WARNING! This posting contains images of dogs in shops which some viewers may find disturbing (you know who you are)

Andrea was looking after Charlie for the weekend. First we meet them both on the market for coffee and mingling with the local community and lots of attention for the doggies.Then we walk to Islington along the canal. The boys have a quick dip along the way. This was Hamish's first time swimming this year, Radio would have been proud of his star pupil since it really was quite cold.
Then we go shopping for some new chairs and they let us bring Hamish and Charlie inside with us.Then we went shopping for clothes and again they let us in even though this shop was quite posh. They soon got bored though.On Sunday we went to Victoria park and met some great new mates for Hamish. This is Feedback, she's a real tomboy and likes to play very rough. She's half boxer and half lurcher.
This is Coco a Neopolitan Mastiff whom Hamish adored. They only played gently though because he's got hip dysplasia even though he's only 2 years old.Next we took Hamish to Steven's studio where we did a bit more for the 'Urban Vizsla' photoshoot. We're still gathering evidence to support our case that Vizsla's can be happy townie dogs. This will continue for the rest of Hamish's life of course.
I think ginger and concrete go very well together in the afternoon sunlight.
Hamish get's very frustrated inside the studio...he just can't understand why he can't just run around chewing on everything he can reach. It smells so very interesting.Then he met his old mate Danny on the way home in London Fields. Danny is very independent but they do run around a bit together sometimes if Danny's in the mood. Finally in the favourite corner of 'his' sofa, an exhausted Hamish pup almost falls asleep sitting up.

Old Hamish Pup's first day home

I just came across this old movie and thought I 'd share it.

West End Boy

Today Hamish came to work with me in the West End for the first time in ages. Along the way we met Andrea and Radio who walked with us along the canal to Islington. Hamish and Radio were very, very happy to see each other after about 10 days apart. Ross was very pleased to see Andrea and Radio too. We miss our walks with them when they're not around.
Earlier in the week Hamish was in Hyde Park for the first time when we went to see a nice new vet near there. Hamish went to have blood tests but he wouldn't allow them to do it and cried and howled a lot. We will need to sedate him next time. Oh dear!
Never mind he had a good sleep on our bed when he got home.
Shhhhhhhhhh! Now, now steady on Red Girls he's only getting comfy.
Still always the cute puppy when he wants something....He likes coming to work with me cos he gets to help out in the kitchen which always smells soooooooo delicious.The daffs are out in St. James's Park and it's really uplifting that it was still light when I took him out of the office for the afternoon walk.

We Love the Weekend and today is Sunny!

Sunny Sunday's are best going to Hamstead Heath on the train......And on Saturday's we have our Local marked called 'Broadway Market' and friends love to come and visit because there's lots of really delicious food and a great atmosphere. Today it was sunny too so everyone seemed in a good mood. Steven's godson, Archie is staying over tonight and he's the young one on the log with Hamish. It must be puppy season as we've been meeting loads recently. This is Snoopy the 12 week old Italian Greyhound.

This is our sweetheart resident poser extraordinaire.


This is a wee Boston Terrier brand new to the park but I've forgotten her name. I'm sure we'll see her again soon in the Fields.
The lovely Broadway Market in the glorious sunshine.

Happy New Year! Holidays all round.

Not much time to write because we're up early to go to the Red Sea in the morning and Hamish has gone on his Hols already to Radio's house. Here are some of the things Hamish has been getting up to since last posting.
Hamish's first trip to the pub to play darts...no so impressed.

Hamish's very favourite shop - definintely.Cuddling up to a very new friend on New Years' Eve.
New friend from the country, a surprise encounter with Dodi the Viz from Herefordshire, and of course the lovely best girlfriend Maisie.
Tired out on the way back from the Richmond Viz Whizz.

Countdown to Crimbo!

Steven and Hamish on the canal just before we heard plop! and Hamish had fallen in with his coat on.
This is just afterwards, stupid clumsy Vizsla. You can't see but he's shivering and feeling very sorry for himself.
Hamish has some of his own 'office' work to do when I'm on the phone.
We were very lucky today that Radio came to stay for the afternoon. They really, really love playing indoors. Not ideal for watching the Saturday matinee on t.v. with a cuppa. They look more like gerbils than Vizslak in this photo I think.
Not much been happening as we've been s0000000000 busy. Hamish goes to a new dog-walker sometimes now and I think he loves it. He gets to play with 7 other dogs all day and comes home at night very tired. He did chew through two leashes in the back of the van though so we had to buy him a chain one (chewproof). Here he is at the entrance to 'his' park wearing the new collar to match. It's cheap and not fancy but I love him in red I think it really suits him.

Victoria Park Gundog Line-up

Today we went to Vicci Park with Andrea and Radio and we bumped into some friends. First to come along was Ruby and then Jake the Weimy and then his new sister Silver and then Rucci. So we were six in total for our line-up photo. 3 Vizslak and 3 Weimaraner. What a great day we all had.

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.