Maria

I'm hankering to go back already Hope the weather is much better for you than it was for us- please say hello in person to Marion for us as she and Georgie were poorly when we were there. You're lucky to be going now rather than when the Keswick religious convention is on - I'll let Marion tell you what sales are up when that's on

We've never seen a Bogart in over 18 years of visiting the Lakes - I think you are jessing Marion Also, did you arrange the special hail and torrential rain just for us last week Boysie has come back fitter than a butchers dog and now thinks 3 hours of walking per day is normal - someone please tell him he's meant to be an older dog (about 11ish) to give us a rest . Wendy, sorry to hear your news but also pleased you are OK about it if you see what I mean Shame we weren't up at the same time as I had a hankering for the Buttermere walk but was outvoted. Hope you still have a lovely time.

Zyklene has been our friend this year . Boysie would normally be running about, manically barking, wanting to get outside to bark manically at the sky.......he's had one a day since Friday. He did go outside and bark earlier, but instead of 'losing it' and being beyond recall, he came in immediately when called He still barks at the things he normally barks at, is not spaced out, but is just chilled indoors at the sound of fireworks ....... We have tried everything so far - this is how he was earlier this evening, but now he is snoring as well

We have had, so far, really good results with zyklene. Tomorrow will be the true test, but the other night Boysie went out in the garden while there were fireworks going off (not very close but still loudish) and instead of manic barking, he wandered round the garden sniffing before peeing. He still barks at the 'normal' stuff he barks at, is not 'spaced out', but just seems not to be 'hearing' them atm Last night one went off outside just as OH came back with them from their walk, and he didn't bark. There were some loud ones going off last night, and Smudge came out of her crate to see if there was going to be a barkfest (she sometimes joins in),and Boysie was snoozing. Even at the weekend when it sounded like bombs going off at 2am he slept through it We have tried everything going, and this is the only thing that has worked - but final judgement is still out until tomorrow. We got ours from Pet dispensary, but I think the offer finished last Friday.

A walk round ennerdale lake is lovely, it's about 6 miles all the way round. St Bee's and Whitehaven is fairly near for the beach and apparently there is a dog friendly cafe/ bar near the car park at Whitehaven. A walk round Buttermere lake is lovely and it's not too steep (for the Lakes), but some of it is along the road - it's about 4 miles and there are pubs at the start / finish http://www.visitcumbria.com/cm/butterm.htm From Buttermere you can go over the Honister pass, and along Borrowdale towards Keswick. Off this road is Ashness Bridge and Surprise View (much loved by the Victorians) and it's worth a visit - be careful though as it can be icy in winter http://www.lakelandscape.co.uk/ashness.htm. Further on the same (single track!) road is Watendlath, owned by the National Trust - there is a tea room there but we went in summer so not sure of the opening times http://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/watend.htm There are lots of nice places in / near Keswick itself, and the town is fairly dog friendly as well (eg outdoor shops and pubs, but can't remember specific names, as we mainly stay in the southern lakes) We've heard that the pencil museum in Keswick allows dogs but maybe check that one with Marion as her friend works for the company. Marion is obviously the expert on Keswick. Some places we'd recommend that don't really involve climbing too high are - the Castlerigg Stone Circle http://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/casstone.htm Whinlatter Forest http://www.lakedistrictletsgo.co.uk/attrac...tterforest.html Dodd woods http://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/doddwood.htm Parking the theatre by the Lake and walking alongside Derwentwater - there's a cafe with an covered outdoor area on the way down / back. I believe the launch is dog friendly too (but don't know if it runs that time of year). The southern lakes ( eg Coniston, Ambleside, Hawkeshead,) are all stunning with lovely walks but may be a bit of a trek from where you'll be as you have to drive round the mountains to get there The Hardknott Pass is very scary (I refuse to drive it in the summer and shut my eyes as a passenger), and itcan be closed at times during the winter. You need to be a very confident diver to attempt it. http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/hardknottpass.htm I think you have 2 ways to get where you're going - one leaving the M6 earlier and going up by the coast, and the other taking the M6 up towards Penrith and then passing Keswick towards Whitehaven. If you go the latter route, it's worth stopping at the Tebay services - privately owned and they sell delicious food. http://www.westmorland.com/tebay This site may also be helpful http://www.dogpeople.co.uk/ad_adlist.php?a...=7&adtype=1 Finally if you're a member of the National trust take your membership card with you and you can then park free in their car parks, and expect to see a few sheep! If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

Will did out some places we like to go and post later! Would you mind letting me have Marion's mobile no? One thing I'd definitely recommend is a walk with her and the gang if you get time!

Just wondering if anyone has heard from Marion (Yantan)? We're back up in the Lakes from Sat next week and were hoping to fix up a meet with her and the doglets.

Lucky you Jules! We've had them every night since it's been legal to sell them (15th Oct)

It says that they signed the dogs over to the RSPCA, so they could have been rehomed prior to this case. If not signed over then the case normally has to conclude before the dogs are rehomed (as it is a possibility that the dogs could be ordered to be returned). The last 6 home visits I have done for my local branch have been ex cruelty cases Luckily some extra special patient homes have come forward to help these poor dogs learn that not all humans are horrible. I have no words to describe how much I despise people who can act this way

Found this (think it's the whole Act too) if it helps http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga...en_4#pb11-l1g51

Boysie met his near double recently, who also shares the same name ! The younger Boysie has a tail This was meant to be a photo, but new camera incompetence meant it became a video instead, so please excuse my mutterings and Smudge's moaning

