Wild Exmoor Ponies Love my Longdogs

 I really don't think the Exmoor ponies that have appeared on my dog walk can be very wild.  Here they are coming up the path to say hello to me and my longdogs (with whom they were utterly fascinated!!).  I didn't have my proper camera with me, so I took these pictures on my phone. We were all in a big huddle enjoying each others company for ten minutes or so before the dogs got bored with it all and we had to head off.  I loved it!

Ever Diminishing Circles.....Exmoor Ponies arrive on our dog walk

Hello everyone!  

The clocks have gone back and that means that winter is making its way into the fields. The deer are everywhere and the pheasants are running jauntily around, the males looking exotic against the autumn foliage. The big news is that Exmoor ponies have arrived on our walks put there by the local council who think that they might be good for the wildlife (?).  They are lovely and I see them every day but it means that the dogs have to stay on their leads for longer than usual, what with that and the 'game birds nesting - please keep dogs on lead' signs the actual opportunities for some mad running around in a houndish fashion are getting smaller and smaller and as a result our walks are getting longer and longer in order to make up for the lack of off the lead time.  But I am a glass half full kind of girl and I am going to take my camera out and see if I can't get some good pictures of the shy wild ponies (the above picture wasn't take by me) and the hounds and me are going to make the most of the bright autumn days and see if we can add to the things we spot on our walks - the current list stands at:  deer, hare, rabbits, shrews, fieldmice, peregrine falcons, buzzards, kites, little owls, Exmoor ponies, pheasants, swans, coots, ducks and once, a very confused mole.

Still...we've always got the beach!

Sunday Morning with the Longdogs

Sometimes, rarely, I'm the only human in the house, but I am never alone.  We've walked, we've breakfasted and then three of us have got down to sleep and one of us is working.  Here's a little video to help you work out who is doing what.  I hope your Sunday's are as peaceful as mine......

A Wonderful Summer with My Longdogs

Hasn't the summer been lovely?  I know it might sound odd, but its been too nice to take the camera out on our dog walks.  Sometimes having the camera with me stops me from looking at everything because I am too busy thinking about taking the right kind of picture.  So my camera has largely stayed at home, even though I have seen some great things recently and wished I had it with me!   Like when we went fishing for mackerel and three seals (one just a pup) came over to see what we were doing, so close to our little fishing boat that I could look into their lovely dog-like eyes.  The sea was so quiet and still that it was almost eerie.  The catch was quite good (we were throwing them back in  - never take more than you need!) and when we came home Kizzy was fascinated by the fish.  She stood with her head hanging over my shoulder as I sat in the garden gutting them, watching my every move.  Mac, on the other hand, was too busy draping himself over my sofa to take much notice of anything.  When I cooked the mackerel I did one each for the dogs, carefully taking all the bones out as you would for a toddler.  The amount of drool was phenomenal and I certainly had their full attention for at least five minutes!  A good day was had by all.

With my camera largely left in the house I managed to do some spying on Delores the cat and now have proof that she does virtually nothing all day!

Born Free!

My boy Gordon MacDonald isn't too fond of going anywhere in the car but will put up with a short ride to our favourite beach so that he can do this!  

New Horizons

My walks with the longdogs are getting longer and longer, especially now the summer has really arrived.   Here I am with my son at the end of May on one of our new walks.  Coots were nesting along the edge of these lakes, building their nests out of bent reeds.  We saw three sets of chicks hatch successfully and later on the nesting swans produced six healthy signets.  In this picture the dogs have just gone on the lead as a trio of  roe deer were heading off in the distance and had caught their attention - you can see them looking off longingly in the distance.  In the spring the young deer head off to find new territories of their own and you see a lot of them crossing between the fields.  We alternate our walks between the seasons so that the dogs can get time off the lead without disturbing the local wildlife.  I walked this track with them yesterday and we were passed by 12 horses and their riders.  The hounds just gave them a casual look as they cantered by!

Longdogs being lovely

Really?  Someone ate the Shepherds Pie that was on the hob?

Okay, I'm ready, letsgoletsgoletsgo....

