The Goose House

#PuppyWelfareRulesOK ?

2009-08-02T12:54:00.018+01:00

Photo courtesy of @banpuppyfarmsuk

We've been talking on twitter about different hash tags that could pull together #banpuppyfarming with the #banpuppymills and #stoppuppymills campaigns.

Do we want to ban puppy farms or make sure animal welfare laws are enforced? If we do the second will the first fall into place?

Part of the problem may be its an issue that crosses departments and silo thinking and working makes these sort of issues someone elses problem.

I havent heard much from DEFRA on this issue but surely its a DEFRA issue?

Our main problems seem to be that either the animal welfare laws aren't clear enough, aren't well enough drafted or they aren't being enforced

So how about this as an alternative we can all get behind on twitter?

#PuppyWelfareRulesOK (without the ?)

After all the only reason to try to get it trending on twitter is to help educate people about how to solve the problem.

What do you think is the best way to educate people?

How best can we use twitter work towards this aim?

Be good to hear from you, talk to us @wellbalancedpup on twitter.

@jenkirby @banpuppyfarmsuk @marcthevet @GalwaySPCA @DanDare6 @banpuppyfarming @susankramer #PuppyWelfareRulesOK ?

wellbalancedpup 2nd Aug 12.44 via TweetDeck

All life is training

2009-08-02T10:31:00.010+01:00

I've been realising that I've been getting rather sloppy about basic routines that in a way can then have a knock on effect upon everyone's safety. Its one of the things about having a pack, keeping everyone on board all the time is a bit of a juggling act. Two out of three is not good enough when you are talking about number three chasing a distraction off lead. The slight hesitation or lack of concentration while you are dealing with one of the other dogs can be long enough for an accident to happen.

It was all brought very close to home when a friend's dog was run over on a busy road at the end of an off lead walk. She was putting the lead on one of the two as she entered the underpass and at that exact point in time, her very sensible gorgeous girl must have caught a scent, rushed off up the embankment and jumped a barrier right in front of a lorry. It happened so fast. Its the sort of thing none of us could ever forget and such a shock particularly as she was such a well trained and responsive dog.

So Archie's bid to catch up with another dog walker and friend recently as I lifted the hatch back of the car made me think I needed to take this very seriously. WE could be an accident waiting to happen if I don't get my act together. As I've mentioned on this blog previously we have been working at a mix of more controlled off and on lead work as well as long down stays in the back of the car.

We're all working well at it, the strange thing is that its Lilly who is breaking the down stay in the back of the car at the moment. But I have realised that her breaking the stay is linked to a routine for feeding the dogs that I had been following.

So I am working on rethinking what I do so that our routines are strengthening positive patterns. At the end of the day everything we do or expect or allow is part of conditioning our dogs behaviour. Training isn't just when you decide you are going to practise something or when you specifically go to a class, it is all the time you spend with your dogs and all the time they spend with each other without you taking an active role.

So Archie I'm not going to let you sit at the back of the class putting in minimal effort; Lilly just because you are gorgeous doesn't mean you can get away with anticipating what I am going to say rather than waiting for the command and Daisy , hmmm, you need more time on your own stretching you, as you just eat up everything I throw your way (metaphorically speaking).

I need to plan our time together more carefully so we can build solid foundations that will keep us all safe. Build emergency routines into our playtimes so when things do go wrong we can pull them back, build safety nets that help us enjoy our freedom. Routines that can cope with the unexpected because in the words of John Lennon "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans".

Summer colours, bees and fruits

2009-07-26T17:46:00.044+01:00

I spent some time just looking today, appreciating

how beautiful things are in the garden right now.

the ground is still delivering

despite a lack of attention from me..

I dug some more of our own potatoes,

still more in the ground to dig

but these will give us a few meals.

First gooseberries, enough for a small crumble.

Courgettes on the way......

Bees buzzing...

and the laurel is in flower too,

one of the benefits of not cutting the hedge..

So all's well with the world!

Just have to make sure I put the leek seedlings in soon

as they are another vege that gives a lot back

for a very small input of time,

just right for my sort of gardening ...

