Exhausted!

Mortimer has found the spell of hot weather a litttle tiring lately and has taken to having an afternoon siesta with Big Ted.

Afternoon nap

Friends

Our morning walk takes us past the home of Zelda the guide dog and even if we're on the other side of the road Mortimer insists on going over to see if she is in. He gets very excited if she is as she always comes up to say hello. He doesn't mind if we don't stay, it's just good to have a quick morning exchange.

Is she in today?

Yey! She's home.

Birthday treat

Today is Mortimer's third birthday so we bought him an extra large hide chew as a treat.

As you can see he can be so obedient when he wants. Note the raised paw.

I'm sooo good

No snatching!

After running twice round the garden with it he has to have a good sniff to make sure it's O.K.

Smells OK to me

Then it's down to a satisfying chomp.

Mmmmm

Miss Zelda

As we've mentioned before Zelda is a guide dog, helping Jim get on with his life independently. On a Sunday morning she's let loose and can have a good run around with the other dogs. Recently however she's discovered the ditch at the edge of the orchard, which at the moment is particularly pungent. Even Mortimer avoids it!

Oh no! Not again!

Zelda, you're a bit...fragrant?

Whaaat!

Smell the poppies!

Good luck Bennett

Sadly we recently had to say good bye to Bennett who has gone to the Guide Dog Association to complete his training. David and Patricia have had 25 guide dog puppies in total, doing basic training before they complete training at Guide Dog HQ. Bennett is being sponsored by Bennett Homes, this I think is their third sponsorship. I have to confess that secretly I was hoping that Bennett wouldn't make the grade because I could have snaffled him up! He's such a nice dog and would have been a perfect companion for Mortimer.

The first time Mortimer met Bennett he was terrified, I don't think he was sure what it was.

Just a few weeks old

But once he was out and about he realised that Bennett just loved to play. The following are just a few of the many photographs we took of him over the last few months.

Cooling off in the grass

Will I be as big as you?

Nothing like a good roll

Best of friends

Handsome

Patricia and David are waiting for their next puppy, let's hope he's as gorgeous as Bennett.

Every cloud...

Now I know that we've all been moaning about the cold weather, it seems like spring is never going to arrive, but the dogs just love it.

Cold? Noooo

It didn't stop Zelda from foraging.

I'm sure there's some apples here somewhere

We met Saffy for the first time who was sporting a rather fetching coat.

Saffy in fuschia

And Mortimer was determined to bring some home.

Do you think they'll notice?

Roll on warm Spring weather!

Mud, mud, glorious mud

Even when disguised with grass clippings the boys will find the mud!

Catching the breeze

My friend Sue emailed me this photograph. It could so be Mortimer!

May be a bad hair day!

I don't know where it came from but will happily credit the source if anyone knows.

Snow dog

Mortimer loves snow, he's been lucky that every winter we've had at least one heavy fall for him to play in. This last few days have had a promising snow forecast but it didn't really come off, but there was enough for Morts to play in.

Yey!

All the gang love snow

C'mon - throw me a snowball

Beard? what beard?

Think I deserve a biscuit