Teddy's going to Scruffts 2012!

I've always loved dogs and I've always loved watching Crufts on the box ever since I was tiny. I know people have mixed opinions on the whole thing, but I do enjoy going as most people there have the dogs' best interests at heart and it's always nice to meet other doggy mad loons like me :)

So you can imagine my excitement to find out today that Teddy has been selected to compete at Scruffts 2012 - the Kennel Club's annual dog show for Crossbreeds!

I got really into the whole Crufts thing this year and finally got the chance to go up to Birmingham and experience it for myself after winning some tickets. It was an amazing day and I'd say it's a definite must for any dog lover!

It was around that sort of time that I applied for Teddy to enter Scruffts - to be honest I'd completely forgotten about it until I saw the kennel club headed letter when I got home today!

Scruffts was launched in 2000 and is just like Crufts but for mixed doggies :) it's also a lot more light-hearted and fun! Entry is £1 and all proceeds go to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

As there is no 'breed standard' for crossbreeds, the judges base their decision on 'good character', 'good health', and 'good temperment with people and other dogs'.

All the dogs involved get a few minutes to shine in the ring and wow the judges - fingers crossed Teddy will be in a good mood on the day!! He's already perfected his posing!

So I'm sooooo excited! My older dog Bonnie entered a few fun dog shows last summer and actually won a few rosettes :) she seemed to really enjoy it. Ted wasn't even born then, but hopefully he will follow in his big sister's footsteps!

Ted's heat is being held at the London Pet Show at Earl's Court on Sunday 13th May. So even if Ted doesn't get any prizes, we'll still have a lovely day out :)

If you too are a doggy lover, or even an animal lover as they have all sorts there (including rabbit show jumping!! - which Barnaby would absolutely smash), you should check the London Pet Show out - it's on Saturday as well and you can book tickets here. The show is open from 9.30 - 5.00pm and is a relatively cheap day out for all animal lovers!!


Any tips for how to prepare for Ted's dog show debut?? Wish us luck!!

Leigh on Sea

Yesterday, we woke up to glorious sunshine which made a nice change from the constant rain we've had lately - so we decided to jump in the car with Ted and make the short drive over to Leigh on Sea.

If you're an Essex resident, you'll should know Leigh; and if you're a TOWIE fan, you might have seen Leigh when Mick took Maria there on a date to have cockles! But if you don't fit either category and haven't heard of Leigh on Sea, it's a pretty little seaside place that's nice to visit for a day trip.

I say seaside, actually it's on the Thames Estuary, but it has some nice little sandy beaches all the same! (and the water's fairly clean which is more than can be said for Thurrock!)

 There is a little sea front you can walk along, with a few dog-friendly pubs, some fish and chip shops, and some sea-food bars. There's also a cute little shop that sells all sorts of gorgeous stuff (including cath kidston!), and a sweet vintage coffee shop.

If you're that way inclined, you can pay to learn to fish or you can even rent a little sailing boat and play around in the water! Normally I'd love that but as Ted had come along we decided against it (don't know if he's sea sick yet!)

Ted loved it and was in and out of the sea constantly. Although he did roll in some seaweed so he now needs a bath!

 

I went in a tiny bit with him (I came prepared with my trusty Hunters!). But a big wave came and we got wet (I got wet legs, Ted got a full soaking!)

We found a nice little pub that had a fish and chip shop attached - perfect combination! - so we sat down for some grub. It started to rain a little but it was still SO good! Is it just me or are fish and chips just soooo much better when had at the seaside??

Teddy sitting nicely, waiting for some fish!

 

 

 

 

 After we got him home, Teddy was pooped! Straight off to bed! I heart weekends!

So if you're looking for a nice day out, give Leigh on Sea a try! It's doggy friendly most of the time, but make sure you check the web in advance in case any dates are off limits to pooches!

Has anyone else been? Would you like to visit?

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..

So yesterday the clocks went forwards and the start of the great British summer arrived! For a change, the weather was actually gorgeous so we decided to take Teddy, our puppy, for a long walk.

If you haven't already seen him this is Ted - he's a Lakeland Fox Terrier cross, who's almost 8 months old and is always full of beans! Chews anything he can get his paws on, runs around constantly and likes ears. Super cute right?

We took Ted to Belhus Woods Country Park; It's a gorgeous walk for all doggy lovers - woods, fields, flowers and lakes - perfect for all! We wanted to see if he'd swim - he has run around in the shallow water before but he's never properly gone swimming (not like my bigger dog, Bonnie, who's a complete water baby!) he's always wimped out at the last minute!



But it was the day we'd been waiting for - Ted loves a bit of fetch and was more than happy to go into the water to retrieve his prized stick. Anything for the stick!

 As the afternoon went on he went in further.. and further.. until eventually he began to swim!  Whoop!

Yay he swam! I've never seen a terrier swim before, so I was super impressed. If you know of any other terrier swimmers let me know - maybe we could form a team. Synchronised dog swimming is going to be the next big thing you know..

When he'd had enough he shook himself off, and covered us in lovely lake water! Clearly he wanted us to smell just like him :) Gorgeous!

Proud mama today - keep it up Ted!