Walk (& swim) round the tarn, much to Lilly's consternation

2009-07-19T15:31:00.025+01:00

Often I put my iphone pics up on twitpic and forget to use them on the blog but I thought I'd like to keep a bit more of a record of these ones as it was a really nice day.

We're really lucky to have such amazing countryside all around us and I don't think I have blogged about this place before so this is a tarn about 15 minutes drive from the house and then about a twenty minute walk up the hill. We always used to swim in it as kids and every now and then still do.It's quite a bleak place in some ways but at this time of year there's lots of colour hidden away, like the heather in flower, the bog cotton and the lilies in the tarn, so quite an appropriate place to come after all.

There are boggy patches round the far side where the Bog Cotton flourishes, and as well as watching your step so you don't end up in over your boots, you always have to be careful when you walk round here, to make a lot of noise as there are skinny dippers every now and then, real "wild swimming."

With bogs comes mud so even Lil, who as a pup would always walk around a puddle rather than rush through, got muddy but not so you would really notice.

We found some wild water lilies in flower which was a real treat & I was pleased to get a shot of Lil with her namesake but she had heard something in the distance and just wanted to find out what was going on. And as ususal she was right, there was something going on. Teen#2 who had been hanging out with some friends on the other side had decided to swim over to meet us, have a chat....

and then swim back .... Lil was really worried about him and watched him the whole way back.

Ben & Pebble

2009-07-19T15:13:00.016+01:00

Now that it's the school holidays it means we have more time to visit friends locally. Meet Ben a very gorgeous GR who is the size of a bear and loves chewing.

and Pebble who is a very successfully re-homed rescue dog, who has settled into her new home as if she'd always been here. Need to take our good camera next time we go over, just to show we can get those action shots, just seriously off duty here.
Ben really liked this ring, but most of the time they were chasing around having a great time.
Pebble is definitely the Boss dog so we brought several toys but as no one stayed still very long, a group shot wasn't easy to set up especially just using the camera on the iPhone ....so much of the time this is all we got!

Then while the dogs had a rest, the humans went in & laughed at themselves trying to do Yoga on Wii Fit instead. After all they need to keep fit to keep up with their four legged friends.

Walks, near misses & our own potatoes

2009-07-19T13:07:00.018+01:00

Well, Summer's moving on & the crowd here have been busy with hospital visits, I'm afraid, this time my mum. We're working on the hospital to let us bring Lilly to see her -she has been in for what must now be a couple of weeks. But in the mean time, Lilly and I have been getting my dad back into his walking routine while she is in hospital.

He always likes walks with a bit of history and this was one we hadn't been along for about 15 yrs! To make the most of the time we decided to have a walk & a picnic which worked out well. This could be a good one with a wheel chair which fits our agenda as we are trying to suss out potential walks they can do together when she comes home.

So, no gardening to mention and the place is getting rather wild. But today we lifted our first potatoes, they taste so different to shop bought ones, don't know why.

Just lifted enough for lunch which is in the oven as I blog. Photo taken of them in my own basket, made with a lot of help at a workshop a few years ago, shows why the beautiful ones hen4 makes are such good value, a thing of beauty for years to come, well hers not mine!

As usual nothing happens here without the dogs getting involved, Daisy had to check out the potatoes that I thought, misguidedly, to show them as part of practising a basic leave command, they obviously smelt scrumptious and behind the camera I lost "command" of the situation! But they all scrubbed up fine and due to the cook's perogative of being able to test things first, I can tell you they taste amazing. Talking of training....

.....we have left the dog crate that is normally in the back of the car at my Dad's house so the dogs can stay there & stay cool while I visit the hospital. Which meant we had a near miss this week, just as we set out on a favourite walk. Despite the "stay" as I lifted the hatchback which usually is enough, Archie, the cool dude at the end (who had seen someone else set off just before us) slipped under the door as I lifted it and hared up the path to greet them, with Lilly in close pursuit. All well that ends well and they soon returned to my call but I wasn't happy and realised we needed to return to basics, without a barrier, in the boot. So here they are practising a group stay in the back of the car. Archie looks as if he is soo bored with the whole thing but he is the one who really needs it.

