dibley dogs blog

Careful what we wish for!

Its been a hectic couple of weeks for my two leggeds so today with the sun out and a light breeze the idea of staying at home was not the most appealing option. So at lunchtime I made a sad face and insured it was seen and noticed and my two leggeds kindly took me for a short walk which ended up back at the hotel. One of the gret advantages of living near a hotel is that along with many friends and followers coming back each year so do some of the two leggeds

Then if I am lucky, wish very hard and look extremely appealing I can sometimes persuade others to offer to walk me. To be honest this is sometimes the advantage of having been joined by Mr Blue this spring as he seems to do hard done by and appealing faces far better than I have ever managed. So today was a day of looking appealing and not long after arriving at the hotel kennel-  Anne arrived and while she was going for a walk and missing her four leggeds, who are currently on holiday in Perthshire, there was a glint of hope that we could get out and go for a walk with her.

Clearly I have not lost all my appealing skills as soon we were off on ourway down to the water. After 15 minutes it was fantastic to be out in the fresh air running into the water and generally enjoying myself, after 30 minutes I was startiung to think of slowing down and after 45 minutes I was looking for a lift to get me home! We did however get all through the golf course and then headed to the heronry and the north side of the island. By now Mr Blue was starting to be a bit like Tigger and refusing to stop bouncing about-

With fields of Bluebells and spring definately in the air -who can blame him however he seemed intent onshowing Anne how much energy he had and making her continue walking. The only positive was that the more he ran the further in  front of us he was and the better it was for me being left on my own.

However it must be like this runninng a marathon and finding yourself detached form the rest of the pack --as soon the yard behind Anne became 10 and even without investigating or leaving the path I was really starting to slow up so it was time for some sympathy so i strated the slow methodical walk, head down, ears drooping and sad face!.

Well the good news is that it worked and Anne decided it was time to return back to the kennel and in truth it was incredibly appealing. Having wished to get out for a walk an hour ealier there was now certainly no such enthusiasm and I know I will sleep well tonight -- no doubt surrounded in a sea of blue bells in my dreams!

Grand Afternoon Celebration

This afternoon we were all very generously invited to one of the two leggeds houses for a grand celebration - whilst I was not sure why I had been invited it all became clear. So having all dressed up- and taken advantage of making the others in the party look foolish- clealy Blue being younger and more naive offfered a greater opportunity- we all set off from Lymphoy.

When we arrived we learnt that it was to be a grand but private celebration to mark the occassion of service of a quarter of a century by Rowena and her impending 3 score celebration, it was now becomming clear why I had been invited and clealry Blue was to be the court jester and entertainment. So we tucked into excellent egg and cress sandwiches, scones sand clotted bream with a wonderful chocolate cake whilst Rowena and the two leggeds all recounted stories of the past- some which included me but most which were simply tales I had heard of passed down through the mists of time.

Rowena started back in 1998 on a cold wet day and despite being bitten by my great great grand mother on day one in the car park persevered and today marks 25 years with the island. In actual fact the history goes even further back with her husband having been enrolled at school in Oban with Mrs B and then having helped rebuild the seas defences at Lymphoy at the start of the 1980's -- long before Rowena ever crossed the bridge.

Anyway it was a wonderful event if a little too much cake was enjoyed and all left happy and satisfied although I will keep the images of Blue safe until he is old enough to be embarassed by them! Now clearlty as the older statesmen- (91 in Dog Years) I have a resposibility !! 

New Year- New start

Every year I start by setting a resolution which I try to sustain as long as possible. This year however I broke the resolution almost immediately but I would like to plead my case as I do have extenuating circumstances. in short the resolution was to blog more frequently and keep my followers up to date with all the happenings in the dog world on Eriska--- however this all went out the window when my two leggeds returned with a new addition to the family.

Having lived happily and eventually got the two leggeds trained correctly to my way of life- starting in the morning only when the sun comes up, lots of walking, plenty of tit bits from the table and going to bed as the sun goes down --they somehow got the idea that I needed company-- A nice idea but never really thought through- as they presented me with a 4 week old "friend".

