The Dog's Blog

Well what a washout. I am sure I heard somewhere that Christmas was supposed to be a GIVING time. Well! no one gave me anything. All that food and not even a small taste. I suppose we did get a few scrag ends but that was about it. As I am sure idiot brother has explained, we even had to spend most of Christmas in the kitchen which wasn’t too bad except I had to share it with HIM. The least little noise outside and he started woofing. How is a dog suppose to sleep with that racket going on.

Just let me have a Sniff

On the positive side we did get a few walks and everyone who stayed at our peak district cottages made a fuss of us (even if they didn’t leave out many scraps).

Anyhow less about last year and more about this year. Well actually this year has been a disaster so far as well. I dare not go out any more. Every time I do, I come back to have my paws washed or a full shower. Now I don’t like water at the best of times, but when all I want to do is lie down in front of the fire for a nap and all I get is mistress coming along with a bucket of cold water, I am not impressed.  So I have decided it is safer to stay inside. Of course every now and then I get physically evicted (to do what a dog has got to do) by mistress or master but at least it has cut down on the number of washes a day.

Me with master

I have been helping mistress to take down the Christmas decorations. Well actually I have just been lying in fron of the fire which I reckon is sort of helping as Mistress could see where I was and could walk around me. Idiot brother of course has just been getting in the way. Master at last has taken down the outside lights (after a lot of grumbling). Mistress has been off  Sales shopping on her own much to the relief of master. So I suppose all in all the new year has started pretty much like any other (except warmer than last year).

Christmas Lights in the Courtyard.

Christmas

Christmas! What Christmas? Mistress and Master’s friends came to stay at our peak district cottages. You know, the friend that is allergic to us. How can anyone be allergic to dogs – what did we ever do wrong. Anyway we were banished to the kitchen and our own room which is just not fair. OK I quite like the kitchen but it is not as cosy as the lounge. Besides we don’t dry off quite as quick on the tiled floor as we do on the nice warm carpet. Smudge of course was totally traumatized. He could see all the food leaving the kitchen and disappearing into the dining room without him. He just sat at the kitchen door whining. To be fair we did get a few scraps but nothing like Smudge was hoping for. [NOTE - the picture shows me in the lounge 'enjoying Christmas' - it is a fabrication. I was taken into the lounge, antlers put on my head, photographed then marched back into the kitchen - a definite case of abuse!]

Even worse than not being allowed in the lounge. We didn’t get taken out for the Christmas Day walk. Now that is definitely abuse and I will be taking the issue up with the local RSPCA. Ok it may have partly been my fault. I had overdone it a bit the day before and had been limping (only a very little bit) in the evening.  So master felt I (and therefore Smudge as well) should be left at home to rest. Why? I was better. I was up for a walk. I tried to nip into the car before anyone noticed. But no! I got thrown out and told to behave. Behave? I want to go for a walk!

Me at Middleton Top on the High Peak Trail

We did get two long walks though. Christmas Eve we went on a long walk along the High Peak Trail. Starting at Brassington and walking to Cromford. Master left a car at one end then picked the other up later. Of course the car transfer was all a bit complicated as we (Smudge and me) aren’t allowed into master’s friend’s car (we might leave dog hair – as if!). So master had to be driven to the other car then drive back to pick us all up.

On Boxing Day we all went for a long walk from home. Out the back fields to the Magpie mine, across to Monyash where we (well they) stopped for a bacon butty sandwich and a mug of tea. Then off down Lathkill Dale towards Over Haddon. Master had cheated a bit by leaving his car near the bottom of the dale at Over Haddon.  So we (or more likely mistress) didn’t have to walk all the way up the hill back to home. We were off our leads most of the day except of course in Monyash and when we went through that field with COWS. I was just about to disappear into the next field to avoid the damn things when master grabbed me and put me back on a lead. I  had no alternative but to go straight through the middle of the big vicious things. I kept close to master – just in case.

Me at the source of the River Lathkill

Master was very excited when we got to the cave that is the source of the River Lathkill. He had never seen water coming out from it as usually it starts 100-200 yards further down the valley. Water was gushing out in torrents (see picture). As there was so much water, in places the footpath was flooded. This slowed mistress down as she had to keep stepping round the big puddles. And she calls us wimpy because we try to avoid puddles. Down the bottom end of the dale things got easier and we could progress a bit faster as mistress could keep up better. All in all it was a nice walk.

