - this promises to become another favourite place to visit.

Come on Dad, we're waiting!

We made our way back, passing through a kissing gate, which is not an easy task with two Akitas on leads as there is simply not enough room for all three of us to go through at the same time. Hugo and Pip don't comprehend the word 'wait' (something I must work on) and pushed through against my legs (remember they were both soaking wet so not a pleasant experience). The leads became entangled in the gate so I had to do a couple of tricky manoeuvres without letting them go. 

As we got back to the car we could see Martin on the other side of the canal on the reed cutter - Hugo and Pip were most upset to see he was over there and they couldn't get to him so winged and whined until he was finished and then greeted him as if they hadn't seen him for a year.

All the excitement and swimming has exhausted them and Hugo and Pip are now fast asleep. There is a bit of a smell of stagnant water around here though!

Things that go bump in the night!

Hugo doing press up with Toby

A couple of weeks ago Akita Rescue and Welfare needed a home check doing in our area so Martin and I took Hugo and Pip along one afternoon to see the potential adopters.   When we got there the lady of the house was in but her partner had not yet arrived home from work. We sat in their living room, Hugo and Pip making themselves at home and taking great interest in the tropical fish swimming around in the tank - a few nose smudges left behind as evidence . A few minutes later the lady's partner arrived and come through the door. Miss Pip barked loudly at him and we had to tell her it was OK, it was, after all, HIS house not hers!! Later on, we were standing in the garden chatting when, again, she suddenly started to bark at something but this time in the house. Was it some burglar coming through the window or an axe murder about to attack everyone in sight? No, she had seen her own reflection in a mirror and didn't like what she saw!! Typical girl.

Last Monday my parents came down for the day and, knowing that Pip is rather nervous of my Dad, they came armed with two big hide chews to try and win her round. Hugo did his usual greeting, all waggles and excitement and was very happy to receive his chew from Mum and take it off in the living room. Pip, on the other hand, took one look at who was coming in and dashed up the stairs. She stopped near the top and Dad held out the chew to her - she crept down a couple of steps, grabbed the chew off him and ran into the bedroom with it. However, towards the end of the day she actually sat by him for a few minutes so think she might be beginning to thaw out a little bit.

Pip asleep on her snake

I had a bit of a sort out our bedroom the other day and had left a carrier bag containing some old underwear on the floor, ready to throw out later. At 5 o'clock in the morning I was awoken by a noise and could see it was Hugo, trying to bury his chew in the carpet - stupid boy often does this and wipes his nose back and forth as if it will disguise where he has hidden his treasure. Usually Pip is watching and instantly goes and gets whatever it is he has buried. However, this morning he used a bit more cunning but it wasn't until I got up in the morning I discovered what he had done. He had pulled out one of my old bras and placed it over the top of the chew so it was completely hidden - clever boy this time!

Hugo looking worried - a fly has
 just entered the building!

On Thursday morning I was awoken at 3.30am as it was just getting light by Hugo and Pip running madly up and down the stairs, skidding along the hall (we have just had laminate flooring down there and in the kitchen so the skittering, scrabbling of their claws trying to get a grip is very loud) and charging back up. This wasn't their usual reaction to someone coming in during the night (Daniel or Toby) or phantom burglars, this was excited, we-want-to-get-it-and-play-with-it noise. By the time I got out of bed to investigate Hugo was hanging out of our bedroom window, having flung it wide open, and Pip was standing looking out the landing window which was also open. I can only assume that next door's cat had had the audacity to look in through the landing window. I suspect it won't be doing that again in a hurry!

Getting Rid of Intruders (imagined or otherwise)!

