Good Morning to you all and your lovely hounds!
September has predictably flown by and you may have noticed the field has had some strimming and tidying done. Not too much....our aim is natural and wild for the dogs (and us) to enjoy.
We've sent our donation to our field sponsor dog as we do each month. This helps feed some of the pooches who for a variety of reasons are living at the shelter as is much appreciated by Serbia's Forgotten Paws whose volunteers do so much. Thank you all for visiting and helping us keep them going in our small way.
Housekeeping;
There's been some litter in the field a couple of times in the last week or so. It's a condition of using the field to take all dog poo bags and all litter out of the field with you and either take it home or put it in the green bin. We check the field twice a day; persistent offenders will not be able to use the field. Massive thanks to everyone who clears up after themselves (and sometimes, after other people), you are greatly appreciated. It's so rare that this happens but even odd instances will be addressed as keeping this beautiful space clean is of utmost importance. Thanks guys.
As the weather changes do remember to check the forecast and make your slot changes before the 24 hour deadline, ensure you've received your confirmation email, and arrive no more than a few minutes beforehand, leaving at the correct time to ensure the field is ready for the next person. Enjoy the field as the trees start their colour change and the glorious October arrives!
Wishing you all a happy, sunny, fun, dog walking month!
Video; this morning as the sun rose in the field, Yogi and Howie do their field checks (sniffing, a little light digging) as I do mine.
Phew looks like we have a hot week ahead! As we head into August and the weather warms up the field remains fabulous for a dog walk thanks to the shade thrown by the copse and the surrounding mature trees.
You may have noticed we have begun mowing swathes and will continue to mow throughout the next month until we are all grass again but isn't it a joy for the dogs to tear up and down the paths and through the longer grasses? So much fun! And the wildlife is incredible!
I hope your dogs love it as much as ours do and thank you for the messages I've had recently to say just how much you and your dogs love the field, that makes me so happy!
On to our charity support and I have sent extra to Serbia's Forgotten Paws this month as they are really struggling. These are tough times all round and they are having to turn dogs in need away. I sent Β£30 altogether plus the Β£30 I've sent to support our field sponsor dog (which is just Β£10 a month but I send extra). This is from all of us, everyone who uses the field helps make these donations. Thank you so much.
Admin: thanks everyone for keeping to your times and keeping the field clean. Much appreciated. π₯°
Wishing you and your dogs a lovely summer, and if you'd like your dog to enjoy 2 acres of a safe, stimulating, natural, field please do drop an email to [email protected]. We have an online booking system, you just need to read and agree to our terms and conditions and you'll receive the booking password.
Video; a little video of the field...spot the Yogi!
Happy June! How are you all and how are your hounds? Hopefully everyone is ticking along as we wait for summer to arrive!
As you may already know, we aim for a natural experience as possible for the dogs and that means wild flowers, thickets, wildlife, and waving stems of long grass. The sensory experiences are great for both ours and the dogs wellbeing, as well as being good for the environment.
With this in mind we waited until the end of May to mow and the field has now had a 'top' which brings new excitement for the sniffing and exploring. We hope your dogs have loved the freedom of May in the field as much as Yogi and Howie have. π±πΎπΎ
We have also sent our May donation to Serbia's Forgotten Paws for our field sponsor dog and their pals. We sent Β£50.00 and would like to thank everyone for visiting and thereby contributing to supporting dogs who may be less fortunate than ours. Thank you so much.
*I've picked up a few π© this last couple of weeks, please remember to keep the field clean and thank you to the vast majority who do this so diligently.
*Remember to arrive no more than a few minutes before your time and to leave promptly.
*With the weather still changeable please ensure to check the forecast as you have up to 24 hours beforehand to amend your booking.
If you'd like your dog to explore our beautiful 2 acres just drop an email to [email protected] and we will get you set up to book online.
Video is the Yogi's Field just before we had a mow last week.
Happy June!
Happy Bank Holiday! πΎπΎHowie and Yogi are burning off some energy this morning so that they will be settled for our BBQ later (Howie does this by hurtling up and down, Yogi by mooching around the field on his own, neither dog can enjoy this freedom anywhere that isn't secure).
Hope everyone enjoys the day ππππ©πΆ
Good morning, we just wanted to say a Happy Gotcha Day to our Howie, 3 years ago today!
Howie was bred by Guide Dogs for the Blind to be a working dog but failed due to 'social sensitivity', which means he is jumpy and nervy in traffic and towns.
It was quickly found that once out of the training programme he had no recall and very little impulse control. To teach him some focus they ball trained him and put him up for adoption, but his first placement failed. He came to us a bundle of nervous energy but absolutely full of love and so keen to bond. He is lucky to have access to the field every day and although he still has very little recall and pulls like a train on the lead he is no longer a very nervous dog and he is my baby! π
If you're considering an adoption why not have a look at Guide Dogs? They re-home for various reasons including the retirement of their working dogs. The dogs are bred for temperament and physical health and it's not just labradors! There are also quite a few employment roles with Guide Dogs at the moment....a dream job!
Guide Dogs UK
In other news we continue our wild field 'no mow May' to give the flowers a chance to seed. The dogs get so much enrichment from this natural environment! πΎπΎπΎπΎ
Enjoy the good weather this week, take advantage of the cool grass and shade in the field! πππ
I've a feeling once this mist burns off its going to be a nice Spring day! π·ππ₯
Availability for the week commencing 25th March as follows. There may be some flexibility in the times, get in touch to book, likewise if you'd like further ahead. I've some space to see new people in the evenings this week as well as a few daytime slots.
Sunday new and current users
1.00
2.30
5.30
The dogs have enjoyed the novelty of the snowy field, here's Yogi and Alfie having a play. You can see how Yogi has learned to protect his back legs by not doing so much of the running!
Times available this week from Monday 4th, there can be some flexibility around these times and further ahead than next week can be booked too if you know when you'd like to visit. New users welcome Friday and Saturday and we will begin to add later slots as it becomes lighter.
Sunday new and current users
3.30
Summer in the field is pretty, but Autumn is just glorious. Not sure Yogi appreciates the colours, but he certainly does appreciate the time off lead.
Yogi and Junior have different methods of finding the treat; Junior pushes the blocks with his nose, whereas Yogi uses his paws! How will your dogs solve the puzzle? Put a video on here if you give it a go when you visit!
Brain training in Yogi's Field; Gunner is 15 and has doggy dementia (not dissimilar to human dementia in that he is frequently confused and he has also become really uncoordinated), he loves this game though, as well as his daily walks down to the field.
A few spaces available over in our beautiful secure field the next couple of days, and over the weekend;
Thursday after 8.30 and 10.30 onwards current users
Friday 10.30, 12pm, 3.30. new and current users
Saturday 9am, 12.30 onwards. current users
Sunday 9/9.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm. new and current users
Yogi giving me a hand with evening checks in the peace of the field. There's some spaces for visitors towards the end of the week and at the weekend, see updated post further down the page for details. πππ¦π²π³π