Pet that go letter boxing with us!

Do you have a pet that goes Letter boxing with you?? or do you have a lucky charm or stick? Here is one of my boys! this is Tor he is on his way to his first 100 - Max who is on his way to a 1000 is asleep!

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We always take Maggie with us. She is totally blind and very slow but manages to get around with our help. Occasionally we have to pick her up around the gorse but she is worth it.
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She is loverly and def worth it I would feel lost without the dogs! they always seem to hepl me look and always interested in the box when found!

I don't take a pet but always have my favourite walking stick with me.

I take Zoe, does that count?

My partner in crime is called Rook. He is the reason why I started Boxing as I got bored of walking on Whitchurch Down all the time with him. He appears to recognise when we are going Boxing as opposed to an ordinary walk as he gets even more hyped up!

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This is Dill. He'll be going letterboxing for the very first time on Saturday May 24th. We've been out on the Ridgeway and the Devil's Punchbowl last week, getting his stamina up (or am I kidding myself?!)



Accommodation is booked and we'll be at bar in the Plume Of Feathers on the Friday evening, if anyone wants to come and say hello and blow the froth off a couple.

Cheers.

Here are our four girls - Mary, Trixie, Rosie and Penny.

All the pets look lovely. Mad Dog, about the stamina, at the end of a Boxing session my dog appears to have just as much stamina as when we started

My dog Eddie sporting his new harness
He's not bad at letterboxing, but generally prefers looking for food!
As with Maggie I'll pick him up and carry him over the worst of gorse.
I also try and protect him with my coat when it hails. We've taken cover by Tors before to try and get out of the hail!

This is Allie, and now that she is a year old we can take her much further with us on Dartmoor.
The only problem is that she thinks boxing is the best game ever, and recently while we have been siting boxes, if we don`t watch continually she gets the box back out again

All the pics are fab!!! I also have my fav stick and did have a natural one that I got out of a bush but it dried out and snapped!! I have a metal one now and always wear my base ball gloves in case of any nasties in a hole!!!

but have you got them all registered in the dogs letterboxing club?

I sent off my dog registration a few days ago and am waiting for the dog tag and confirmation of membership to be returned to me.

I need to register Max & Tor not got around to this yet Tor has not got his 100 yet so waiting for him to catch up with Max! we should all get together and get their pics taken as a group doggie letter boxing club!

I wonder what all the dogs would have to say??

WOOF!!!!

Very good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wow,


Can I have her please?

SHe's my old girl - fourteen and a half and still enjoying her Dartmoor walks - been out around Belstone today with her - about 3 and a half miles and she's tired now.

The Sly Fox wrote:Wouldn't be fair to keep one indoors most of the day.

Depending on where you live there are kennels that take dogs in for the day. The Elm Cottage kennels at Central Park in Plymouth used to do this. I have to drive past there for work, so I used to drop my dog off (about 9am), and pick him up on the way home (6pm). He went in there 3 or 4 days a week. The staff liked him, and he got on with them and (most of!) the other dogs. He made his own friends there, so he was happy. Unfortunately it all shut down a few years ago. As said, there are other places that do day-care.


John.

I always enjoy meeting other people's dogs when out letterboxing. I once met someone at Fur Tor with a pair of Siamese cats! The cats would walk on long leads and were having a wonderful time clambering up and down the rocks.

bit late to this thread but here is Diesel who comes with us most if the time, he is now very old (12) and a bit frail so can only do the shorter walks

Well it had to happen, sadly Diesel had to be put to sleep yesterday. We are all very sad, but will have lots of great memories of him skipping over the moors with us - standby for a memorial box

Commiserations, Searchlighters, losing a loved dog is always sad. Diesel looks like quite a character.

The Searchlighters wrote:Well it had to happen, sadly Diesel had to be put to sleep yesterday. We are all very sad, but will have lots of great memories of him skipping over the moors with us - standby for a memorial box

Wow. I'm very sorry to hear that. Cherish those memories.

John.

