Brads Blog

Well we had a family day out today to take advantage of the sun that has been hidden behind rain for what seems like weeks this summer !!!

We had a lovely walk in the field with my dad throwing toys for me to retrieve (my favourite game) we played tug and worked off loads of energy.

I was soooooo tired on the way back that i had to keep taking breathers by lying down on the pavement

When we got back home, Dad got the gazebo out of the shed and set about trying to figure out how it gets put together without any instructions. The gazebo is going to be used for this years Labrador Get Together for Labrador Forums. I can’t wait, its the chance to meet loads of other labs, and run wild and cause havok

Well i had an eventfull 24hrs recently.

I went up to the field with my mom for an “off the lead” play on Tuesday and all seemed well. Went to sleep on Tuesday night feeling fine. Woke up Wednesday and I was very confused and disorientated. I made sure that i never left my dad alone all day as he makes me feel better and safe.

My Mom and Dad (pink furless parents that is) were very worried about me and had endless chats about what i was doing. I kept yelping when i did things like step into the garden from the kitchen and when jumping off the settee which normaly i handle with all the grace and elegance of a rhino but painlessly ;)

Eventually after much talking and phone calls and internet research off i was carted to the local Vets called Woods Veterinary Group where after 45 mins of poking, prodding, pulling, pushing and general manhandling and the indignancy of having something pushed up my bottom I eventually was pronouced fit, albeit with an unknown condition causing me pain. A quick anti inflammatory injection later and with a promise to come back in the morning it was back to home.

It took a few hours but eventually i started to feel myself again and stopped my pacing back and forth and general discomfort. Looks like the injection did the trick.

After a nights rest it was back to the vets for another poking and not just my exterior if you get what i mean i was allowed home again but this time with a handfull of what look like treats but white and shaped like something i really like (Rabbits droppings hmmmmmm delightfull)

Apparently i later learned that these aren’t in fact droppings but are instead more anti inflammatory things called tablets which i have to guzzle down with my food twice a day, no problem with that ! the more in my food bowl the merrier as far as i am concerned

They also stuck a sharp thing in me to get some red stuff out, and this was ok with nothing bad in it according to the vet.

Ah well all’s well that ends well i say

Well what a commotion last week, i went to visit my friend Honey who is a very friendly mature lady Golden Retreiver who is owned by Vanessa (My Dog sitter)

The reason i was with Vanessa was apparently Mommy and Daddy had gone to collect a friend for me from hospital. It must have been very hard to find a friend as they were gone for 3 days and i heard mommy say it took 19 hours to get her, but eventually they came back with a very small pink and furry thing called Isabella.

I got lots of treats when Isabella came to our house for the first time and mommy and daddy really fussed me (without any cute faces pulled on my behalf at all)

Isabella is very noisy !!! she never seems to sleep and mom and dad have great big bags under their eyes nowadays. I like it though as i get to see mom or dad during the night.

The weather finally got good enough for my mom and dad to take me out for the day somewhere different.

Dad finally decided on Symonds Yat which is a great splashing area with a river (to swim in), and nice long walks alongside the river.
We went to Symonds Yat East (East side of the river) last year so dad decided to try Symonds Yat West.

We finally got there but we were charged £1.50 just to park !!

The place we parked at was called Symonds Yat Leisure park and it looked like it had seen better days, most of it was closed down (falling down) but the river walk was great.

We walked for miles alongside the river going through fields (Where i wasn’t allowed to run off the lead as there were loads of sheep that i might worry ?) lol why would i worry them, they keep popping out little pellets that i eat when dad isn’t looking, they are like mobile restaurants

Eventually we came to a small wooden bridge over a stream, i played stubborn and wouldn’t jump up and instead made dad come and pick me up and carried me over

We stopped off for lunch in a field overlooking the river and mom and dad sat on a huge overturned tree and had lunch and i helped by drooling all over them until fed tidbits

We then turned around and headed back and met the biggest dog I had ever seen, the owner said it was a “Bull Mastiff” all i know was it loomed over the top of me like a huge lion, i was glad when it had gone !!

Once we were back at the Leisure park, dad popped into a cafe and bought out some drinks for him and mom and some cake. I tried to help clear up the cake see below:

We have been to this part of Symonds Yat before and met up with another Labbie family. Here is a photo of me with Harvey. I had managed to find a HUGE Fish dead in the water that was all bloated and smelly, i caught it and bought it for mom and dad to see but they weren’t very keen to eat it for some reason !

Well my dad just found an interesting article from Travelodge.

Obviously all doggie owners would rather have their entire family including dogs with them when they stay in a hotel, and according to a recent survey almost two-thirds of respondents (61%) admitted they hate leaving their pets behind when they are away from home.

Because of these statistics Travelodge has responded by customising a replica of their luxury king size bed to accommodate pets as well.

The bespoke pet bed is 2′ 6″ long and 2′ wide and comes complete with mattress, pillow and duvet.

Not all lodges will have this facility straight away though, its being trialled first in Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham Travelodge hotels.

Tips for taking pets away with you on holiday

Take a few things that are familiar to your pet, such as the following:-
favourite blanket,
bedding,
fold up dog bed,
toys,
feeding bowl
Treats

All of the above will help alleviate stress and help your pets to be more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.

Pets tend to drink more water while travelling so be sure to have plenty available

If you are leaving your pet alone in a hotel room, place a Do Not Disturb sign on the door and inform reception staff to prevent scaring your dog / cat and / or the hotel staff

Travelodge allow up to 2 domestic pets, with a charge of £10 per pet, per stay. Please let the hotel know once you have made your booking. Payment will then be taken when you arrive at the hotel.

Travelodge website

Had a trip to the vets today, nice lady with lots of treats! She clipped my toenails in exchange for a handfull of treats & gave me this pin prick thing (mum says for my o.c.d.) once again…. delicious treats at the end of it! Met another doggy there, she didn’t seem bothered about seeing this lady.. i’m usually pretty scared myself - all she ever wants to do is poke or prod me!

After we had finished with the lady, it was fun time! I was allowed to ‘choose’ a toy from the shop, and chose a big ball on a string.. ha ha - my dad will never get that one of me in a tug of war!

It was then on to the park, that ball thing is brilliant!! Chased a few seagulls & plastic bottles - it’s my favourite type of weather… windy!!! Just pawfecttttt!!!

Am now going to have a long sleep whilst mum and dad do this thing they call ‘work’ - surely it must be tea time soon….

My usual trick is to hang around ’my’ food cupboard! If i hang around long enough and make my eyes big and droopy, i usually get a big bowl of munchies See i know all the tricks!

Nap time now..  

Below are a small selection of my travel photos.

Me and my dad with the Volcano Pompeii in the background

In front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

In Florence, Italy

Marbella Beach

I have to include these pictures of me playing up to the camera

Me, being cute to stay on the bed

I Need a bigger Bed !!

Well got taken for a day out to Cotswold Water Park as a treat. We all stopped off for lunch at the “The Wild Duck Inn” at Ewen which allow doggies into the bar. Mom & Dad tucked into some pub grub with me scoping for crumbs on the floor but on my best behaviour before we set off again to one of the lakes in the Park itself.

We stopped at Keynes Country Park which has a doggie beach. The parking was a bit expensive at £4 but the walk around the lake was nice and scenic with plenty of opportunities for me to get wet and play fetch with Dad.

Below is me doing a pose and looking regal albeit wet

Welcome to my Blog. I am Bradley, an adventurous and well travelled Labrador. Hope you like my diary