Chocolate Fest

Yesterday was Barking Buddies first day taking part in the Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival.

I didn't get to go but mum told me all about it while counting all the coins she brought home and feeding me left over dog chocolates.

The festival is in it's third year now and has stalls from Chocolate makers from all over the Uk, but specifically North West, and you can find anything from chocolate beauty products, cupcakes, chocolate wine, to chocolate shot glasses.

Barking Buddies got some excellent feedback from dogs and their owners alike. Many owners tried the products too and were pleased with the peanut butter cups.

We got some excellent advise from the local businesses and will soon be attending local farmers markets around the North West selling our special dog chocolates.

A Day in Day Care

Now everyone knows that my mum is a dog walker, and I am her trusty assistant. But although dog walking has it's advantages, long walks off the lead, chasing my friends around the park, swimming on a sunny day, it can also be frustrating to be outdoors all day in the cold.

So I was glad when my mummy's friends opened a new dog day centre in Bolton. www.mypetguardians.com is a new day care facility near my home and it offers a huge room for dogs to play in whilst keeping warm and dry at all times.

This week I went to test it out.

The main room is a huge play area filled with toys, tents, tunnels, balls, a dogs dream really and I got to share all this with several other dogs who I was unsure about at first, but they soon made me feel very welcome.

The great thing is that when I was tired I could take a nap in their quiet area on a lovely warm quilt snuggled up to my friends, and Danni would often give us treats when we did clever tricks or behaved nicely and gave her puppy dog eyes.

Danni, the lady who owns the centre is lovely. Her and her husband both have degrees in Zoology, and have worked extensively with doggies like me and other animals. Their own three doggies often come to daycare too, and are all very friendly and playful, which I love.

I don't really like leaving my mummy but when I do I know that James and Danni will look after me and I know I will be safe with them around, yet have a fantastic day playing with my new friends.

When I'm not out walking with my mummy and all our regular walking crew I will be going to dog day again!

P.S here's a video of my fun day at daycare.

Love & Licks,
Roxy

Discrimination

Sometimes it is hard not to take offence when people are scared of me because of my breed. Discrimination in dogs is something that occurs very often, and yet usually without good reason.

I am a rottweiler. But I am also a very sweet natured, family loving dog, who loves to play and lick rather than be boisterous or eat babies like some people seem to expect. Rottweilers are just one of the many dogs that get discriminated against because of our breed, and our bad reputation. Others include staffies, and Bull Mastiffs, but our owners know the real us, the big softies.

The newspapers always feature stories about dogs like me savaging children, and being attacked in the streets, but just because one doggy does that it doesn't mean that all of us will. Some people are murderers, thieves, untrustworthy and dishonest but that doesn't mean I am wary of all humans. Every human is an individual with their own unique personality, and us dogs are exactly the same.

Today my own family, my flesh and blood refused to let me go within even a foot of their children. This hurt me a little as I love children so much and I would never even think of touching one to do more than give them a friendly lick to say hello. But people are always worried that I might hurt them, it makes me sad.

Luckily I know that my mummy loves me and knows my true personality, not just the reputation that people have of my breed. Yes I am a rottweiler, but I am also just a loving dog, woman's best friend, and just little old me, Roxy.

I'm back

Its been a busy few months so apologies for the lack of posting!

Now its getting towards summer my days out walking are so full of adventure that I'm always too tired to write when I get in.

One of my friends Cesar has unfortunately been rehomed to a new family after he started to attack all my friends! Its so important for us dogs to respect our human owners and not to take our lovely homes for granted!

My mum spoils me rotten! I have hours of walks and play everyday, turkey flavoured biscuits at night after my many gravy bone snacks at lunch time! I get to meet lots of friends and go swimming most days, and every night I can curl up on my mums bed with her and my brother Difa.

I know all this could end at any moment if I wasn't nice to humans so I make sure to show everyone I'm super friendly! Try lots of licks, kisses and giving any oncoming humans a paw to shake their hand when you first meet them. Just don't get too excited and jump on them as you might scare them away ( and they may have treats ) so always be cautious!

My favourite friend at the mo is this little fella pictured, Chester, a pug the same age as me. He is so much smaller than I am but he really tries his hardest to defeat me in play fights, and I love knowing I can always win, he tires easy.

Mum tells me I'm getting a new friend soon aswell so that's something to look forward to!

Anyways, another walk beckons so must dash!

Licks n Kisses,
Roxy

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Summers Coming

After a winter of terrible weather, and this white fluffy stuff that seems to stick to the ground and all over my paws, it appears the sun is finally coming out and walks in the park are much more fun.
I can now swim in the lake, roll around the warm grass, and enjoy chasing bees, flies and allsorts around when mum isnt watching.

Today, we played at Buddys house for a little while, hes one of my best friends, and I took this pic to show you;

My Routine

Being a doggie with a job means that my days are pretty standardised.

Every day around 8am I climb into my mums bed and lie next to her under the covers. If she's not awake i tend to lick her face til she starts to stroke me, and we usually have a hug for about ten mins. This is my favourite time of ever day.

I munch on some breakfast while mum gets ready, but make sure to leave a bit so that Difa can have a nibble when I go out cos he only gets one meal a day bless him.

Every morning since i can remember me and mum walk Jojo. He is utterly bonkers and boxes me and every other dog he meets into the next world. Mum tends to let me off the lead so i can wander around freely and not get bullied, which is good as there are always plenty of other dogs around to play with.

After Jo, we walk JayJay and Buddy. Buddy is one of my best friends, I've walked with him for so long that we just have so much fun goofing around together now, and sometimes Phoebe joins in too.

On the way to the next walk mum usually gets some sushi for our lunch, which i love, mmm prawn rolls. We eat in the car on the way to get Phoebe, George and Harriet. Then go for a long play on some huge fields.

Sometimes after dinner I go with mum to walk Bentley, who is a huge Akita, but he tends to bully me and pulls quite a lot so more often than not mum drops me at home first to chill out and have a nap with Difa while she does her last couple of walks :)

While Mum is out we tend to have a good old natter, chew on a rawhide stick or too, and generally recover from my long day of activity.

Evenings tend to be different every day depending if mum, grandma or both are home, but usually I spend most of the time napping on the settee or snuggling someone while they watch tv.

Bliss.

When sex goes wrong!

At weekend me and Difa got a little bit too frisky, and Difa got very injured.

We had a trip to the vets on Monday and the vet gave him some anti biotics and pain killers, as his man bits were bleeding everywhere, poor lad!!

However Mum wont leave us alone together now incase we get up to no good, which means more walks for me and a couple of half days from Grandma. I've had some cool adventures, and formed a gang with Phoebe, George and Harriet. Of course, i'm the leader!