Mr.McKahn's Belated Birthday Party

Today Hamish started adult obedience class and we got a recipe for liver cake. He was excellent in the class and we could really see what a good boy he is. So as a just reward we Steven baked him the cake this afternoon. (then he ran off in the park after a scent but we'll ignore that bit just for today).
Mmmmm. That looks very nice but...How do I get it without singeing my whiskers?Oh, I see you just have to get in and out fast as you can........ouch! Didn't quite manage it...what's that smell?Oh Dear, I think I've eaten too much...!

Happy Birthday Hamish McKahn!

Hamish turned one today. We walked into work along the canal and stopped for some birthday photos.
The canal residents barked happy birthday as we passed.
I think Hamish is thinking..."If I was a bone I'd eat myself" and I was thinking please put your willie away if only till I take the picture.
We really wanted to have a party but both had to work today - Sorry Hamish promise to make it up to you at the weekend. I'll even bake you a liver cake, how about that. To finish off the day we had a run around St. James's Park and visited the tourists in Trafalgar Square.
We appear to be offering a service for all the London visitors who've left their dogs at home abroad, they all come and ask to stroke Hamish because they miss their own dogs so much. We're only too happy to help of course.

I am a very stylish boy.....how do I look?

What a cold weekend we had. Time for the 'Piccadilly Highlander' outfit again I'm afraid. There were no friends around at all for wrestling so nothing for it but a good run after the bicycle around Victoria Park and he loves it.

I've decided for now that Hamish is a very well behaved dog and we're pals. However saying that, we just walked past Radio's house this morning and he couldn't come out but as I was talking on the phone with Andrea and we seen them at the window and Radio started barking and Hamish jumped through the fence and ran up the road towards Radio's door. On the second attempt he came back to me when I blew his whistle, but he was out of sight and round the corner in a flash (luckily there were no cars around). Of course it would have been better if he hadn't wandered off at all, but progress is progress, one day at a time. One day he will surrender to the whistle - immediately I hope.

Kill those Nasty Fireworks by Robodog

We got off to a good start with Hamish's first firework season a few bangs in the park and he looked up, cocked his head and then carried on sniffing. Then they got closer to home and the 5th November approached...a bit too close. I let him out in our garden for a wee without realising our neighbours three doors down were having a display in their back garden. As the sparks and bright colours burst into the sky Hamish bolted for the door and hid downstairs terrified. For four nights he wouldn't go outside after dark and then slowly got more settled but he didn't enjoy it at all. Let's hope next year goes better.

On a better note (don't want to speak too soon though) the good news is that so far Hamish loves his new whistle and comes bounding towards me when I blow it. I haven't really tested it with any big distractions so far though...slowly does it, Rome wasn't built in a day but I'm being super careful to make sure he keeps on loving it.

Chickens? Wot Chickens?

Today we started a bit of gundog training with Radio. We decided training is much more fun when you do it with friends - for us humans too. I could see Hamish was immediately having more fun and was more engaged so this is hopefully a good way to make progress. We took the boys to see the chickens at Hackney City Farm but they didn't pay the slightest attention to them as Andrea had them engrossed in their commands. Next we'll try it with Squirrels.

Halloween on the Long line - Abney Cemetary

We have been advised to keep Hamish on the lead for the next 8 weeks (yes it seems rather drastic) until he learns better recall and get himself under control generally. It is quite a test for us too. He has been jumping up at people and now that he's a big lad it gets very embarassing, he even knocked one lady over. Luckily she was a doggie lady. He gets very happy when he sees folks but obviously this behaviour is inappropriate and has to be modified.
Ho Hum, what to do. We took him for a cycle to Abney Cemetry where we hoped he wouldn't meet any of his mates. He did meet a lovely Alsation called Stella though and we did let him off leash for a while as it was an enclosed space and they played very well together.
He's even getting better at leaving the squirrels alone, but they still fascinate him. No Hamish he's not coming down to play with you - ever!
Even at my work he seeks out the most comfortable chair in the house, in the sunshine is even better. Oi mister - this one's reserved for customers.