Can't believe its the 19 July already - the time is flying by but they say that's a sign of old age!
Its been hell for leather here at Ayrshire Dog Care this last while, obviously word's getting about that we vaguely know what we are doing when it comes to dogs - a bit of a pity that doesn't apply to the rest of our lives!
We've got a "newbie" in the form of Jaro the German Shepherd puppy who is adorable. He came for the first time last week and to start with was introduced to "the regulars" through a baby gate, behind which he could see everything that was going on without being overwhelmed by the "hooligans". It quickly became clear that he would fit in just fine so I introduced him to Maisy who was great with him as she is with all dogs. (We are very fortunate here that they all seem to "gel" but of course we do take great care with introductions - more of that later.) He was then introduced to "old timer" Bella, Max the Cocker Spaniel who is spending overnights with his gran and comes here for day care while Mum and Dad are on holiday, and Bute the Working Cocker Spaniel who is here for his holidays while mum and dad are on theirs. They all settled in very well together and Jaro fitted in as if he had always been with them. He goes home at night a tired but happy puppy. Everyone always has time out during the day though, to avoid any of them getting over tired.
Introduction to Summer had to wait until yesterday as Carol Ann had the cheek to be on holiday and decided she wanted time alone with Summer at home! I think though, that Summer was delighted to be back as her whole body went into "one huge wag" mode when she arrived yesterday morning - no backward looks at Carol Ann! Summer has the best of both worlds as does Maisy and all the other dogs who we are lucky enough to spend time with.
We are looking forward to having a beautiful little Cockapoo join us in the near future for day care. Her parents and I have been in conversation about her as she had a bad experience when at day "care" (!) elsewhere so we are having to undo the trauma and start again with her carefully. Her parents are doing everything right and with us all working together I'm sure she'll be fine. She was here for the day last week and again using the baby gate we were able to let her see the rest of the dogs and experience the day to day happenings from a comfortable distance. We've organised that she come for three consecutive days next week so I'll report on that. Keep your fingers crossed for her.
The training classes are going really well and everyone is thoroughly enjoying them - including the dogs! We have the agility equipment set up - just beginner standard at the moment - and they are all taking to it like ducks to water! The training area is working really well - a good size with plenty of room - and Dale is working her magic with humans and canines! The main thing is we want everyone to enjoy it and that seems to be what is happening - we are getting along like a house on fire and having a laugh too! We do half an hour of obedience and then half an hour of agility. We have a beginners/puppy class as well so something for everyone!
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Ella
I had every intention of finding some time yesterday to let you all know what we have been up to recently and all about our new arrivals. However I had a phone call from Ella the Bull Mastiff's mum to break the bad news that our Ella had passed away peacefully at the weekend. Mel is obviously devastated and I'm afraid I didn't keep a stiff upper lip when she told me, sorry Mel.
Ella and her brother Boris came to me on a regular basis for sleepovers and they totally made themselves at home right from the start. We used to laugh at Ella and the "Les Dawson" faces she used to pull! She was such a great dog and Stuart and I will miss her visits so much. Only because we personally have lost dogs in the past, can we begin to imagine how Mel is feeling. I'm sure you all send her your best wishes.
Mel gave Ella such a good life and hopefully she can take some comfort from that.
We are looking forward to Boris's visits at the end of the month, when he will be thoroughly spoiled!
Fly high, Ella
Ella and her brother Boris came to me on a regular basis for sleepovers and they totally made themselves at home right from the start. We used to laugh at Ella and the "Les Dawson" faces she used to pull! She was such a great dog and Stuart and I will miss her visits so much. Only because we personally have lost dogs in the past, can we begin to imagine how Mel is feeling. I'm sure you all send her your best wishes.
Mel gave Ella such a good life and hopefully she can take some comfort from that.
We are looking forward to Boris's visits at the end of the month, when he will be thoroughly spoiled!
Fly high, Ella
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Sorry to you all, Dear Readers!!
Well, I've been given a right royal rollicking by one of my clients - that's your card marked, Carol-Ann - for not updating this for a while, but the question is, do you, my clients want me to sit at the computer furiously typing away or have hours of fun with your dogs?!! NO CONTEST!
On this occasion, I will forgive her as the other day she came bearing gifts in the form of a home made chicken tikka curry that was out of this world. I'm wondering how long it is going to be before there is a follow up - you know I don't have time to cook AND look after Summer, C-A!!
Anyway back to my life with dogs. I've been so busy - my feet hit the floor at 6am and we are lucky if we sit down to dinner at 8.30. Last night is was 9.30 - not good for the digestive system.
Today, I have here Scarlett, Bella, Summer, Maisy, Toby and Zak - if you look on the website you will see a pic of them out in the courtyard - title PPP - Petit Puppy Party!
