Vlog | Judging at Dig It Dogs Winter Series Agility Show

So here is my vlog from Sunday. It’s a very short and sweet vlog of my day at a Dig It Show, judging in the morning and then mooching around in the afternoon. I realised that I hardly filmed Guinness during … Continue reading

Assessing the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme

Tonight I have been to Dig It assessing Silver and Gold level classes. Up until last year The Kennel Club allowed people within certain professions, such as police dog handlers and dog wardens, to assess the scheme without going through their … Continue reading

Embarrassing ourselves at Freestyle Heelwork to Music

On Friday evening Guinness and I wandered into the Dig It obedience hall to have a go at some doggy dancing! Kim Lyddon has visited Dig It a number of times to provide instructor training as part of her Dog Business Academy. … Continue reading

English National Sheepdog Trials

The trials started at 7.30am! There was no way we were getting up that early. We wandered in around mid-morning and browsed around the few stalls (we being my best friend Lydia with her spaniel Freddie and Guinness and I). … Continue reading

Events to look forward to in August

Summer is a busy time for events and many of them are dog friendly, or better yet dog specific!

Here is a list of local and national events happening in August that I’m excited about. Some of them I’ll be attending and others I’ll be jealously reading about on social media and fellow blogs.

  • 31st July – 2nd August: CLA Gamefair

Oh how I wish I was going! CLA Gamefair is set in the stunning grounds of Harewood House in the heart of Yorkshire.  Judging from friends comments and photographs from previous years it looks absolutely huge and a fabulous weekend out!
http://www.gamefair.co.uk/

  • 1st: Oswestry Show

Owestry showground is one of my favourite local venues for agility competitions and the agricultural show has a great reputation.
http://www.oswestryshow.co.uk/

  • 1st & 2nd: The Pet Show

The Pet Show is set alongside the home of the Kennel Club in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. It celebrates all things pets and claims to be a great day out for the whole family.
http://www.thepetshow.co.uk/

  • 6th – 8th: English National Sheepdog Trials

I am so excited to have the sheepdogs trials right on my doorstep this year at Sutton Hall, Macclesfield. It handily falls across my birthday so anyone that spots me there on the 7th make sure you buy me cake! It was at a sheepdog trial on my birthday 6 years ago that helped persuade my Mum into letting me have my own Border Collie.
http://www.englishnationalsheepdogtrials.org.uk/

  • 6th: Bakewell Show

Another local event, Bakewell is a stunning location and it has live jousting on display in its main arena! Not something you see at every country show.
http://www.bakewellshow.org/

  • 9th: Fun Dog Show at Tatton Park

If you’re planning a day out with your dog around Tatton Park then why not hop into a fun dog show while you’re there, you never know, you may come away with a rosette!
http://events.tattonpark.org.uk/

  • 16th: Cheshire Game & Angling Fair

Anyone feeling a little game fair’d out by now? Well if not the Cheshire Game & Angling Fair is a decent one. Based in Peover, I’ve attended a few times over the years with the Dig It Display Team running Have A Go Agility. It was always a decent show with a good range of stalls and displays and a little quieter than the hustle of the Cheshire Show.
http://www.cheshiregameandanglingfair.co.uk/

  • 22nd: Woofstock

I’m not sure if Woofstock appeals to me or not, but hey, don’t knock something until you’ve tried it! Woofstock is a fun dog show and festival-kinda-thing held in Dorset. Fingers crossed it isn’t only full of dog-cuddling hippies as the vibes suggest. Maybe it’s because I was born in the 90s but the whole peace and radical theme isn’t to my taste.
http://www.woofstockuk.co.uk/

  • 29th-31st: Triplefest

There are lots of events to choose from on August Bank Holiday, but I’m going to pledge my allegiance to the one I’m helping out at with my Scout Group. Held at Heaton House in Rushton Spencer (Macclesfield), Triplefest is a three day event (as the name suggests) ending with a country fair on Bank Holiday Monday. Saturday is the music and beer festival with my favourite event, tug-of-war (c’mon Scouts!) and the Sunday is a family fun day with comedy and variety shows in the evening. Then Monday is the full-packed day out for the family with main arena displays, parades and loads of activities to have a go at, including a dog show.
http://www.triplefest.co.uk/

  • 31st: All About Dogs

Okay a final mention for the Bank Holiday Weekend, All About Dogs is a series of dog events hosted from April to September across the south of England (the highest north they get is Lincoln). On the 31st Norfolk is hosting All About Dogs and it looks brilliant! Take your dog with you and try out many different activities and sports, plus watch displays and demonstrations.
http://www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk/

I’d love to know if you’re heading off to any of these events, or perhaps you have suggestions of your own! Drop a comment below and most importantly, enjoy your summer!

Difficult decisions

We all come across difficult decisions from time to time, some of us more than others. When to retire our dog from agility. Whether to move for that dream job or stay near family and friends. To buy a van … Continue reading

Betley Gundog & Game Fair 2015

Well it’s been a couple of years since I first went to Betley and boy has it changed! I wrote about how spread out it was last time and I think they listened! All of the stalls were circled around … Continue reading

Cheshire Show

I finally got organised enough this year to book the day off work and headed off to the Cheshire Show. Accompanied by Guinness & my Mum, we entered the show into the Countryside Experience Area and quickly hurried away from the … Continue reading

Why the long face?!

When a friend invited me along to Bolesworth International Horse Show this year for a birthday get together I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I thoroughly enjoyed it last year and although wasn’t planning on going this year (more due to … Continue reading

Open Farm Sunday at Hardiwick Farm

On Sunday 7th June hundreds of farms opened their doors (or more like gates) and invited everyone and anyone to come and visit a farm, learn more about where your food comes from and have some fun! Completely free of … Continue reading

Agility without the Agility

Yesterday I rocked up to the Dig It UKA Camping Show. I hadn’t entered and wasn’t camping as I have so much going on, but I’d got a free day so went along to help, take some photographs and perhaps … Continue reading

On Yer Bike!

I’ve half-heartedly been trying to get fit for a while, and whether he likes it or not Guinness has been coming along for the ride. This weekend we were on it! Saturday I dusted off my bike after a month … Continue reading

PDTI National Conference

Yesterday I attended the Pet Dog Training Instructors (PDTI) National Conference with guest speaker John Rogerson. I’d not heard of John Rogerson before and didn’t know anything about him, but the topics really interested me and the price was good … Continue reading

Get lost in the woods

If I could pick anywhere to live I would definitely choose a woodland or forest. I feel most at home amongst the trees and soil, covered by a canopy of leaves with patches of sunshine (or more often spots of rain) … Continue reading

Farm Life

This weekend Guinness and I went to stay with Ash on the dairy farm he is currently working on.   It’s calving time on the farm so I spent the morning in the calf barns! Seriously, who can deny the cuteness of … Continue reading

My Two Days at Crufts 2015

Now that I’ve written about my outlook on Crufts this year I thought I’d give you an idea on how I spent my weekend there. On Saturday I travelled with and spent the day with a few friends. We started … Continue reading