Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Sorry I haven't had time to post much recently! I'll write a nice long post very soon about what Mollie has been up to, in the meantime here's a couple of pictures from last weekend, in the woods near our home.

Bradgate Park

We took the doggit up to Bradgate Park today. She was panting in the car, although I think that was as much from excitement as anything - but she had some water after we'd parked up, just in case. We went in at the Woodhouse end, near the entrance for the Broombriggs Farm trail - it's not so busy as the other entrances, and there's loads of shade to park under. There's also no proper path. Anyway, we got there probably around 12.30 and it was scorching!! It's such a beautiful place, and Mollie loves it - acres of space to run and explore, usually loads of dogs to gossip with, streams and pools to jump in... what more could a hyperactive dog ask for on such a lovely day?



Of course, even though there were lots of pools, like this rather lovely one, she refused to jump in without the enticement of a thrown ball (which we left in the car - oops).








Do excuse the presence of my behind in this photo, but it shows how sceptical she was about the whole thing.. (you can lead a dog to water, etc)


Eventually, at a different pool, we came across these sweet, bouncy little spaniels - Cavaliers I think.
They wagged and squeaked at her until she ran round to say hello, then eventually she went in up to her knees. We stayed there for a good 10 minutes watching the three of them play, it was great to see, especially since Mollie has historically been fairly worried about strange dogs, even small ones. But today, she said hello to quite a few, although she did say hello to one that growled at her - she was quick to bark back though, and beat a hasty retreat.
All in all, a lovely, if very tiring walk, and Mollie of course collapsed in the shade as soon as we got home.

Did she 'eck as like!! How could we possibly expect her to waste such a glorious day?!

Canny Collar vs Tennis Ball

We took Mollie for a bimble this evening - down to the village, round the back to the castle, up to the Leisure Centre, across the playing fields, back down to the castle then home. Mollie was in naughty (very bouncy and hyper) mode so we went for the Canny Collar AND the tennis ball. It's an interesting combination, as when she has the ball in her mouth and pulls on the lead, the collar causes her mouth to close - thus squeaking the ball. Every now and then she had to put the ball down and lick her lips a bit, but if we went to pick it up she nabbed it again. As we walked across the fields, throwing it as we went, you could see her getting tired as she sometimes fetched the ball but, instead of dropping it, ran back to us and just stood there squeaking it for a bit. On the way back, she was much better behaved - much less trying to bite the lead... sigh...but at least with the collar I can control her with one finger and she doesn't pull enough to hurt herself. Still, we're considering getting a chest harness to see if that works any better. She walks better off lead than on, but she has the road sense of a pheasant... no; wait - less.

Photo courtesy of Tracy ;-)