Where's Our Snow?

Last week, when my humans were watching the news as they always do, my ears twitched when I heard a certain word: 'snow'.

According to BBC Weather, Britain was going to be inundated with mountains of snow, causing train companies to take precautions and Heathrow Airport cancelling more than 80 flights.

Whilst half the country hates snow, as you can probably tell from that big picture at the top of the blog, I absolutely adore it. It's been four years since we had had enough snow for me to play in here in London so I could not wait.
Monday went by- no snow.
Tuesday went by- no snow.
Wednesday went by- no snow. But it was Thursday that the snow was going to fall, Thursday the weather people said.
Thursday came and- sleet.
SLEET.
I was fuming. Snow was what we'd been promised; snow was what I had expected.
But Thursday had let us down.
However, I kept my hopes up. The North was promised snow on Friday so perhaps London was due it then too?
Perhaps, the snow wanted to have the surprise factor and we were going to be able to build CASTLES in this belated snow.
Friday came.
Did it snow?
Yes.
But for how long?

About 10 minutes.

What a disaster. Nothing set in the garden, nothing set on the front lawn... There was absolutely no snow to play in.

My humans were disappointed and, more importantly, I was disappointed.

If any of you received the gift that is snow, I very much hope you threw endless snowballs for your beloved canine to (try to) catch.

Of course, I won't be giving up hope for more snow just yet- my paws are crossed.

Talk soon, 

Jasper x

Back in the good ol' snow days...

Walk in the Peaks!

Recently, one of my humans moved up north and it was time that we paid them a visit.
Living just a few minutes away from the Peak District, there was no doubt at all that we would be taking advantage of this on our weekend away.
There are many, many walks to be done in the 1,437km2 stretch of beauty that is the Peaks but for our first walk we chose the village of Castleton.

Famous for its Blue John rock, Castleton is situated next to Mam Tor, a 517m hill, and is home to many pubs, restaurants and cafes to, of course, assist your exercise.
After driving through the winding roads of the Peaks (and waiting for a huge pack of beagles and horses to get a move on), we parked our car on the road that heads towards Mam Tor, which seemed to have free parking- bonus!
As it was lunch time, the humans and I fancied a Sunday roast to kick off our stroll. Humum had done some research before getting to Castleton on dog-friendly pubs, and Ye Olde Nags Head seemed like the place to go.

We certainly weren't the only one to think that.
Whilst we did wait, the waitress got us a table as quickly as she could and it wasn't long before the humans were enjoying beef, roast potatoes, veggies and the essential Yorkshire pudding. Delish.
And what was I doing whilst they indulged themselves?
Well, I was getting stroked by every human that walked passed and politely waiting for my serving in between. There was no chance that I was missing out on my portion.

The waitress kindly got me a bowl of water and sat it by my spot under the table, which was very much appreciated. There is simply no better pub than a true dog-friendly one.

Following the Sunday feast, it was time to head out on foot into the Peaks. We decided not to tackle Mam Tor this time but walked through the town and up to the base of the hill to a small cave via a footpath that bordered fields of sheep. On the way back, we took the road route for a circular alternative, which provided a lovely view across Castleton, Hope Valley and beyond. The autumn colours were particularly stunning and the lowering sun shone across the hills. Certainly a walk to bring your camera for!

On return, the humans popped into the village bakery, Peveril Store, for some flapjack and brownies, which were very, very good indeed. A well-deserved treat!

I genuinely had a brilliant time up in the North. At 11-years-old, the humans were worried that the hills would be too much for me but our little trek was perfect. We all highly suggest Castleton as a place to visit if you intend to take to the Peak District at any point! The humans and I stayed overnight at Novotel Sheffield after the walk, which was extremely convenient for visiting the city as well as for accessing the glorious hills with your canine friend.

Talk soon, Jasper x

Two of my humans returned later on to walk up to the top of Mam Tor without me and report that it's a dog-friendly hike and definitely recommend it. They walked from Castleton, up the front of the hill, past a cafe and then took on Mam Tor from behind. On reaching the top, the trekked along the ridge on the hills and covered two more peaks, before heading back down into Castleton, finishing with a pint back at Ye Olde Nags Head. Superb.

Goodbye Discover Dogs 2016!

That's it- Discover Dogs 2016 is over. Weeks of preparation, practice and perfecting lead up to London's biggest dog show and now it's time to look forward to the next event.

