Sorry everyone, a bit late with my blog this week. Its been a busy end to the week.
What a fun week! It's been wet again, I'm beginning to wonder where all this water is coming from! A bit of horsing around on the walks this week made things interesting at times.
So, what happened this week?
Monday was a nice day, the Boss took us all to Marlow where we parked up near the Rugby Club and walked back towards Spade Oak. We normally walk from Spade Oak to Marlow Rugby Club. Same walk, different way around.
The really great thing was we played ball three times Monday as well as doing the whole long walk. The Boss said that we needed a run around to get rid of our energy. I think we were a bit overexcited for a Monday!
Tuesday, we had a walk with Jasper in the morning, he was on form wanting lots of chasing from me. I obliged obviously!
Mid-morning walk Willow, Stan, Rio, Poppy and me for a very chilled out walk around the Thicket. We started to do the outside circuit path when all of a sudden, we happened upon three large horses walking towards us. The boss was aware that Rio and Stan are wary of horses. Everyone listened to the Boss quickly once they saw the horses. We then turned around and walked away from the horses taking the first left turn thinking they would carry on.
Huh, those horses went left too so we managed to see them again a lot closer so we'd have to walk past them. The Boss called everyone in and Stan and Rio went onto their leads along with Poppy but Willow and myself were confident to walk next to the Boss.
The riders said thank you to the Boss as we were all very calm, even though Rio and Stan were a bit on edge. Then one horse whinnied and stamped! That did it it for poor Stan he'd have legged it if he could've. He got quite scared, but the Boss calmed him down very quickly. Everyone was released and it was as if nothing had happened!
The rest of that walk was full of sniffing, lots of sentry work from Poppy. I noted that she was very good with all other dogs on Tuesday making it an immensely calm walk through the undergrowth with a bit of deer scenting thrown in.
Finally at the end of the walk there was a little meeting about our Collie Capers Barkshire walk for charity. Everybody at the meeting thought it was a great idea and would like to join in. Me and the Boss will plan that later and publish the details for you all in a little extra Blog tomorrow afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon with Tess, Otto and Murphy saw us all do the big Dorney loop. It's a great 2.5 hour walk. Everyone was good on Tuesday, no mishaps not even from Murphy!
Wednesday morning saw us back at the Thicket as it was raining a little. Sparky always loves his run out with me and Nethy. We bumped into Willow with her mum.
Sparky always wants a chase and a bark when we're out. Wednesday I was up for it too, it may have gotten a bit out of hand until the Boss shouted at us to stop making so much noise! We did for two minutes then carried on and Nethy joined in as well. That was it for the Boss we were called in for a sit down talking to. After that we did calm down and finished the walk quietly! No point arguing with the Boss, she withholds treats!
Thursday, yuk what a day that was. Woke up to pouring rain, read the weather forecast - nothing but rain all day - seriously!
Off we went to pick up Jasper we were both in our waterproofs. Mine was more waterproof than the boss' outfit as we had to pop back to HQ for a change of coat it had been that wet!
I said I wanted to keep my #Ruffwear Cloud Chaser on as it keeps me mostly dry and warm when being out all day long.
Walk number two with Poppy and Seamus was pretty damp too, we headed for the woods and stayed as much under cover as possible. Lots of great scent work and treat finding exercises. Poppy wouldn't get out of the van at first, she really doesn't like the rain! The boss told her she could stay in the van until we returned and closed the door, but Poppy barked and said she didn't want to stay on her own. Out she came and enjoyed it once she'd stopped moaning! Seamus loves the water so no problem there!
Walk number three was a good one, this is us all of us at the end of the walk.
Boy it was damp, we headed off down the river to stay under the trees. It was so wet that it didn't really matter where we went that afternoon. We were wet, cold and very dirty at the end of it. The Boss had to clean us all up, it took ages.
