No, we haven't left the planet

But have decided to use facebook as an easier and more effective means to update owners of what their furkids are up to whilst guests at Dogs to Stay.


Please go to the Dogs to Stay facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogs-to-Stay/346579877322?ref=ts to find out more.


See you soon.

The pack have been joined by Kanto, Kiva's brother and Wheeto's uncle and despite a walk across the fields around the village still have energy left to burn.

Didier plays with Oreo, Wheeto plays with Mylo, Kiva plays with Wolfie

Bundle..............................

Wolfie plays ball

Mr Chill

Mr Chill Too

The 2 Fur Boys

Mr Chill Too Two

Dog Tired

Wheeto and Oreo 'Schnuggle'

No - You Shouldn't Be There, But ...

You're Just Too Cool

 

Half The Dog That He Was

Yesterday (Friday) saw Wolfie take a trip to the local dog groomers - following a conversation last weekend with another Keeshond owner we took their advice to get Wolfie's undercoat stripped out.  The groomer is one that we use for our own dogs and sometimes our guests and he is familiar with dealing with double coated dogs.  We had tried stripping Wolfie out ourselves but it wasn't a particularly successful exercise so, with the authority of Wolfie's hufamily the dog groomers it was. 

The village where the groomers is based is just a short drive away and Wolfie happily leaped into the Jeep for the 10 minute trip - John, the groomer, said he would give us a ring when Wolfie was ready to be collected.  Though Wolfie would miss out on his morning walk it did mean that walking the 4 guests left, Kiva and Mylo could be done in one shift.
As things transpired Wolfie wasn't ready to be collected until 2.30 - 5 hours after being dropped off.  On my arrival to collect him I saw a somewhat smaller but very smart looking Wolfie - next to him were 4, yes FOUR, carrier bags filled with his stripped out undercoat - what a transformation.

The difference really is amazing - to the uneducated eye Wolfie still looks like an incredibly fluffy dog however when he walks and runs his coat now bounces and gets caught in the breeze - I think that Impi approves too.

Of course we must remember that we don't just have Wolfie staying at Dogs to Stay as Wheeto and Oreo are with us 'till early May as well as Stig and Impi being with us for the weekend.
Impi has settled in remarkably, we were, at first, concerned that she and Kiva might not get on, we have past experience of them not being sisterly, however the 2 of them are no trouble at all.  Impi is very taken by Wolfie, the expression "joined at the hip" springs to mind.  At just 8 months Stig is a hooligan, in the nicest way of course.  He has tried to dominate everyone, with the exception of Wolfie; Wheeto was the focus of his attentions at first - Wheeto was NOT impressed, then it was Oreo, sadly for Stig to no avail, at just 5 months little Oreo is more than able to look after himself.

Stig then turned his attentions to Mylo - not the wisest decision as Mylo doesn't tolerate being harassed, one bark from him was all it took for Stig to know who was boss, lesson learned.  With just one dog left to try to impress he turned his attention to his mum, Kiva - another lesson quickly learned; Kiva, like Mylo, doesn't like being messed with - however she is quick to forgive.

The weather has been fabulous, more summer than spring like, so the dogs have been able to enjoy the free run of the garden.  We still have a full compliment of flowers, bushes and shrubs and have no new holes in the lawn or flower beds.  OK the trellis has a few more holes in it that it did before Oreo arrived but hey ho, what's a trellis without a few holes?
Just another day at Dogs to Stay.

The not so Secret Seven

4 Lapphunds and a Keeshund has been no trouble at all so we wondered what it would be like with 6 Lapphunds and a Keeshond.

Our new guests, with us for the weekend, are Stig, one of Kiva's puppies born last August and Kiva's sister Impi.

Stig has become infatuated with Wheeto - Wolfie and Impi seem to be joined at the hip, Oreo is maturing by the minute under the influence of the pack and Kiva and Mylo are as chilled as ever.

Suffice to say that everyone is getting on and the dogs all seem to be enjoying their holidays.  As I write Impi and Mylo are at my feet, Kiva and Oreo are lying in the shade, Wheeto and Stig are playing and Wolfie, conspicuouis by his absence, is at the dog groomers - pictures to follow.

Stig admires Wolfie's rear end

Wolfie and Impi in chill pose

Wheeto, Stig and Oreo

Wheeto and Stig

Busy, Busy, Busy

On Saturday Louise and I took the pack of 5 (Lapphunds Kiva and Mylo, Wheeto and Oreo and Keeshond Wolfie) to Milton Keynes for a Dogs to Stay reunion walk.  Some might question Miulton Keynes as a venue for a dog walk but trust me if you haven't discovered the walks around Willen Lake you really are missing out.