 Blue is a short haired German pointer, no training, little understanding of family life and more Tigger than Eyeore in terms of enthusiasm - endless energy and no calm spirit! So I plead my case as my life has been turned upside down and now only after 4 months have I finally been able to --firstly set an assemblance of order and secondly be able to get my New Years resolution back on track!

However all is not lost, Blue is now settling into my way of life- learnt it is best to avoid me and when the weather has been good over the alst few weeks and he has been put outside I can at least get the house back to my normal way of operating. So now I will begin to be mor etransparanet and let you know all about life on Eriska and how we are progressing in the Dibley plan and maybe Blue can bring you up to date on his progress!

welcome return

Ever since my two legged friend suggested I move over to the blog on our new website, I was very cautious and unsure about this move hence my long absence from the blogging scene!  But now, having grown fond of the new look blog my 2-legged friend now uses, I am now back to my usual tricks, and fully intend to keep all my 4 legged and 2 legged friends “in the loop” of my adventures around the island.

Lately, I was reunited with an old friend of mine, Max, who, if you recall, featured on my previous blog and often liked to show up the smaller members of staff by standing next to them and almost towering over them!  On his latest trip to the island, and out of sight from his master, we were chased around the golf course by some of the children at Eriska over half term - Hard works for us as the children never seem to run out of energy and we are not getting any younger.

Max, the obliging chap that he is, gave in and offered the children short rides around the golf course (not the entire golf course!), which proved great fun for the them, but a tired Max at the end of the day! The doggy treats I asked the staff to leave in his room were much appreciated that evening!

Short Election night!

Its been a busy week here as my two leggeds were away for a day and I moved out to stay with my sister. However when away i was a little led astray and had a day out wandering the island. It was proabably a pure misunderstanding as I thought in my two leggeds absence I was expected to monitor activity and my Sisters two legged seemed to think I was supposed to do this without dissappearing for 8 hours. Anyway no harm done except that my legs are sore and I ahve a bit of a hobble but this was not helped by a very short Thursday night!

 When my Two leggeds who had retruned from there trip away they did so in time fo rthe election, however I must have misunderstood their role in the election as not only did it involve the relatively simple task of going to the polling station and casting their vote but it also appeared to involve them sitting up for all hours of the night to monitior the results. I am not sure if they were expecting a call to ask their opinion or even form a government but it did disrupt my much needed sleep pattern so I was really pleased when last night everything semed to return to normal. Lets keep all paws crossed now that a long term solution for governement can be found as I am not ready to go through another sleepless night in the near future!

Holier than Though Image!!

This week I have been away on holiday but returned to Eriska and whilst it is always nice to have a break and change of scene returning to the smells and scents that you grow used to always makes a welcome retunr and especially here at eriska at tis time of the year with the birds parading on the lawn and the rabbits and deer in full force keeping me out of mischief!

Anyway I returned to my two legged talking in glowing terms about a recent visitor to the hotel.Vencice was agolden labrador who was in training to become a fully fledged guide dog. She came from a litter of "v's"  hence her name and her mother had been a breeding bitch for the guide dogs for the blind so she had been born into the service.  Obviuosly I would have liked to have followed this type pf career path but my two leggeds assumed they had better things for me to dio so who would argue!

Whilst I am sure she had many hidden talents I was pleased to see from the attached photograph that she was still a Labrador at heart- spot the nose for a biscuit in the pocket. We are all the same !!

Watercress misunderstanding

Today I managed to persuade my two leggeds to take me out for a walk in the sunshine after an initial lack of enthusiasm they seemed to start enjoying the experience and clearly their training is going well and one remembered to pick up a selection of sticks so by the time we reached the pier there was sufficient ammunition for me to jump and dive off the end. It had been quite a warm day so this provided a bit of refreshment and an ideal pause for them to catch their breath.