I am so sorry, I know only too well what that agony feels like.
He must have had such wonderful times though with you, a very lucky dog.

I'm very sorry to hear this as well. I've only been a dog owner since August and I dread the day. You will have lots of memories of Diesel though.

I am really sorry to hear about Diesel, it is heart breaking when this happens but at least you have many happy memories to cherish.
I was bought up with Staffies and as a child would ride on the back of Rusty holding his ears. He never threw me off or even sat down once. They are fab dogs, with children especially and I am sure Diesel would have been just the same coming from a caring home.

Sorry to hear about Diesel - what a lovely lookinig character he was - but rest assured as much a loss he is to you he is better off out of pain or suffering.

A few years back I had t take my cat into the vets for that purpose a very traumatic day, but had its bonuses in the end - you'll laugh at this
a year before he lost his tail through an RTA a car drove over his tail...
yet he has come back to haunt the house he lived his final days in with his tail! He has been seen on numerous occasions stalkng the house, even though I dont live there nomore he still stalks and I do miss him

I have always wanted a dog and had one briefly a small border collie puppy named Charlie - he was absolutely beautiful we had him for a few weeks before he suddenly lost weight dramatically - you could see it falling off him in front of your eyes, I immediately took him the vet where he was kept on a drip for a week - he was also diagnosed with hepatitus after w four days the drip was removed and he was recovering ( Iwent to see him every day while he was there) except the Sunday I came in on the Monday only to be told he had had an epilectic fit in the early hours of that morning the vet was called in and he had decided to put him down - not only did it break my heart but all the hearts of the staff PDSA they all loved him to bits too.



<Passes the tissue box around for everyone>

Well I am overwhelmed, it seems that we all love our dogs very much. Diesel was my first dog and had been with us for 12 years. Only a few weeks ago we were very matter-a fact about the fact we knew we did not have much longer with him...but when the day came we were (and am partly still) in a bucket.

He was a fabulous companion who never liked to be parted from us, even for a minute, so when we took up letterboxing a few months ago he was a natural part of the team. He will however not reach his hundred! (85 on the day of his passing).

We have already sorted the memorial stamp which we hope to place on Mel Tor over the bank holiday weekend so any of you first to find fans keep an eye out. Mel Tor was the last place we visited with him before he took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago and we have lovely memories of sitting with him on our picnic blanket on top of the tor looking over the Dart Valley (perhaps a clue as to it's likely location).

But finally thanks to you all for your kind words in this post, really very much appreciated

Really sorry to hear about Diesel - it's heartbreaking when you lose a dog - at least you have lots of great memories of him though.

I was just looking at post was sorry to hear about Disel i know how that feels when i lost my alsation maddie i was heart broken ,thought i would never get over her. Then i now have lucia who is a lab and i go walking with her .

The Searchlighters wrote:Well I am overwhelmed, it seems that we all love our dogs very much. Diesel was my first dog and had been with us for 12 years. Only a few weeks ago we were very matter-a fact about the fact we knew we did not have much longer with him...but when the day came we were (and am partly still) in a bucket.

He was a fabulous companion who never liked to be parted from us, even for a minute, so when we took up letterboxing a few months ago he was a natural part of the team. He will however not reach his hundred! (85 on the day of his passing).

We have already sorted the memorial stamp which we hope to place on Mel Tor over the bank holiday weekend so any of you first to find fans keep an eye out. Mel Tor was the last place we visited with him before he took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago and we have lovely memories of sitting with him on our picnic blanket on top of the tor looking over the Dart Valley (perhaps a clue as to it's likely location).

But finally thanks to you all for your kind words in this post, really very much appreciated

belated words of condolence in the loss of your dog Diesel. A much loved dog is every bit a member of the family.

take care
Heidi

panomobile wrote:My partner in crime is called Rook. He is the reason why I started Boxing as I got bored of walking on Whitchurch Down all the time with him. He appears to recognise when we are going Boxing as opposed to an ordinary walk as he gets even more hyped up!