Scarlett's mum has been poorly and in hospital so she has been a fixture for the last couple of weeks or so although of course, she is a regular for day care. Jane is feeling better so Scarlett is going home today with the proviso that her mum MUST phone me to pick her back up if she can't manage. I'm sure she will be fine as Scarlett is such an easy dog to look after and an absolute pleasure.
Bella the Beagle is another regular but at the moment, she is having restricted exercise as she has "tweaked" her leg so we are trying to rest it - tell that to Bella! However I can confine her to the courtyard here where she can still play and have fun without over doing things too much. Her best friend just now is Maisy the adorable Cockapoo puppy, Maisy is rather fickle though and her best friend could be somebody different tomorrow - typical female I hear some of you guys say! Maisy is rather partial to diving in the goldfish pond so Stuart is currently making a wire frame up to put the kybosh on that little game!
Summer has been with me since before she had her vaccinations 5 days a week and she has made herself totally at home! She never stops, in fact every so often I have to put her and Maisy into their crates for some "time out" otherwise by the time they get home at night, all their parents will see them do is sleep! Summer is as sharp as a pin and leads the rest of them a merry dance as she learned very quickly that she fits under things that the others don't so she torments the life out of them and then high tails it for whatever else she can get under and goes from cover to cover, thumbing her nose at the rest of them!
Zak is here for home boarding again while mum and dad are away at a concert so he goes home this afternoon. He's having great fun playing with his new pals - they all get on really well.
And then we come to Toby. Toby has been coming for day care over the past few days as his mum is on holiday. He is nearly 16 and everyone who meets him wants to take him home. His ancestry is a bit suspect - we don't know what he is exactly but what we do know is that he is wonderful. He was a rescue and was found being used as a football by some kids when he was about three. Emily found him in the rescue home and fell in love with him right away - I can totally understand why - and he's had the best life ever since. He is very much loved.
In between times, I have been busy walking Alfie, a Spanish Water Dog, while his mum was on hoilday. It took him a couple of days to get used to me (no comments on that, please!) but he soon was looking forward to his daily walk along the sea front.
Dixie and Casey are still regular fixtures and we have great fun out on our walks - Dixie loves to go and meet and play with every dog she sees while Casey has cost me a fortune in tennis balls. She loves them but will insist on taking them into the stream with her only to see them bobbing off down the water!
Scooby the beautiful retriever was with us overnight the other night and like all of them, always settles really well - home from home! Archie the Great Dane/Mastiff, and Boris and Ella the Bull Mastiffs are all regular fixtures now for overnights and they too feel totally at home from the minute they arrive. It gives Stuart and I so much pleasure to know that the dogs are all so happy here with us - whether it be for day care or sleep overs.
Hector the labradoodle is spending some quality time with his mum just now as Pat is finished college for this term. She came out top of her class so all the hard work paid off, Pat - well done and remember I'm looking for some pics of Muirburn Ash to grace my walls! Hector is joining us this weekend for a few sleep overs so there is always fun when he's here! I mean that in a nice way, Pat and Brendan!
We have a busy summer to look forward to with new "babies" coming for day care and lots of home boarders booked in while their lucky owners jet of for some sun and relaxation!
We have been doing some work on an area we used to school the horses in, and are intending holding dog training classes, including fun agility classes so anyone interested in that, do get in touch. They will be very sociable occasions for humans and canines - I feel sometimes that some training clubs lack that aspect and can sometimes be a bit too serious - but probably that's just me! The classes will be great fun whilst learning at the same time. Dale my friend who is a whizz with dogs and has a great rapport with them, and is currently studying for her qualifications in canine behaviour and psychology, will be taking the classes. She will also do "one to one" for those of you who think you would benefit from that. We want everyone to totally enjoy their dogs and if we can help to make that happen, that's great!
Anyway, is that enough for now, Carol-Ann?
I'm off to drop Toby off at home ready for his mum coming back and to take Scarlett home to see her mum so will be back to write more in the near future - is that a threat or a promise, I wonder!!!
On this occasion, I will forgive her as the other day she came bearing gifts in the form of a home made chicken tikka curry that was out of this world. I'm wondering how long it is going to be before there is a follow up - you know I don't have time to cook AND look after Summer, C-A!!
Anyway back to my life with dogs. I've been so busy - my feet hit the floor at 6am and we are lucky if we sit down to dinner at 8.30. Last night is was 9.30 - not good for the digestive system.
Today, I have here Scarlett, Bella, Summer, Maisy, Toby and Zak - if you look on the website you will see a pic of them out in the courtyard - title PPP - Petit Puppy Party!
Scarlett's mum has been poorly and in hospital so she has been a fixture for the last couple of weeks or so although of course, she is a regular for day care. Jane is feeling better so Scarlett is going home today with the proviso that her mum MUST phone me to pick her back up if she can't manage. I'm sure she will be fine as Scarlett is such an easy dog to look after and an absolute pleasure.