First Murphy, he had a cold shower and was then wrapped up in his warm dry bag. Then Stan and me we had a warm shower at Stan's house. Stan went into his warm dry bag, and I had to go back in the van as we still had to take Scout home and clean her up! Scout also had a cold shower outside but was dried off well and left in her nice warm house to cuddle up on her favourite chair. This is Scout and Stan on the way home.
Friday was not such a wet day, but everywhere we went was so wet from Thursday. The Boss had an idea that we'd try our normal Spade Oak walk to save time driving. Bad idea!
We get there, lead up and walk to the river. We can't get anywhere as the river Thames was in the field again. To add to our problem, the Boss had forgotten her long wellies as they were still in the drying room from Thursday. She only had short wellies on. Complete nightmare apparently!
We were all much more concerned because she had also forgotten the treat bag which was in the drying room with the wellies. How could she?!!!!
The walked turned into a big adventure. We had a meeting; choices were back in the van and drive to the fields or try the walk around the quarry lake and through Little Marlow. We decided to try the new walk. What could go wrong? New sniffs, new walk - exciting!
What a walk! We had to first stay on our leads to go down the road to the correct footpath. Easy! Nethy and Lady got so excited about a new walk they were animated, running off ahead and going the wrong way. What can you do!
The Boss called them back and told them to stay close and calm down. They stayed close, I wouldn't say they were calm!
We went through one field and headed around the corner when there was a huge ruckus. A field full of ponies and horses. The Boss took this photo after we had passed safely.
The big ol' fella on the left decided he was going to charge us Collies walking along minding our business. He ran at us stamping his foot and whinnying noisily, which made the other big horse follow suit. Scared the living daylights out us it did! He was behind a fence, but it wasn't that big a fence.
The Boss called us in, we all came rather quickly first command! All the while the big fella was stamping and shouting at us. Lady ran forward to bark at him - that was useless and only made him worse. We don't know what she was thinking she's the smallest!
Nethy and Stan were also freaked out, but stayed close to me and the Boss until he ran straight at us again! Nethy legged it into the bushes and Stan ran back the way we had come. All the while the Boss was telling us to ignore him and stay close. Once again when everyone was together, we carried on walking, he did it again! This time stamping both his feet and running really close to the fence.
Once more Nethy headed for the bushes and kept going in the right direction whilst Stan ran backwards, this time the horse gave chase and Stan lost his nerve. The Boss, me and Lady were all safely past by this stage. The Boss told me and Lady to wait whilst she went back to help Stan who was quivering the other side of the field. She persuaded Stan to come to her slowly, as every time he started to run, the horse chased him. I think he was playing a game, or just did not like dogs!
Stan kept coming towards us very slowly, so I went to help and stood in between him and the horse. I gave that great big lump the 'Sheep Stare' and he stopped in his tracks. I stalked forward but the Boss stopped me as Stan was safe now and we could continue our walk.
We decided that we couldn't come back that way! For our sanity!
In the next field the water was blocking the path and was too high for small wellies! We didn't mind we all ran through, then laughed as the boss had to find her way through without falling in the slippery mud!
Eventually after 90 minutes of mud and water and a couple of roads with huge quarry lorries on we got back safely to the van without any more escapades.
I don't think I've mentioned new boy Hank the Weimaraner yet. He joined us a couple of weeks ago. He comes on a Monday for a solo walk as he does get a little excited around other dogs. The Boss thinks he's great! I think he's OK too, just needs a bit more self control around dogs. This week we took him out for an off lead run, you can see him on our Instagram page. Friday afternoon he came for a harness fitting. He now has a really smart #Ruffwear Front Range Harness for walking out in. I'll let you know how he's getting along over the next few weeks. He should be OK to join a group in about a months time as he is also attending training courses with his Mum and Dad. Lets hope he does well!
That's it for today!
Have a great week and don't forget to follow us!
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CollieCapers),
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/colliecapersuk) and
Zac xx
I live in Liverpool with my collie cora I really wish you were local the walking service sounds so amazing! Well done by the horses zac and pals!!