I can confirm that my humans had a BRILLIANT time at Discover Dogs 2016. From the stalls for shopping to the rings for activities, every aspect of the show delivered.

The crowds start pouring into ExCeL London and, for many visitors, getting those Christmas gifts sorted takes priority.

The first ring event I watched was at the Kennel Club Training & Display Ring, where five dogs and handlers demonstrated the stages to learning agility. Agility is my absolute favourite doggie sport, so it was lovely to see other doggies enjoying it too.

The humans then headed to the Main Ring for the first of the various displays they saw- the Metropolitan Police Dogs Display Team! The group is made up of working dogs and police dog handlers, and they gave the (packed) audience a sample of what their roles entail. The two dogs shown below are different ages, with one a more experienced shepherd and the other newer to the role. It was fantastic to see the progress that the hounds make over the years and my humans are always taken aback by the skill of these dogs and their handlers. Bravo, the Met Police!

And then it was time. Oh, yes. The Southern Golden Retriever Display Team had taken to the ring. Performing a brand-new routine, the 16 Goldies and handlers executed their obedience tricks to music with infectious enthusiasm. 

Of course, there were the dogs that would adorably 'alter' their formations to get back to their humums and dads and it was just as good as ever. We love you Goldies!

As we are now seasoned Discover Dogs-attendees, we now have an idea of what to expect in each display. This year, we caught Paws for Thought for the first time, which is a rescue dog display team. Their show featured a wealth of different sports, from heelwork to music to agility, all performed by dogs that may have not had the best of starts in life. This talented schnauzer below climbed along a ladder!

There was no shortage of audience participation in the display, with many, many children being asked to take to the ring to hold up the agility jumps for the dogs, whilst they (mainly) leaped over. 

Paws for Thought also tried something I have never seen before. They asked audience members to line up in the centre of the ring and, bravely, a Spaniel wandered along their backs.

Yes, that did actually happen- successfully, may I add. Thankfully.

Then, the Queen of Heelwork to Music, Mary Ray, took to the Main Ring with her talented pooch. In a very dramatic, tango-esque number, the clever Collie and human performed a magnificent routine with props and dozens of truly incredible tricks. 

Following the doggie dancing, the audience were treated to a bit of fast-paced Flyball. 

What a wild sport.

Dogs were dashing up and down the course and you could hear very little above the barks that filled the air. It was so lovely to see so many wagging tails in the ring at once and the sport always promises to get the crowd going.

Discover Dogs attracts all types of breeds and hosts a Scruffts semi-final. Scruffts is the non-pedigree equivalent to Crufts' Best in Show, with the winner being selected at the world's biggest dog show next March. Channel 4 were filming parts of the competition when we visited, and here is the TV channel speaking to Wendy Morris and her dog Fleur, who later won the Best Rescue category and will be taking to the finals next year!

In addition to their performance in the Main Ring, the Metropolitan Police Dogs team had a stand at the show, where you could talk to the dog handlers about their work and meet the dogs that help to keep London safe. The humans even met a future police dog, who was only three months old! Scroll down for the picture...!

No trip to Discover Dogs is complete without a trip to the, er, Discover Dogs Zone. Of course, our first port of call was the English Springer Spaniels stand to meet my fellow Springers!

One of the great things about Kennel Club dog shows is the expertise that is on offer of all things dogs. There are KC activities' professionals to talk to about getting into dog sports and breed specialists to help you find your perfect puppy as well as ensuring you find a trustworthy breeder. 

The Kennel Club's youth organisation, Young Kennel Club, had their own area at Discover Dogs. Members of all ages took part in grooming qualifiers to be in with a chance of competing in the finals at Crufts 2017 and Agility Dog of the Year competitions also took place. 

My humans had such an amazing day at Discover Dogs and hope everyone else who visited the show did too. 

Now, it's time to look forward to CRUFTS 2017!

Talk soon, Jasper x

For more information on Discover Dogs, visit http://discoverdogs.org.uk/

A 3-month-old potential Metropolitan Police puppy!

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What to Expect at Discover Dogs 2016!

This weekend, 3000 dogs will be trotting through the doors of ExCeL London as the city's biggest dog show takes place. I. Am. So. Excited.
One of my humans has had her coach ticket down from Yorkshire booked for weeks just to make sure that she's here for Eukanuba Discover Dogs. It'll certainly be worth the journey.
Last year, Discover Dogs moved from Earls Court to ExCeL and it was a truly special weekend. This year, it promises to be even better. Whether you visited last year or this year is your first at the show, this is what to expect at London's top dog show...