My best side (Middleton Top)

Technorati Tags: dog-friendly, high peak trail, Pet friendly holiday, pet walks in peak district, walking

Oops!

As you can see from the picture master had a bit of an oops at our peak district cottages. I personally think it was idiot brothers fault. He probably got in the way. It all happened last week. Our drive didn’t seem particularly icy so master had not salted it (which he usually does, with our help, when there is snow or ice around). He and idiot brother went off down town on some errand or other, leaving me at home, thank goodness. Next thing I notice is master’s 4×4 stuck in the wall at the bottom of the drive and the farmer is pulling it out. Now I can’t believe that master was stupid enough to have skidded into one of our own walls without the help of idiot brother. Idiot brother swears he had nothing to do with it but I am not sure. Anyhow after getting the car pulled out from the wall, master inspected the damage and was very relieved to find that the only damage was a bit of scratched paint on the bumper. Thank goodness for that. Master would have been in a really bad mood for the rest of the day if any serious damage had been done. The wall isn’t in such a good state though and will need rebuilding before the cows come back next year. At least one good thing – I won’t have to jump over that bit of wall for a few months.

Mistress is getting a bit fed up with all the snow. It isn’t as bad as last year but she still doesn’t like it,  especially when she is trying to get the cottages ready for Christmas. We all try to help but she seems to want to do it herself. Well I can’t blame her for not wanting any help from idiot brother but I am sure I could help her to do something. For instance I could check the mince pies or make sure any food was up to scratch. Anyway the snow seems to have gone, so I suppose it will be back to having our paws washed every time we go out!

Me having fun in the snow

Me

At long last a nice day and mistress and master not working at our peak district cottages.  So we could go out for a walk.  About time too. First it was decided we would go to Lathkill Dale. That’s my favourite walk as we don’t have to go in the car. We just walk from home. Then it was decided we would go to Padley Gorge so master could take some pictures (he still fancies himself as a photographer). We both carefully checked to make sure the sandwiches were being prepared (we weren’t going to be fooled again like last week) and made sure they picked up our leads. Then off  in the CAR we went. Luckily it wasn’t far – about 10-15 mins. Once there we managed to park at the station at the bottom of the Gorge.  We were let off our leads almost from the start which we much prefer. It was a beautiful day and the trees were a wonderful colour which unfortunately meant both master and mistress were forever stopping to take photographs. Master decided we would go up the trickier part of the gorge, nearer to the water, which we thought was great fun(scrambling up boulders etc)  but mistress found it hard going. She had to do her usual trick of sliding down steep bits on her bum which is always entertaining.

Padley Gorge

However, the most entertaining part of the walk was when master tried to get into the middle of the gorge to take a photograph.  He slipped and very nearly fell in the water. Luckily he managed to grab a rock before he went in. I went over to see if I could help but he had managed to scramble back. Of course idiot brother just sat and watched.

Lunch time was good. Lucky for us master had packed too many sandwiches so there was some scraps left over for us. After lunch we walked back along a route we hadn’t taken before. Of course mistress got lost and master, with his sat nav, wasn’t much better. Why they don’t tell us where they want to go and leave it up to us I don’t know. Anyhow luckily we got lost almost back at the beginning of the walk. So after a short while we stumbled back on to a track along the gorge we had used on a previous walk.

Waiting for Lunch

Mistress was so full, after her lunch time snack, that she didn’t even want afternoon tea. Which was a bit strange. So we went straight home. It turns out that the walk was only 4 miles. Its just that they made such a meal of going up the gorge it took us (I mean them) ages. Anyhow it was a very enjoyable day out and even idiot brother behaved himself – for once.

Me first

Me being 'washed down'

Well I know it is idiot brother that is supposed to be doing this blog but its about a problem we have had with a cow so it is not much point asking him as he was hiding behind a fence.