I hope we will be able to take Daisy to some events as part of the Press Pack soon, so Lilly has been giving her some pointers on how to be a star, and show off her best side. To be honest I think she will be a natural, but we have started practising some games we can play with very little space so she doesn't get bored. She is a different kettle of fish to Lilly, still gentle but very fast and quick which could be scary to people. So she has lots to learn.

The garden is moving on as always & the lavateria has come into flower at the front of the house. The nasturciums are coming along in the salvaged fishing float my brother gave me after a flotsam walk along the beach, it works really well, they stay damp as there's no drainage and I rather like the ragged edge of the float against the green leaves.

Any way I think Archie is telling me I am burning dinner so I had better go & see what I can salvage from the oven!

Fields of buttercups.

2009-06-23T17:15:00.004+01:00

This weekend we went up to have a look at my brother's new field. He is planning to develop part of it into a forest garden, which is a mix of fruit trees and perennials, including perennial vege, which I hadn't realised was possible. Its a permaculture approach that you can add chickens or even pigs into and it becomes self sustaining. There's an old stable with water on tap and across the road another smaller field with a boggy patch in the corner with wild water cress and frogs and newts, which he will be leaving quite wild.

We picked some elderflowers for some elderflower cordial and Lilly had a grand time chasing around in the buttercups. So here are some calendar girl shots of Lil looking gorgeous as always. The other two had a trip to the kennels, close to home, as turning up to stay at someone's house with three dogs is pushing anyone's hospitality.This was a nice relaxing day out for Lil after her hard work at the show last weekend.

Another important reason was to keep introducing my little nephew, Robert, to the dogs to make sure that he becomes as besotted as we are. The smile on his face when he met Lil again showed we are on the right track there. The American football is one of her favourite toys at the moment, Owen can throw it a mile and she loves to chase after it. We, of course, forgot it in the buttercups and had to drive back to fetch it later as it is an essential part of life back home.

The grass is growing fast and everyone is getting involved in the gardening.

2009-06-14T16:41:00.001+01:00

As you can see the grass is pretty long in the field so finding balls is getting more of a challenge for the girls. Archie joins in from time to time when they least expect it, when he takes a break from watching the boundaries and warning off foxes.

The paddling pool from Freecycle has come into its own with everyone using it from time to time, the ducks and geese make a real mess of it and then its a great gunky mess to add to the plants in the evening. Tomatoes in particular are getting this as a treat.

But as with all families sometimes its hard to share

The hens have been laying "off piste", which in the past was more amusing than anything while we hunted for them and then persuaded them to lay back in the hen house again.

But this year we have discovered that Daisy has taken to hunting them out and scoffing the lot. She ate up a clutch of 8 that I had just moved to the ark to try & persuade one of the hens to go broody. But today she retrieved two, undamaged and gently laid them at my feet so I think perhaps we might be able to train her up as our own egg hunter, with a reasonable reward in exchange, of course.

The dogs have been giving the garden a bit of a battering recently with this clump of ornamental grasses becoming the favourite wrestling place, probably as it is fun to roll off the top of the clump. It's also where all the lost balls keep emerging after a few days.

And of course if I take an interest in a plant for any reason everyone has to come and find out why and bring a toy just in case there's a game afoot.
Archie in particular keeps an eye out for mice hiding in corners behind pots and containers.

Mid week I had a trip to the Applestore in Manchester to set up a 1to1 session, although its good to get into town it feels even better to get back home "in the sticks"

So, back to the chase....to help save some plants from being barged by the dogs playing chase around the place I planted up some old tyres which are proving a good solution. I don't spend time weeding, the hens can't reach inside to eat them before I get to them and the dogs don't knock them over. So here are some potatoes and mixed salad happily coexisting with our strange collection of animals.