Bella the Beagle is another regular but at the moment, she is having restricted exercise as she has "tweaked" her leg so we are trying to rest it - tell that to Bella! However I can confine her to the courtyard here where she can still play and have fun without over doing things too much. Her best friend just now is Maisy the adorable Cockapoo puppy, Maisy is rather fickle though and her best friend could be somebody different tomorrow - typical female I hear some of you guys say! Maisy is rather partial to diving in the goldfish pond so Stuart is currently making a wire frame up to put the kybosh on that little game!
Summer has been with me since before she had her vaccinations 5 days a week and she has made herself totally at home! She never stops, in fact every so often I have to put her and Maisy into their crates for some "time out" otherwise by the time they get home at night, all their parents will see them do is sleep! Summer is as sharp as a pin and leads the rest of them a merry dance as she learned very quickly that she fits under things that the others don't so she torments the life out of them and then high tails it for whatever else she can get under and goes from cover to cover, thumbing her nose at the rest of them!
Zak is here for home boarding again while mum and dad are away at a concert so he goes home this afternoon. He's having great fun playing with his new pals - they all get on really well.
And then we come to Toby. Toby has been coming for day care over the past few days as his mum is on holiday. He is nearly 16 and everyone who meets him wants to take him home. His ancestry is a bit suspect - we don't know what he is exactly but what we do know is that he is wonderful. He was a rescue and was found being used as a football by some kids when he was about three. Emily found him in the rescue home and fell in love with him right away - I can totally understand why - and he's had the best life ever since. He is very much loved.
In between times, I have been busy walking Alfie, a Spanish Water Dog, while his mum was on hoilday. It took him a couple of days to get used to me (no comments on that, please!) but he soon was looking forward to his daily walk along the sea front.
Dixie and Casey are still regular fixtures and we have great fun out on our walks - Dixie loves to go and meet and play with every dog she sees while Casey has cost me a fortune in tennis balls. She loves them but will insist on taking them into the stream with her only to see them bobbing off down the water!
Scooby the beautiful retriever was with us overnight the other night and like all of them, always settles really well - home from home! Archie the Great Dane/Mastiff, and Boris and Ella the Bull Mastiffs are all regular fixtures now for overnights and they too feel totally at home from the minute they arrive. It gives Stuart and I so much pleasure to know that the dogs are all so happy here with us - whether it be for day care or sleep overs.
Hector the labradoodle is spending some quality time with his mum just now as Pat is finished college for this term. She came out top of her class so all the hard work paid off, Pat - well done and remember I'm looking for some pics of Muirburn Ash to grace my walls! Hector is joining us this weekend for a few sleep overs so there is always fun when he's here! I mean that in a nice way, Pat and Brendan!
We have a busy summer to look forward to with new "babies" coming for day care and lots of home boarders booked in while their lucky owners jet of for some sun and relaxation!
We have been doing some work on an area we used to school the horses in, and are intending holding dog training classes, including fun agility classes so anyone interested in that, do get in touch. They will be very sociable occasions for humans and canines - I feel sometimes that some training clubs lack that aspect and can sometimes be a bit too serious - but probably that's just me! The classes will be great fun whilst learning at the same time. Dale my friend who is a whizz with dogs and has a great rapport with them, and is currently studying for her qualifications in canine behaviour and psychology, will be taking the classes. She will also do "one to one" for those of you who think you would benefit from that. We want everyone to totally enjoy their dogs and if we can help to make that happen, that's great!
Anyway, is that enough for now, Carol-Ann?
I'm off to drop Toby off at home ready for his mum coming back and to take Scarlett home to see her mum so will be back to write more in the near future - is that a threat or a promise, I wonder!!!
Friday, 3 June 2011
Hello to Dixie and Casey
Due to Dawn, the owner's, work committments, I have started walking Dixie the Doodle and Casey the Labrador, 4 times a week every couple of weeks and it is going very well indeed. I pick them up at their home and always get a very enthusiastic welcome from both of them. They pop into the van like they have been doing it all their lives and off we go to Rozelle for some fun and exercise. After the first couple of walks, I let them off the leads and they are so good. Casey tends to stay close to me while Dixie loves nothing more than heading off to meet and greet every other dog she spots, or for a change, makes mad dashes to try and catch birds - totally unsuccessful so far! She always comes back to the whistle as she knows she gets treats! They are so good and friendly and a pleasure to be with. Yesterday, Casey insisted in carting a 5 foot long branch with her for most of the walk - and I've got the bruises to prove it on the backs of my legs! I had to call out a warning to everyone we met! There is a rather large and smelly puddle that I keep forgetting about BUT they don't and they always make a beeline for it, so more often than not they are in it before I can call them away. They are returned home a bit "pongy" but very happy. Sorry, Dawn!