Doggie dancing...

Agility competitions...

Obedience training displays and grading...

                                       

The opportunity to discover over 200+ breeds of dog...

And loads and loads of shopping (there's over 100 trade stalls), just in time for Christmas.

There is also the opportunity to meet Crufts Best in Show winner 2016 Devon, the West Highland Terrier at the show! Have a picture with her and the Best in Show trophy at the Kennel Club stand between 11-12pm and 3-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday!

Discover Dogs. Undoubtedly, the best dog show in the capital.

Have a brilliant time!

Talk soon, Jasper x

If Discover Dogs looks like your idea of heaven, you can purchase tickets here

For more information on the dog show, visit http://discoverdogs.org.uk/

Have a fantastic time at the show!

Discover Dogs 2016: the must-sees of the Training & Display Ring!

It’s almost here- the biggest dog show in London will be taking place at this time next week. Last week, I focused on all that’s going on in the Main Ring at Eukanuba Discover Dogs so it’s time to put the spotlight on the second biggest arena at the dog show, the Training & Display Ring.

Whilst the Main Ring often centres around displays and competitions, the Training & Display Ring is more focused on the preparation that goes into participating in these doggie activities.

Across the weekend of 22^nd and 23^rd October at ExCeL London, I would definitely recommend catching the king of heelwork to music, Richard Curtis, in the Training & Display Ring, as, if anyone is going to be able to show how it's done, it's him (and Mary Ray, of course). Richard Curtis has won many Crufts finals so to see him perform on as intimate a ring as the Training & Display Ring is an extra-special treat! On the Saturday of the show, Richard Curtis will be taking to the ring at 10am and 4:05pm so, if you're visiting on the first day, make sure you don't miss him. 

On the second day of Discover Dogs, a team of adorable Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are taking to the Training Ring for a display of Gundog work at 2:40pm, which promises to be very impressive. I always make an effort to see the dog activities that are slightly different at shows like Crufts and Discover Dogs as there are few occasions that offer the array of displays that these shows do!

A scheme that has become increasingly renowned in the past few years is the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme. From puppy-age, canines are taught obedience skills such as walking to heel and 'stay' to grow up into the very best behaved of dogs. The awards give progressions to the skills dogs must learn and they must perform these skills to a high standard to earn the next award. At Discover Dogs in the Display & Training Ring, you can see first-hand the dogs who want to prove that they have got the perfect nature to be a Good Citizen Dog as different levels perform their skills to a judge at various times throughout the weekend. It's always so lovely to see the proud dogs and handlers receive their awards at these shows, displaying what good training can do. There are displays as well as the presentations and semi-finals on both days of the show.

There are also teaching displays in the ring, with 'Teaching Agility' displays by Fetcham Training Club at 1:25pm and 3:45pm on Saturday and obedience being taught by Click 2 Heel Display Team at 2:25pm and 4:40pm on Sunday. Definitely worth a watch if you're looking to get involved in the sports or are simply interested in how they're done. Obedience displays are always inspiring!

Talk soon, 

Jasper x

Congratulations to the two winners of my Discover Dogs competition- I hope you both have a brilliant day!
Do not worry if you lucked out this time round however: you can purchase tickets to the dog show here and, remember, under 12s get FREE entry!
For more information on the dog show, visit http://discoverdogs.org.uk/

My Eleventh Birthday Weekend!

Last weekend, on Saturday 8^th October, I turned eleven years old (or 77, depending on how you look at it). Eleven years old… Man, I truly am an old puppy. As a special treat for the weekend, one of my humans travelled four hours south to be with me on my special day, which caused all the more partying. It just so happens that I share my birthday with one of my humans too, so you can imagine how big a birthday weekend this one was.

First of all, I was treated to a portion of meaty loveliness to accompany my dry food breakfast. Delicious. This truly got me in the birthday spirit, so I then got ready to bark ‘Happy Birthday to You’ to my other human. We soon went on my first walk as an eleven year old and, despite my slightly arthritic ligaments, I proved that I truly am a puppy at heart as I jumped (much to my human’s horror) over a metal fence on the way back from the park. Birthdays are great.