There I was making monumental decisions at our peak district cottages  such as ‘should I turn over now’ or ‘should I leave it for a bit longer’ when a phone call came in saying there was a cow on our back lawn.  Well I was ready immediately. Cow dog to the rescue. Unfortunately Mistress and Master didn’t quite see it that way. Something about I would be more of a nuisance than a help. Cheek! Anyhow they went out in the drizzly rain to sort the cow out. Well of course without my help they made a total hash of it. As soon as they had got it back into the field it just jumped over the broken wall again back into the garden (I could have told them that is what would happen).  So they had to get it out again.  In the end they realised that they needed my skills. I had to sit guarding the broken wall (with mistress) while master went off to get a new piece of electric fence (that keeps the damn things out).

The perpetrator

Mistress was having a bit of a problem controlling them as they can be quite cunning if you don’t know them. One can faint to the left while another makes a break for the wall. However, once I was on the job some semblance of control was established. They know me. And they know I won’t be messed with. So they started towing the line and behaving themselves. Idiot brother was of course no where to be seen. You could hear a distant bark as he tried telling them what to do from the safety of our front garden. They of course just ignored him.

When at last master got back and set up the electric fence we could all relax a bit. We then just had to make sure they weren’t so stupid as to walk through it.  Luckily they weren’t and we could all go back in. What do I then get for my troubles? A wash down! I don’t think I deserved that. I wasn’t particularly muddy (well maybe just a bit). At least I got a chew for helping although why idiot brother got one too, I have no idea.

The perpetrator being disrespectful

Anyhow mistress has awarded cow no 885 two ASBOs. One for coming into the garden the first time and a second for coming in again. She nearly gave it three. The third would have been for disrespectful behavior (see photo).  I must point out that any cow getting three ASBOs in a season becomes Beef Burgers (which I hope I will be allowed to sample).

PS – I have just helped to clear the drive of cows and what have I had in return – Another Full WASH. It just isn’t fair.

Me posing with Mistress at Monsal head

At long last we have found a way of getting mistress to keep up with us. It was masters idea. Stick her on two wheels. Tuesday looked like it was going to be the best day for some time so it was decided we would go for a walk.  As the tunnels along the Monsal trail are now open there are a couple of cycle hire places along the trail. So off we went to Hassop Station (about 10 mins from our pet friendly holiday cottages).  We had to wait in the car while they got kitted out. Both came back wearing funny hats and these 2 wheeled things. They did look a bit silly. Anyway as soon as we set off we knew something was different.  We kept getting yelled at to get out of the way. Not usually a problem as we are miles ahead of them (especially mistress). Once we had figured out that it wasn’t going to be one of those backwards and forwards type walks we started to enjoy it.

Mistress keeping up with us.

Not only was mistress keeping up with us, we didn’t get any of the ‘admiring the scenery’ thing.  So we actually progressed rather than dithering about. It did mean that we hadn’t as much time to explore and check things out but it was a nice change to keep going.

We got as far as Millers Dale, where we had started last weeks walk, before mistress was complaining about being exhausted (we were just getting warmed up). So they found a bench and sat down to lunch. For the first time ever we had lunch with another group of walkers. Once I had figured out I wasn’t going to get anything else to eat from master and mistress I put on my ‘I am a starved dog’ look and went round the other walkers. Works every time. Loads of tit-bits.

On the way back mistress realised why she had felt so tired. It had been uphill all the way from Hassop which of course meant it was downhill all the way back. That made her very happy. We got back to Hassop in time for what mistress felt was a well deserved afternoon tea.

At Hassop for afternoon tea

Just an aside. I must tell you what idiot brother did before we went off for a walk. Mistress took us out for our morning constitutional but he spent the entire time in the bushes behind the car park. When he emerged he was absolutely covered with those little sticky balls.  You know the ones that get everywhere.  The idiot had been crawling through the weeds and everything. Master spend about 30 mins trying to get them out of his fur and from behind his ears etc. There were 100′s of them . I think he still has a few stuck to him.

Oh and before you ask – yes they are both complaining about sore bums today.

