Ziggy at Errwood Hall October 23, 2011
Posted by goldendogbakery in Border Collie, Dog Walking in Derbyshire, Mud Magnet.Tags: austrailian red collie, Border Collie Puppy, cat and fiddle, Dog biscuits, Errwood Hall, Goyt Valley, People Watching
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Having been away for a week this Saturday was the first proper opportunity to take Ziggy on a lovely long walk. He’s still only ten months so still doing shortish walks, we try and limit them to 5 miles and we settled on an old favourite in the Goyt Valley just outside of Buxton, Derbyshire. It was the 1st October which I am sure you’ll remember felt like a true Indian Summer
We started at the Cat & Fiddle Inn (remember the Cat and fiddle walk?). This time heading in the opposite direction and dropping right down into the valley towards Errwood Reservoir.
Ziggy amongst the ruins of Errwood Hall
perfect picnic stop.
We’ve walked this way many times but previously starting in the valley itself and as a result never stopped at the ruins of Errwood Hall, which made a cracking lunch stop. The walk carries on up to Pym Chair and then Shining Tor before we headed back to the Cat & Fiddle Inn for a swift half of Cider. The Cat & Fiddle is a bikers favourite stop and its reassuring to see so many of them come out of the pub with a large mug of tea of coffee.
Ziggy flaked under the bench caked as usual in Peat. So tired that he held no interest in the swarms of men in leathers and low rumbles of their bike engines. He’s eyes shut in the bright sunshine, dreaming I am sure of the wonderful cold peat between his pads.
A weary Ziggy
too tired to chase the bikers at the Cat & Fiddle
On and Under The Cloud September 25, 2011
Posted by goldendogbakery in Border Collie, Dog walking, golden dog bakery, Ziggy.Tags: austrailian red collie, Border Collie Puppy, Bosley Cloud, Dog biscuits, dog walks in Cheshire, dog walks in staffordshire, flea buster bones
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Once again the weekend is here and its a long one.
Saturday morning is dry so we decide to head off up to Bosley Cloud. It was Kep’s favourite walk, and is soon becomming a Ziggy favourite too.
Its a short sharp pull up to a cairn with fabulous views over Cheshire to Congleton and Staffordshire to Rudyard. The Heather is out at the moment and it looks beautiful.
Brett and Ziggy at the Trig Post
It might well be dry in Leek but there was a big black cloud over The Cloud so we had lots of fun getting wet and muddy and then trying to clean our-selves off in the Heather or at least Ziggy did. It was a strange light today – the sun was trying to come through and even in the rain it was beautiful. Good for the soul!
We’ve had a couple of sales on Ebay for the basic dog biscuits so need to head back to go to the post office and of course its still dry in Leek.
Ziggy in the heather – happy dog!
We had a baking session today – some flea buster treats to keep the fleas and the ticks at bay. We did them in a bit of a rush and somehow Ziggy managed to set the oven temp wrong. They’re a bit beyond golden!! Zig doesn’t mind, he thinks they have extra flavour and as we obviously can’t send them out to customers he gets to keep them all for himself. Yummy!!
Sheep Dog Worrying September 18, 2011
Posted by goldendogbakery in Dog walking, Making New Friends, Ziggy.Tags: austrailian red collie, Border Collie Puppy, Castleton, dog walks in Derbyshire, great Ridge, Peak district dog walks, sheep worrying
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I was born worrying. So its only natural that I worry that because Ziggy is still only 9 months and shows a little interest in sheep that if left off the lead he might worry sheep.
So in an effort to get a few extra miles under our belts on a glorious sunny August day we all set off along the Great Ridge above Castleton. http://www.visitcastleton.co.uk/about.php
It is one of our favourite walks. We had a rare opportunity to walk Kep across it one very snowy boxing day – it was lovely. Today perfectly contrasted it.
We had a little trouble negotiating some of the stiles. The little man doesn’t seem to have the confidence he needs. We know he can jump effortlessly and gracefully, however he seems to take the time to study the problem of a stile and then decides it’s a bit high.
as usual was bustling with people. We met a very friendly little Welsh Springer and played for a while. By the time we got to Lose Hill, there were already a couple of small groups having lunch and the sheep.
Ziggy watch out!We have found the moorland here to be populated by a very different breed of sheep and I’m not comparing my Herdwicks with my Zwartbles here. http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/sheep_Breeds.htm
They’re pretty normal looking sheep, they’re just sandwich stealing sheep. They’re brave, curious and will stalk you and quite happily remove your sandwich from your hands.
Ziggy is all well and brave when he’s on the lead and the sheep actually avoid him, but here nose to nose was a different matter. He was definitely worried by it. So there you have it – my 9 month old sheepdog doesn’t worry sheep – they worry him.
Ziggy and Brett taking in the view
People Watching August 14, 2011
Posted by goldendogbakery in golden dog bakery, Holidays with Dogs.Tags: austrailian red collie, home made dog biscuits, lake district with dogs, People Watching, self catering with dogs
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When we brought Ziggy away to our favouriteLake District, we thought he’s love the fells. How fantastic to be able to bounce thought the heather, scramble on the crags and splash in the becks.
We took a last minute 5 day break to Coniston. We’ve been to the lakes many times however never actually stayed in Coniston. We stayed in the Bridge Suite, right in the middle of Coniston, part of The Coppermines group. The flat itself, very Bijou, with a kitchen essentially in a wardrobe.
Ziggy is in his element. What better when you’re in the Lake District than spending all your time hanging out the window and watching the world go by. People watching! Or rather people, car, bike, dog and van watching.
Starting School June 26, 2011
Posted by goldendogbakery in Uncategorized.Tags: austrailian red collie, Border Collie Puppy, Dog Training, fred ball, golden collie, golden dog bakery, home made dog biscuits, http://kathbelldogtraining.co.uk/default.aspx, kath bell, starting school, Ziggy
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Starting school is an important day in anyone’s calendar. At the tender age of 5 months, Ziggy’s enthusiasm to learn is high, albeit accompanied by a certain over exuberance.
He loves people and as such a cutie that most people are happy for this pup to jump up when he sees them, with comments like “oh it doesn’t matter” and “he’s only young, he’ll soon learn”. Of course what he’s really learning is that whenever he jumps up at anyone he’s rewarded by fuss and cuddles. At 2 months it was no problem. At 5 months and 2 stone in weight – its borderline. And at 5 months he may well still have some growing to do. Here he is at 10 weeks – his first formal portrait – butter wouldn’t melt.
The final straw was at “Art in the Park” recently when he left a couple of beautiful muddy paw prints on some random lady’s Persil-white Tae-Kwan do suit.
Add to this his poor heel work, which resembles something more akin to a greyhound chasing a rabbit.
So, we started school. I hadn’t seen Fred for some years. It was certainly 14 years since I first met him when Kep started school at 6 months.
Fred seems to have mellowed a bit since then. Apart from mellowing and being slightly greyer – I don’t think he’s changed a bit. I think he’s a retired police or army dog handler and took over the dog training school when his wife Kath became ill.
Seeing Fred on his own with a room full of mad dogs and possibly even madder handlers, he certainly plays the “Alpha Male”, but if you had ever met Kath, you’d certainly know who’s boss.
http://kathbelldogtraining.co.uk/default.aspx
Kep and I spent many months in dog school, and we enjoyed it, we even progressed enough to do a bit of agility, but I think Ziggy and I will just get the basics sorted and based on tonight’s performance I don’t think that will take long. Here’s Kep with his agility medals
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