Pip among the buttercups

We are well used to being sprung awake by Pip frantically barking the second she hears one of the boys coming into the house in the early hours of the morning and, after the initial shock, normally manage to fall back to sleep within minutes. However, the other night was something different altogether. I was woken at about 5am in the morning by Pip making a low, menacing growl that rumbled under her breath. At first I thought perhaps she was dreaming but the ominous noise continued until she suddenly got up and sat on the top step of the stairs, still ggggrrrrreeeeerrrrrring so I had no option but to get up and investigate. I first looked out the front window - nothing, Pip continued to growl. I then opened the bathroom window to look up the garden - nothing, still she kept up the noise. I joined Pip on the top of the stairs who was peering over the bannister looking towards the kitchen - nothing, on she went and by now I was beginning to get a bit unnerved. In the end I sat on the stair with her  and gave her a cuddle, she stopped growling and mad a fuss of me then turned round, jumped on the bed and went back to sleep!! Needless to say, I didn't and kept listening out for suspicious noises. Still don't know what it was but I wouldn't have fancied it's chances if it had tried to get in.

Hugo is convinced the cows are giant Akitas!

This beautiful spell of warm weather has been perfect for Hugo and Pip and they have spent most of the days outside alternating between lying sprawled out fast asleep (Pip in the sun, Hugo in the shade) and absolutely tearing around the garden, leaping over the flower beds and digging up the lawn. We have been leaving their long walk till later in the evening when it is a bit cooler which has suited us all. As of last Bank Holiday Monday the cows are out on Selsley Common again so Hugo thoroughly enjoys himself, stalking them on the horizon - I am convinced he thinks they are bigger versions of himself, and we all know how little dogs like to challenge the bigger ones! Unfortunately, along with the warm weather and the cows come Hugo's nemesis - the dreaded fly! If one is in the house he cannot settle and charges around pretending he is trying to hunt it until he actually gets close enough to do something about it then chickens out and runs away! Madam Pip has no such qualms and will leap up, twisting round with all four feet of the ground and catch one in her mouth - she soon gets rid of the problem.

I made this little video a few weeks ago and put it on Facebook but I love it so much I thought I would add it on here too. When we walk on the Common, Pip often has a mad five minutes and charges round making Hugo run with her and inevitably tying him up in knots. In this shot Toby and I were in the middle going round and round in circles - needless to say, I had to add the music to drown out my shrieks and laughter as we got giddier!

       

Housework and Squeaky toys!

Pip has just spotted a bird on the fence!

The walls and doors in our hall were pebble-dashed with dried on drops of muddy water from where Hugo and Pip shake themselves when they come in when is has been raining so I have spent most of the morning washing everything down and making it more presentable. I had just finished cleaning all the panes of glass in the living room door (which were disgustingly covered in dog nose slobber) when I realised Miss Pip was helping me by busily licking all the ones I had just done - thanks Pip!

Chilling on a sunny day

Hugo has an itchy nose!

Last week I bought Hugo and Pip a couple of new toys - a pink snorting pig and an orange squeaky orang-utan. Although the pig has taken quite a bit of punishment it is the orang-utan which is the coveted prize, mainly, I think,  because it takes hardly any pressure at all to make it squeal very loudly! Hugo definitely thinks this toy is his and Pip knows this but, being a bit of a madam, likes to steal it from under his nose and run off with it. If she lies down and chews on it he is standing over her pathetically, pawing at her to get it back, his tongue hanging out of his mouth in concentration. I couldn't help laughing at them the other day when Pip had, as usual, run off with orang-utan with Hugo in hot pursuit and they had reached that 'five-minutes-of madness' stage when they were darting everywhere. Hugo was under the table on the decking and Pip was standing on the steps leading up to it, orang-utan was lying somewhere in between them. Every few seconds one of them would make a dart towards this orange bit of plastic, made it squeak then rush back to their 'base'. Then Hugo, not usually know for running much, dashed out and rushed round the garden with Pip tearing after him, obviously thinking he had got the toy. Round and round they went, then saw me standing watching them so rushed inside and threw themselves on the floor panting loudly. Where was orang-utan? Still lying on the decking - daft dogs!!


     

Hugo and Pip Do Crufts - again!

Pip enjoying all the attention

Oooh, more of that please!

I went up to Crufts on my own yesterday, stayed over, and was joined today by Hugo, Pip, Martin (my OH) and Toby (my son). A brilliant, sunshiny day which started with Toby taking Hugo and Pip up on the Common for a good run before setting off to meet me at the N.E.C. where we were all going to represent the Akita Rescue and Welfare Trust - Toby has now decided that seven o'clock in the morning is definitely the best time to walk them as no one else was about at all.