The weather was gorgeous, the company perfect and the dogs amazing, 12 Lapphunds, a Keeshond and 2 German Spitz Mitels are quite a sight.  Wolfie attracted a lot of admiring glances and through him we met another Keeshond owner who gave us some advice as to how best deal with Wolfie's thick coat.  Wheeto and Oreo enjoyed the day as it gave them an opportunity to meet up with their hufamily and, in Oreo's case, a litter mate, the lovely Kai.


After the walk we went to some friends, for a barbecue, where the dogs were again impeccably well behaved and where Kiva and her brother Kanto had a further opportunity to play.

On our return home all of the dogs crashed out for the evening - who could blame them, a whole day spent with other dogs and a 5 mile walk ... now that's what we call a Lappy day.


Sunday morning so us enjoy the luxury of a lie in as the dogs slept, or made no noise, until after 7.30 - a huge improvement from the 5.00 am awakenings.  We took Wolfie, Wheeto nd Oreo to the pub at lunch time and spent a relaxing afternoon chatting with friends old and new about the benefits of sharing one's life with a canine companion, or 2.


Unfortunately Monday morning saw Wheeto and Oreo wake early - after being let out into the garden for a toilet break they settled down again in the kitchen ... for a while.  It really is amazing what one can get done whilst the rest of the village sleep.


We enjoyed a lovely morning walk across the fields - especially Mylo who found himself a dead rabbit to latch on to, prising it out of his jaws was no mean feat.  On our return we collected doggy day care guest Didier the working cocker spaniel who kept Oreo and Wolfie entertained for much of the day.


This morning was, again, an early start - I am trying everything to get Wheeto and Oreo to settle back to sleep (Wolfie, btw, is exemplary and is more than happy to chill to the 2 legged people are up and about).  This morning rather than leaving them out of their crates I decided to put Wheeto and Oreo away in theirs ..... Wolfie came into the lounge with me.  Silence :-)


With Wheeto and Oreo safely tucked up I was able to enjoy a nice doze on the sofa - Wolfie enjoyed it too as he snuggled up next to me.

Chilled @ Dogs to Stay

Cute @ Dogs to Stay

"OK - where have my back legs gone?"

"You looking at me?"

Bones - glorious bones.

Wolfie Joins Wheeto and Oreo

On Thursday Wolfie, a 1 year old Keeshond, came to join our other guests, Finnish Lapphunds Wheeto and Oreo.  We had already met Wolfie as a few weeks ago he and his family came for a visit to introduce Wolfie to own dogs Kiva and Mylo - the meeting went well and we were confident that he would fit in with the pack - the earlier than expected arrival of Wheeto and Oreo could have thrown a spanner in the works - as things transpired all of the pack have been getting on like a house on fire.

The dogs have been enjoying each other's company and wearing each other out with their non-stop playing (see above) - don't worry if you think you see a black spaniel - it is a black spaniel, Didier a Dogs to Stay doggy day care guest - and no the dogs haven't learnt to stop barking there is no sound to the video.

As a result of all of the fun and games we had an excellent night with Oreo waking an hour later than he had been - almost a lie in ;-)

Tomorrow we are off to Milton Keynes for a walk with other Lappy owning families -  I hope that Wolfie remembers to bark in Finnish rather than Dutch.

New photos and words to follow.

Lappy days.

Wheeto and Oreo

Our last entry saw Wheeto as our guest and he left us in the middle of January.  We have had a number of guests since then however rather than do a daily blog we offered their owners a web cam facility instead - check out ww.com/dogstostay.htm if you would like to see it for yourself.


Wheeto is now back with us but he's not alone - a few days after he went back home his hufamily collected a new puppy from Irene Green (Iolair kennel) and since then Oreo has been Wheeto's best mate.

The pair of them are with us for a few weeks whilst their hufamily move home ... they arrived yesterday and have settled in superbly. Wheeto is already known to Kiva and Mylo and is an established member of the pack - 5 month old Oreo is a a newbie however he quickly understood who was pack leader and already knows his boundaries.  Their first night here was uneventful and though they awoke a little earlier than our 2 dogs normally do it just meant I could enjoy an extra cup of coffee before beginning the day.

Pictures and videos will be posted regularly throughout their stay, perhaps not everyday, but there will be regular updates.

Spoilt - As If

We do like to make sure that our guests feel comfortable at Dogs to Stay so we give them a choice of seats to sit upon.

