happy 5th gotcha day to my darling, Jess

Today, at approximately 4pm, marks exactly 5 years since I brought my Jess home for the very first time. This was way back when she lived in a dogs home, in a cage with 2 other dogs she didn't know, she only weighed 12kg and was unbeknown to anyone, half way through a pregnancy with what could have been 6 little puppies. We spotted her out of all the other dogs as she looked like my sister in laws dog, Ruby, and she sealed the deal of a new home when she licked my cheek.

In the 5 years she's been mine, she has ran on the beach, splashed in the sea, left the country, climbed a mountain, had her healthy 4 puppies, been to dog school, learnt a handful of tricks and been my best friend. Happy 5th Gotcha day to darling, Jess.

Post 100 & Bedtime snuggles

For a long time this blog has been set on the private setting.

A few days ago, I re-read every single post I had written about my dogs and it brought back memories that otherwise would be long gone. Little memories that are from insignificant days.

That's what I love about blogging and about my dog blog.

A dogs average lifespan is around 13-15 years. Both my girls are roughly 3 - Molly just about to turn it and Jess isn't too far off 4. This blog, by writing small stories of their life means I remember so much more about the good and bad days. The training, obedience, tricks, diets... everything and I love it.

This is post 100 and as I don't normally "toot my own horn" so to speak, I have to say that looking back I've got a heck of a lot better at doggie pictures. I remember back then I was so proud of some pictures that I now think is technically awful - but that's the brilliance of photography, the more you take the better you get. I can't wait to see the pictures I'm going to take in their life span.

hard to believe my little one is 3 soon!



also safe to say I'm having a B&W phase :-)

As my brother has recently moved into her first house I got to take his room! My weekend was taken up with painting, my mum's was taken up with wallpapering and I spent far too much on new wardrobes but we're finally in. The first night was a bit iffy, the girls was confused why I wasn't in my old room and was in and out and on and off the bed more times than I could count (and I was working the next day) but it's got a lot easier and they now seem to like their new room just as much as I do!

Motivation Differances



For a long time I've really enjoyed clicker training the girls, Jess has always been the one to flourish whilst Molly would get bored within minutes and walk out the room choosing to ignore the treats handed out once she completes the trick.

Jess would do just about anything for a piece of cheese and most tricks would be conquered in the first few times and as all the books state food is the way for dogs to enjoy clicker training I started to think maybe Molly just wasn't the intellegent type of dog to be trick dog.

That was until a few weeks ago. As it was just me and Molly I decided to ask for a basic trick before every throw of a tennis ball and as she did it I'll click. She was incredible! She's now learnt tricks Jess hasn't and the enthusiam I get from her is just amazing - she seems to have so much fun, could play for hours and best of all, as soon as I pick up the clicker she looks so alert and happy and ready to train!

She's really doing well and now even Jess will do tricks to have a toy thrown (I know a TOY!!!). Of course, just like Molly does with food, she looses interest much sooner than she does when I have food but whilst clicker training Jess will actually play for an hour with a toy! I thought that would never happen!!

It's quite obvious that there is far of Molly in the pictures I took on yesterdays run. This is because Molly is always around me when the chuck-it is out to play and Jess is off running and searching for rabbits/ squirrels to chase.

I also bought Jess her new winter coat today. Molly has one from last year so now they have one each that should hopefully keep them warm in the winter months. I may even make them model them for pictures :-)

The Girls In May

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We found new woods, they learned to do the figure of 8 round legs, Molly carried on jumping the 6ft, 4in gate, Jess cut her head, they still chase birds, started going to Dunhum again which has made some improvements with their behaviour, they're getting better at walking together on a lead, I spotted Jess pick up a teddy with her mouth, they don't like the heatwaves but they do like the food that comes of the barbeque. They're getting better with people who enter our home, They're struggling to learn leg weaving. Jess weed on a bed, Molly destroyed a mattress, Molly no longer finds people in the street threatening and is getting a lot better at people who stare at her, Jess is still scared of other dogs.