Training
Hector's dad and Summer's mum took them to training on Wednesday evening for the first time along at Auchincruive. There is no negative punishment involved in the training at all - only positive re-inforcement - and the dogs respond so much better to this form of training rather than the old fashioned methods still used by some trainers.
Anyway we had a great time on Wednesday night and Hector and Summer did really well as did their owners - much to their delight!
After the training Dale took Theo her wonderful rescue Rottweiler, who is so brilliant with every dog he meets and such a great mentor and I took Hector, for some fantastic playtime in the grounds of Auchincruive and they had an absolute ball together!
Back again next Wednesday and it is Hector's mum taking him this time so watch this space for a progress report!
Anyway we had a great time on Wednesday night and Hector and Summer did really well as did their owners - much to their delight!
After the training Dale took Theo her wonderful rescue Rottweiler, who is so brilliant with every dog he meets and such a great mentor and I took Hector, for some fantastic playtime in the grounds of Auchincruive and they had an absolute ball together!
Back again next Wednesday and it is Hector's mum taking him this time so watch this space for a progress report!
Friday, 27 May 2011
So Far So Good and Oh Scooby!
Summer's intro to Scarlett yesterday went very well and they played happily under supervision for 10 minutes at a time throughout the day.
Today, summer has been introduced to Scooby the beautiful (more of that later!) Retriever and Boris and Ella the so lovable Bull Mastiffs who were here again for a sleepover. They get themselves settled, make themselves totally at home and keep Stuart and I awake all night with their snoring!! We absolutely love having them here and are looking forward to the next visit next month.
On to Scooby's escapades today! Scooby is one of those dogs who arrives in pristine condition and ALWAYS manages to go home looking like nothing on earth! This is mainly due to the fact that he loves to roll in anything he finds - the smellier and dirtier the better! Bear in mind he is a beautiful golden colour and you can now begin to get the picture!
We survived our morning walk with just some mud on his feet and the bottom half of his legs and I gave myself a pat on the back for managing this near impossible feat. Too soon for congratulations! We went down the field early afternoon for a run around and he immediately found the freshest, largest, sloppiest horse poo he could find, which incidentally was perched on top of a pile of mud, and boy, did he go to town on that little lot! He was covered in the stuff from head to tail and the aroma was incredible. When we got back into the courtyard, he was very quickly washed down and lathered up with some herbal shampoo but I'm afraid to say even that didn't get rid of the smell! I hate to think what Paul's (his owner) car smelt like by the time they got home! I made my feeble apologies via email and ended it by saying, "never mind, he really enjoyed himself" or words to that effect!
Today, summer has been introduced to Scooby the beautiful (more of that later!) Retriever and Boris and Ella the so lovable Bull Mastiffs who were here again for a sleepover. They get themselves settled, make themselves totally at home and keep Stuart and I awake all night with their snoring!! We absolutely love having them here and are looking forward to the next visit next month.
On to Scooby's escapades today! Scooby is one of those dogs who arrives in pristine condition and ALWAYS manages to go home looking like nothing on earth! This is mainly due to the fact that he loves to roll in anything he finds - the smellier and dirtier the better! Bear in mind he is a beautiful golden colour and you can now begin to get the picture!
We survived our morning walk with just some mud on his feet and the bottom half of his legs and I gave myself a pat on the back for managing this near impossible feat. Too soon for congratulations! We went down the field early afternoon for a run around and he immediately found the freshest, largest, sloppiest horse poo he could find, which incidentally was perched on top of a pile of mud, and boy, did he go to town on that little lot! He was covered in the stuff from head to tail and the aroma was incredible. When we got back into the courtyard, he was very quickly washed down and lathered up with some herbal shampoo but I'm afraid to say even that didn't get rid of the smell! I hate to think what Paul's (his owner) car smelt like by the time they got home! I made my feeble apologies via email and ended it by saying, "never mind, he really enjoyed himself" or words to that effect!
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Summer
Now that Summer has had her vaccinations and enough time has passed, I am starting to introduce her to the other dogs in small doses. Up until now she has been able to view them from a safe distance but yesterday we started letting her meet up with them in her room. Yesterday it was Bella the Beagle who started things off and it went very well indeed. When Bella plays with her best friend, Vinnie, its quite a rough and tumble play time but it was amazing to watch how gentle Bella was with Summer - she reined herself in and was really good with the puppy and put up with being jumped on and getting her paws and ears chewed! They thoroughly enjoyed the supervised play and Bella got an extra piece of liver cake for being so good. I have to say though, that Summer is no shrinking violet!
Today, it is the turn of Scarlett the lovely Cockapoo so a report will follow!
Today, it is the turn of Scarlett the lovely Cockapoo so a report will follow!
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