We have the 2 seater sofa as modeled by Kiva and Wheeto

The 3 seater sofa as modeled by Mylo and Wheeto

Or the single seater reclining armchair as modelled by Wheeto

And Now There Are 3

After returning from Sunday's walk we were 1 Lappy less as we handed Roise back over to her hupeeps, Bob and Sue who had returned from their holiday earlier that day - in fact we handed 2 dogs over as Bob, and sometimes Sue, very kindly walked Wheeto for us - don't worry we did remember to bring Wheeto home.
Since we have been down to just one guest things have been much calmer at Dogs to Stay, especially Wheeto.  Now, rather than chase after Millie, Rosie and or Saffi he spends most of his time licking Kiva or playing with Mylo (who just about tolerates him doing so).  He continues to enjoy his walks - now in the company of Fat Sal the black lab and thanks to Louise as I am currently unable to put any weight on my right leg after a fall on Sunday.
Wheeto has developed into a very different dog to the Wheeto that first visited us - he is respectful of the rest of the pack, well trained, obedient and very, very loving.  We have even managed to cure him of the little whines he used to make - it wasn't hard, we just don't exclude him from anywhere - including our bed.
I'm not sure when Wheeto will be going home - it might be on Friday, it could be on Saturday, if it's the latter then he will have the chance to meet Magic, his great great auntie, and Norppa as they will be our next 2 guests.  Watch this space for updates and pictures.


Lappy days.

Five Alive

It's like Piccadilly Circus here - no sooner does one dog leave than another arrives.  Yesterday Saffi the Springer Spaniel arrived for the weekend - she is sister to Hector (who has stayed with us before) and lives in our village and she is with us whilst her hupeeps visit family in Scotland.  Wheeto loves her to bits - he has a new playmate who is, in many ways, very similar to Millie - it must be the Spaniel in them.
I had some concerns as to how the night would go as Saffi is obviously used to sleeping by herself however my concerns were unfounded and things were a lot quieter than I had feared - Saffi actually slept in the kitchen with Wheeto and Rosie - I'm not sure if they slept in their own beds or each others - but, hey ho, isn't that what sleepovers are all about?
As I write Saffi is fast asleep under my desk - Wheeto relaxing on the sofa, Rosie on the rug in front of the hearth and Mylo and Kiva at Lou's feet.

 

And Then There Were 4

Milie has been gone for 4 days now and during that time I have been laid low with a stinking cold - lesser men would call it man flu - to me it was a cold.  The pack, however, have been fine; just less manic without Millie to chase them around all day.  To be honest Rosie and Wheeto have been very chilled - Wheeto has been a nudnik a couple of times; he really doesn't like having to wait on the other side of the dog gate whilst he dries off, Rosie, on the other hand just lies down on one of the dog beds knowing that as soon as he is dry she'll be allowed back into the lounge.

Chilled at Dogs to Stay

Rosie Isn't Allowed On The Furniture

Wheeto Isn't Either

So He Lies At The Foot Of The Stairs

The pack have just been fed, they've had their mad 10 minutes and, at the time of writing, Roise is chewing on a bone she just found in the graveyeard, sorry garden and Wheeto is on the sofa .... for a change.  Kiva and Mylo are as chilled as ever, it never ceases to amaze me just how accommodating they are of our many visitors, we really are very very lucky to have 2 such lovely dogs - then again our visiting dogs make it easy for them as they are all so well balanced too.

Tomorrow sees the arrival of a new guest, Saffi - a springer spaniel and sister to Hector a former guest at Dogs to Stay.  She will be accompanying us on Sunday when we travel to Milton Keynes for a Lappy gathering and to hand Rosie over to her hufamily who will have just returned from their holiday in Australia.

Now that I am back in the land of the living I will make sure that this blog is updated more regularly - however both Wheeto and Rosie's hupeeps can relax, your dogs are absolutely fine.

Lappy days.

Sunday - Farewell to Millie

Arrangements had been made for me to deliver Millie back to her hufamily in the morning so I again left the pack in the capable hands of Wendy and Lou and, by all accounts, the Hapmi 3 and TabanyaRuu 2 had a blast being walked through the village and across the fields.  It was sad handing Millie back but to a true delight to see the pleasure on her family's faces when I handed her over - no ransom, though I was tempted - however I was, very kindly, given a bottle of champagne by Millie's hudad to say thank you for looking after her.
On my return home it was time for a rather lovely roast lunch before Wendy left with Arttu - it was lovely seeing the 3 siblings together and see how well they got on with each other - as we say at Dogs to Stay it really was a case of 'Lappy Days'.

Sofa so good for Rosie

Kiva and Mylo

Wheeto c/w bone

With the pack down to four a sort of normality could return with the dogs all returning to their favourite spots.

Happy New Year

For some obscure reason I can't remember much about new year's day - it has been suggested that it might be a sign of old age, then again it might be because I didn't get in 'till 5.00 after having worked in the local pub all evening.  I knew that the pack would be in good hands as Lou and Wendy were in charge of the dogs and there wasn't a sound from them when I came in.  Then again I knew that they were OK as I had been monitoring them (the dogs not Wendy and Lou) using our web-cam facility (ww.com/dogstostay.htm).
In the morning Lou and Wendy again walked and looked after the dogs whilst I returned to the pub to pack up my gear.  A huge thank you to you both.


 
New Year's day was a quiet one for the humans - the dogs had a blast continuing to play with each other in various combinations.

During the course of the day we received a call from Millie's owners and arrangements were made to take her back the next day - she would be missed, not just by us but also the rest of the pack.