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What a gorgeous dog! he is almost identical to our Molly.

we have taken Molly (and Charlie a lab, and Max a border collie) with us on our letter boxing expeditions. Molly frightens the life out of me as she bombs about on the top of the tors she looks like she might fly off the top.

Do you count the stamps in the same way for us towards the 100??
(sorry that appears such a thick question)

Heidi

Mad Dog wrote:This is Dill. He'll be going letterboxing for the very first time on Saturday May 24th. We've been out on the Ridgeway and the Devil's Punchbowl last week, getting his stamina up (or am I kidding myself?!)



Accommodation is booked and we'll be at bar in the Plume Of Feathers on the Friday evening, if anyone wants to come and say hello and blow the froth off a couple.

Cheers.

what a beautiful border collie!

madzena wrote:
Do you count the stamps in the same way for us towards the 100??
(sorry that appears such a thick question)

Heidi

It's not a "thick" question Heidi. Yes, you would count the boxes visited when you have your dog with you towards his 100.

I would love to own another dog - but sadly my work wont allow me to as I am not sure if I am in from one day to the next, and that still tears at the heart strings, and even since Charlie I have wanted another dog.

Down side is that there are new laws about owning animals/pets now. For pets such as dogs, as far as I remember so don't quote me!, they must not be left alone for more than 4 hours at any one time. They must have access to their own kind (other dogs), be walked sufficiently for their type, fed, watered etc.

For me the only stopper would be the 4 hours bit. I work from home 2 days a week, and the other 3 days my dog is left alone for more than 4 hours. However, he has been used to this since he was a pup, and I deliberately 'trained' him to accept this from day one knowing that I would have to leave him alone (I was at home for about 3 months when I first got him). I should add that none of my neighbours over the years have heard a peep from him, and as far as I can tell he mainly sleeps during his time alone.

Needless to say for those of us who live alone, or even couples that both work, this could mean that we cannot own a dog. Day-care kennels are great, provided you have one near you (I did for several years, but don't now).


John.

John wrote:Down side is that there are new laws about owning animals/pets now. For pets such as dogs, as far as I remember so don't quote me!, they must not be left alone for more than 4 hours at any one time. They must have access to their own kind (other dogs), be walked sufficiently for their type, fed, watered etc.

For me the only stopper would be the 4 hours bit. I work from home 2 days a week, and the other 3 days my dog is left alone for more than 4 hours. However, he has been used to this since he was a pup, and I deliberately 'trained' him to accept this from day one knowing that I would have to leave him alone (I was at home for about 3 months when I first got him). I should add that none of my neighbours over the years have heard a peep from him, and as far as I can tell he mainly sleeps during his time alone.

Needless to say for those of us who live alone, or even couples that both work, this could mean that we cannot own a dog. Day-care kennels are great, provided you have one near you (I did for several years, but don't now).


John.

have you considered a dog walker/minder?

This is what I do full time. I walk peoples dogs - when they are at work, or let them out halfway through their day. Give them their dinner or medication (whatever is required really). Some of my dogs are owned by elderly people and I can offer them reassurance about the care/welfare of their animal. I have a disabled lady who relies on me for more than just dog walking and I like to think I am doing my bit in helping someone who doesnt have family nearby. anyway I digress ...

Great job for me as I get paid to cuddle other peoples dogs (cant beat that really! I love dogs!)

You could maybe ask your vets if they know of anyone that does the service (walking/minding) rather than choose someone from the yellow pages. I personally only advertise in the vets and other than WOM that is how I get my business, and I am very busy! - reputation proceeds me! oops that sounds big headed.... but what I am trying to say is if you get someone as a recommend then you are more likely to be happy with your friendly dog walker who will be less "business"orientated but more "doggy" orientated

I would hate to be in a position of not having a dog.... I love mine too much.

regarding the laws - do you know where that has come from about minimum hours? I know dog walking laws have changed regarding how many dogs can be taken out off lead (depending on which county you are walking in - some counties have issued a maximum of six dogs... I sometimes walk ten but in plymouth that part of the dog consent act did not come into effect so I can carry on with the numbers I have been).

