RIP my wonderful Maximus

Yes he's gone. He was put to sleep at 10.30AM on 19th April 2010. He was such an amazingly special dog and I will always love him. I cant believe hes really gone.

On Saturday and Sunday he could hardly walk at all on one of his back legs, so we took him to the vets and they couldnt believe how swollen it was. He was in so much pain, we had no idea. He just never showed it, always happy, always smiling.

And thats how I will always remember my wonderful Max, as the happy, smiley dog he was that fought for what he loved and therefore beat all what the vets said.

He proved the world wrong, and proved that if you love something you should fight for it.

I will always love you my wonderful Max. You meant so much to me, words just cannot express how much I love you.

You can now run pain-free and without those horrible hips getting in the way. I will always love you.

RIP my wonderful, wonderful, one in a million Maximus.

Indi starts flyball and more puppy pics =]

Well we spent the morning at flyball today, and I must say it was a very productive morning =]. Ernie didnt do so great at flyball as there was a man on the box, and he wasnt very confident or motivated. His speed lacked as well as his motivation. But hey, as its only for fun, who cares?!

Indi is now improving brilliantly. Yesterday down the beach he greeted some dogs he'd never met before really well, and today a little JRT came bounding over and he was absolutely perfect. He had a few issues with some other dogs, and was a bit nervous of some of the people, but all in all I'm pleased =]. I also decided to have a go at flyball with him, and he did great! He did a wait before the speed run, and then was going up and getting the ball perfectly. The other thing, he was having great fun! So now we are going to see if we can get him going =].

Ernie has also finally warmed to the puppy and was even playing with him today. Koko was a bit scared of him as Ernie plays very rough, but he didnt hurt him. Ernie was just staring at him like 'why arent you playing?'

So here are some pics taken today of my wonderful dogs =]

Indi meeting puppy =]

Today we went to flyball training, and my wonderful dogs did amazing. Ernie first, his flyball was fab. He went right up to the box and his speed and confidence was brilliant. I was so pleased with him! I also gave some little girls some treats and let them get Ernie doing some tricks. He did great, and it was a great experience for him as he rarely works for anyone he doesnt know very well.

Indi next, and he is the one I'm most pleased with. Today I introduced him to the new pup (who was Mika but is now either Koko or Whisper) and he was great. I first showed him the new puppy while in the car, and then again through the window and then face to face. He was absolutely perfect. He showed absolutely no aggression whatsoever, I was over the moon. He has always had a soft spot for puppies. He was also tied to a post and just sat there while there were lots of other dogs around him, and even lied down while in the mist of it all. I was on the other side of the field, and absolutely over the moon! I also gave the little girls some treats and let them do tricks with Indi, Indi is very nervous of new people. This did him the world of good, and really boosted his confidence around the girls right up.

I am just so pleased with my wonderful dogs. So here are some pics of the new pup, and of course, Indiana being amazing =D.

My nutter of a Spaniel Indi =]

Well the horrible hot summer weather has made an appearance. Ernie isnt very happy about it at all, so im just walking when the sun is hiding behind clouds or late in the evening. Indi is much more happier about the warmer weather, he can just go and cool off in the sea =]. Yeah hes getting more confident about going further and further out the more we go the beach. If I can get him swimming by the summer I will be over the moon, because then he can come swimming with me =].

So this post is all about my nutty dog =]. He is just getting better and better around other dogs, we still have a way to go but we are getting there, slowly. Tricks-wise and obedience-wise he is perfect. Aside from pulling on the lead, he is perfect =].

So to celebrate my perfect nutter of a Spaniel here are some pics taken down the beach today =]. I'm still experimenting with my camera, but some of the action shots came out pretty good =].

New camera =]. And Indi swims!

Well I have my new camera =]. And I love it =]. Still got to work out how to get the best action shots out of it, but it took me ages to work that out on my old camera too so we shall have to just experiment =]. It also has a cool feature where it can put 2 pics in one! Once the sun returns we will definantly be experimenting with that!

