Minnis Bay walk

Earlier this week we'd been out to Minnis Bay. It's so lovely if the tide is out. Grey's a bit harder to handle there if the tide is in because that forces lots of dog walkers to stick to quite a straight path. Although once past that bit with now the dreaded beach hut and BBQ distraction obstacle course, we're out onto natural ground with a shingle beach on one side, much like Dungeness and rough grassy areas below the sea wall. Perfect for bits of fun scent work. Plus that bit is free of cyclists and a lot of the dog walkers don't go on that path as it's rougher. So we drift between the three areas, rough ground, paved sea wall path and wide wide beach stretching out to infinity. The week days are easier as there are less people about. The winter is bliss here, but then I'm northern so I like that kind of bleak landscape.



Grey was quite hyped up here this week and so we're giving it a break for a while. He's got a wee eye infection too, so a break from the sand will do him good.

Blowing hot and cold

Friday the weather was bright and lovely, so was Saturday. Then today it was hardly light at all.
Today's walk down Minnis was wet, very windy and really grey. But no matter. We had great run.


We ran through more silky leash training in the house before breakfast. Then again outside in the back garden. All good. I then opened the garde gate so the pavement was accessible. We drifted in and out the gate and the yard a few times, clicking and treating. He did really well. Plan is to be able to build up to going the full length of the street. We tried some more at the car park at the start of the walk which was less good. So it's clear we just have to build up gradually.

Laid back pupster

Picked Grey up from the boarding kennels yesterday morning. Was really funny to have not seen him for three days. It was like really seeing him for his shape and colour rather than just being used to him, if that makes sense. He was very happy to see me and in a lovely happy mood. He seemed really content trotting around there and he'd made friend's with D's lovely dog, Daisy the SBT. They were all running up and down the runs in a happy go lucky stylee. What made me laugh was D said Grey was contented and very laid back! I suppose he is once he's inside the house, so he must see the kennels as the same thing. I'm really glad I was recommended to try him there. He really likes it and is well looked after.

We went straight to Minnis for a nice walk. I've started going down there as I can park the car near to where I let him off the lead. It's got a mixture of terrain: grass short and long, rough paths, hard tarmac, sand and shingle. Managed to do a spot of LLW too. He slept for the rest of the afternoon. L and I played the name game with him as recommended in the Really Reliable Recall DVD. I also started the programme of hand feeding him to build on the relationship as advised.

Windshack cafe, Minnis Bay

This morning we took a walk down the opposite end of the coast we normally go to. We walked from Minnis Bay along the grassy path, which gives Grey lots to scent and is more his natural habitat than the beach and tarmac. I though he could do with a good run after the funday yesterday and the long car journey. The tide was out so on the way back we did the beach route and ended up at the Windshack cafe. Which to our pleasant surprise is super dog friendly, with other dog walkers there enjoying a breezy windswept coffee and the dogs get a biscuit from the owner Dougle (who knows all the dogs' names!). Definitely a recommended dog friendly place.

This reminded me to register a group on Flickr for dog friendly UK places.