Abby

Dave Dave Dave Dave Dave Dave Dave... It's fab. No competition. But then I have a Clive. Oh and btw - what's wrong with calling your dog Dildo? My Dylan also answers to Dilly Willy...

THere's a little steam railway from Barmouth that accepts dogs (and on the connecting water ferry: Fairbourne Railway

Greenwod FOrest Park (sounds good for kids or folk who like fun rides ns tuff) takes dogs on leads: Greenwood Forest Park National Slate Mine has dogs on site (except for a couple of the buildings) National Slate Mine and is at a nice sounding 800 acre country park: Padarn COuntry Park These are all around Llanberis, so in the right area. Will post more if I come across them - we're moving to South Snowdonia in a couple of months so I'm trying to learn about the area!

Oh Bebe I'm really sorry to hear about this. Firstly - do you use rescue remedy? Sounds like you could both do with some. I can understand your reaction, especially considering all that I've read you going through with Ty - I wouldn't take my dogs through a car wash and they don't have any real anxiety issues. It's very unfortunate your friend didn't realise what she was doing would affect Ty - if she's a good friend you don't want to lose, perhaps it's worth apologising for getting so cross but also explaining why you reacted that way. Having a dog that is 'scared of everything' isn't an excuse for scaring her some more - however unintentional. As for the car - it's important that Ty gets back in because you're almost certainly going to need to take her somewhere at some point. Treats are good, rescue remedy too, a fave toy - I'm sure you know all this already. Maybe start of really cautiously by just treating her for being near the car. Does Ty respond to a clicker at all? Good luck, and give Ty a hug from me.

What about this place? Dogs for Life No personal experience I'm afraid. I'm sure I've heard of some others and will try to remember what they were!

We're suddenly going to a wedding 5 May and its an overnight trip so we need to sort el pooches out. No friends or family can have them, and I really don't want to use local kennels as I don't know of any good ones round here. I've tried loads of local house sitting services / home boarding but they're all not surprisingly full. We're in West Wiltshire and are going to Gloucs / Hereford border for the wedding, and can take a slight detour if we find the right place. If anyone knows ANYONE is this area (i.e. from Bristol, to North Somerset, to Glouscestershire, Stroud, Wiltshire) who does boarding or has really nice kennels that I can try I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks!

Oh my aching heart - Jesse is more adorable each time I see a piccy (I'm a COLlie so I see your lot on there too). So lovely to see such an unlikely pair having such fun

oooohhh! I live in Bradford-on-Avon - this is the walk my boys go on everyday Its great. There is now one field with woolies in it - behind a low electric fence (only 12 volts). Easy to keep woolie focused mutt on lead for that very small part of the walk. Both my boys have been zapped but are none the worse for it and thankfully my lurcherette seems not to have figured out he could jump the fence in the wink of an eye

The Parliamentary Register of All Party Groups says that the purpose of the APPGG is: "To raise parliamentary awareness of issues relating to the greyhound industry and promote the sport. " See the register form HERE The form also says that: "British Greyhound Racing Board provides administrative support and also funds twice yearly race nights, including a meal, for Members. " It is common for All Party Parlimentary Groups to have admin support from organisations associated with the subject at hand. The Register form also gives members and contact details. You can learn more about how these groups function by reading their RULES

The APPGG website: All Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group I quote: "It was launched in 1988 when a group of greyhound enthusiasts at Westminster came together. Since then it has worked wherever there is a case to be made on behalf of the sport. There are APPGG meetings throughout the year at Westminster - usually followed by dinner and racing at a London Stadium." Nice. Where's the APPG that actually looks honestly at the sport?

We went on a canal boat for a week last year with our Cocker & 2 friends, so 4 adults & 1 dog. It was a weeny boat but you can get them all sizes and I must say Clive LOVED it. Having the towpath as his backyard was his idea of heaven & he got very good at hopping on & off and going for walks when he felt like it. He didn't go swimming (though he can and he loves it) and he never fell overboard either. We did buy him a life jacket but they sent the wrong size and it was too late to change it so he didn't have one. But he didn't need it anyway. We were very careful around the locks as they are dangerous. I'd recommend it!

Thanks! Nice to be here.

Actually I'd say more like 3 for Cooper & Cromwell and 3/4 for Sid and Tiz. Wouldn't bother about veggies with bone meals - save them for mixing with the mince meals (which my two get each evening). Watch them for the first few days as I find if I feed mine bones every single day they get blocked up, so I put in a non-bone day every 3rd or 4th day, and give them an egg instead with one of the mince meals (or give it too them whole - it's a blast watching them play with them )

Depends what kind of dog you have. My cocker spaniel and beardie cross are both around 12kgs and have 2 wings each if they're bigger and three if they're smaller (or if they're hungry...). I do it very much by eye. Don't know how long they take to defrost, never taken any notice - easiest to get brekkie out the night before, and dinner out each morning (if you remember...). When I started I worked very roughly on 3% of body weight for the daily portion of food (overall), with about 60% of that being raw meaty bones (like the chicken wings). However, now I've been doing it for months I know by eye the right amount, and vary portion size depending on how the dogs feel to the touch. Well done for going over, especially being a veggie!

Awww he is delicious Similar thing happened to us with our second family dog. little smooth coat pupster who grew big and leggy and then at about 10 months sprouted a beardie coat! Vet said he couldn't grow his legs and fur at the same time Buster's colouring is divine...

Hi Jan! The cocker conquest continues then...

Ooh a walk sounds good. Don't have a car but have a dog friendly friend with one so will see if it's poss. Thanks for the lovely welcome folks

We got Dylan from a rescue just before Christmas. He'd been in kennels for at least 2 months was given up by his family who'd had him since he was a pup (he's about 1) because they both worked all day long. As much as I know is that he was kept crated all day long and they couldn't cope with his 'rowdiness' when they let him out. Not surprising since he's a young lad full of beans. Anyway. He's doing really well but there are a couple of things we're conscious of in the last few days. Firstly, he grinds his teeth at night. Has anyone else come across this? I know in people its generally a sign of stress or anxiety and I wondered if its part of the settling in process. He's very relaxed most of the time and get son very well with us and Clive, our other dog. The other thing has just cropped up in the last few days. We've noticed that sometimes he will just stand with his head slightly down, not moving at all. Normally he does this up against a wall, or the kitchen cupboards. He doesn't do it for long and can be distracted out of it quite easily. Is it something he's learnt in kennels or from spending so much time alone when he was younger? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi all. I've been hanging around here a little while and am yet another incomer from COL! I have Clive, who is a 15 months old cocker and new boy Dylan, who is a 1ish year old beardie / whippet / other stuff x, whose been with us since Christmas. Looking forward to getting to know those of you I don't already know from COL