Thankfully she was fairly calm with us and I actually had to go up into the hills (braes) to get to play in some snow.
This walk is from the carpark by the pylons at the Gleniffer Braes just outside Paisley
It is only about 1.5 miles but today it was a really tough workout as the ground was muddy under them melting snow.
At the most westerly side of this walk it is often pretty boggy underfoot anyway
The views are stunning as they are all over the Gleniffer Braes
Excuse the shaky video, I was trying hard not to fall over! Some of the walk - and some of my nutter dogs enjoying the snow with zoomies and snow dog angels
As you can see - stunning views around every corner
I will be back in better (different) weather for more photos
But today I very much needed my waterproof trousers! Click the image to see them in amazon
Oh an earworm and a ranty post all at once - its a twofer Wednesday
Take a wee look at this video
Some of you will look at that and think 'Amazing' 'What control to have so many dogs under control offlead beside a busy road'
And I suppose in some respects if you are struggling with your dog pulling you all over the place and not listening to you this can look pretty impressive.
But
A few questions to ask yourself there.
Whos benefit is a walk for? Would you like to be those dogs? What is being gained by them being offlead there?
Have a look at the dogs body language, see how their bodies are all curled in on themselves - this is not just the conformation of the dogs, they are keeping their heads and tails down, making themselves look small and unimportant so as to not draw attention to themselves. Notice how they are doing their best not to look at anything as they walk about, their entire focus is making sure they stick to their position.
Dogs need mental and physical exercise every day - walking like this without looking and sniffing is only physical exercise, they might as well be on a treadmill
Notice how they dont want to look at their owner at all and he dosent want to look at them either, I love walking WITH my dogs, smiling at each other, spotting what they have seen, seeing their happy faces when we take the turn to the park, watching the different shapes their waggy tails make when they sniff different smells (I can even tell by the wag if one of their friends has just gone into the park)
Could I walk my dogs offlead to the park? Yes I am sure I could - BUT - it is risking my dogs for the sake of my ego - betting their lives on my training - and all for the time it takes to stick a lead on.
If you are having a bad day and stressed that your dog is pulling a bit - look down at them - smile and be rewarded with that waggy tail - a little bit naughty for me is 100 times better than a depressed robot
Just back from the walk. It was a really lovely day - after the weathermen telling us it was going to rain we had a totaly lovely time.
Mia had a little trouble at the start as we were on a narrow windy path where she didnt have much warning of dogs coming, but then after a couple of miles it opend out and she calmed down lots
When we set off walking we had about £700 pledged and that rose quite a bit by the end of the walk. Currently the total stands at just over £1000!! Which is just fantastic I will post the final result when we get it - of course we are still collecting - if you want to sponsor Mia and Ben please paypal me at pamduthie @ hotmail.com - even 50p will help the doggies lots Here is the group after the walk - Mia is right on the end - but I never would have thought she could be so calm with so many dogs!!
I think about 6 of the dogs on the walk were Irish pound doggies, all happy in their new life and most training to be the agility stars of the future
The girl who organised it for us gave us theses cute certificates at the end
The bottom bit says (and beware - I was blubbing like a girl)
The reason
I would’ve died that day if not for you. I would’ve given up on life if not for your kind eyes. I would’ve used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands. I would have left this life believing that all humans don’t care Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn’t matted, skin that isn’t flea bitten, Good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on, someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist. Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands Your big heart saved me….. You saved me from the terror of the pound. Soothing away the memories of my old life. You have taught me what it means to be loved. I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me. I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair why you do it when there is no more money, no more room, no more homes You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter, make just a little more room… To save one more like me. I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes In the best way I know how Reminding you why you go on trying. I am the reason. The dogs before me are the reason as are the ones who come after. Our lives would’ve been wasted, our love never given We would die if not for you
Sorry there are not more fotos of the walk but working a camera and keeping 2 dogs calm onlead just wasnt easy today
No work for me as it has been snowing since last night.
Means the pups get some nice loooooong walks in the snow
Not sure but it might be Mias 1st ever snow and it is deff the most Ben has ever seen.
Mia had great fun eating snowballs and having major zoomies
Ben has decided to become a snowplough snuffling holes in the snow.
Think the pups had fun, well they have been sleeping most of the day since we got in!
Mia has had a fairly good week. Her recal is getting good and we were in a different park with lots of dogs and she was pretty calm unless they came right up close.
Her stays are getting great too which makes getting fotos of them together much easier. She even sat and waited while I got Ben, set up the camera and took a couple of fotos.
Bens stays are too good too
I put him in a sit, then went to do something with Mia, heard a wee polite 'woof' I had forgot to relese him and he was still sitting there
Poor boy - he got lots of treats for being so good
really interesting to look at some of the pawprints in the snow. The little prints are Mia and Bens prints - I wonder what the big ones were made by??!?!
