A few of today's Coastal Kennels Residents (CKRs)

Maggie likes a lie down after her bumble around the paddock. Guy finally flakes out in the shade after a game of ball. Another group went for a long hike with Chris and I across our land where we played avoid the fox poo so the dogs don't roll in it.

Charlie has grown

I was looking at puppy photos of Charlie Mutley today and realised how big he has grown. He still likes to lie on my lap. What a big baby he is.

Chocolate nightmare - don't panic Tracey

Heard on the news that Thorntons are shutting a lot of their shops. Bit worried that Tracey who adores Thorntons will go into melt down. Don't worry - we will start a chocolate rehabilitation program with her and wean her on to Cadburys!

Bugsy is doing okay

He is still hopping around reception while we prepare a new house for him. He goes out for short periods in an old bird cage to give him some fresh air and grass. Still looking for a nice home if anyone is keen please let me know.

Happy Birthday Sophie (our first Radley Alpaca)

Sophie our first cria (baby alpaca) was born a year today. It was a scorching day and one my mum and I will never forget. It was exhausting from the excitement and the heat.

I wonder how many cria we will have this year? Our alpaca babies are due mid August, their gestation period is about 11.5 months. I am sure Camilla, Sophie's mum, the larger white is pregnant, and hopefully Alice the brown, but I am doubtful about Suzy the black girl because she keeps flirting at the fence to the boys in the bottom paddock. We will just have to wait and see. Alice and Suzy were both maidens and since they have not been pregnant before it is harder to tell as they give mixed signals. They don't always show their cria (baby) bulge as defined because their muscles are tighter. Also during the spit off (when male stud alpaca is presented to girl alpaca and if she spits at him, it's a good indication she is pregnant) first time mums may give wrong signals and even sit for the male as if not pregnant. So fingers and toes crossed - all the girls are pregnant.

Reception Rabbit Bugsy settles down for the night.

Just been over to settle the dogs down for the night and tuck Bugsy in. He is eating and pooing well. Bit concerned that his pee is a bit pink but several reports suggest this could just be pigment from something he ate. Will keep an eye on this. Still not sure what to do with him - thanks to all those who suggested various recipes but NO!!!

What a beautiful day - Happy Anniversay Stu

Today Stu and I celebrated our unofficial anniversary of being together 14 years. Wow how time flies. We started dating in Germany, while working for Bob Salisbury Engineering F3000 race team at the Nurburing Grand Prix 1997. We still have fond memories of our motor racing days.

Christmas dog toys already???

This morning I received my monthly flyer from my pet wholesaler. Yes, it's that time of year - summer, and christmas items go on sale. OMG. I am not even over last Christmas yet.

The late this afternoo Rasta a really lovely dog reminded me as he played with his latex santa turkey - that christmas dog toys are for life. Not just for christmas!

The Great Rabbit Rescue

So this morning at 11am we saw Bugsy and Hannah and I sprung into action. After a few mins Hannah managed to catch the little rascal. We popped bunny in a box and went to the local vets to see if he was microchipped. Sadly he wasn't. The nice ladies on reception told us they thought it was a very young male. So now Bugsy is no longer living in my mobile hutch he is living in temp accommodation in reception while we see if we can find his owner - or someone who wants a rabbit.

Lucy's latest water bowl

We always make sure the dogs have plenty of fresh water at the kennels. Lucy drinks so much water that she decided that she would just drink straight from the watering can instead.

NEWS FLASH - the automobile bunnie is captured

Details and photos to follow later today.
Sent from my iPhone

The bunny is back.

After wasting a few minutes searching underneath my car at dog class for any signs of any bunnies, I get home to find Bugsy sitting on the lawn waiting for me. Minutes later it hopped back under my car and up inside. Once again he escaped me. Tomorrow I shall get him... Or her????

Lola passes with flying colours.

Lola the gorgeous Golden Retriever belonging to our friends finished their 8 week puppy socialisation class tonight. They have all worked really hard with her - well done guys!

Debbie Dog's Angels

JH, Minogue and Loverlie Stephanie were ready and prepared with their loaded kongs at tonight's Puppy Gurus classes in Barnstaple.

Elmo comes to visit.

Teenie weenie Elmo who I see at dog class came to check out the kennels today. He is so cute and tiny - I want one!

The rabbit returns.

Bugsy appeared again this morning. However all rescue attempts were aborted when Chris arrived for work with his dog Roxy who likes bunnies...for dinner. The rescue mission continues.

Week one Advanced Puppy Gurus

Took Monte to class last night. He was a star and I was really proud. Stu was not impressed that he wore Poppy's girlie purple harness, but what can I say- I was in a rush!!

The tale of two bunnies.

For the past few days Stu and I kept seeing a small bunny runaround outside the front. It looked quite blackish grey. We used to see it run, but never where it went. Last night i was convinced it was living in my car because Monte became fixated with the grill on the car and kept snorting it.  Today we saw the bunny again and this time saw it hop up into my car. A few mins later it came out to see us, then we coaxed it with some carrot and picked it up. Until now we assumed it was wild. Lots of the wild rabbits around here are black in colour and our neighbour said you often see them.  We put it in a dog crate and rang vets but no one missing a rabbit. I planned to take the rabbit to dog classtonight at vets to have it scanned for any microchip, however it managed to escape out of the cage and is now on the run again. The weird thing is both Stu and I said we thought it was darker the rabbit we saw before. Minutes later we think we spyed another but this one was darker, bigger and scuttled towards the greenhouse. The mystery continues...

New arrival

Stu always likes to meet the new arrivals when he gets home from work. Today it was two gorgeous labs and this adorable Rotti.

Mole Hills

This afternoon Chris who works at the kennels and myself were playing spot the mole hill. At 2.30pm a mole hill appeared in the lawn. Then ever 20 mins or so a new hill appeared. We kept trying to catch sight of the mole but only saw the dirt moving. No doubt by morning we will have a spotty lawn.

...and that was the last we saw of the sun.

At 11am today the mist rolled in and the rain returned. Heatwave over.

Question:- What size waterbowl does a St. Bernard need?

Answer:- A large one!!!

What a difference a few hours make.

Lundy is back and we can see the sea. The sunshine is finally here for the weekend. (not that there is much weekend left now.) I reckon the Met Office got it Fed-Exed in especially because they read my BLOG!

Still no sign of this heatwave????

So when is it coming? Did they forget to send it? As you can see still very murky here. We cannot see Lundy Island or the sea tonight, we can barely see the front gates. Talk of an amazing swell for surfers tomorrow - 9ft! We may go and have a lookie if we get a chance. Perhaps we could take the dogs for a surf instead of a walk in the morning.

Meet Charlie

A girl labradoodle puppy from dog class who is booked in to stay later in the year. She came for a pre-visit to check out the accommodation. Note how different she looks to Monte at this age. Apparently she has learnt to ring a bell when she wants the toilet - must get Stu to fit one in her kennel when she comes.

Hope models for Toga Dogs Today

I think Hope the Dalmation has let fame from her earlier photo shoot with the North Devon Journal for DHK, go to her head. She likes to model her snuggle blanket like a toga.

Mud monkeys caught in the act!

So much for a heatwave!

It has been a wet, cold foggy day at the kennels.