After our wonderful time at the park sniffing through the acres of bracken that is currently found there, my humans left me to chill for a bit at home while they went out for a breakfast brunch for my other birthday human. Usually, I would find being left a tad disappointing as, frankly, there ain’t no party like a Jasper party, but, given the exhaustive start to the day I had had, the break was much appreciated. On return, the humans found me snuggled up in a ball on my bed.

As a treat, my humans took me to the garden centre. Yes, a birthday party at a garden centre may sound a tad mundane but this garden centre is home to a haven of dog toys and treats. As it’s dog friendly, I was free to wander around, sniff out the greatest toys on offer and then pick out a treat and a toy as my birthday presents. Oh my paws, it was so much fun.

I even made friends with a few rabbits whilst I was there.

The rest of the day was spent having hours of snuggles with the humans, playing with my gifts and having another portion of meat with my dinner. My eleventh birthday certainly did not disappoint and it was lovely to share it with one of my humans. Now, the countdown is on to Discover Dogs and then Christmas!

Talk soon, Jasper x

The Main Ring- Discover Dogs 2016!

On 22nd and 23rd October 2016, over 3,000 dogs will be taking to the halls of ExCeL London for the city's largest dog show, Discover Dogs. With over 100 stalls to shop from and a 'Discover Dogs' section to meet some of the 200+ Kennel Club accredited dog breeds in, there is just so much to do at the show.
My humans' favourite part of Discover Dogs is the Main Ring, where displays from top dog handlers and doggies and competitions take place. This year, the Main Ring programme is possibly the best its ever been, with no less than FIVE agility competitions taking place in one day and a wealth of glorious displays to watch.
As you could easily spend hours and hours at the show, I have chosen my five top things in the Main Ring for you to witness...


1) As I go on and on about them every single year, my #1 must-see display is, of course, the Southern Golden Retrievers. Performing in the Main Ring at 14:20 on Saturday and 16:25 on Sunday, there is no way that you can miss the group. Consisting of sixteen golden retrievers and their humums and dads, the group choreograph obedience skills to music. So, so adorable.

2) Certainly not for those with sensitive ears, Flyball is undoubtedly the most exhilarating of dog sports. Teams of four dog and handlers (and substitutes)  compete against one another in a relay-based race. Dogs of all breeds and sizes pound down a row of jumps to get a tennis ball and must successfully return back down the course for the next dog to be sent on his way. Warning: there will be lots of barking. 15:15 on Saturday and 13:00 on Sunday- be there!

3) The queen of heelwork to music is taking to Discover Dogs 2016... Mary Ray is back. Having introduced doggie dancing to the UK 27 years ago, Mary Ray and her gorgeous dogs are performing in the Main Ring on Saturday at 15:10 and 11:30 on Sunday. With costumes and tricks executed to perfection, if you want to see how dancing is really done, make sure you head to see Mary Ray. The handler is also doing a demonstration in the Main Ring on how to train your dog obedience skills is at 12:35 on Saturday and 13:50 on Sunday so if her display inspires you to get involved, do not miss it.

4) My favourite sport of all doggie activities is arguably canine's most famous: agility. Hurdling over jumps, climbing up ramps and crawling through tunnels, this fast-paced sport really does entertain everyone, whether they're human or dog. I used to train in this sport myself and even now, at nearly 11 years old, do I jump over poles or fences at every opportunity (even when my humans tell me not to). There are loads of agility competitions taking place across the weekend but the Crufts ABC (All But Collies) semi-finals are at 15:35 on Saturday and 14:40 on Sunday. You could be watching a future Crufts champion!

5) There are not many occasions where you get to see for yourself the training that police dogs undertake prior to getting out in the field but at Discover Dogs the Metropolitan Police are in the Main Ring showing exactly what it takes. The display team put dogs through their paces in a number of tasks, which all prepare them for life as a police dog. There are likely be dogs of all different levels and breeds in the Ring, from puppies that have just begun training to police dogs with years of experience. An intense display but always incredible to see.

Discover Dogs is now 19 days away and I simply cannot wait.

I hope to see you there!

Talk soon, Jasper x

REMEMBER: You could WIN your way into Discover Dogs by entering into my competition here

Deadline: this Friday 7th October

For more information on Eukanuba Discover Dogs, visit http://discoverdogs.org.uk/

To purchase tickets to the show (and remember under 12s get FREE entry), click here