Fly the gander has been rather solitary while Mo was sitting on her eggs. After she had been sitting for over 35 days and protecting them from all and sundry, in particular from Daisy, I came to the conclusion that they weren't fertile.I took my life in my hands, while she left the nest for a drink, to steal the eggs and checked them one by one. There was no doubt as each one exploded as soon as I cracked them. Afterwards @auntywainright told me on twitter that I should have put them in a warm bowl of water and if they were fertile and near to hatching they would have bobbed around. I think she told me last year and that's what we did with the ducks eggs but it escaped my memory this year. But no harm done as they were definitely infertile. Poor Mo what a waste of energy and commitment.
Anyway the pair are out and about together again, Mo just has to get back into condition having not eaten as well as normal while she was sitting. Fly is looking very handsome, its disappointing the eggs weren't fertile but he had an eye infection just before she laid that clutch so perhaps he just hadn't been interested! Its a shame we'll now have to wait until next year as its unlikely she'll lay anymore this year. I may buy some Embden goslings to grow on for Christmas instead, we'll have to see....In which case I had better get cutting some grass so there is enough new grass for everyone.

Bailey on Slug Patrol

2009-05-02T16:59:00.001+01:00

Just to finish this stream of blogs of the feathered variety and since the ducks haven't had much of a look in recently... here's Bailey, the drake, checking out the opportunities in the newly planted up tyres.

Bob Flowerdew would be proud of me. They work really well as instant raised beds, particularly good for potatoes, as you can keep adding another tyre on top as you "earth" them up and Bailey provides the alternative to slug pellets. The old carpet underneath hides an already dug over bed with a deep layer of chicken muck and straw preparing for planting later in the year. I haven't decided what but it lets me think about it and when the tyres are finished with I just knock them over, lift the carpet and spread the compost on top of the bed below.

Well thats the theory, we shall see how it works, this is my plan for low maintenance vege gardening while I am off doing things with camera or dogs or both.

Meet our new cockerel, still looking for a name for him

2009-05-02T16:42:00.001+01:00

This is the culprit that scratched Fly, the Ganders eye, which resulted in three trips to the vet, eye ointment twice daily and three jabs of antibiotics. I originally called him Charlie but I think I might have to find something a bit stronger. He is giving the hens a much higher place in the pecking order. Before they were always pushed out by the geese but Charlie is not having that now. After about a month of putting up with it, he chased Fly half around the field, both of them nearly flying. I may have to put out the food in two seperate places to stop any disagreements over food. Remind you of any discussions about dogs and food sharing?

Didn't realise I needed to use a Weanafeeder with my feathered friends.

At the end of the day he is probably just doing his job, looking after the girls.

Squirrel's pups have all found really great homes

2009-05-02T16:23:00.001+01:00

One of the most important things for any one who is looking for homes for their puppies is to spend some time before any decisions are made, talking to potential puppy owners to be sure they can give the right homes for your pups.

Choosing the right homes from the start can help make sure the pup never has to be rehomed later in life. As well as making sure the potential owners undertand the needs of your breed of dog, there is the issue of personalities and lifestyles.

If you get the match right with pup and owner personalities then everything else falls into place so much more easily.

Mo the Steinbacker Goose is sitting on four eggs

2009-05-02T16:17:00.001+01:00

Fingers crossed there are some goslings on the way.

Murphy, the Winner of the Most Handsome Dog at Scruffts, Manchester heat

2009-05-02T16:12:00.001+01:00

Well he is rather handsome isn't he.

But we're a bit biased as he's part of the

wellbalancedpup family

Meet Molly, chilling out at work at WCF

2009-05-02T16:03:00.001+01:00

Spring is here: From Rose

2009-03-18T14:40:00.001Z

Its really warm out today, the daffs are open and you can almost hear the grass starting to grow again. Scout and Lilly look ready for anything. All being well, this time next year or the year after, Lilly will be mated and we will be expecting our own spring puppies. But first its the round of health checks for her and we'll be spending this year looking for a healthy, happy and handsome mate for her.

Lilly has such a great temperament and she is the sort of dog that if she was your first you would think you were a great dog handler but actually she is simply a great dog. Sue Jones chose her for me from Annie's litter based on knowing me and having watched her from a tiny pup and she got the match just right. I will only mate her if I have a list of people I would be happy homing one of her pups with and if I find a dog that "is good enough". I feel rather like the potential mother in law from hell - no dog will be good enough for her unless they really come to scratch. But she is such a great dog that if we get it right I have no doubt she will have some great puppies who will bring as much joy to their owners as she has to me.

