I had an enquiry today about which dry complete biscuit is best to feed a puppy. I Know which ones I would advise to steer clear of, but really there can be something of a snob value associated with which food you choose. Just because something costs more, doesn't mean it will be the best, likewise, the cheapest may not be the worst. Commercially produced pet food is a bit of a minefield, and when you finally work out what the ingredients really are and the percentages of everything you needt, you then find after spending nearly sixty quid on a sack of food that poor little poochie doesn't like it and won't eat it!
Many good companies offer free samples, just look online, and they often send them out to pet shops too, so it is worth asking for some before you waste your hard earned cash on a huge bag of food. Saw this on fb , I had to laugh: ''You know it's not cool when you sell second hand clothes on ebay and recieve a message from the buyer saying they found a dog biscuit in the pocket! Whoops! I guess you could call that a freebie! Any suggestions on how to reply I don't want negative feedback'' Replies: !. Ask her if she wasn't aware of the special offer. A free dog biscuit with every purchase. 2. Apologise and ask if she'd like some more! 3. Ask was she was disappointed there was only one! 4. Tell her to get a grip! 5. Tell her if she posts the dog biscuit back to you, you'll put it in the bin for her! 6. Offer her 10% off if she orders again! &. Pass laptop to someone who doesn't give a sh** and let them reply! A few cards dropped through the letterbox this morning for Nelly's birthday, she is three years old today.
In celebration of her birthday I was wondering what she may like for her treat. It is wet, dark and windy here, and the dismal weather has set me thinking about our plans for winter, and one thing we do every February is a trip to Norway to go tobogganing. We didn't get to go last February as our puppies were only a couple of weeks old, so this coming February we will have to make up for it by taking even more friends with us for a great time whizzing down the hills of Korketrekkeren at breakneck speed. One thing we love to snack on in Norway is their wonderful fishcakes, so....that's what I'll make some today for me and a doggy version as a treat for Nelly on her special day, you'll love them. Fiskekaker Optional extras if you fancy 500g firm white fish (cod is preferable) Chopped prawns 30g potato flour Tarragon or chives half teaspoon sea salt Chopped onion 200 ml milk Nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking powder Sun dried tomatoes Put all ingredients in a food processor and blitz together until the batter is smooth, you can leave a few small chunks of fish for texture. Wet your hands with water, a shape into small cakes the size of a hamburger. Fry lightly on each side in a mix of oil and butter until cooked through and light golden in colour. Doggy Version for Nelly's birthday. Same as above but don't add onions or chives. Yummy Just in case for our US viewers, teaspoons really are those things we stir our tea with. It has been a busy weekend again in London. Open House has been taking place, where some wonderful buildings not usually open to the public, throw their doors open for the weekend, free of charge. We took in a few, and met some very lost looking Morris Dancers who were in need of directions, and I'm sorry but I'm not sure that I directed them to go to the right place! oops! Then whilst sitting down for a much deserved coffee and bowl of water at a street cafe by the Tower of London, we had a large number of gorillas run past! Mirabelle watched from underneath my chair, when the gorillas saw her and barked , she looked at me, then when I gave her the nod she barked straight back! Brave girl. http://www.rampantroostermorris.co.uk/BC115/Rooster_Morris.aspx Unfortunately I only had a phone to take photos on and it just wasn't good enough to capture a good picture of the gorillas as they ran past, but you can see some better ones here http://www.demotix.com/news/1468729/great-gorilla-run-2012-london#media-1468696 We wandered over to the finish, near Fenchurch Street Station, Mirabelle got to meet nearly 300 gorillas and th one and only Bill Oddie.
What a strange outing for a dog, funny people dressed up with bells on and gorillas in fancy dress! So we got rid of the very strict rules on importing pets, but flying into the UK is still a bit sad, as pets have to travel as cargo. I remember looking really hard for a way to get to Clermont Ferrand, with the dogs, and returning again, in a space of 2 nights,3 days. But it was quite impossible. Too far to drive, not a possibility to use Eurostar to Paris then an onward connection,as no dogs allowed to go on the train from London, and the only decent flights were a really good deal, around £30 each way in August from Southampton direct to Clermont Ferrand. Amazing!!! It would have been ideal if I didn't want to travel with the dogs. It is always a problem finding flights that allow dogs, well now here is this, travel in style, with your friend on board rather than in the hold. 'Tis a tad expensive though, but for those who really want to come for Crufts............
http://www.flyvictor.com/pets-on-jets I'm planning on attending a lecture at the Gresham College, they have some very diverse and interesting topics, and even better, they are all free. Browsing through some of the past lectures I came across this one on ticks, listen to it, and all those old wives tales will become a thing of the past. It does talk about Europe and the USA, not only Britain. You need a bit of time though as it lasts for 45 minutes.
http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/twenty-first-century-threats-lyme-disease-is-it-safe-to-walk-in-the-park Summer afternoon-summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James
And yes, we did have a beautiful summer afternoon, maybe because the warm sunshine has been such a rarity this year, and I spent it with my Mother and my daughters, we had the dogs on the beach. It was lovely to see Maestro the Portuguese Water Dog jumping in the waves with Mirabelle and Nelly. We walked for miles, collected shells, ate good food, and just relaxed. What a perfect end to the summer. I love this video, just the sound of laughter when Nelly flops into the pond.
But for a taste of real dock diving, you have to search hard to find a venue. Paws in the Park usually has a dock diving competition, and entries are taken on the day this year. The next Paws in the Park is at the Kent Showground, Detling, on the weekend of 22nd and 23rd September. http://pawsinthepark.net/attractions/k9-aquazone Marcel has had a little holiday here with us, he went to the beach to meet his sister Maddie and her companion Shea the Newfoundland. He went to the park and jumped in the lake. He went out with our daughter and her school friends and had them all smitten. He munched on bones in the garden, and re-acquainted himself with our chickens Then today he had a good brush in readiness for his going home, but we went to our local little lake at teatime, where he and Mirabelle both went in for a splash and a swim, so he had a late bath to make him smell nice again, before his Mum came to collect him. Well, what a wiggly welcome she received, it was so lovely to see his excitement, it reinforces that you know he went to a fantastic home. I would love to see him when he gets home, the children have been missing him and they will be over the moon. Marcel is such a loving barbet, I can't wait to meet up with him again soon. Madeleine (Maddie) is a fantastic water dog, she has swam weekly with Newfoundlands since she was tiny. She passed recently her Level 1 Water test in the sea. The test is one devised for Newfoundlands, and as she is an honorary member of the Newfoundland Club, she was the very first barbet to ever take the test. She passed with flying colours. When we met she showed us how much pleasure she takes in swimming, Mirabelle and Marcel stood and watched in awe at her ability in the sea. She swims like an otter, and just doesn't seem to tire, she has wonderful owners who have given her great confidence in all the activities she takes part in. Again, I can't wait to meet up again soon.
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