Walk with Dogs on Royston Heath

Today, Phil's birthday. we met up with Ian and Peter for a walk on Royston Heath with the 4 dogs. Meredith was in her element. Isla and Bracken are totally addicted to ball chasing while Ted and Flora were much more interested in the treats that Phil had. Taken with my not very powerful camera phone.

Flora meets Ted

Yesterday was Ian's puppy Flora's first day allowed to mix with other dogs so Ted, Isla and Flora all met for some social intermixing while the humans maintained their social distancing. All was jovial interchange between the three dogs other than when a ball was involved! Flora discovered Ted's rope pull could fight back!

Ted on his Morning Walk

A few images from my morning walk route with Ted around Toft. The barley in these fields look ready for harvest and, so far, have escaped storm damage.

Royston Heath Dogs Galore

Yesterday morning was perfect light for photographing Ted, our Golden Retriever, and his various 'friends' on a walk on Royston Heath

Enjoying the Beach

A Springer Spaniel having a wonderful time on the beach at Weston - his owner asked for a picture of him catching a frisbee but the spaniel had other interests - chasing birds and shadows! On Sunday at Burnham-On-Sea, the exposed mud flats added an extra element to a run on the beach!

 

 

More About the Husky Trip and Jokkmokkguiderna

The visit to Jokkmokkguiderna was one of the highlights of our trip. Matti and Stina run the kennel with approx 45 Siberian Huskies, which they breed and generally keep for their entire life. They become their partners and fellow workers in their daily life. Sometimes they buy dogs for breeding from other kennels to keep the Siberian Husky blood lines healthy. They need to be able to
love the life, be friendly, be able to run at a good speed and manage the challenges that life in the wilderness demands. To work in front of the sled is what they love most.
It is really important that members of the pack can socialize with each other without any tensions. The humans and the adult dogs work together so that the young dogs become a part of the pack. Matti and Stina are the leaders of the pack and stand higher above all the dogs, which are more or less at the same level in the hierachy. They are not allowed to be aggressive or start fights.  The result is a calm and harmonious dog pack that never has to be afraid of being attacked. They know that we as leaders handle the conflicts in the group.

My Birthday in Swedish Lapland

I spent my birthday with a temperature of -34 degrees in the Arctic on a Husky sled trip with 'breakfast' in the forest, followed by watching birds come to a feeding station and ending with meeting (and eating!) reindeer in the company of a charming Sami. Mad perhaps but certainly unforgettable. I will be doing fuller posts on the activities when back in the UK. There will be a gap before this as today we start the final day- spending a night in a lavvu-style tent further up into the Arctic forests and there will be no electricity and therefore no internet etc.