We met Ellis last weekend. She is an unbelievable 18 years old and still enjoying sociable walks with her friends. Quite an inspiration I think you’ll agree.
Ellis is a Lab-Collie cross and was re-homed by her present family at the age of one. What a beautiful dog.
Categories: Brighton · Sheepcote Valley · dog walks · lab-collie cross · older dogs · veteran dogs
Tagged: 18 year old dog, doggie veteran, ellis the dog, lab-collie cross, older dogs, veteran dog
Thanks to my friend Andy who showed me a new walk in Brighton* yesterday. Here’s Bailey, his Boxer-Mastiff cross, at the start of the walk.
When the weather’s really hot this walk is perfect cause there’s a big pond for the dogs to cool down in

We also met the handsome Moses, a Lab crossed with a NewFoundland. With a mix like that, it’s obvious he’s going to be a water baby! And look at the great log he found to have fun with!

So for the dogs there was the water to splash in as well as the woods to explore. For the humans there were fantastic views across Brighton as well as the knowledge that your dogs were having a fantastic time. A great walk – thanks Andy. Let’s do it again soon.

*Drive up the Ditchling Road, past the children’s playground and past the entrance to the golf club. On the right you’ll see a height restriction bar. Park in this small car park and walk across the fields towards the woods. There are several paths that lead through to the dew pond and from there you can walk safely in different directions with amazing views of Brighton.
Categories: Brighton · East Sussex · English weather · dew pond · dog walks · dog walks brighton · doggy pals · dogs · dogs playing
Tagged: boxer-mastiff cross, Brighton, brighton views, dew pond wild park, dog walk Brighton, dogs swimming, labrador-newfoundland cross

I met these guys in Rottingdean, a village a few miles outside of Brighton.
Buffalo and Hawk had been helping with the shearing and had been at it for several hours when I met them. The farmer left the boys in his quad bike and had just popped into the village to grab some lunch. Hawk is Buffalo’s son and the dog closest to the camera.
It’s a very busy time for them at the moment and the dogs and the farmer looked in need of a quick lunch break. How I’d love to see these two in action.


Categories: Brighton · East Sussex · Rottingdean · collies · dogs · working collies · working dogs
Tagged: Brighton, East Sussex, farmer, quad bike, Rottingdean, working collies
There’s a dew pond on one of our walks and depending on how the humans are feeling we drop by. As you can see, you have to be prepared for very muddy, wet dogs. They love it and dash around diving in and out of the water. Here’s Jessie with her friends Frankie, Bobby and Holly having lots of fun at the weekend. Georgie tends to do her own thing – usually schmoodling with the humans, eating grass or staring hard at insects. Jump back to the post, “Frankie, new pup in town” to see how much Frankie’s grown!

L-R, Jessie, Bobby and Frankie

Jessie - I recognise the collar - and other(s) going for the tennis ball!

Bobby, Jessie and Frankie - on right

Holly on left, Jessie, Bobby (collie) and Frankie
Categories: dew pond · dog walking · dog walks · doggy pals · dogs · dogs playing
Tagged: dew pond, dog walks, dogs playing, muddy dogs, pond, wet dogs
Yesterday I spent the afternoon in Withdean Park, Brighton listening to my friends in Saxshop and enjoying all the dogs that had come along for the Fun Dog Show.
This is Fern, a beautiful Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen/Working Bearded Collie cross that won Best In Show. She’s a delightfully happy dog and still only 5 months old. As you can see her human family were very proud of her. Congratulations

Categories: Brighton · Sussex · best in show · community · cute dogs · fun dog show · music and dogs · pets
Tagged: Brighton, fun dog show, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen/Working Bearded Collie cross, Withdean Park


On account of the collapsing Honeysuckle (see Monday’s post) Mark and I visited the garden centre to find a smaller replacement.
And on the way, look who we met!
This is 2 year old Paddy, a Border Terrier I think (hope this is right). Even though it says ‘No Riding Permitted’ on the trolley, it also says ‘Maximum Load 250kg’ – and I’d make a guess that Paddy’s around 10kg? So no problem

He’s a real sweetie and seemed very content in the garden centre trolley.
Thank you to his human family for letting me take some pictures.
Categories: Garden Centre · Sussex · cute dogs · dogs · gardening · gardening with dogs
Tagged: border terrier, dog in garden trolley, dogs, Garden Centre
We had a beautiful Honeysuckle on our patio.
Admittedly it was very big and practically took over the small garden that we have. Mark felt it was too much for our space and was encouraging me to think about replacing it with something smaller.
Anyway, I got home yesterday to find it had completely toppled over and was being propped up on the canes that protect our new carrot patch from G and J.
Maybe this was a sign?
So out came the secateurs and down came the Honeysuckle.
Georgie quickly settled down as the leaves piled up. I kept adding honeysuckle branches but she was quite happy in her little space.

Jessie on the other hand is never able to relax if something as exciting is going on. She likes to be in the thick of it.

“Mmm, I think I’ll try a little snooze over here now”

Georgie ’stretching her legs’ . . . (this is why I take them on long walks every day!)

The patio was getting quite full by now but there’s still space for Jessie to see if there’s anything interesting around – can you spot Georgie by the door?

And finally, here’s the Honeysuckle in its early days before we let it go wild. It all looks rather pretty, doesn’t it? Must keep an eye on this little space. It can so easily get out of control.

Categories: dogs · garden · gardening · gardening with dogs · golden retriever · honeysuckle · patio · pets
Tagged: gardening, gardening with dogs, gardens, honeysuckle, patio




Fantastic – it’s Spring which means the bluebells are doing their glorious thing. Our woods in Stanmer Park, Brighton, are full of them and everywhere is transformed. Here are some pictures from yesterday’s dog walk with Georgie and Jessie.
Jennie, when are you coming over?
Categories: Brighton · England · Stanmer Woods · Sussex · bluebells · dog walking · dog walks · dogs · english woods · golden retriever · woodland
Tagged: bluebells, dogs, english woodland, spring, Stanmer Woods
I’ve been watching this tree.
I was struck by how desolute it looked in January.

And by March, little buds were appearing.

And by April – wow, it’s started to explode!

Change can happen in a very short time – just look at this tree.
Happy Earth Day everyone!
Categories: Earth Day · transformation · trees
Tagged: change, Earth Day, growth, spring, transformation, trees