.:: Pride ::.

I went to my first Pride on Saturday. It was so much fun. My wife and I took our dogs...they were a big hit. The 'gays' love beagles and border terriers. Jasper and Captain Jack loved the attention...all the claps and so many people wanted to take their picture. Pity I can't find any online. We bought little pride bandana's and put them round their necks...made them look cuter than they already are.

I can't wait to go next year. The stuff going on on the stage wasn't my thing and I didn't take much notice but there were a few stalls so bought a Pride flag and a fantastic t-shirt that says

'Queer...You can't beat the feeling'

Love it. Not sure if we'll take the boys next year. We were restricted in what we could do having the boys there but I did love having them there.

Now that I can update from my mobile I'll be updating more often I'm happy to say.


Thanks for reading
xxx

.:: Pups ::.

The pups are getting better. They are almost over what they had. Its such a relief that it's not something more serious. Love those little guys.

.:: Pups Not Well ::.

Might have to take the dogs to the vet. They've got a bug of some sort. They've both been sick and had scooshy bum. Captain Jack is getting better but Jasper is a lot worse today. They are still eating, not as much as usual and they are both still drinking lots of water so that's a good sign. They are both still playing and having fun but again not as much as usual and they are sleeping more than usual. Its the first time they've both been so ill. They've had sickness and things before but that only happens once in a blue moon, this has been a couple of days now so I'm getting really worried now. If they're not better by tomorrow morning they'll need to go to the vet. I hope it doesn't come to that but maybe they need a wee pill or something to mix in their food. I'm gonna do a google search and see if this is common or if this is more serious than I'm thinking it is.

xxx

.:: One Week ::.

I have one week off. I'm very happy about that. I'm going to relax and not do too much tomorrow.

Things I'd like to do this week...

• Tidy the big room
• Move the piano and bookcases into the big room
• Move the bed in the small room from the window
• Move things around in the living room
• Train the dogs to walk without pulling
• Train the dogs not to bark at people in the street
• Train the wee guy to come when calling his name
• Have my 34th birthday
• Have fun
• Walk lots

I am looking forward to this week off. Lots to do but most of it can be done within a day or so. Training the dogs will take a while but I'm hoping it won't take too long. Jasper is just over a year old and Captain Jack is about 9months so they should learn quickly. They don't bark at everyone in the street. They both truly dislike the woman who lives upstairs...she's an all out drunk and for some reason Jasper doesn't like the smell of alcohol. Although if he around while the alcohol is being drunk he's ok. Tonight I have a can of beer and a brandy and Jasper is fine with it. Anyone else that we come across where there is a strong smell of drink from them (including my dad who had been out at a pub quiz and who Jasper adores) Jasper goes nuts. I'm not sure how we tackle that. I guess there isn't anything we can do. I hope if he's trained right he'll stop barking at drunk people. Both boys aren't that bad but they aren't as good as they could be. It's not their fault it's ours. These boys are my first dogs and I admit I've made a lot of mistakes. When they were little I just let them pull and run about. I now realise that I should have been training them to walk properly from the first time they were on a lead. I'm excited about training them. Well I'll be training Jasper, my other half will be training Captain Jack. If anyone has any tips I'm all ears.

xxx

.:: Jasper & Captain Jack ::.

Me and my wee Beagle, Jasper --->

<--- My wee Border Terrier, Captain Jack

-

My two dogs are fantastic. I've always wanted a dog, when I was little my sister and I always asked for one but my dad, quite rightly at the time, always said no because there was no one in through the day to look after it and he knew that my sister and I wouldn't do most of the walking/training/poop-clean-up. I know that it was the right thing for us as a family and at least no poor dog was bought and discarded when the novelty wore off.

I always knew though that when I got older and got my own place I would get a dog. My girlfriend and I had talked about getting a dog. Just over a year ago I got my first pooch, my girlfriend grew up with a dog. We talked about what breed to get. My only stipulation was that it had to be below the knee when fully grown. We live in a flat, it's big enough with a long hall and loads of 'running' space but I didn't want a large dog. I'd never have thought of getting a beagle until my girlfriend suggested it and after reading up on the breed we decided a beagle would be a good breed for us. And so the search began. Just over a year ago my wife and I travelled to England and brought home our wee Jasper.

-

I'll never forget the first time I saw him. So tiny. So cute. We didn't know how big he would be and just assumed he would be quite big...we bought a bigger travel cage box thing...we didn't need too. I was used to holding our cats and was so surprised how 'solid' he was. The cats mold themselves around your hand where the pup didn't...I was terrified that I'd 'brake' him...silly I know but I worried. I told my girlfriend to prepare for me not having too much to do with the dog and that she would be doing most of the walking and things but turns out she hardly got a chance to hold the lead...I was surprised just how much I fell in love with the wee guy and how much he took to me. I didn't expect him to love me quite so much. I didn't know dogs could. It's so wonderful. We knew as soon as we saw him that his name was Jasper.

-

Then talk started about getting another dog and 6months or so later we searched again for another pup. This time we decided on a Border Terrier and the search was on for our new 'baby'. As soon as we saw a pic online of Captain Jack and his brothers we knew that he was ours. He is more my girlfriends dog, he took to her more than me and I do love him the same as Jasper but he goes to her more than me and Jasper comes to me more than my girlfriend. He's such a playful, loving little guy. He was so full of energy that we were sure that he and Jasper would get on fine and they do. The boys played together from day one and haven't stopped...exhausting sometimes...I wouldn't change it for a second.

I love the walking. It gets me off my butt and out. I am a couple of stone over weight. I'm not a healthy person, I'm not unhealthy but I don't do much to make up for my unhealthy food intake so getting out and walking a couple of times a day or more when I'm off is a good thing for me. I love the boys, I had no idea that you could love a dog as much as I love my boys. Dogs are great pets. They are great companions. They are fun and if you're thinking of getting a dog, Beagles and Border Terriers are great family pets. Both dogs get on great with my sisters kids who are ages between 6 and 19. My mum and dad love the fellas and look after them for us when we are out. I think my dad wishes he had gotten a dog years ago.

xxx