Susie-Belle dipped in the river

Well, only just.

Yesterday evening we took a trip down to the beautiful River Hamble, it was a 130mile round trip but worth it for a gorgeous river swim with friends on a warm Monday evening.

Susie-Belle and Renae came too of course, Renae went nowhere near the water's edge but Susie-Belle is showing some promising signs.

Whilst I was out swimming.......

Susie-Belle eyed up the local wildlife and apparently got quite excited at the thought of swan for supper, she even dipped her paws in.....

But that was it, no further. She seemed relieved to see me back and getting out the water...

Water water everywhere and not a schnauzer swimming

What a difference a week makes in the UK weather-wise. Last weekend we were in the gorgeous Peak District all dressed up in our coats and woollies and this weekend the girls are sweltering in an early heat-wave.

We played it cool in the garden yesterday in the shade and took it easy on the evening walk. This morning we headed over to the river for a swim.....I swam, the girls walked and watched........

Nothing I said or did got Renae anywhere near getting her paws damp, Susie-Belle showed slightly more interest for a second or two from the safety of the river bank....

But the only four-legged company I had in the water was of the bovine variety.





Now we're all taking it easy back at home for the afternoon under the trees in the garden.

National Schnauzer Walk Camping Weekend

Wow!

What a fantastic weekend we've all just got back from. It was the first National Schnauzer Walk that has come together this year on our favourite schnauzer forum and it involved around 50 or 60 dogs over two days walking in the beautiful Peak District.

It was a weekend of many firsts for us:

• first camping weekend away
• first time in the Peak District
• first time we met many of the people we did
• first time Susie-Belle seemed to let go of her need to be at the back of everyone on group walks.....some of the time.

The camping was a huge success, the girls really enjoyed themselves. Susie-Belle positively beamed her way through the whole weekend.

She couldn't wait to settle herself down in the tent whenever we arrived back at the campsite and when we packed it up yesterday, that was the only time she looked a little sad over the whole weekend. In fact we couldn't get her out of the tent, she seemed determined to make the most of every last minute whilst we packed away everything around her.

Saturday was quite a long walk, around 7 miles I think, in beautiful surroundings. We followed the path of the River Dove but I wasn't brave enough to let Susie-Belle tackle the stepping stones, she was carried of course.

When we reached the picturesque village of Milldale, we had a rest and refreshments before heading home.



Susie-Belle hoping for a bit of that pasty.

Breathe in my lovely girl

It was a good job that we had two long walks over two days, Susie-Belle managed to beg round the crowd and I'm sure bag herself more food than she should be eating.

One of the really fantastic things we witnessed this weekend was Susie-Belle mingling and just hanging out with everyone, not being stressed about people being behind her, around her, worrying about what might happen. She was just happy. Purely, simply happy.

Good news day

Just back from the vet and Susie-Belle's corneal ulcer is well on the way to being healed, another final check next week and she should get the all-clear which is very good news.

We're also off to the great big schnauzer weekend camping adventure in a couple of hours or so when we finish work, early we hope.

It's the first National Schnauzer Weekend, organised on our favourite schnauzer forum. Details on the weekend here.

The car's all packed and all our shiny new camping gear (still with labels on so we're definitely going to be looking like the new campers) has taken up most of the car.

Here's hoping our good news day continues with a bit of bright and sunny weather for the weekend.

Schnauzer-fest Camp...here we come

I can't believe that I haven't mentioned our exciting weekend coming up. We're heading north to the Peak District to meet up for the weekend with about 60 or more schnauzers of all sizes. This is our first proper camping trip, we're very excited if a little nervous about the cold. So, after a trip to the vet first thing to check on Susie-Belle's eye, we'll be setting off at lunchtime. We're set to walk around 6 miles or so Saturday around Dovedale and a shorter walk Sunday before coming home. It should be fun. Photos aplenty next week of course....

Not news we wanted to hear

Last night Susie-Belle was pawing her face and rubbing it along the beds and walls. Her left eye was gummy and clearly inflamed.

So, this morning off to the vet we shot and were given the news I've dreaded, she has a corneal ulcer. 

Now, it appears to be slight and not too severe, but in view of the battle we're in against the KCS and her lack of response to medications for this condition to date, I know there may be more to this than just a bit of a scratch which the vet suggested might have led to the ulcer.

We're on antibiotic cream now and we go back Friday to check the ulcer is going in the right direction. Of course, it would be in her best eye, the one with the new lens and no cataract. Poor baby girl, not much goes well for her but we'll do whatever it takes to get her better, to save her sight and give her the life she deserves to live.

Is it a drum, is it a balloon, no it's Susie-Belle's tum

Oh dear, we've had a very full week, in more ways than one so apologies for no postings for a little while.

We've been busy with chores, like the day job, which has meant no time to post. We've also found ourselves exploring twitter - that is really another world, not sure it's for us, but it is good for work-related stuff. But here is where our heart is.

And while we've been busy doing "stuff" that we'd rather not be doing, Susie-Belle's been fending for herself.

Only joking, of course our gorgeous girl hasn't been left to her own devices. Heaven knows what she'd get up to, especially if her sister Renae was there to lead her astray.

"who me? surely not me"

Like feeding herself. Helping herself to meals. Stuffing her chops with food she just happens to find lying around. Even if that food is clearly not for her. Food that is full of cream, onions, white wine for example.

Yep, that's what our Susie-Belle would get up to if she was left to fend for herself in this house if Thursday was anything to go by.

We were going to have chicken fricasee on Thursday for dinner, we were, not Susie-Belle, that would be silly.  Michel decided to have an afternoon nap whilst leaving a rather generous pot of chicken fricasee cooling on a stool, at perfect mini-schnauzer-nose-level-height.

When he woke up, he vaguely recalled a bit of schnuffling, slurping, burping, gulping going on whilst he dozed (don't ask why he didn't wake up with a start, which is what many, ok I would have done).

The pot was empty. Susie-Belle's belly was full. Very full. Tight as a taught and well tuned drum. She couldn't drag her tummy off her bed to go for a walk she was so happily full.

I'm thankful to report that there were absolutely no ill-effects. Remarkably.

And all I had for supper was a dull cheese sandwich.  Having been beaten to my chicken fricasee by a particularly special greedy guts.