Cat visits and feeding

I have recently received a lot of enquiries to see if I offer cat visits and feeding. I have previously arranged this on a short term basis, however, to help with your requirements, I can also offer this service due to high demand.

I am usually busy with dog walks during the day, so if you live local to Chorlton cum Hardy, please contact me to discuss days, times, requirements, prices, etc.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ox Pasture Hotel, Scarborough.

OX-PASTURE-HALL-323When we recently visited the beautiful Yorkshire Coast, Mickey joined us. When Mickey joins us, it is a challenge to find a dog friendly hotel that also offers a good location, good food, and good room size! Fortunately, we came across the Ox Pasture Hall, which is located in Scarborough: it certainly covers all these factors and we were all looked after very well during our stay here.

After the 3 hour journey from Manchester, we were warmly greeted by Alan at reception. Keen to stretch our legs after the drive, we explored the local countryside. We were blessed with unseasonal October sun, which lit up the beautiful surrounds. It was great to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and enjoy the peace and quiet of rivers, streams, and birds tweeting away.Ox-Pasture-Hall-458

After getting a little lost, we made it back in time for afternoon tea served in the dog-friendly bar/bistro. We enjoyed a well deserved pot of tea, along with a selection of treats which included salmon and cream cheese, ham and mustard, and cheese finger bite sandwiches; along with scones with clotted cream and jam, and a large selection of cakes. All were very tempting, but we managed to resist polishing them all off!

The room was stunning comprising a spacious living area with an inviting sofa, king-size bedroom, and a bathroom with a very generously sized bath with stylish fittings (bathrobes provided in the wardrobe!). The bedrooms at Ox Pasture were all styled in Lodge type settings with views overlooking the nearby Forge Valley, and as you approach your room from the courtyard, there is an attractive fountain displayed.

 

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Later on, we ventured down to the bar and bistro area with Mickey, to start our meal and thought we’d sit in the lounge area nearby first for a refreshing pint and have a look at the menu which can be found here. The staff looked after us well. I enjoyed a sun dried tomato salad (which was surprisingly delicate), and then beef brisket on a creamy mash with medium cooked beef. This was just the right amount to enjoy without feeling over full! My partner chose the soup for starter, which was simple yet perfectly prepared, and for mains a tasty vegetarian ravioli. Most hotel bar and bistro menus tend to offer the usual favourites such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken, pies etc – the Ox Pasture still offered comforting food but with variety! If you wish to dine in the Restaurant, please be advised dogs are not allowed in this area.

For all you dog lovers…

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For all you dog lovers out there who want to take their beloved pooch(es) away with them on a UK break, but cannot find anywhere suitable, or find the search exhausting, I’d really recommend Ox Pasture. The location is perfect for exploring. We visited Filey Beach, which is long and wide and doesn’t get too packed out like most popular coastal spots. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of a great British seaside then you definitely should visit Scarborough or Whitby. Of course, the towns and beaches may all be a bit too much for your dog(s) so a quiet walk in the Yorkshire Moors will keep them entertained for hours. Just be sure to check the weather forecast and take suitable clothing, footwear and plenty of water.

You really can’t go wrong with choosing Ox Pasture Hall. With their great choice of rooms, friendly staff, excellent cuisine, and dog friendly environment, you will all have a great time. Ox Pasture Hall is located at Lady Edith’s Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 5TD

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Welcome to Hunny!

We have another new addition to the gang- meet Hunny,  the 2 year old Golden Lab/Retriever cross! 2014-09-16 12.36.29

Hunny started her walks with us 2 weeks ago, and was brilliant from the first minute. She went off-lead, had great recall, stayed close by and had a lovely nature with the other pooches. They all got on really well and just enjoyed being out having fun with each other. It’s not often a new member comes out on the first day and acts like she’s been part of the group for ages but she certainly did and made my job very easy.

She is well known when we’ve been out as most other people out walking their dogs, seem to know her and always comment on how lovely she is.

She was recently adopted and it looks like she’s having the time of her life and loves her new family.