Hugo spots Ashi Taka

I arrived at the show-ground just after my family so they were waiting for me outside the entrance when I got there. Surprisingly, Hugo and Pip didn't spot me straight away which was probably because of the volume of people arriving at that time. I got quite close before I was noticed and Pip set up her usual bark/howl of greeting, leaping up as if she hadn't seen me for years. Apparently, last night Hugo and Pip spent all evening lying behind the front door waiting for me to come home - nice to be loved isn't it?!!

We then had to fight our way through Halls 1 and 2 so we could get to Hall 3 where we had a spot in the Eukanuba rescue booths. Hugo and Pip went very willingly into their little pen and were quickly mobbed by the crowds, taking any amount of stroking, patting, being oohed and aared over and being photographed from every angle. With us were Stephanie, Teresa, Kirtsy and Jude but It wasn't long before we were joined by Kevin with the stunning Ashi Taka - a long coat akita who was really wowing the crowds with his laid back attitude and beautiful coat (Hugo's not so keen on him though!).

Ashi Taka

Kessie & Kovu

Toby took Hugo off for a comfort break but, as Pip also looked as if she needed 5 minutes peace from all the crowds, I followed with her a few moments later. I hadn't realised how much she depends on Hugo for reassurance because as soon as we hit crowds of people she went almost in to panic mode and at one point, when I took a slightly different route from the one Hugo had gone, she sat down and refused to go on until I coaxed her out. Once outside she set up a whining cry and wasn't at all happy, however much I tried to comfort her - she was only relaxed once she had Hugo in her sights. Needless to say we didn't separate them again.

Hugo gets down to greet his admirers

Later in the morning Rosie and Damien bought the two K's - Kessie & Kovu (another one whom Hugo is not keen on, and the feeling is mutual!) - so we were able to go off for an hour or so. Once again Toby and I fought our way through the crowds to look at the stands with Hugo and Pip in tow.  I have two country dogs who are used to open spaces which they can explore on the end of a long lead so are not at their best when being held close and, Hugo in particular, keeps trying to see round people and pushing them from behind when they don't move fast enough! We decided to retreat to the safety of the booth and they really settled into their role as ambassadors for ARW, loving all the attention.

Rosie, Kevin and Toby had all made cookies  with special Akita-shaped cutters which we handed out to children when they visited the stand. Hugo and Pip decided these were far nicer than any of the doggy treats we had for them so have had a large quantity of 'junk' food today as they quickly made it evident to anyone who had one they they wanted some too!

Going home!

By mid-afternoon we were beginning to flag so we decided to take Hugo and Pip home, leaving Kessie, Kovu and Ashi to work the crowds. As soon as we hit the motorway, Hugo and Pip were lying down and asleep which is where they stayed for the whole journey home. What was really funny was when we got back - Hugo and Pip were let into the house first while we unloaded all of our things but Miss Pip then stood on the doorstep and went mad, howling and talking, greeting us as if we had been away for hours. I think she had forgotten she had been with us the whole time. She then had a mad five minutes leaping on and off the bed upstairs and running about and has now crashed out again - think all that sugar might be out of her system now!.


All in all it was a very successful day with lots of interest and new contacts made. All of the dogs were beautifully behaved and were loved by everyone who met them. Really proud of all of them!

Beauty Parlour Time!

Hugo before

Eight o'clock this morning saw Hugo, Pip and I walking across Selsley Common on a beautiful, crisp, sunny day along with all the other early dog walkers around Stroud. There seemed to be groups of people standing around all over the place so I picked our route carefully to avoid any confrontations but needn't have worried. We saw a German Shepherd, two greyhounds (one with three legs) and several spaniels - all off lead but all beautifully behaved and ignored us totally which resulted in a very pleasant walk.