Also, today Indi swam! The sea went deep really suddenly, and I threw a stone out, and nor me or Indi were expecting it and before he knew it the floor had gone and he was swimming! He was a bit surprised, but I think if he does it more he'll get more confident in it. He was still going back out though, which is great =D. I sure do love my crazy Indi, as naughty as he is ;).

So here are some pics from yesterday (my birthday) all taken with my new camera =]. Of course my dogs were my favourite models.

Enjoying first good Spring weather =D

Well Spring is finally really here. The rain has finally left us for a bit, and everythings great. The dogs are going out a lot at the moment. The minimum for Indi and Ernie at the moment is 2 hours, which is great as Indi's fitness levels are finally going up now ready for our looong walks in summer =D. Every morning I am taking Ernie, Stanley and Alfie out for at least 2 or 3 hours as otherwise Stanley and Alfie are just digging and barking in the garden for the day. There not complaining though, I think Ernie likes having some company on his loong walks!

Alfie and Stanley arent easy though, I am so glad there not my dogs! Alfie is unbelievably dominant, and even got into a fight with another dog today. I wont be letting him off around other dogs again! But they are fun, and Im doing a bit of clicker training with them too, which they love! They are fun to walk too, and surprisingly keep up great, despite being very unfit and Alfie being unbelievably overweight!

So everythings good at the moment. Indi is doing fantastic, he is finally showing 0 aggression towards other dogs! He did growl at Alfie when he tried to take his ball, but he even growls at Ernie when he does that! Yeah, no one touches his ball! He's still barking a bit, but its not an aggressive bark at all anymore. Hes also going further and further out at the beach, hopefully he'll be swimming soon ;). I've always wanted a dog that swims! Well Max does, but he physically cant anymore :(.

So for now some pics from our walks today. None of Indi just Stan, Alfie and Ernie. I will have a new camera tomorrow as its my birthday, so stay tuned for more pics as I will be taking lots ;).

Easter fun =]

Well I have lots to update on. First things first, Alfie the little Border Terrier and Stanley the Basset hound have arrived =D. They come with me on my loong walks with Ernie and keep up great and looove it. Alfie is hugely overweight, so hopefully we will get his weight down by the end of this two weeks. They are both extremely naughty and we are all appreciating how well-behaved and fantastic our dogs are after only one day of living with these nutty two =].

2nd thing, is a new puppy! Not ours, obviously. My Nans. A little red tri merle who I have named as Mika, whether she'll keep that name or not I dont know. My mums in shock shes got another dog, which I can understand as she now has 8 dogs, which is a lot for someone her age and in such a small house. The dogs all have a fantastic life as they participate in sports all the time and are walked everyday, my mum just worries about her coping as most of her dogs are spaniels and collies. Well yesterday was his first day so here are some pics of him at 6 weeks. We were at a flyball competition all day and thats where most of these were taken.

And last, but by far not least, now to update on my own doggies =]. Things have got better, and the dogs are going out a lot more now. Well Indi, Ernie was always going out tonnes. Yesterday, as I mentioned, we went to a flyball competition. I was very surprised at just how far away this was, it was 2 hours away and while we had tonnes of rain, home had tonnes of sunshine. Well even so, the scenery was stunning. Ernie wasnt competing, and behind the field was lots of fields and hills. I decided to take Ernie's brother Alfie and him for an explore. We had to climb an almost vertical hill, and then at the top the view was amazing. Ernie loved it =]. He also hated the new puppy with a passion, so it gave him a chance to be away from him.

Indi has also settled in with Stan and Alfie really well. Although, he has been a bit funny with other dogs while on the lead since they came, so I dont know if thats related. Off-lead, however, he is just getting better and better. And also, when he is barking its not his nervous aggression bark anymore, its more of just his normal bark which is good. I dont mind the barking, as long as its not aggressive, which is getting less and less. I love my naughty little Indi =].

So for now, some pics from yesterday, see the caravans in the background? That was where the flyball competition was. It gives you an idea of how steep the hill was we climbed!