Me in Chee Dale

Well as mistress was convinced we were going to get some nice weather we all sat down to plan where we would go. Plan A was to go to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park & National Coal Mining museum. It was decided this wasn’t a good idea as dogs aren’t allowed down mines. So although it would have been fun to see the sculptures, we would have had to sit in the car for part of the day.  So we vetoed it. Plan B was Biddulph Gardens – we vetoed this as it is National Trust and they don’t like dogs so we probably wouldn’t be allowed in the grounds. Plan C was to go to the National Arboretum – we also vetoed this as they don’t like dogs either. Plan D was a walk in Dove Dale – we were up for this as we like Dove Dale. However, mistress stubbed her little toe last week and she thought it was a bit of a long walk. Plan E   was a walk in

Me with a friend

Chee Dale. Everyone agreed that this was Ok. So we set off from our peak district cottages to Millers Dale (about 10 mins away) and started out along the Monsal Trail and then dropped down into Chee Dale. We were allowed of our leads from the start so we went off ahead to check things out. After about 15 mins we found out that Chee Dale had been a very very bad mistake. Not only was there a lot of  ‘admiring the scenery’ by Mistress but worse, because she thought it was a bit slippery (we didn’t), we all had to go at a snails pace. I must admit even master found it a bit slow going at times but mistress I think was wishing we had gone with plan D. Anyhow as everyone was watching were they were going we could get on with exploring without too many interruptions. Even Smudge lost his footing on one of the stepping stones and nearly fell in. I thought it was particularly funny.

Me checking to see where everyone was

Anyhow mistress recovered when we got out of the dale as there was somewhere to buy an Ice-cream. They didn’t buy us one although we did make friends with a little dog who lived there. We sat down high up looking over the Monsal Trail in glorious sunshine where everyone but me had a rest. I though I should explore a little more just in case. At least the journey back was a lot quicker as mistress didn’t have to watch out for slippery boulders etc. There was a bit of a scary moment when we went through a field with some sheep but I kept close to master just in case. We arrived back at the car just in time for mistress’s afternoon tea. Amazingly she didn’t want to bother. I think she was exhausted from the earlier part of the walk. Well there has to be a first time for everything but I have a feeling we won’t be walking in Chee dale again for a while which is a shame as we enjoyed it.

Me near the Lion

Well it is that time again! Chatsworth Sculpture time. As Chatsworth is only a few minutes from our peak district cottages we always pick a nice day and go for a walk around the outdoor sculptures. Well that is what they call them. Master calls them something else altogether. Its always a pleasant day out (even if we do have to be on our best behaviour and on our leads). Chatsworth is huge so there is plenty of walking, sniffing and general exploring to do. Unfortunately there is also a lot of sitting and admiring as well (or in masters case a lot of ‘what is that supposed to be?’) I must admit I would have thought the Duke would be very cross with the people that dumped a load of rusty metal on his front lawn.

Me next to the rusty metal thing

Master would have gone up the wall. We all agreed that the best ‘sculpture’ was the lion. The worse was a couple of rocks in amongst existing rocks. I personally think they just put a rope and sign around it to fool people. Of course we weren’t allowed around the house – as usual NO DOGS! we did manage to join master and mistress for lunch outside at the cafe. Not that we got more than a few scraps.

One of our favorite guests has just left. For years we have had great fun with the lady as she is scared of dogs. Ever since we were puppies we have been able to make her do what we want.

Me in our fields

I personally can’t see how anyone can be scared of idiot brother but I must admit that when I put on my ‘bad dog’ look, I can look mean. Anyhow, this year something went wrong. Either we are losing our touch or she has become so used to us she is no longer scared which took the fun out of things.  I suppose the upside is she did make a nice fuss of us and even gave us the odd tit-bit. Maybe I will work on my ‘bad dog’ look for New year when they are returning.

Master has put some more pictures of the Sculpture things on our cottages facebook Page see http://www.facebook.com/peak.cottages.4u

Me at the ROCK!