Pip before

The reason for the early start was to let Hugo and Pip do what they had to before we took them over to Pets at Home at Gloucester where they were booked in for a grooming session. They have never been to a groomers before so we had no idea how they would behave, nor have we left them with anyone else apart from the vets and we all know what they (Pip is particular) think about that! They aren't particularly keen when we brush them so we thought we would let the experts have a go especially as they seem to have been blowing for weeks.

Hugo after

We arrived in plenty of time and after explaining certain traits - Hugo's hip dysplacia which makes him a little tender over his hips sometimes and also his phobia about baths, towels and hairdryers, and Pip's slight separation anxiety we left them in the hands of two lovely young girls. Hugo and Pip went straight through hardly looking back at us - it was like leaving your child on their first day of school. We were told they would be at least three hours so off we went to do some shopping in Gloucester.

Pip after

One and a half hours later I noticed I had a missed call on my mobile so phoned back thinking the worst - perhaps they had been a nightmare and couldn't be done or were upset at being left. Not so, they just wanted to to say they were ready! We arrived back to be greeted by a room filled with fluff billowing all over the place, escaping into the main part of the store as soon as the door was opened. There they were, all fluffed up, sparklingly clean and very pleased to see us (Pip being her usual vocal self and Hugo standing with his feet up on the counter to get to us). They had been very well behaved and had even let the girls clip their nails which they haven't let us get near lately. Apparently Hugo had done the usual Akita thing of leaning although this happened to be against Pip on the table and neither of them batted an eyelid when two Jack Russells came in to have their nails clipped. Think I need to adopt these two girls!! As we left the store I kept seeing wisps of hair floating around that huge store so think there will be evidence of Hugo and Pip's visit for some time.

Squeaky clean!

The reason for all this pampering and preening is for a very special event. Once again, Hugo and Pip have been invited to Crufts on the Akita Rescue and Welfare stand next Sunday (9th March) to represent the Trust and to promote rescues. So, if anyone is coming to Crufts on the big, final day when the Champion is selected, then do look out for us.

All Fenced In

I can see you!

The one side of our garden fence is what was there when we originally moved in 28 years ago and has been getting a bit rickety of late. We have had to keep putting extra bits of wood at the base and pieces of wire to stop both next doors Jack Russell, Tinker, from digging through to us or Hugo and Pip jumping over to her, not to mention the two rabbits and guinea pig which also reside in her garden. As the old fence was only 4ft tall (sorry ARW!!!!) and Akitas are notorious for being escape artists, we have been intending to replace it with something taller for the last year. Hugo and Pip have never made any attempt to actually jump over and there are various pots and raised beds along the fence line to keep them back a bit but they spent many a happy hour balanced on the top of my planted-up sink looking over the fence, keeping an eye on activities next door.

I can't see them anymore!

The last few winds have finally taken their toll and the one panel gave way about a fortnight ago which meant we could no longer leave the back door open when we were not at home as there was direct access through to next door and to their little furries. This in itself has not really been a problem as the weather has been so horrible Hugo and Pip have not wanted to go out anyway and spend most of the day asleep on our bed. In fact, Hugo in particular, did not seem to notice the 6ft wide gap in the fence and would still go and sit on the sink to look over (sometimes wonder about him!). Pip was a bit more astute and would stand on all the barricades sniffing and seeing what she could see so we had to keep a very watchful eye on her and call her in before she got too interested.

I'll just guard this bit of wood!

At last, yesterday, there was the promised break in the weather so we set aside the day to do the necessary work. Martin (my OH) began by removing the five panels so exposing our garden to next doors. Hugo and Pip were very well behaved to begin with and Tinker stayed in her garden too. One of the old posts proved trickier to remove than the others and as we were all concentrating on this we didn't notice Hugo sneak past and make a dash for the rabbit running around in its large, uncovered run. Fortunately, he was grabbed just in time and made to come back over to his own side, although he was very upset by everyone shouting at him, especially when he was pulled and pushed back through - very undignified. Whilst the attention was on Hugo, Pip thought she would join in the fun and tried to make a dash through too but was quickly held back. Needless to say they were shut back in the house for a while and next door put the rabbits and guinea pig back in their shed for safe keeping. 

Hugo can jump!