Here are some pics and watch out for some more on our facebook page…2014-09-15 12.09.00 2014-09-15 12.09.11 2014-09-15 12.09.14 2014-09-08 12.27.052014-09-16 12.36.12

The new and improved dogs-buddy mobile!

2014-07-15 15.04.45So, here it is, my fourth car since starting the dog walking business, and hopefully the last!

As some of you know I started out with a silver estate which kept me going for a few months until I upgraded to a nice looking blue one which was modified with large cages and enough space to transport your pooches to their destination. Unfortunately, I was involved in a crash shortly afterwards when another driver went through a red light and smashed me to the other side of the road writing the car off!

I then rushed out to panic buy another car which was the same model but different colour and was a diesel, which is fine but I preferred the smoothness of a petrol car. This kept me going for 8 months until I saw one I liked and bought it. It comes in a nice light blue colour, and drives very nice and smooth indeed! The bonus feature in this though is the air-conditioning which has been a saving grace in this recent hot weather. When I’ve been parked up to go on walkies, we’ve got back to the car and it has been roasting so a blast of refreshing cold air works wonders for your pooches and keeps their walker cool too in time for the next lot of walks.

I have also had the side and back windows tinted to help keep it cool, and it also looks smarter and provides privacy for your beloved pets. I see that there are other dog walkers in vans and while this may be cooler for the dogs, (and a bit scary in a dark enclosed space) I like to think that the journey to the park is also part of the service and they love to look out and watch the world go by. They also get excited when we approach our destination and the look on their faces is great to watch.

It still has the 2 compartments which is a large cage, and the open space at the back with comfortable non-slip rubber mats. Each area comes with an attached water bowl which they go straight to after the walks and I take 3 or 4 bottles along with me. Hope you like it, and so far your pooches LOVE IT! 🙂

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Welcome to Doodle!

2014-06-23 11.49.12This good looking lad joined us for walks last week, and he eased into group walks and meeting new friends! Doodle is an 8 year old Collie/Lab cross and is very fast for his age. He loves to chase ball and can go at some speed. He was very competitive with his new Friend Tilly, who is also fast but had to put in a bit more work to keep up with Doodle 🙂

His owner said he would be fine off-lead and has good recall so I tried this on our first day and he didn’t disappoint. He’s a big lad and can take up quite a bit of space in the car but the good thing is he sits there nice and calm and enjoys looking out of the window on our way to the park.

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Doodle has a great temperament and I’m sure he’ll get along with all his new pals over the coming weeks. Here are some pics of him showing off his glossy black and white coat and big smile!

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Welcome to Jeane!

2014-04-30 13.48.56 We have a very young new addition to our walks, and she is a cutie indeed! Jeane is a 4 month old Lakeland Terrier and she came on her first walk last week and has enjoyed her time with us.

As she is so young and her owners have only recently welcomed her to the family, she is on short solo walks on her lead. Well, when I say solo she has been out with Mickey, who she loves as she is always walking by his side which is very cute to watch. She lives near Chorlton Ees so not too far for us to walk there and enjoy this lovely warm Spring weather we’ve been having.

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We’ll see how she gets on with her next few walks and then maybe she can meet some new doggy friends, and maybe see how she gets on off her lead. Watch this space. Here are some pics of the little girl…

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Hough End Playing Fields

Hough EndLocation: Princess Parkway, Chorlton, Manchester, M20 1HP

I haven’t posted a blog for any places to visit with your dog, for a while so apologies for this. I have a few places in mind that I’ve been to, so I will endevour to add these on in due course.

One place that I have been to on a few occasions, is Hough End Playing Fields which is situated on Mauldeth Road/Princess Parkway. I wasn’t too sure whether to add this as I thought it was strictly for Football playing only, however, they do have dog control order signs with dog bins around it, so I guess it is ok to go there. I didn’t want to get myself in trouble with the Council for advertising this unless dogs are allowed. It’s one of those places I know is nearby yet somehow when I’m thinking of places to go, or where to take Mickey for an hour or so, I forget about it. It’s only since Hendrix moved nearby that I go there frequently now.

hough end 2As the title suggests, it is a football pitch and a huge one at that. It will be busy at the weekend especially on a Sunday Morning, when most teams seem to play so if you’re looking for a quiet walk with space, I would suggest mid-week, or a weekend afternoon. There’s plenty of open space for your dog to have a run around although I would suggest keeping in the middle if your pooch tends to wander off especially as the Princess Parkway traffic is 40mph!