A walk on the moors but not as we know it! As it was a nice day it was decided we would walk up to the Salt Cellar from Ladybower Reservoir. As the heather was also in flower this seemed like a really good idea. Master packed everything as mistress was busy with the washing etc. Off we went very early for us (you need to be there early to get a parking space) and got there about 10:00. Ladybower is about 25-30 mins from our peak district cottages.  We were about to set of when it was realised that master had forgotten to pack our leads. Typical – I new I should have got mistress to check everything. Luckily there was a spare set of short leads in the car. So no problem. Off we went thinking that we would be let of our leads once we were away from the road. But Oh NO!. When we go to the forest path there was a great big sign that said “NO DOGS EXCEPT ON LEADS due to nesting birds”.  There was also a sign that said “Shooting Today”. Which sounded a bot worrying.  So off we went and for the first time since we were puppies we were on leads ALL day. Not only leads but short leads. At least we didn’t have to do that “at heal” thing we have to do down town. That is definitely for the more namby pamby dog. Not the roughy toughy worldly dogs like us (well like me anyhow – not sure about smudge). I was lucky I got master. Poor old Smudge (deserves him right) got mistress all day. Which meant walking at about 1 mile an hour and stopping to ‘admire the view’ every 2 or 3 steps.  He was not happy as he likes to be out in front checking the route but all he saw all day was masters boots in front of him.  The heather was out and mistress and master were very impressed. So would we have been if we had been allowed to play in it. We met some of the Shoot beaters who had dogs with them. They weren’t on leads. If we had been given a chance I am sure we could have helped. After all we have been practicing for years. In fact we practice, by chasing swallows, most days (during summer). How hard can it be?  Anyway we got to the Salt Cellar after about 3 miles of walking. Well what can I say. Its a rock. No point hanging around lets go. But Oh No. We had to do the photographs, stare  in wonder at the ROCK before we could move on.

Me with Ladybower reservoir in the background

We stopped for lunch near to the Rock. Master found a handy ledge where we could  sit and admire the view (well mistress did). Smudge fell asleep (once all the food had gone) and I spent the  time catching flies. There were millions of them.  I think they are called Heather Flies.  They come out on the moors when the Heather is in flower and swarm when the sun is out. As soon as the sun goes in, they disappear.  After my escapade with the wasps I am a bit more wary about flying things but these seemed OK and didn’t seem to bite and were great fun to catch (which wasn’t difficult).  After lunch, which wasn’t too bad as we had a few scraps, we went ‘off piste’. This meant scrambling over a load of gorse and heather etc. to get to a lower path. Great fun (would have been better off our leads) but mistress was very very slow. Smudge was lucky. Master looked after both of us on the way down. We could have had major fun if we had been off our leads as we disturbed a load of rabbits and could have chased them for ages. Instead they just stood around 20-30 yards away sneering at us. Let me get at them!

OK so what is the next job!

The walk back was uneventful other than master having to take Smudge for mistress’s ‘final decent’. We got back to the car then went  to look at the Howden and Derwent reservoirs. They seemed very empty to us but then what do dogs know about reservoirs (you can’t eat them, chase them or play with them so what is the point). On the way back, as usual, we had to stop for mistress’s afternoon tea. At least they sat outside and allowed us to join them even if we didn’t get anything.

You can see more of master’s photos on our cottages Facebook Fan Page at – pictures.

Me at the start of one of the Tunnels

I know Smudge mentioned in his blog about us having a walk along the new Monsal trail but being Smudge of course he didn’t tell you much about it. So I though I would, as I found the new trail very exciting. Over the last few months they have opened up all the old tunnels along the Monsal trail. So you can now walk (or cycle) from Bakewell all the way to Buxton.

Anyhow last week off we went with Master and Mistress’s friends. The trail is not far from our Bolehill Holiday cottages. In fact if you wanted to walk from Bakewell it would be no more than 2.5miles. But we decided to go to Cressbrook and walk round Cressbrook and join the trail further along, so mistress could see the new views from between the tunnels, and then walk back to Monsal Head.

Me in one of the tunnels

It has to be said that master wanted to hire electric bikes from the Hassop Bike Hire Shop (which is on the trail near Bakewell) but he was overruled.  I wasn’t sure about the bikes bit either. It would have meant that Smudge and I would have had to run all the way. Fine for me but Smudge is a bit overweight and may not of made it.

I can report that the trail is very similar to what it was before.  Lots of smells, plenty of areas to explore and we are allowed off our leads for a while.  The tunnels looked a bit foreboding when I first looked at them but once I realised they were well lit and there were loads of different areas to explore inside them it was great fun.  They have even tarmaced the path for us so it makes it easier on or paws (very considerate towards dogs I thought).

Me 'chilling' in our front garden

Of course we had to do a lot of the ‘stopping to admire the view’ bit after emerging from each of the tunnels which slowed us down a bit but mistress enjoyed it.  Once we go to Monsal Head we had to climb out of the dale to the tea shop at the top where of course mistress had to have Coffee and a cake. Nothing for us of course.