The fence quickly went up and we let Hugo and Pip back out while the remaining panels went in. Suddenly, we were totally enclosed with a 6ft tall fence that matched the opposite side of the garden making us totally private and not overlooked at all which is brilliant. Unfortunately, Hugo did not feel the same and keep wondering up and down the fence whimpering, trying to find a gap to see through. Miss Pip now barks when she hears anything next door so hope she gets used to it and doesn't keep that up!

Enjoying the sunshine

We sat down outside in the sun taking a well earned rest and couldn't believe it when Hugo, who normally  struggles to climb up on to the sofa, suddenly jumped with no effort at all on to the patio table, turned round and lay down! He repeated this several more times during the afternoon so we are very glad we have raised the height of the fence as, judging by this performance, he could have cleared the old one without a problem. As Pip is a lot more agile and regularly jumps over the arm of the sofa to get on it we are sure it would only been a matter of time before there would have been rabbit pie on the menu!!!

New Year's Greetings

Hugo scrunched himself in behind
me on the settee so I took this picture
 of him over my shoulder!

Hugo and Pip tell me it has been a long time since I last wrote about them so I shall start by saying Happy New Year to everyone!

The weather has been awful lately and everywhere is squelching mud underfoot so walking hasn't been very pleasant over the last few weeks (and a lot shorter too!). I was not very happy with Hugo and Pip a few weeks ago when I took them for our usual evening walk up on to Selsley Common. The ground was very slippery and I fell over three times. Lots of other Akita owners have told wonderful tales of how, when they have fallen over, their dogs have stayed by their side while they limped home and I had always imagined that my two would do the same. I was wrong! I was not hurt in the slightest (apart from pride, and fortunately no-one else saw me) but the pair of them took not the slightest bit of notice of me lying on the ground, hanging on for grim death on to their leads as they, virtually dragged me along the ground in the excitement of new smells ahead.

Martin, my OH, had a new car just before Christmas and it has the luxury of sliding back doors that open at the touch of a button. Hugo and Pip just don't understand them though and still try and get in the car between the sliding door and the body of the vehicle, not realising there is a huge gaping hole in front of them!

Miss Pip likes to get as close to the fire as she can

Toby suffered one of the hazards of his profession last week when he mistook his thumb for the bunch of coriander he was chopping. Consequently there was a visit to the hospital which resulted in a very large padded bandage and instructions to keep the hand raised. Hugo is VERY interested in this strange attachment - he doesn't know what it is but he does know he wants to kill it! 

Hugo looks very comfortable here

Miss Pip and friends

Hugo does not believe that anyone should be able to sleep later than 6am in the morning, even when it is not a work day. He rather exceeded himself though the other morning. I was awoken by one of them whining and thought that perhaps they wanted to go outside urgently so up I got. Both Hugo and Pip were very excited and wanted lots of fuss as I went downstairs with them and opened the back door - they did not even set foot outside and looked at me as if I was mad. What they would rather like was one of those nice hide chewy things so I relented and gave them one. They then happily trotted back upstairs and were both lying down on their beds, chewing away by the time I got back up there. Then I looked at the clock - 4am. Come on guys, really!!

Stare out!

We love each other

Pack Walk, Apples and Walking in the Dark!

Group Photo

On Sunday morning Hugo obviously knew that something was going to happen because he was up and raring to go at quarter to six in the morning and wanted everyone to know he was ready for whatever it was. It was the day of the Akita Rescue Welfare pack walk in Stoke on Trent and I was going to take Hugo and Pip on my own to join in. After a quick walk on the common so that we were all comfortable for the two hour journey we set off. Hugo and Pip were mostly very well behaved in the car and lay down when I shouted at them - Hugo is a nightmare for standing crossways on and blocking the view out the rear window just as you are at a vital spot on the motorway like getting on the M6!

Unfortunately, just as we reached Westport Lake, our destination, it started to throw it down with rain so we met our fellow walkers in a huddle at the back of a building. It didn't last long though and we set off around the lakes, 15 Akitas in total. All were beautifully behaved and Hugo and Pip thoroughly enjoyed themselves by paddling in the water whenever they could. Needless to say, they were exhausted after an hour and a half of all this excitement and they slept all the way back in the car. Thanks to Robbie Hadfield for the pictures here which are some of my favourites of the day.