We then moved on through the golf course and I had the chance to run and roll and by the time we reached the 4th Green I was again quite warm but the smells and scents had kept me busy. Then I noticed one  of the two leggeds bending down with a plastic bag by the pond. keen not to be left out and deciding to kill tow birds with one stone and cool down I launched myself into the pond. maybe I should have looked where I was leaping, maybe I should have checked before I dived but apparently my actions caused disaster. how was I to know that by jumping from a height I would displace water and soak the kneeling two legged and how was I supposed to know that he was trying to pick watercress for dinner and that my actions slightly muddied the water and certainly displaced his crop.

Taking a bit of fright I quickly exited from the pond by the furthest bank and headed off in search of more smells, pretending I could not hear because of water in my ears was the only form of defence and time I thought i could use. Next time I will check before jumping- I think!

Dogs Duties never done

Today I had the privilege of meeting one of my favourite visitors. Karen has known me since I was wee and indeed it is thanks to her that I have changed my diet and now have less pain in my joints. She met my two legged a couple of years ago and managed to offer a remote prognosis to my condition and by changing my main meal to JD food I have been able to move more easily and have been less stiff in the mornings especially after a cold night and fresh dawn.

Anyway today she offered to take me out for a walk, a very generous gesture but it also gave me a chance to meet her new two legged friend. I was not aware when we set off but her idea had been a long walk collecting my sister and her four legged friend from Lymphoy and then exploring the island. I took quite a shine to Karen's two legged friend -helped by his secret supply of biscuits- not part of the new diet regime but you are only young once! and we set off.

Karen soon picked up the pace and with the other dogs ranging out in front we soon became detached. Not wishing to cause a problem and feeling the length of walk taking its toll I decided to help guide Karen's friend and closed ranks in close to him. From my side it was the best way to keep an eye on his progress and from his point of view it was an easy way to lighten his load by slipping me the odd biscuit. Anyway we all made it back to the hotel unscathed and well exercised and Karen was especially impressed that I had performed my duties as a guiding dog to such a high standard.

Providing his pockets are full tomorrow I am sure I can be available for another hike!!

Early morning surprise visitor!

I am not the best in the morning and often find the dawn comes sooner than I would expect! The best mornings happen when my two legged goes out running allowng me to come too slowly and be ready for his return and consequent constitutional round the garden and the grounds. However this morning I was awoken with a shock and made to go out for a walk earlier than wished for.

As I set off  combination of unwillingness to go and having not yet become accustomed to having my eyes open is my excuse for not quite understanding what I saw. a black nd white blur ran passed and disappeared into te undergrowth. before I could identify it it had shot passed again in the opposite direction. Whether it was an - outlate- badger or an errant zebra i could not be sure but by the third crossing i was ready and could make out the features.

It was Jenny a dog staying at the hotel taking her two leggeds for a walk before breakfast. Although she was described as an elderly dog she seemed far from it and full of the joys of spring. Next time i will be ready and she may not get such a quiet approach!!

Mad mans a running man!

As I lay outside in the sunshine yesterday rolling and scratching my back I could hear my two leggeds laughing and making fun of me. It just seemed a perfect way for me to rest and enjoy the weather and there is nothing better than bright sunshine, warm grass and a good roll but obviously each to his or her own, as at the weekend I was packed into the car and taken to Alloa to watch one of my two leggeds.

He got out of the car after a 90 mile journey and then proceeded to line up and run down the road with a big group of other two leggeds, meanwhile I got back in the car and drove round only to decant and get out and stand and watch him run past me then again get back in the car and repeat the operation- little seemed to have changed except that the other runners seemed more spread out and my two legged looked even more red and out of breath. then we packed up and moved on again and this time ended up where we started to await his arrival.

He crossed the line collapsed on the floor told how he felt terrible and we all packed back in the car and travelled home. On the way home he seemed to brighten up  and be relieved with the time - but I had to ask myself when drive then run in a circle and drive home again- And he thinks rolling round on the ground enjoying the sunshine is a funny way to enjoy the weather!!