I shall have a dig around and see if I can find out about that ref leaving on own for more than four hours - as it is interesting to know if this is something that has been proposed as law or if it is in effect already?

Heidi

Fulchet wrote:

madzena wrote:
Do you count the stamps in the same way for us towards the 100??
(sorry that appears such a thick question)

Heidi

It's not a "thick" question Heidi. Yes, you would count the boxes visited when you have your dog with you towards his 100.

thank you!

madzena wrote:I shall have a dig around and see if I can find out about that ref leaving on own for more than four hours - as it is interesting to know if this is something that has been proposed as law or if it is in effect already?

I did say don't quote me
I think I may have read it from the Dogs Trust site, but can't find it now.
As far as I am aware the Animal Welfare Act (2006) is now law. There were supposed to be 'secondary' additions, which as far as I remember, included a section on Dogs. Again though I can't find details. The DEFRA site seems to indicate that it (the bit on dogs) has still not been finalised.

The RSPCA state: http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satelli ... 2389676491
but that is just a recommendation. Other animal welfare groups seem to agree at about 4 hours as maximum, and I think this is probably why I thought it was part of the Act.

Also see: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare ... fect.htm#3
The second section refers to 'duty of care'.

And: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/Content.asp ... iid=255531
I think this is the document I originally saw. As it states, the Act is now law but there are still amendments to be made to it.

Can't find anything about specific times for dogs being left alone, perhaps it will be in an amendment. Sorry about that.


John.

John wrote:

madzena wrote:I shall have a dig around and see if I can find out about that ref leaving on own for more than four hours - as it is interesting to know if this is something that has been proposed as law or if it is in effect already?

I did say don't quote me
I think I may have read it from the Dogs Trust site, but can't find it now.
As far as I am aware the Animal Welfare Act (2006) is now law. There were supposed to be 'secondary' additions, which as far as I remember, included a section on Dogs. Again though I can't find details. The DEFRA site seems to indicate that it (the bit on dogs) has still not been finalised.

The RSPCA state: http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satelli ... 2389676491
but that is just a recommendation. Other animal welfare groups seem to agree at about 4 hours as maximum, and I think this is probably why I thought it was part of the Act.

Also see: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare ... fect.htm#3
The second section refers to 'duty of care'.

And: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/Content.asp ... iid=255531
I think this is the document I originally saw. As it states, the Act is now law but there are still amendments to be made to it.

Can't find anything about specific times for dogs being left alone, perhaps it will be in an amendment. Sorry about that.


John.

sorry hadnt meant to make it look like I was questioning you!! sorry. I was just curious - as anything like that I like to know about! sorry again!

thank you very much for the links!

Heidi

No problem - I didn't think that you were 'questioning' me You just made me wonder myself why I thought it was 4 hours. I know that the welfare organisations were glad when the Welfare Act came in, and at the time I read through some of the stuff and it was from that, I think, that I took it that the 4 hour limit came from. Seems to be just a recommendation, and not law.


John.

Well it had to happen, after the passing of Diesel (thanks to so many of you for your kind messages) in the spring his replacement has arrived...Sena is an 8 week old Hungarian Viszla. some time yet before she will be out on the moor but the training to sniff out small plastic boxes has already started.

Standby for the ahhhh moment...

Hi searchlighters your new puppy is gorgeous i bet you cant wait to go on the moors with sena

Ahhhh Congratulations to you. She looks lovely!



John.

She certainly does look great. I have been thinking about a dog for some time. Checked out all the different breeds etc at crufts and made the descision that if I do then a Viszla was the one. I am enveous.

All these dogs look GREAT! Jasper looks forward to meeting some of them next time he can make it down to Dartmoor.
(Pix of him in the Gallery)!

Good to hear from you Roo - long time no hear.

Your new dog looks absolutely gorgeous Searchlighters - those eyes!!!!!!!

Searchlighters, I love the expression on Sena's face!

Here is my Wire Haired Viszla ...Basil.