But before that comes the health checks, starting with hip scores, which to be honest i am a bit nervous about. I don't like the idea of her having a general anaesthetic unnecessarily. I have heard that you can have it done under a sedative in some places so perhaps i will investigate that. The bottom line there is no point looking for a mate for her unless her hip scores are good, so watch this space. Her dad, Fox, has a really low score and Annie too so all being well they should be good.

Squirrel's pups have opened their eyes

2009-03-18T14:33:00.001Z

But you can't see that when they snuggle up together asleep! More pup pics coming soon on Mirks Blog.

Back home on the ranch

2009-03-10T18:37:00.001Z

The geese went on holiday to Jonah's farm and spent the whole time grazing in the orchard with a rhea called Ricky acting as nursemaid to some new born lambs and their mums. They spent the night in the barn with the piglets and lambs for company!

Well I wasnt that pleased with the fact I was left at home while the rest of the crew went to Crufts but someone had to dog the office. They did a great job though and you can see some of the photos at the Press Pack blog . Actually I did cheer up and Archie, Lil and I had a good time too at Barking Byre but don't tell Rose - I want to make sure I go next time.

PS They also brought me back a great toy and I'm happy we're all back together again

Palma is an Aunty New Cesky Terrrier Pups Day 1

2009-02-26T16:38:00.001Z

Palma, one of Scouts roving Reporters has sent me the first pics of the new Ridley pups.

Aren't they tiny and such gleaming black coats. If you want to find out more about Ceskys check out their blogs and things. Or you could follow Cesky2000 on Twitter!

https://webmailcluster.1and1.co.uk/xml/deref?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridleyceskyterriers.co.uk%2F
https://webmailcluster.1and1.co.uk/xml/deref?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ceskyterrier.co.uk%2F
https://webmailcluster.1and1.co.uk/xml/deref?link=http%3A%2F%2Fridleyceskyterriers.wordpress.com%2F

Murphy, the Springer joins us to keep us upto date on the Microchipping Campaign

2009-02-23T08:00:00.003Z

Hello Scout,
I’m Murphy- a 9 month old springer spaniel. I live with a family of 4 and the youngest girl (Lauren) is my favourite as she feeds me every night, lets me clamber all over her bed, cuddles and kisses me and feeds me lots of treats! She also plays a game with me where she hides treats in the garden- and I go and try to find them! That’s my favourite game of all.

She’s involved in an animal action group called S.O.F.A (it stands for Speak Out For Animals) at her school and the members of the group are running a petition to make microchipping of all dogs compulsory. They are basically trying to make it law for all dogs to be micro chipped- and I totally agree with them, as I would hate it if I went missing and was rehomed with a different family. How would someone else know what my favourite game is?! I think their campaign would help a lot of dogs like me to stay safe and reunited with their family if we got separated.

I would love to keep you updated with the progress of the S.O.F.A club- I’m sure plenty will be going on in the next few months!

They now have 7360 signatures on their
petition- but if you would like to sign it, it can be accessed on the internet- https://webmailcluster.1and1.co.uk/xml/deref?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gopetition.com%2Fonline%2F19925.html and several girls will be handing round the petition at Crufts on Saturday 7th- so it will also be able to be signed then as well. About 20 girls will be at Crufts on that day- and they will be accompanied by the SOFA leader- Sue Cole.