You'd have 2 properties to sell Jules in the current market? And have to find a new mortgage based on your salary alone (if Chris is temporarily out of work?) Has Chris looked at what IT jobs there might be available in the area (and salary)?-it might be worse than the greater London area vacancy wise. Personally, before I'd decide to move elsewhere away from close family, I'd make sure I visited the area lots of times for a couple of weeks at a time, and at different times of the year, as well as doing a lot of research on the area. Good Luck

The place was raided by the RSPCA in Sept, and inspected by an independent vet ,and improvement notices issued, (but you only have to visit one website which I won't give publicity to for advice on how to get around that) . After that Basildon cancelled the stray contract - so their strays aren't going there anymore. But other councils might still be sending dogs there regardless of the inspection /improvement notices The council needs to revoke the licence , which it hasn't yet done, which is why he is carrying on. I can't believe they need more evidence than they already have. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news...e___for_years_/ http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news...tions_at_Novem/

When OH had trouble sleeping, he stopped having anything with caffeine after lunch, and we covered up the clock as he could read the time during the night and would then worry even more about not sleeping. I always find a bath and camomile tea very relaxing, and a few drops of lavender oil on my pillow helps too.

That's what we did when we found a big lump on Boysie's back which turned out to be a fatty lump. You're not being a bad mummy......... Sending oodles of good thoughts for Beenzie for Monday,and also some for Mindymummy who I know will be beside herself until she knows what it is

Happy Birthday Clive Boysie and Smudge hope you've had birthday treats deserving of discerning cocker spaniels

Disgraceful But not surprising

Had a friend round when we moved in (to help), and on trying to put a new lampshade on,we discovered a lightbulb was stuck. On trying to move it, it broke and shattered onto the floor. We picked up the big bits of glass,and I said I'd hoover it later. She said 'You'd better put your feet on in this room until you've hoovered'

That makes sense to me too - thanks

On my travels yesterday I found an organic butcher, so got some chicken wings to try, and also some venison bones. Smudge nearly took my hand off for the wings, but Boysie just licked it , dropped it on the floor and then barked at it So we bashed his a bit, and he still wasn't impressed (Smudge meanwhile was hanging about hoping she could have his too). In the end we had to cut them in half, and quickly sear them in a frying pan before he eventually ate them. Onto the bones - Smudge took hers into her crate and spent ages on it - thoroughly enjoying it. Boysie licked his, and then barked at it constantly. After about 20 minutes of a lick / bark cycle he eventually worked out what to do, but clearly thought this was too much like hard work. After a while he got bored and left the room, so Smudge snuck out of the crate to steal his bone away. So it seems to suit Smudge , but Boysie's output was bit loose today with some sharpish bits of bone in it , which has put me off again. Could it have been too much too soon for him, or is he too old (about 10/11) to change his diet?

Thanks for that

Having no local butchers anymore (living in a town on the borders of NE London means supermarkets rule), how do you source and ensure that the quality of meat is OK for raw feeding? I've been tempted, but wouldn't want my dogs to eat factory farmed / hormone /other loaded 'scrag end' (for want of a better phrase) meat. I'd worry about the quality of meat and what was in it. They're currently on an organic compete.

My point was about income generation, not profit - 2 different things. I'm also not aware of any law that states that NPO's like the KC cannot make a 'profit', ie a surplus of income over expenditure. Commercial orgs call it profit (part of which is / can be distributed to members), and NPO's call it a surplus because they don't distribute to shareholders, but it's the same thing - aiming to ensure your income exceeds your expenditure. We obviously agree on the issues, but obviously don't agree on solutions .In my view the KC / breed clubs left to their own devices has created these problems, and therefore personally I don't believe they have the desire to make major changes, because from all their responses to date they don't seem to really believe there is a problem. The UK hasn't signed the European Convention for the Protection of Pet animals, which would have helped address some of these issues. http://www.petparliament.com/viewarticle.p...id=0&npage= http://www.petparliament.com/viewarticle.p...id=0&npage=

Yes they can. They can refuse to register those who line breed, those who don't health test, dismiss judges who place badly (health) bred dogs, and regulate accredited breeders and insist on health testing. At the moment you can become an accredited breeder without even having a dog, and even worse, commercial / puppy farms can be AC, so their litters will be advertised at the top of the page litters available. The KC registration is perceived by the public to be a form of quality control, and it's not. And that's all due to them not insisting on regulating those they allow to register - a problem caused by them. Can't find the direct quote I want, but I saw Caroline Kisko being interviewed on Richard and Judy, and this is basically how she defined the 90%.....I think you can find the details of the survey on their website The “statistic†came from the club's own British Small Animal Veterinary Association/Kennel Club health survey, which revealed that 37.4 per cent of all dogs had at least one serious health problem at age five. Ms Kisko achieved her 90 per cent figure by discounting all the dogs with conditions such as hip dysplasia, slipping patellas or hereditary cataracts. She reasoned that these dogs (presumably often post-surgery or with strong drugs) had a reasonable quality of life. This organisation has clearly not been helping to ensure that dogs are bred to live healthy lives, and Margaret Carter, shouldn't be facing a motion to remove her from the health committee of the Cavalier club for speaking out either. And they do make money - a nice surplus of £3.4mn in 2007/8.

Completely agree - great post. Those of us who have been aware for a while of the shortcomings of the KC / showing world, and who have therefore boycotted Crufts / KC 'products' for years, are over the moon that at last larger organisations are taking a stand. Badly bred, mistreated and 'commodity' show dogs have not had a voice until now. Meanwhile the KC buries it's head in the sand and just complains everyone is being mean.........when it has been in their power for the last 100 years to do good, they chose money and misery over welfare. Until they come out from their position of denial and actually do something positive /worthwhile , Imho they should be boycotted by anyone who cares about the welfare of our canine companions.