Hi, Kevin here. This is a page where I list some of my top tips that we have learned together with my Mum and Dad, plus some of my favourite pictures and movie clips. I also report on my favourite < a href=http://top-dog-tips.com>dog friendly hotels, pubs and restaurants
I was adopted in March 2005 from the Mayhew Animal Home in West London. I had been a pet with one owner, I think, but something happened and I was found wandering on the A40 Westway by a volunteer from the home. They took me in and said my owner could collect me in the next seven days, and after that I could go to a new home. My Mum went there looking for a nice hairy dog, not too big, who would be a good ratter! She read a lot of "Just William" books when she was small .. Mum says she always liked Border Collies and I am half Tricolour Collie, half German Shepherd so I fitted the bill - except that I don't catch rats. I was in my room at the home and Mum came in to see me. She knelt down and I licked her face. The rest is history! She asked to adopt me immediately so the papers were signed and she came back to collect me as soon as I was available for adoption, which was four days later.
I had not been neutered by my first owner so the home gave me a little op. before Mum and Dad came to collect me. They were given lots of information on dog training and health before we left, by a nice dog trainer called Annette Conn.
The first night went well, it did not seem too strange at my new home and Mum and Dad gave me lots of cuddles. I showed them how I like to playbite, which is my main daily game. They soon got used to that, now they quite enjoy it. I slept in the kitchen in my new bed on the first night, and they discovered that I am perfectly house trained - they are so lucky! Me at Camber Sands, a Dog Friendly Beach
We did have a bit of a problem as I was frightened of going down stairs: I followed Mum up the stairs but I was scared to go back down again. I stayed upstairs for hours and in the end Dad came home and carried me down. This meant I had to sleep in the kitchen, not the bedroom. Over the next few weeks Mum and Dad took me to lots of places with small staircases until I was happy to go up and down. Nobody knows what happened to me when I was younger, but I think someone kicked me downstairs. Happily that is now a distant memory.
I have a few places that we really like to go, where we always feel happy, and people make the effort to welcome dogs and humans together. I mention them in my blog, so you can read more if you follow the links.
My local is a very good
Dog Friendly Pub in North London is the Royal Oak in Muswell Hill, where well behaved dogs can socialize off the lead. It is a great place for treats, and there are a few minor celebrities who drink there. We like to go shopping in Hampstead, where most of the shops are cool about dogs visiting. It really is a dog friendly , place, so I can look at all the goodies along with Mum and Dad. We can also go inside for tea and cakes at the Hampstead Community Market, which is great cos we hate eating outside in the cold - and they serve the best Victoria sponge for miles.
The Mitre in Shaftesbury, Dorset, is a place where I went in the Summer. This is a gem of a Dog Friendly Pub, and the chef offered me my own bowl of water. It is a Young's pub, so it serves good beer as well. The town of Shaftesbury is good for dogs anyway, most of the shops realize dogs can go anywhere except food areas.
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