At the side of the fields is Hough End Clough which is located on the Mauldeth Road side. It’s not very big but nice enough to have a little amble along the stream path. There are Police Quarters nearby so try not to be alarmed by the police dogs that may bark from inside!

As for parking, it isn’t he best however, there is the main entrance which leads into the grounds on Mauldeth Road which is open most of the time. For access around the other sides I would suggest finding a parking spot on the outside.

If you live in Chorlton or Didsbury, you’re most probably aware of this field, but for those wanting a change of scenery then it’s worth a look!

A new addition this week – Crash the puppy!

2014-03-05 12.22.16This will get a few awwws I bet! We were joined by a very sweet puppy called Crash, who was adopted by Leo’s owners and therefore came on our walks this week.

Crash is a staffie cross, and estimate her age to be around 6 months, so she our youngest member of the gang! Leo seems happy to have a new friend at home although from the looks of things, she teases him rotten! They cannot contain their excitement when I arrive to take them out. Crash is still getting used to her surroundings and occasionally stops for a look around in the park. She gets plenty of attention from other people in the park and it’s easy to see why. 

At the moment, she is smaller than Leo but that will soon change over the next few months. She will be attending puppy classes and it will be a pleasure to see her progress, and learn new tricks. I can see they’re going to be a right cheeky pair when out together 🙂 At the moment she is on lead walks however, once her legs get stronger and she has some recall lessons we’ll see what happens. Here are some pics of Crash…

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Some sad news regarding Pet’s Corner in Longford Park…

THE URGENT THREAT TO THE LONGFORD PARK PET’S CORNER
We need to bring to your attention the threat to close Pet’s Corner next to the cafe and playground. This seems like the depressingly inevitable result of cuts to local funding from central government, and one can imagine why if faced with threats to services like urgent social care, the enjoyment of children is given less priority. That doesn’t mean that we want to allow this wonderful facility to disappear.
There does appear to be an option for the community to approach Trafford with a viable alternative plan. We would fully support this and there are things that we might be able to do to help on a long term basis were the support to be there from the wider community.
Initially, if people want to meet to discuss this then we would be happy to provide the cafe as a meeting space and provide some free refreshments. We do not have time to liaise a campaign, but we will help in all other ways that we can.
Please spread this around your social networks so that all interested parties can gather together and give Pet’s Corner the very best chance of survival.
Photo: THE URGENT THREAT TO THE LONGFORD PARK PET'S CORNER
We need to bring to your attention the threat to close Pet's Corner next to the cafe and playground. This seems like the depressingly inevitable result of cuts to local funding from central government, and one can imagine why if faced with threats to services like urgent social care, the enjoyment of children is given less priority. That doesn't mean that we want to allow this wonderful facility to disappear. 
There does appear to be an option for the community to approach Trafford with a viable alternative plan. We would fully support this and there are things that we might be able to do to help on a long term basis were the support to be there from the wider community. 
Initially, if people want to meet to discuss this then we would be happy to provide the cafe as a meeting space and provide some free refreshments. We do not have time to liaise a campaign, but we will help in all other ways that we can.
Please spread this around your social networks so that all interested parties can gather together and give Pet's Corner the very best chance of survival.

Paws for St Ann’s Sponsored dog walk

Paws024I recently received in my post, a poster and leaflets regarding a sponsored dog walk in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. This will take place on Sunday 23rd March 2014 from 9.30am and entry is £10 per dog.

This looks like a great fund-raising event and a chance for you dog to socialise and have a great time! If you could pass this on to anyone who may be interested this would be appreciated. Better still, if you could ‘like’ and ‘share’ it on your Facebook page and ask them to do the same I’m sure it will be a great success! I am not on Twitter, so if you are able to add anything on there, then I’m sure you know what to do.

Contact details are on the form should you have any queries. I can drop some leaflets round to my clients houses if you would like any of course.

Many thanks in advance.