Where We Were.

The last photo in this block, Orin and Siska, gives the game away to anyone who's walked these places with me. I was walking from Fron towards the cemetery at the top of Rhosgadfan. There are just so many different circuits, and there is never anyone around other than the lady with the horse that's the same colour as Isla. The last time I saw her, I asked her what the colour was called? It's blue roan ... I didn't dare say, "Oh like a Cocker Spaniel!"

Today was not a quiet walk in one of my favourite places! There was a car parked by the field of the old horse, but no one was in sight, not even the old horse. I had a lovely walk through the gorse path with Sammi and Zeus. Sammi was off the lead for the entire walk, as is her right, she says! I popped them back in the van and just as I got Beti and Meerah out the old man and his collie in a coat came behind me. I let him pass and went off up the track with the girls. In the distance I could see someone coming towards me, oh the old horse! Meerah has previously been very nervous of horses, but there was nowhere to go other than onto the grass verge. I put Beti on the outside and Meerah between her and me. Eventually the man and his horse got to us. He said "I'm sorry she's so slow; she's very old and some days she can't get up so once I've got her going I take her for a little walk." He then went on to talk about the girls, the girls, OMG Meerah well done. She just stood there; a year ago she would have been terrified even climbing up my back with fear. Super Meerah! 

We did one of the longer walks, and as we headed back to the van the old horse was just going into the field and the old man with his dressed collie was just coming back through the shorter gorse path walk. 

Two walks, more going on. Well done, girls!

It was back onto the gorse path with Ross and Zavi. Ross was woryingly stiff yesterday but seemed Ok today, give or take. We passed the old horse and the mastiff that worried Zavi on the previous walk here was barking nonstop. This time Zavi took no notice! There was a lot of noise coming from the track up to the quarry, and I saw a JCB was working on it. Both the boys were off the lead, both obedient and happy, but as I got closer to the track I put both on their leads. The scraping and banging noises were quite a lot really, with no negative reactions from Zavi. The driver stopped for us to get past but started working again quite soon. Zavi looked back once, maybe twice, but the only one overthinking was me! LOL

So off down the track and onto the left circuit with my lovelies for the logest walk. We saw a man with a small whippet, we saw a car with its front door open and no one about, and we saw a man with a collie on a quad bike, twice! The first time the collie was running in front of the bike, but we were in an open space so there was plenty of room, the second time we moved onto the bank (as seen in the photo) for him to pass, the collie was riding on the back. We saw a man pushing a pram, and as we set off down one track we had to cut off cross-country to get away from the cattle! 

Despite it being busy and my preference is not to see anyone, it was a lovely 2 - 3 hours and I feel totally blessed to have the right to roam in such lovely places!

Where Have We Been Walking Today?

Zavi With Kasey

Zavi had a lovely time in the field with Ian's Kasey. Kasey is such a darling and couldn't have been any better with a young man who was initially a tad unsure of himself. 

He's looking quite nice, even if I say so myself! Lovely coat, colour and bone. Here's hoping everhing else goes as it should do now!

If you think he's looking big - well he's stood on the wall, Sammi isn't! 

He'll be having the last of the puppy food tonight. It's been mixed in with Titanium for over a week, but tonight it'll be finishing. Baby boy is growing like a weed! 

Beautiful Out There

Sammi and Zeus

Poor Sammi hates walking on the lead, so we did find some sneaky places to let her off .. shhhh. 

Beti and Zavi.

"Rhian ..."  called Mr Farmer, I wondered, "Oh no, what now?" I turned round, and he said the dogs look amazing. Have the shows finished for the year?"Thirty mins later we were still standing there talking, I just couldn't get away. We discussed vets, winter weather, the new law, right to roam, sheep giving birth and twat sheep. (No she's not his sheep, his are in fields!) Beti and Zavi were getting pissed off, and after tying me up in knots, they started wrestling; eventually, they gave up and lay down. You know it wasn't a bad thing, sometimes people do talk, and dogs just have to wait!

Orin and Siska both seemed a little flat today. I've no idea why, as they went on the new circuit that we discovered with Beti and Meerah yesterday. We saw an older gentleman with an older Boxer. He stood behind a gate to let me pass; he assured me she wouldn't do anything. Ten out of ten for these two for not responding when she kicked off! 

Do you think sables are louder than black and tan's? LOL. Ross and Meerah were pretty loud as we set off from Capel Y Bryn today. I was very surprised that Ross stayed out of all of the streams. 