If you would like to talk to any of the girls on that day, they will be at the Dog Theft Action's stand, 4, 6, & 8 in hall 2 to discuss all issues relating to dog theft, microchipping and scanning in the UK.
See you soon
Murphy

Find out about our Press Pack - Latest News

2009-02-23T08:00:00.002Z

Have a look at the Press Pack for news of our Dream Team on their way to Crufts

10 honest things about myself by Scout - To qualify as a winner of the Honest Scrap Award awarded to me by Fenway

2009-02-11T14:18:00.001Z

1. I’m one of Peg’s Pups in the Well Balanced Pup DVD - you can see me having dinner at the start of the clip on You Tube
2. I try it on quite a lot with Archie and Lilly cos I would like to be top dog
3. I still think I will be top dog when I grow up and I think they do too.
4. I always get the muddiest because they roll me over on my back when I get too much.
5. My favourite thing is playing games and I will play for ever
6. Rose thinks I’m becoming a teenager cos I don’t always want to come in when she calls me – she says I will grow out of it soon.
7. My Dad Beinn is a hero –he just found a lady who was frozen to the hillside in the Lakes
8. Rose thinks I’m not old enough to work at Crufts this year so she’s said I can be Editor in Chief and work from home and promised me I can go next year.
9. I do like chasing the hens but I don’t hurt them when I catch them but perhaps that’s why they’re not laying much
10. My real name is Daisy - Scout is only my “nom de paw” but it sounds better in my day job

Fenways blog is at http://www.fenwayspark.blogspot.com/ just to prove he is real and he has some great videos on You tube too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1AEqmSH_z4&feature=channel_page this onereminds me that summer will com back one day - just seems a long time coming

Well I've made a start with the Blogs I can pass on the Honest Scrap awards to

2009-02-10T00:49:00.001Z

So these are the lucky winners of the honest scrap award !

http://www.crufts.org.uk/interact/blogs/hello-dog-lovers

http://www.wellbalancedpupmirk.blogspot.com/

http://wanderinggecko.blogspot.com/

http://www.bassethounds.nu/

http://www.sardalakes.org.uk/dogblog.html

http://www.crufts.org.uk/interact/blogs/news-across-pond

http://kateandginofficial.com/index.php

ALL I'VE GOT TO DO NOW IS ANSWER THE TEN QUESTIONS AND EMAIL ALL THESE GUYS TO SAY THEY HAVE WON THE AWARD!

Having fun with Twitter

2009-02-10T00:36:00.001Z

Thing about Twitter is I'm hearing about news faster than I normally would - just have to sniff out the dogs and people who are interested in the same things I am - otherwise i'll get buried under a load of news I'm not interested in.

Honest Weblog award - means I've got to come clean

2009-02-10T00:33:00.001Z

Ouch Fenway has awarded us with an Honest Weblog award which sounds a bit scary!The rules:"When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on! "

Will have to have a think about this!

Early puppy socialisation or giving the pups a good time

2009-02-09T15:34:00.001Z

I've been reading on a lot of forums about problems with dogs being put down for biting people and I really wish more people did more with their pups before they left their mum. One of the people who has written about this is David Appleby. Have a look at some of the things he has written at the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles.htm and check out Pegs Pups if you havent seen it yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11JcnXNxeyg it shows Peg teaching her pups their manners and having fun at the same time.

We're getting the Press Pack ready to go to Crufts

2009-02-05T23:23:00.001Z

We getting the team ready to go to Crufts. We're ordering our smart new Press Pack jackets and sorting out the work rota. We hope to have two tickets for dogs for each day so we are working out who is available and when.

My cousin Coire is going down to take part in the Good Citizen competition; Logan is talking part in the obedience for the Irish team; Tallulah who we met at Discover Dogs is taking part in her Young Kennel Club heelwork to music competition and Jethro the Bloodhound, who we also met at Discover Dogs, is going to be demonstrating hunting the clean boot!

Mirk will be going down for all four days but I have decided to stay at home - I'm not ready to work at crufts yet - probably next year when I am a bit older.

10/10 Rating for the Well Balanced Pup DVD

2009-02-05T23:20:00.001Z

Good News for Well Balanced Pup to start the New Year! We've just heard that we have had a really good review for the DVD in February issue of Your Dog magazine. We scored 10/10 in their review and they recommended it as a "must have DVD" for anyone planning to breed a litter. They also recommended it as a good buy for people planning to buy a pup, to give them ideas of questions to ask of a breeder. Not forgetting the added bonus of the ahhhh factor of the footage of the puppies. Go out and get a copy and read it for yourself!