Something looks good over here.  I'm gonna chase it!

So?  I was cold and these legs do make a really good scarf.....

Well, these aren't the best ever of my photos, but I just love them.  They sum up my dogs' characters and the relationship between them, which gets deeper every year they are together. 

 We are out walking and enjoying the spring - the deer are everywhere - off to make new homes for themselves.   The pheasants are running about the fields like their tails are on fire and the kites are hunting on the hill.  Out in the back fields the shoots are coming through, the fat hares lazily nibbling as the spring winds rustle the tree tops.  Happy May 1st to you all!!

The Real Truth About Cats and Dogs

Its been a while seen I last posted but me and the hounds have been going on our usual walks out to the woods, down to the beach, up into the hills - in snow, wind and rain.  We are waiting patiently for spring.  Yesterday we saw three fat hares and a female roe deer so the animals are telling us it must surely be on the way!

I just wanted to post this photo of Gordon MacDonald and the lovely Delores, who have managed to come to an accord about our new sofa and who sits where.  I think Mac looks small in this photo - but I expect that's because Delores is quite a big cat and mostly in charge of the dogs when I am not around.  They are about as close to the radiator as you can get, being how it was into minus degrees when this photo was taken.  Who says sighthounds and cats can't get on?

Longdog and his Lady

Mac is such a character.  His own personal interests include eating, sleeping and getting up on my bed as often as he can.   A good day for him is a walk to his favourite place to look at some wild stuff running about, then a bowl of his favourite food, then a nice long kip on a comfy bed, possibly with a cuddle from me.  He has trained me well as I do all of these things for him every day.

  Because his life is a good one, mine is to.

Dogs that can walk themselves

I walk my dogs around the same time everyday.  If I am a bit late getting out of the house this is what happens:  They run to the gate and wait for me.  But Kizzy, longdog of very little patience, can't stand the wait and so picks up her own lead and comes and gets me.  Sometimes she just a bit too clever if you ask me.....

Laughing Longdogs

My dogs love a good laugh.  I find it very difficult to believe that my dogs don't have a sense of humour.  They like to see me fall down, for example, especially if there is mud involved.  They like to join in if me and my son are playing and make lots of noise if we are dancing.  They just like to enjoy life whenever they can.  Kizzy laughs out loud and will run round in happy circles on the beach laughing through her teeth.  She's also a smiler and always gives you a big grin when she is really happy.  In this photo she has been playing on the bed with Bob.  The smile says it all!

The New Anubis

 I love the clean lines and haughty expression of Kizzy Dog.   She really is 'as silent as a shadow and as clever as a man' like the lurcher described below in Chalmers' poem, yet a more biddable dog you couldn't meet.  Kizzy is a dog who thinks ahead and plans for success.  I love her confidence and intelligence.  Sometimes I only have to look at her for her to follow an instruction - which is a once in a lifetime thing with a dog.  Not only that, and so rare in a longdog, I can call her off a chase.  She really is a stunning dog and I just wanted to give her a little chance to shine by dedicating a blog entry to her.

The New Anubis PATRICK R. CHALMERS

 All along the moorland road a caravan there comes

Where the piping curlew whistles and the jacksnipe drums ; 

And a long lean dog

At a sling jig-jog,

A poacher to his eyelids as are all the lurcher

 clan,

Follows silent as a shadow and as clever as a

 man. 

Happy New Longdog Year to you all

A very happy new year to you all from Kizzy, Mac and Me.  We hope you enjoyed the winter holidays and got plenty of time to sit on the sofa and digest all the good food that the season provides.  Needless to say my beautiful longdogs shared the family feast of local venison (not for me, I'm a vegetarian) and a long kip on the sofa afterwards.  Here's Kizzy receiving her present.  She was the first up on Christmas morning and couldn't wait to get stuck in.  Mac on the other hand, took advantage of us all being distracted and made his way up on to the big bed and didn't come down til it was time to go for a walk.  He really doesn't care about all that material stuff - a warm bed, a full bowl and someone to tickle his ears - that's Mac all over!

Looking forward to some great walks in 2013.