By the time I got home it was late, and Steve said I was pushing my luck to get to Specsavers in time, but I did. I now have 3 new pairs of glasses to get my head around again!  

A Perfect Day For Walking

Someone older who was not on the lead let herself down today and rolled in fox poo! She had to have a clean up with cold water on the side of the road before going back in the van!

Girls just want to have fun!

Boys on the mountain. A bit of monkey see monkey do in the ditches, but the cheeky little monkey then decided he would growl at Uncle Ross when he tried to go back in the ditch! Try that one with Beti young man! 

A lovely walk with my lovelies on the outskirts of Tremadog. Though poor Siska got a big thorn in her paw! I have soaked her foot in Hibiscrub after arriving home, it didn't go down well but needs must!

Growing And Healing.

A week on from the surgery, and Miss Meerah is doing just great. If everything is ok, I'll take the stitches out myself on Sunday. If I'm not happy with the scar, I'll pop to the vet with her on Monday. 

Zavi is looking great, a proper little lump, substantial with great colour and coat. There's so much of his father in him, just the head shape and eye colour are very different. He's generally very easy and very affectionate. I find life with a male puppy so much easier than with a female and Zavi is no exception. Generally in my experience, bitches really are harder work. 

Zavi is heading for that 5-month mark now, I was always told that by 4 months they are approximately half their ideal adult weight and that by 6 months males have approximely 5 cms to grow, but I found this recently, and to be honest, I think this for males and females is on the money!

Males (Typically 5 cm to 8 cm after 6 months): 

"At 6 months, a male GSD has usually reached roughly 85% to 90% of his adult shoulder height. While gaining another 5 cm is a common average, many males—especially those maturing later or carrying strong bone—will add anywhere between 5 cm and 8 cm in vertical height before their growth plates in the long bones close between 10 and 14 months. After height growth slows (around 9–10 months), they continue to "fill out," gaining depth of chest, spring of rib, and overall muscle mass until around 2 to 2.5 years old. 

Females (Typically 2.5 cm to 5 cm after 6 months): Females mature faster skeletally than males and often reach 90% to 95% of their adult height by 6 months. The 2.5 cm estimate is accurate for early-maturing bitches, though gaining closer to 3 cm to 5 cm is also very common before vertical growth halts entirely, usually around their first heat cycle or 8 to 10 months."

Is this Orin or Zavi? Currently the head gives the game away!

Walking In The Rain

Meerah and Ross

Beti and Zavi 

Beti and Zavi 

Lila And Ruby

Lila - Looking like a L/C does at this age, I'm looking forward to seeing her when that coat develops over the next couple of months. She does look very much like Zavi. 

Beti's sister Ruby- wow isn't she stunning!

Back Together

I decided to put Meerah back with her gang this morning. Beti went straight to sniff the scar, which initially caused a stiff, tense posture, but it soon passed. Now the difficulty is keeping Meerah from racing round, bless her she looks even taller without her skirt! I am hoping that she will eat a little better when her hormones settle; she really is the worst eater I've had in a long time. Though of course, keeping lean and fit will be paramount for Meerah's future mobility. 

Talking of lean and fit, someone hairy who shall remain nameless is a touch rotund ... he's not pleased with his smaller portions, but needs must! 

At the moment, I’m worming everyone with Panacur liquid. I prefer using the three-day course—it works out a bit more expensive, but I find it much more effective. With this method, you give half of a single dose each day. So while they end up receiving more overall over the three days, the smaller daily amount is far easier to disguise in their food! To make it extra tempting, I mixed half a tin of Butchers Tripe into each bowl. Everyone polished it off without needing any extra bribery—except for Meerah, of course! 

Whilst Steve was out this morning I took the opportunity to clean the bedroom. The assistants were really not helpful, but I salvaged Sammi's Xmas pudding toy and stopped the bed from being used as a trampolene. 

Martin came up and, of course he wanted to meet Zavi. I think that's the first time I've taken him on his own to meet someone in the living room. It couldn't have gone better. Well done Zavi!

A Bedroom Make-Over

I wanted to stay off Facebook today, I fear the memories popping up. Anyway, I spent the afternoon changing the dog's bedroom. I was worried about crate sizes now that Zavi needs a double bed, but it worked out better than I imagined. Ok, a bit of a squeeze, but it works. To be honest, he looks a little lost in his big man crate, but he's growing like a weed, so he'll soon fill it!