Something to celebrate about in the New Year !

2009-01-13T13:31:00.001Z

We're celebrating getting a great review for our Well Balanced Pup DVD. Read Scouts Big News for the details.

Getting ready for Christmas doesnt come naturally to all of us

2008-12-10T02:21:00.001Z

Mirk's anarchic streak came to the surface when he was "helping" get our Christmas Card ready for this year !

But we got there in the end !

(Butter wouldn't melt would it!)
If you have any suggestions for how dogs and their people can survive/ enjoy/ celebrate the Christmas festivities please send them to the Dear Scout blog to contribute to the Christmas Tips from Scouts Roving Reporters by replying to this email or contacting scout@wellbalancedpup.co.uk.

Introducing Mo the Steinbacker Goose

2008-12-10T01:41:00.001Z

Dear Scout,Mo signing in. I hope you aren't going to leave us out of your blog.It was really frosty earlier in the week and Fly and I had to wait for ages for the frost to melt so we could have a nibble of the grass.

Archie the Sprollie (Springer-Collie cross) was keeping an eye on Bailey the Drake and his noisy family. The two youngsters are going for Christmas dinners soon -they have had a good free range time until now so its not all been tough luck for them.

Archie is starting to practice at walking us gently to bed each night. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. See you soon Scout. Love Mo. xxxx

2008-12-10T01:38:00.001Z

Hi Fox, glad to have you on board. Since I hear you are a bit of a wildlife expert I'm hoping you can bring us back stories about what to look out for on our walks and how to do our bit for nature conservation. I'm sure Whisper will have something to say as well.
Talk soon, Scout

Fox from wanderingghecko signing in .....

2008-12-10T00:59:00.001Z

Dear Scout, I’m Fox, a two year old, red merle tri colour, Border Collie. On my certificate it says something long and ponsy, with a load of numbers after it, but who is going to introduce themselves like that?! Mam says that I’m dual registered which doesn’t mean much to me, but which she tries to explain to folk who don’t believe that I’m a Border Collie.

Not many people have seen a red merle before, and not many have seen a Border Collie as big as me so I suppose we’ll forgive them their mistakes. So long as they tell me that I’m a very handsome chap, I really don’t mind.

Mam hoped that I would take after my Grandad York who has won the World Sheepdog Trial’s Championship, but I think trialling is boring. What’s the point in moving three sheep up and down a field? Gathering hundreds of sheep off a fell though, that’s a different matter; that’s brilliant and makes me feel very important. I don’t know why Mam thinks she needs to give me directions; I’m sure I know what I’m doing and she always wants to go so slow!

I’m told that I’m too pampered to be a sheepdog because when I’m not out with Mam, I like to lounge on the sofa with Dad or play games in the field. We have a new member of the family, Whisper, who Mam brought home in August. She’s going to be a sheepdog too, but she’s only seven months old. Sometimes Whisper plays with us, but she’s rubbish at fetch and is very serious about being a trial dog. She is cute I suppose but she has a lot of learning to do.

So that’s me and my pack. Right now I have some important supervising to do: Mam is going out to feed the guinea pigs and I always make sure she does it right. I keep offering to round them up for her but she never lets me. Bye for now!

Whats New ?

2008-12-09T12:03:00.001Z

The Roving Reporters and I have finally got our own blog on our own site. We've been blogging together on several different sites but felt we needed our own just to be us.

Went up on the fell to have a run around and see what was going on. I could see for miles and while we were up there I practised my "under cover" reporting techniques - hiding behind clumps of grass and things.

I'll have to put some photos of my Dad Beinn on the blog cos I think I am really starting to look like him - and people generally think he's a bit of all right He's a search and rescue dog and works really hard. I work hard at finding out stories - you can see me practising my "Jeremy Paxman" look - take me seriously I'm a proper journalist but really I'm still only a pup, I'm only 7 months old. Got to get lots of fun in too!

My "Jeremy Paxman" look

I'm a determined kind of pup.

With tons of bounce and energy

Sometimes I look like a delicate flower..
.

But I'm usually just waiting for the opportunity to play
.

Ready.......Steady......