When I last saw my parents my Dad gave me a bag of Egremont Russet apples which are one of my favourite varieties. Hugo and Pip have never shown any interest in apples before but as soon as I began munching on one Hugo got very excited so I started biting bits off for him to eat - of course, Miss Pip had to have some as well but she was only really taking them because she didn't want Hugo to have them. Hugo is very keen as soon as he sees one of these apples appear and if you dare to throw the core in the bin he rummages in there to get it out and eats it, pips and all! Funnily enough
though, when I was peeling some windfalls of another variety and making them in to apple sauce to freeze, Hugo took one piece and spat it out so think he has very selective taste buds.

The nights are getting dark much earlier now the clocks have changed so I am taking Hugo and Pip on a walk as soon as I get home from work. It is getting very gloomy by the time we get back to the car and Pip isn't too keen on the dark so we might have to stick to the streets and park where it is lit for a while. Tonight we were a bit later going out and Toby wanted to pop in to town so he dropped us off on Rodborough Common and we set off down a rough track as it gradually got darker and darker. There were a couple of other people still on the Common but it was very hard to see and after half an hour or so we turned back. Pip was getting more skitish and nervous by the minute and she nearly jumped out of her skin when a runner appeared alongside us, wearing a head torch. We got back to the car park and had to wait a few minutes before Toby picked us up so Hugo amused himself by climbing up a bank so he had a good view of the road. As soon as Toby pulled in Miss Pip rushed over to the car, jumping up at the boot as if to say 'let me in, let me in!" Needless to say the minute the boot was open she leapt in and she then put her head over my shoulder for the first mile or so of the journey home.

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.

Mother to the rescue!

In the bedroom - Pip prefers the comfort
 of the bed

In the bedroom - whereas Hugo prefers
to be nosey!

Walking on Selsley Common - this is what happens

when you take two dogs on your own and you

meet a marker post! - you need to watch to the end.

I took Hugo and Pip up on the common as usual this afternoon and we had a lovely walk, especially as we weren't bothered by any off-lead dogs. However, we did encounter something just as bad on the way back - off-lead cows!! Normally they do not take any notice of us at all, however hard Hugo tries to challenge them to a fight. Today, though we were walking about 10 feet away from one of them and Hugo had his eyes firmly fixed on another dog in the distance when, all of a sudden, the cow (which had massive horns!) put down it's head and started to charge, obviously with the intention of tossing him in the air. Hugo stood stock still, staring at it so I, brave mother that I am, yanked him back and rushed forward myself, virtually growling at the cow and banging the cases of the two extender leads together. The cow didn't stand a chance really and backed off much to our relief. And where was Pip in all this - hiding behind my legs. Honestly, I thought they were meant to protect me, not the other way around.

A ripping time!

Let sleeping dogs lie!

Got home from work on Wednesday and went upstairs to get changed ready to take Hugo and Pip on a walk but was greeted with a huge rip in our brand new duvet cover! When asked "who did this?" in a very loud voice, Hugo and Pip slunk off up the garden. I was so cross with them I made Toby put the child gate back up which we had taken down a couple of weeks ago and I made them stay out in the kitchen and garden for an hour or so - and I didn't take them for a walk - nasty Mummy!! Martin wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and thought one of them might have caught their nail in the cover as they jumped off the bed causing it to tear but that does not explain the teeth marks or the chewed up sock that was also on the bed.

On Thursday, not wanting a repeat of the duvet incident, I left them behind the child gate in the kitchen. When I came home they had chewed up their own blankets in to little pieces all over the kitchen floor. At this rate they will be sleeping on the bare floor.

Today it was raining and it was very dark so Hugo and Pip were very sleepy and I did not have the heart to turf them out of the living room when I went to work. When I got home I thought all was well until I saw Daniel - he had come in to find his Egyptian scarf in shreds all over the carpet!

Don't know about sleeping on the bare floor, they are definitely heading for the dog house!!